Kyle C Austin

Dr. Schaefer
Anthropology 2281
December 7 2016
Global Problems, Local Solutions
The destruction of habitats, excessive loss in biodiversity, and global climate change are
modern issues that we can strive to remedy by practicing conservation, sustainability, and
environmentally responsible behavior.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines conservation and sustainability as a careful
preservation and protection of something; especially: planned management of a natural
resource to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect and, of, relating to, or being a
method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or
permanently damaged; of or relating to a lifestyle involving the use of sustainable
methods respectively.
According to the National Wildlife Federation, habitat destruction, is the primary threat
to the survival of wildlife in the United States (Habitat Loss). But it does not stop there. Habitat
fragmentation (when wildlife cut up into fragments which makes is harder to obtain food or
mates) and degradation (pollution, disruption of ecosystems) are also major issues.
Various species populate the world and together we create biological diversity. This is
known as biodiversity. The World Wildlife Fund has an excellent description of biodiversity,
the link between all organisms on earth, binding each into an interdependent ecosystem, in which
all species have their role (How Does Biodiversity Affect Me and Everyone Else). In other
words, every living thing in one way or another is connected. To elaborate further, this means

that human action changes ecosystems, and some can have negative repercussions. Loss in
biodiversity could be economically catastrophic and lower our ability to grow food.
The scientific community agrees that climate change is real, and is one of, if not the
greatest threat to humanity and its future as a species (Scientific Consensus: Earths Climate is
Warming). Our sea levels and average global temperatures are rising, our oceans are warming,
our artic sea ice is shrinking, and there has been an increase in high-temperature extreme events
with a lower number of low-temperature events (Climate Change: How Do We Know?). It is
imperative that we make environmentally conservative and sustainable minded decisions in our
daily lives to contribute to the solution.
The University of Utah is an example of how higher education institutions promote
conservation and sustainability. On their campus, they nurture rare species of plants, develop
useful plants, and improve land management practices in a botanical garden by the name of Red
Butte Garden (Conservation Efforts). The Sustainability Office within the university promotes
also stimulates change. By working with the Global Change and Sustainability Center which
focuses on coordinating, promotes, and accelerates interdisciplinary research on human built
systems and their roles within the environment (Sustainability). Also, the Sustainable Resource
Center encourages, supports, educates, and offers tools for students to practice conservation acts
on campus (Sustainability).
In Salt Lake City, there are many practices that offer citizens ways to travel, and save
money on with clean energy. GreenBike is one of the more well-known services offered in
downtown Salt Lake City, and one that I have used while adventuring with friends. Their mission
is simple: travel short distances fast and promote clean air (The Idea: Bike Share in Downtown

SLC). Also, public transportation from United Transit Authority offers a free fare zone in
downtown Salt Lake City as well (Free Fare Zone).
Solar energy, a form of clean and renewable energy is becoming popular in Utah.
Companies like Evelar Solar, Vivant, and others offer solar panels that their customers can lease,
rent, or even buy which in many cases meet their power requirements, save them money, and it is
clean energy! Unfortunately, however, Rocky Mountain Power is trying to pass legislation that
will increase prices for solar customers because they are greedy (Larsen).
The above examples of conservation and sustainability practices are important to the
public because it gives educational opportunities, and motives to get involved and actively take
part in lessening our individual environmental footprints. When government institutions, like
NASA, say if we do not make efforts to change our environmental destructiveness we could be
facing climate changes with detrimental effects. Changes in precipitation patterns and frost-free
seasons, sea levels rising, and specifically for the mid-west extreme heat and flooding (The
Consequences of Climate Change).
Primatologist are pro-conservation, and naturally promote sustainability as well.
Biodiversity is an important way for life forms no matter their size to thrive. In other words,
Greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms (Shah). Discussing
issues concerning conservation and sustainability in a primatology course parallels with
protecting primates. Deforestation, poaching, hunting, illegal trade of primates are all acts from
humans that can be prevented, which has a direct influence on the biodiversity of our planet.
After doing research on for this assignment, I am going to make it a point to use public
transportation, recycle more, and practice energy conservation methods such as turning down the

heater in my apartment. Collectively, even the smallest conservation efforts can have a great
impact on our environment.

Works Cited
Conservation Efforts. University of Utah. Web. attheu.utah.edu/facultystaff/conservationefforts/. Accessed 7 Dec. 2016.
Climate Change: How Do We Know? NASA. Web. climate.nasa.gov/evidence/. Accessed 7
Dec. 2016.
Free Fare Zone. United Transit Authority. Web. www.rideuta.com/Fares-And-Passes/FreeFare-Zone. Accessed 7 Dec. 2016.
Habitat Loss. National Wildlife Federation.Web. www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-toWildlife/Habitat-Loss.aspx. Accessed 7 Dec. 2016.
How Does Biodiversity Affect Me and Everyone Else? World Wildlife Fund. Web.
wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/biodiversity/biodiversity_and_you/. Accessed 7 Dec.
2016.
Larsen, L. Rocky Mountain Power Proposes New Rates for Rooftop Solar Customers.
Standard Examiner. 10 Nov. 2016. Web.
www.standard.net/Environment/2016/11/10/Rocky-Mountain-Power-proposes-new-ratesfor-rooftop-solar-customers. Accessed 7 Dec. 2016.
Scientific Consensus: Earths Climate is Warming. NASA. Web. climate.nasa.gov/scientificconsensus/. Accessed 7 Dec. 2016.
Shah, A. Why is Biodiversity Important, Who Cares? Global Issues. 19 Jan. 2014. Web.
www.globalissues.org/article/170/why-is-biodiversity-important-who-cares. Accessed 7
Dec. 2016.
Sustainability. University of Utah. Web. sustainability.utah.edu/ Accessed 7 Dec. 2016.

Sustainable Salt Lake. Visit Salt Lake. Web. www.visitsaltlake.com/about-saltlake/sustainability/. Accessed 7 Dec. 2016.
The Consequences of Climate Change. NASA. Web. climate.nasa.gov/effects/. Accessed 7 De.
2016.
The Idea: Bike Share in Downtown SLC. GreenBikeSLC. Web. greenbikeslc.org/what-is.
Accessed 7 Dec. 2016.