Question

The narrowly utilitarian arguments for biodiversity conservation include which of the following from the given list?
(i) Industrial products like dyes, lubricants
(ii) Ecosystem services like photosynthesis
(iii) Pollinators layer of bees, birds and bats
(iv) Firewood, fibre and construction material
(v) The aesthetic pleasure of walking through thick woods
(vi) Products of medicinal importance
(vii) Watching spring flowers in full bloom

• A. (i), (ii), (v) and (vii)
• B. (ii), (iii), (v) and (vii)
• C. (i), (iv) and (vi)
• D. (iii), (v), (vi) and (vii)

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

(i), (iv) and (vi)

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. More than 25 per cent of the drugs

currently sold in the market worldwide are derived from plants and 25,000

species of plants contribute to the traditional medicines used by native

peoples around the world. Nobody knows how many more medicinally

useful plants there are in tropical rain forests waiting to be explored.

With increasing resources put into ‘bioprospecting’ (exploring molecular,

genetic and species-level diversity for products of economic importance),

nations endowed with rich biodiversity can expect to reap enormous

benefits.

So the correct option is '(i), (iv) and (vi)'.