The Preservation and Valuation of Biological Resources

Human activities are threatening the extinction of a substantial number of species living on earth. The immense scale of the impending "extinction crisis" means that hard choices must be made about what to conserve with limited resources. How can we estimate the value of species in natural ecosystems, their value in terms of the products and services they provide, and their role in enhancing the quality of human life? Answers to these questions are necessary for the development of wise policies concerning the allocation of societal resources for the preservation and management of the planet's living resources. In this book, a distiguished group of biologists, economists, and resource managers presents a mutlidisciplinary approach to the importance of the earth's biological richness. The six major chapters focus on methods of preserving genetic resources, both in the laboratory and in the field; the biological value of species richness, both genetic and ecological; management of biological resources; and economic methods of assessing the value of species. The essays are accompanied by commentaries and summaries written by specialists from a variety of disciplines. A final chapter provides an overview, culminating in suggestions for needed research.