While it seems that there has been more focus and concern placed on the environment, we still continue to underestimate the value of biodiversity. Most concerning, there are not strong attempts to slow the countless and irreversible actions that industries and individuals take every day which directly affect biodiversity. Although we often hear about crimes towards humanity and the need for criminal defense lawyer silver spring experts, for example, we don’t often hear about the death and extinction of species every day.  In order for that to happen, people need to be informed about exactly what they are losing.

The value of biodiversity in a broad sense that is not limited to monetary worth can be divided into two broad categories: direct and indirect use values. The direct use value of biodiversity to humans involves the exploitation of the natural products of biodiversity for marketable goods. Biodiversity fuels a number of important industries, such as pharmaceuticals, spring water and purification, and tourism.  Workers compensation lawyer Silver Spring specialists, however, may know that natural resources may not be the only thing exploited in the third world countries where these industries usually operate. Workers are usually taken advantage of as well.

Resources extracted from biodiversity directly relate to cardiology as ACE inhibitors used to treat high blood pressure or heart failure, is made from tropical snake venom.

A recent estimate of the value of global ecosystem services was calculated at $33 trillion. Needless to say, it’s time we start paying attention to what we are losing as we continue to exploit areas of high biodiversity such as the tropics in order to grow industry and the world economy.

Kennedy & Dolan Attorneys at Law is a leading criminal defense, workers compensation and personal injury lawyer Silver Spring practice.