Ecology

(The meeting in the Department of Environment Protection continues.)

"This is no good. Our country needs a forest and a wealth of wildlife." The minister shakes his head.

"Sir, you are right - but only partly," the private secretary murmurs, "Our country also needs agriculture and industry and a whole lot of other things - we have so many citizens, new and old, who needs to make a living. There is an opportunistic cost when we decide how to use the water from the river."

"Minister, if our aim is to preserve a diversity of wildlife in our country, there is nothing to worry." The permanent secretary says calmly.

"What do you mean?"

"You see? Yes, the forest is disappearing, and we can no longer find deers or squirrels or woodpeckers. Nonetheless, there are other animals that struggle for their living in a desert. We have camel, fennec fox, lizard, and a handful of others."

"But... the spectrum is different! And the land is no as fertile as it used to be!" The minister raise his voice.

"Sir, you'd better see it as a change in ecology." The permanent secretary says carefully.

"Is it? Humphrey, when do you become a Buddhist?" The minister says, finding himself more cynical than ever.