So the question becomes: Is their a reasonable basis on which to argue that we have an ethical obligation to promote conservation of biodiversity? The question arises because values that reflect ethical obligations are more likely to command adherence than those that reflect taste or preference. In an effort to persuade others that conservation efforts are worthwhile, being able to show them that those efforts are required to fulfill certain ethical observations will carry a lot of weight.
There are, however, several problems facing the development of a conservation ethic: the problem of holism, the problem of ``natural'', and the problem of deciding.