One important concept that speaks to our deep connections to biodiversity is
Biophilia15, which refers to the notion that the love of nature may have been
ingrained into our genes by natural selection. Edward O. Wilson coined the
term and argues that our very survival through human evolution depended
on a detailed knowledge of natural history. This was vital for finding food,
shelter, materials, and medicine. Those lacking the ability to develop an
intimate knowledge of biodiversity were simply less successful at surviving and
reproducing.
The idea of kinship between animals and people is common in many parts of
the world. In the islands of the South Pacific, fishing families have a unique
relationship with certain animals, usually turtles or sharks. For each family, these
special species (or groups of species) are considered sacred and it is taboo to
hunt them; this relationship is carried on through the generations.
Melina F. Laverty, Eleanor J. Sterling, and Elizabeth A. Johnson. Why is Biodiversity Important? "Copyright 2003, by the authors of the material and the Center for Biodiversity
and Conservation of the American Museum of Natural History. All rights
reserved."
