Maintaining biodiversity: Threatened species are important components of biodiversity, which is the variety of life on Earth. Biodiversity is essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems, which provide us with many benefits such as clean air, water, and food.
Preserving ecological balance: The loss of a threatened species can disrupt the ecological balance of an ecosystem. This can have a domino effect, leading to the decline of other species and ultimately resulting in the collapse of the entire ecosystem.
Protecting ecosystem services: Threatened species often provide important ecosystem services, such as pollination, pest control, and water purification. The loss of these services can have a negative impact on human well-being.
Promoting sustainable development: The conservation of threatened species is essential for achieving sustainable development, which is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Protecting our cultural and natural heritage:** Species are connected to cultural, ethical, religious, economic, recreational, medicinal, and scientific values. Endangered species are at great risk of dying out so we're potentially in danger of losing out on the unique value each particular organism brings.
Fulfilling our moral obligation: Some people believe that we have a moral obligation to protect threatened species, simply because they deserve to exist and we caused many of the current problems.