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Protecting Endangered Species Christ Opher Ruggiero
Protecting Endangered Species Christ Opher Ruggiero
Protecting Endangered Species Christ Opher Ruggiero
ENDANGERED SPECIES 2
PROTECTING ENDANGERED SPECIES
Christ opher Ruggiero
PHI 208: Ethics and Moral Reasoning
Kent Burstein
April 26, 2021
Protecting endangered species
Part 1: Ethical Question
Should people or governments be allowed to develop lands that are habitats for
endangered animal species?
Part 2: Introduction
Almost half of the species listed as endangered or threatened have approximately 80% of
their habitats in privately owned land ( Seasholes, 2015). The Endangered Species Act (ESA)
enacted in 1973 seeks to protect plants and animals of all species. The act specifically prohibits
individuals from taking listed species, and such offenses, whether intentional or unintentional,
offenses in fines on the individual. Although protecting all species, including endangered
species, is beneficial to the ecosystem and humans, ethical concerns arise when the rights
accorded these species override humans' rights over their properties and vice versa. From our
primary sources, philosopher Taylor writes to support the argument of lifecentered ethics. In his
opinion, he states that all living things have a `teleological center of life,' meaning each has their
good that they pursue in various ways. No interest is superior to the other, and so all living things
should be regarded with equal worth (Taylor, 2011). Despite the ethical concerns arising from
preventing individuals from developing lands that are home to endangered species, it is our
responsibility to protect these species and avoid any activities that are likely to interfere with
their habitat causing further extinction.
Part 3: Position Statement
Governments or individuals should not be allowed to develop land that are habitats for
endangered species due to the potential harm on the endangered species that are likely to arise
from such developments.
Part 4: Reasons in Support of Your Position
Human activities are one of the major causes of biodiversity loss today ( Chen et al.,
2014). Human activities interfere with the natural habitat of species. Besides, no human
development can be considered completely safe for the endangered species. Despite the
approvals, the move is still likely to cause harm to the endangered species with which we seek to
protect. Activities such as constructions of any kind or agricultural activities interfere with the
natural habitats leading to habitat loss.
Part 5: Opposing Position Statement
Governments and individuals should develop land that acts as habitats for endangered
species as long as their activities comply with the set standards and do not take the endangered
species.
Part 6: Reasons in Support of the Opposing Position
Landowners and government should be allowed to develop their lands as long as the
activities do not endanger the existence of the endangered species. This is because landowners
are the linchpin for the conservation of biodiversity in the US. This is because the majority of
endangered species’ habitats are in private lands. The current ESA has proven to be
counterproductive. Being that landowners are prohibited from engaging in any activities on their
lands because the lands are or are perceived to be potential habitats, landowners now opt to get
rid of endangered species from their land and prevent any studies on endangered species in their
property (Seasholes, 2015). Besides a lack of goodwill for the conservation of the endangered
species, prohibiting development on such lands deprive landowners of income from their lands.
These prohibitions of activities in these land also restrain owners of their property rights,
negatively impacting their property value.
References
Chen, J. Z., Huang, S. L., & Han, Y. S. (2014). Impact of longterm habitat loss on the Japanese
eel Anguilla japonica. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 151, 361369.
Seasholes, B., 2015. The Importance of Property Rights for Endangered Species Conservation.
[online] Reason Foundation. Available at: <https://reason.org/testimony/propertyrights
endangeredspecies/> [Accessed 20 April 2021].
Summary of the Endangered Species Act | US EPA. US EPA. (2021). Retrieved April 20, 2021,
from https://www.epa.gov/lawsregulations/summaryendangeredspeciesact.
Taylor, P. W. (2011). Respect for nature: A theory of environmental ethics. Princeton University
Press.