Foreword 



The reduction of the Earth's biological diversity has emerged as a public policy 

 issue in the last several years. Growing awareness of this planetary problem has 

 prompted increased study of the subject and has led to calls to increase public and 

 private initiatives to address the problem. This interest in maintaining biological 

 diversity has created a common ground for a variety of groups concerned with 

 implications of a reduction or ultimate loss of the planet's genetic, species, or eco- 

 system diversity. 



One major concern is that loss of plant, animal, and microbial resources may 

 impair future options to develop new important products and processes in agricul- 

 ture, medicine, and industry. Concerns also exist that loss of diversity undermines 

 the potential of populations and species to respond or adapt to changing environ- 

 mental conditions. Because humans ultimately depend on environmental support 

 functions, special caution should be taken to ensure that diversity losses do not 

 disrupt these functions. Finally, esthetic and ethical motivation to avoid the irre- 

 versible loss of unique life forms has played an increasingly major role in promot- 

 ing public and private programs to conserve particular species or habitats. 



The broad implications of loss of biological diversity are also reflected in the 

 different concerns and jurisdictions of congressional committees that requested 

 or supported this study. Requestors include the House Committee on Science, Space, 

 and Technology; Senate Committee on Foreign Relations; and Senate Committee 

 on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. The House Committee on Foreign Affairs; 

 House Committee on Agriculture; and House Committee on Merchant Marine and 

 Fisheries endorsed the requested study. 



The task presented to OTA by these committees was to clarify for Congress 

 the nature of the problems of reduction of the Earth's biological diversity and to 

 set forth a range of policy options available to Congress to respond to various con- 

 cerns. The principal aim of this report is to identify and assess the technological 

 and institutional opportunities and constraints to maintaining biological diversity 

 in the United States and worldwide. Two background papers [Grassroots Conser- 

 vation of Biological Diversity in the United States and Maintaining Biological Diver- 

 sity in the United States: Data Considerations) and a staff paper (The Role of U.S. 

 Development Assistance in Maintaining Biological Diversity in Developing Coun- 

 tries) were also prepared in conjunction with this study. 



OTA is grateful for the valuable assistance of the study's advisory panel, work- 

 groups, workshop participants, authors of background papers, and the many other 

 reviewers from the public and private sectors who provided advice and informa- 

 tion throughout the course of this assessment. As with all OTA studies, the content 

 of this report is the sole responsibility of OTA. 



TT, ■^C''^^^*<**-..^ 



JOHN H. GIBBONS 

 Director 



