The tragedy of the commons invading our environmental rights case study: coral reefs

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10/27/04 Research in the Disciplines First Paper Final Draft Tragedy of the commons invading our environmental rights: Case study Coral Reefs In our world there are many resources, all of which people do not have a choice in sharing such as our air and our oceans. These resources are looked at as infinite, although this is not actually the case. Each time one person does something to pollute or use these types of resources, it affects the whole of society. This is the idea of the tragedy of the commons. This tragedy is the phenomena in which a resource may be used to such an extent that it is ruined for all. An example of this tragedy is given in the following scenario: given an open pasture as a commons to which all the herdsmen have a stake; each one will try and keep as many animals on the commons as possible. By adding one more animal to his herd, an individual gains a positive to himself but the negative effect of over grazing is felt throughout the commons. The effect, of overgrazing by one additional animal appears minimal so the other rational herdsmen conclude to add an additional animal to their own herd. Since all the herdsmen are thought to be rational this conclusion is reached by each of them. The effect of, overgrazing will become detrimental to the pasture and all the animals will die. There in is the tragedy because of peoples’ greed to use and or need of a limited resource the over use or degradation of it leads to its destruction. The destruction of these resources leads into another topic discussed by Shari C... ... middle of paper ... ...and Max L. Coleman. “Record of natural and anthropogenic changes in reef environments (Barbados West Indies) using laser ablation ICP-MS and sclerochronology on coral cores” Coral Reefs 22 :416-426 Hoegh-Guldberg, “Coral reefs in a century of rapid environmental change.”Symbiosis 37(2004) 1-31. Jokiel Paul l and Brown Eric K “Global warming, regional trends and inshore environmental conditions influence coral bleaching in Hawaii” Global Change Biology 10(2004)1627-1641 Kühlmann, Dietrich H. H. (1985) Living Coral Reefs of the World. New York: Arco Publishing, Inc. Global Warming. Environmental Protection Agency . November 2, 2004. Famous Coral Reefs Damaged Due to Global Warming will Take a Century to Recover. NASA. November 2, 2004 West Jordan M. and Salm Rodney V. “Resistance and Resilience to Coral Bleaching: Implications for Coral Reef Conservation and Management” Conservation Biology 17.4(2004) 956-967 Major Reef-building Coral Diseases. NOAA&CORIS November 9 2004 http://www.coris.noaa.gov/about/diseases/diseases.html#coral%20bleaching Coral reef restoration: the status of the science. William F. Precht November 11, 2004. http://www.nova.edu/ocean/ncri/precht.html

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