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    The Tension Between Development and Conservation

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    Himanish Varun

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    The Tension Between Development and Conservation

    Uploaded by

    Himanish Varun
    6 views9 pages

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    © © All Rights Reserved

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    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as pdf or txt
    6 views9 pages

    The Tension Between Development and Conservation

    Uploaded by

    Himanish Varun

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 9

    The Tension

    Between
    Development and
    Conservation
    As nations strive to modernize and improve their economic standing, they
    often face a dilemma: the need to balance development with the
    preservation of precious natural resources and fragile ecosystems. This
    delicate balance is at the heart of the ongoing debate between
    development and conservation efforts worldwide.

    by Vimala
    The Amazon Forest Issue
    The Amazon rainforest, often dubbed the "lungs of the Earth," faces an
    escalating crisis as development encroaches upon this vital ecosystem.
    As Brazil and other Amazonian nations strive for economic progress,
    deforestation rates have skyrocketed, threatening the delicate balance of
    this irreplaceable natural wonder.

    1. Rapid expansion of agriculture, mining, and infrastructure projects


    have decimated vast swaths of the Amazon, endangering indigenous
    communities and irreversibly altering the region's biodiversity.
    2. Illegal logging and land grabbing by powerful economic interests
    further compound the threat, as they exploit the Amazon's natural
    resources for short-term gains.
    3. Climate change, exacerbated by deforestation, poses an existential
    threat to the Amazon, as droughts, wildfires, and ecosystem disruption
    imperil the rainforest's ability to regulate global climate patterns.
    The Sundarbans, Bangladesh/India
    The Sundarbans, a vast mangrove forest shared
    by Bangladesh and India, is a UNESCO World
    Heritage site teeming with biodiversity. Home to
    the majestic Bengal tiger, this delicate
    ecosystem faces mounting challenges as
    development encroaches upon its boundaries.

    Expanding shrimp farming, infrastructure


    projects, and resource extraction have
    devastated swaths of the Sundarbans,
    threatening the livelihoods of local communities
    and the fragile balance of this unique coastal
    environment.
    The Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

    Incredible Stunning Eco-tourism Conservation


    Biodiversity Volcanic Challenges Efforts
    The Galápagos Islands Landscapes As a UNESCO World Extensive conservation
    are renowned for their These isolated Pacific Heritage site, the measures, including
    unique and diverse islands are Galápagos faces the limits on visitor
    array of flora and characterized by delicate balance of numbers and strict
    fauna, including iconic dramatic volcanic promoting sustainable regulations, aim to
    species like the topography, with eco-tourism while preserve the
    Galápagos tortoise, towering lava protecting its fragile Galápagos' unique
    marine iguana, and formations, pristine ecosystem from the natural wonders for
    Darwin's finches. beaches, and crystal- impacts of human future generations.
    clear waters that activity.
    captivate visitors.
    Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
    Conservation Challenges
    Iconic Landscapes As a UNESCO World Heritage site, the
    The Serengeti is renowned for its vast, Serengeti faces mounting pressures from
    sweeping savannas punctuated by iconic encroaching development, poaching, and
    acacia trees and dotted with herds of climate change, requiring robust conservation
    wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles. efforts.

    1 2 3

    Abundant Wildlife
    Home to the "Big Five" (lions, leopards,
    rhinoceros, elephants, and buffalo), the
    Serengeti boasts an incredibly diverse array
    of wildlife species.
    Virunga National Park, Democratic
    Republic of Congo
    Biodiversity Conflict Zone Conservation Sustainable
    Gem Efforts Development
    The park has been
    Virunga National Park plagued by armed Despite the Efforts are underway
    in the Democratic conflicts, poaching, challenges, to promote
    Republic of Congo is and illegal resource dedicated park sustainable
    a UNESCO World extraction for rangers and development
    Heritage site decades, as the DRC conservation initiatives, such as
    renowned for its has grappled with organizations work eco-tourism and
    exceptional political instability tirelessly to protect renewable energy
    biodiversity. It is and civil war. This has Virunga's natural projects, to balance
    home to endangered threatened the park's wonders. They face the park's
    mountain gorillas, as fragile ecosystems grave dangers, with conservation needs
    well as chimpanzees, and the communities many rangers killed in with the economic
    hippos, and over that rely on it. the line of duty while aspirations of local
    2,000 species of safeguarding the communities. This
    plants. park from threats. delicate balance is
    crucial for Virunga's
    long-term
    preservation.
    The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge,
    United States

    1 Pristine Wilderness 2 Caribou Migration


    The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, located The refuge is a critical calving ground for
    in northeastern Alaska, is a vast, untamed the Porcupine Caribou Herd, one of the last
    landscape of rugged mountains, tundra, remaining great land mammal migrations in
    and coastal plains, home to an abundance the world.
    of wildlife.

    3 Biodiversity Hotspot 4 Conservation Challenges


    This protected area boasts a diverse array The refuge faces ongoing threats from oil
    of species, including polar bears, and gas development, with proposals to
    muskoxen, wolves, and over 200 bird open up parts of the area for drilling,
    species, making it a vital ecological posing a serious risk to its delicate
    treasure. ecosystems.
    The Belo Monte Dam, Brazil
    Hydroelectric Ambitions Environmental Impacts
    The Belo Monte Dam, located on the Xingu However, the dam's construction has led to
    River in the Brazilian Amazon, was conceived the displacement of indigenous communities
    as a massive hydroelectric project to meet and the flooding of vast swaths of the
    Brazil's growing energy needs. Amazon rainforest, threatening the region's
    delicate ecosystem.

    Indigenous Resistance Sustainable Alternatives


    Local tribes, including the Kayapó and Xingu Activists and environmental groups have
    people, have fiercely opposed the dam, advocated for more sustainable energy
    fighting to protect their ancestral lands and solutions, such as solar and wind power, that
    way of life from the project's devastating could meet Brazil's needs without destroying
    effects. the Amazon.
    Conclusion
    The careful balance between development and conservation remains a complex and multifaceted
    challenge facing nations worldwide. As we've seen through these case studies, the impacts of
    economic progress often clash with the imperative to protect fragile ecosystems and vulnerable
    communities.

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