The main topic this week was to examine the value of biodiversity according to several different 9

ways of thinking: The functional value of ecosystem services was demonstrated in Biosphere II. The
economic value of ecosystem services was demonstrated by Pavan Suhkdev. The intrinsic rights of
animals were argued by Steven Wise, while the ethical value of a biocentric worldview was proposed by
Aldo Leopold.

For discussion 3, evaluate what you think is important in valuing biodiversity. Give a relative weight to each
of these ways of thinking, based on what you think is most important, and explain your reasoning.

● Give a weight from 0-10 for each of these ways of thinking, 10 being most important and 0 being
not important at all.
○ its functional value to humans (0-10),
○ its economic value to humans (0-10),
○ its intrinsic rights (0-10), or its
○ its ethical value as a part of a functioning ecosystem (0-10).
● Explain why each way of valuing is important or unimportant to you and some of the
implications to biodiversity that you see in valuing biodiversity according to this way of
thinking.
● Use sources from the course and external sources to support your reasoning. Include APA in-text
citations and references where appropriate.
● Submit your discussion by the deadline for Discussion 3 on the Critical Path.

For discussion weightings and deadline, please see the Critical Path.