The cost of saving our corncrakes

Madam, - How sad to read Michael Durkan's misinformed conclusionson the so-called tangible benefits of motorways versus thesupposedly intangible benefits of biodiversity (March 28th). It maybe easier to drive along a four-lane motorway than it is to spot acorncrake or a great yellow bumblebee, but that doesn't make thebenefit of the bird or bee any less tangible.

The economic value of wildlife has been quantified by countlessstudies. A simple internet search reveals the many millions of eurogenerated by wildlife tourism, as well as the value of ecosystemservices such as crop pollination by bees or natural habitats asflood defences.

Mr Durkan asks what biodiversity has ever done for him; well, heowes his very life to it. What does he think pollinates the crops heeats, provides the oxygen he breathes, keeps disease under control,prevents his home from washing away or purifies the water he drinks?Our flora and fauna are so, so much more than pretty or interestingcurios to be looked at. They provide the fabric that makes ourexistence possible. We have a duty to protect them, not leastbecause if we fail to do so we ourselves run the risk of catastropheas a species.

The value of biodiversity? "A child of five would understandthis, send someone to fetch a child of five" - Groucho Marx. -Yours, etc,

ALAN LAUDER,

Chief Executive,

BirdWatch Ireland,

Bullford Business Campus,

Kilcoole, Co Wicklow.

A chara, - Michael Durkan is tempted, in his recent letter (March28th), to pose the question "What has biodiversity ever done forme?".

I could not tell from his tone whether or not the question wasrhetorical - either way I believe the best answer is a sayingtraditionally attributed to the Cree Indians: "Only after the lasttree has been cut down, Only after the last river has been poisoned,Only after the last fish has been caught, Only then will you findthat money cannot be eaten". - Is mise,

TOMAS O hAODHA,

Curra Glen,

Clondrohid,

Macroom, Co Cork.