Ark of the Broken Covenant: Protecting the World's Biodiversity Hotspots (Issues in Comparative Public Law)

Blending scientific and legal expertise, Kunich proves that a devastating ecological crisis is imminent or even underway already, and that conservation law has yet to catch up with biological science. He challenges readers with a hotspots wager, arguing that he have vastly more to gain than lose by legally protecting biological hotspots, and that foregoing them in favor of the relatively minor and immediate returns arising from their devastation is both foolish and, ultimately, dangerous. Legal thought lags behind modern science in focusing on and setting priorities for global conservation. An extinction spasm is imminent, many scientists argue, due to the ongoing global devastation of biological hotspots, home to a disproportionate share of all life forms, including perhaps millions of unknown species. These hotspots have already lost 88 percent of their primary vegetation and are likely to lose much more, yet few legal measures exist to protect them. Environmental legal protections are often incomprehensive and feebly enforced. Even worse, 62 percent of all hotspots are unprotected. Kunich provides a brief history and science of extinction. He discusses the importance of saving species from extinction and analyzes the legal measures directed toward preserving biodiversity in nations that harbor hotspots. Blending Scientific And Legal Expertise, The Author Proves That A Devastating Ecological Crisis Is Imminent Or Even Underway Already, And That Conservation Law Has Yet To Catch Up With Biological Science. He Challenges Readers With A Hotspots Wager, Arguing That He Have Vastly More To Gain Than Lose By Legally Protecting Biological Hotspots, And That Foregoing Them In Favor Of The Relatively Minor And Immediate Returns Arising From Their Devastation Is Both Foolish And, Ultimately, Dangerous. Legal Thought Lags Behind Modern Science In Focusing On And Setting Priorities For Global Conservation. An Extinction Spasm Is Imminent, Many Scientists Argue, Due To The Ongoing Global Devastation Of Biological Hotspots, Home To A Disproportionate Share Of All Life Forms, Including Perhaps Millions Of Unknown Species. These Hotspots Have Already Lost 88 Percent Of Their Primary Vegetation And Are Likely To Lose Much More, Yet Few Legal Measures Exist To Protect Them. Environmental Legal Protections Are Often Incomprehensive And Feebly Enforced. Even Worse, 62 Percent Of All Hotspots Are Unprotected. The Author Provides A Brief History And Science Of Extinction. He Discusses The Importance Of Saving Species From Extinction And Analyzes The Legal Measures Directed Toward Preserving Biodiversity In Nations That Harbor Hotspots. Extinction And The Biodiversity Hotspots -- The Hotspots -- Burn Control? Current International Law Releant To Hotspots Preservation -- Biodiversity Preservation, Nation By Nation -- A Legal Proposal For Saving The Planet : The Vital Ecosystems Preservation Act -- To Be Or Not To Be. John Charles Kunich. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents......Page 4 Preface......Page 10 1. Extinction and the Biodiversity Hotspots......Page 13 2. The Hotspots......Page 41 3. Burn Control? Current International Law Relevant to Hotspots Preservation......Page 57 4. Biodiversity Preservation, Nation by Nation......Page 103 5. A Legal Proposal for Saving the Planet: The Vital Ecosystems Preservation Act......Page 155 6. To Be or Not to Be......Page 179 Conclusion......Page 209 Index......Page 215 Blending scientific and legal expertise, Kunich aims to prove that a devastating ecological crisis is imminent or even underway already, and that conservation law has yet to catch up with biological science.