Sustainable use can be defined as the use of biological diversity components in a way and at a rate that does not lead to the long-term decline of biological diversity to safeguard the potential to meet the needs and aspirations of both present and future generations.

There are three aspects of the principle: economic, social, and ecological.

Simply put, profit, people and planet.

It is a mistake to focus on only one of the pillars without considering the other two.

If profit is the only motive, the resource will rapidly disappear.

If we emphasize only people’s needs, biodiversity will shrink.

If policies are simply eco-centric, there will be no buy-in from the communities that live with the resource.

And this is where the animal rights activists have it horribly wrong.

People must benefit, but it has to be in a responsible manner.

The Eden fallacy is a perfidious illusion.