SOURCE B – Falling Biodiversity – A Television Discussion

Presenter:Should we be worried about more plants and animals becoming extinct?

Professor I have been studying biology as a scientist for many years in a well-known

Anika Roy:university research department. I have published many articles on the environment. We should be worried because the rate of biodiversity loss is increasing. It is estimated that 10-30% of animal species could be lost in the next 20 years. The International Union for Conservation of Nature claimed last year that 75% of genetic diversity of agricultural crops has been lost and that our food supplies are at risk. A third of the world’s reef-building corals are threatened with extinction, causing coastal floods and loss of habitat for other sea species. The list of problems goes on. We must act soon to prevent serious threats to our own human survival. Our environment is very important and should be protected.

Zhang Li:We do not need to be worried about the future. Professor Roy is wrong – she is trying to frighten us to get more money for her research. History shows us that scientists solve most of our problems. New technology will help us. For example, genetic engineering and improved understanding of how to grow crops in difficult conditions can ensure we have enough food. Newspapers, TV and the media all want to highlight problems to sell more copies – the situation is not as bad as they claim. Humans are right to use the earth’s resources for their benefit. However Professor Roy is correct when she says that we need to look after the environment.