Which of the following statements accurately describe the narrowly utilitarian arguments for conserving biodiversity?
I. Ecosystem services such as photosynthesis.
II. Industrial products like dyes and lubricants.
III. Enjoying the sight of spring flowers in full bloom.
IV. Finding aesthetic pleasure in walking through dense woods.
V. Utilising resources like fibre, firewood, and construction material.
VI. Harnessing products of medicinal importance.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → II, V and VI
The narrowly utilitarian argument is about the direct economic benefits humans take from nature: food, firewood, fibre, construction material, industrial products and medicines. Ecosystem services and the pleasures we get from nature belong to the broadly utilitarian argument.
I. Ecosystem services such as photosynthesis. — False. Oxygen produced through photosynthesis is an ecosystem service, so it is a broadly utilitarian benefit.
II. Industrial products like dyes and lubricants. — True. Industrial products are direct economic benefits, listed under the narrowly utilitarian argument.
III. Enjoying the sight of spring flowers in full bloom. — False. This is an intangible, aesthetic benefit, which NCERT places with the broadly utilitarian argument.
IV. Finding aesthetic pleasure in walking through dense woods. — False. Also an intangible benefit, so broadly utilitarian.
V. Utilising resources like fibre, firewood, and construction material. — True. These are direct products taken from nature, so they come under the narrowly utilitarian argument.
VI. Harnessing products of medicinal importance. — True. Medicines are direct products too; more than 25 per cent of the drugs sold worldwide come from plants.
So II, V and VI describe the narrowly utilitarian argument.
NCERT Extract:
Why Should We Conserve Biodiversity? – “… The narrowly utilitarian arguments for conserving biodiversity are obvious; humans derive countless direct economic benefits from nature–food (cereals, pulses, fruits), firewood, fibre, construction material, industrial products (tannins, lubricants, dyes, resins, perfumes ) and products of medicinal importance.”
Why Should We Conserve Biodiversity? – “… There are other intangible benefits – that we derive from nature–the aesthetic pleasures of walking through thick woods, watching spring flowers in full bloom or waking up to a bulbul’s song in the morning. Can we put a price tag on such things?”