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From: prs@oliveb.UUCP (Phil Stephens)
Newsgroups: net.sci
Subject: Re: Costs of extinction
Message-ID: <69@oliveb.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 5-Oct-86 00:08:35 EDT
Article-I.D.: oliveb.69
Posted: Sun Oct  5 00:08:35 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 8-Oct-86 21:47:22 EDT
References: <26500079@inmet> <26500106@inmet> <1166@cybvax0.UUCP> <44@oliveb.UUCP> <1170@cybvax0.UUCP>
Reply-To: prs@oliven.UUCP (Philip Stephens)
Organization: Olivetti ATC; Cupertino, Ca
Lines: 52
Keywords: well argued, thanks; what next?

In article <1170@cybvax0.UUCP> mrh@cybvax0.UUCP (Mike Huybensz) writes:
>In article <44@oliveb.UUCP> prs@oliven.UUCP (Philip Stephens) writes:
 
>> Good idea, if workable.  Can you (or anyone else on this group) confirm the

>Quite a bit of research (and some applied technology) is based on frozen
>genetic material.

[... much good background material ...]

>are maintaining thousands of strains per species at multiple sites to prevent
>loss due to accident.  Total number of strains for the top ten crop species
>is probably over 100,000.

>> I do *not* mean this question as an implicite criticism; I really want to

>In summary, preservation with current technology is best done by preserving
>natural habitats: something that can be done at a much lower cost than
>Star Wars.  Until we are confident that we have extracted all the biological
>information we can from an ecosystem, it does not make sense to allow that
>ecosystem to become eradicated.  If destruction is inevitable, triage in
>the form of preserves is the best solution.  In extremis, collection of 
>frozen specimens is possible, but too much information is lost.
>-- 
>
>Mike Huybensz		...decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!cybvax0!mrh

I agree.  And thanks for the background information, I now know much more
about this than before reading your reply.  

Next, what are the prospects for getting international cooperation
of governments and corporations, etc?  Particularly in Brazil, if I understand
the arguments correctly.  I assume that the need at this time is to:

	o Scientifically document the value of preserving genetic 
	  diversity in its original habitat, and get the message 
	  to appropriate individuals and groups.

	o Find ways to help accomplish in less destructive ways what
	  individuals and groups want to gain from clearing the jungles.

	o Accelerate, in the meanwhile, efforts at preserving genetic
	  material samples; prepare to be able to do the triage *if* it
	  becomes necessary.

Frankly, I don't know much about this, but it sounds important.  I would like
to see discussion (by people better informed than I) of what practical measures
can be taken.


	- Phil				prs@oliven.UUCP (Phil Stephens)
	 			or:	prs@oliveb.UUCP