The thought process behind it is self preservation I think.

Sure some other species probably will manage to evolve to take our place but that is pretty presbyopic or "Far Sighted", isn't that just as misguided?

The article is about a moss species that seems to have flourished after being exposed to sunlight due to logging that occured 60 years ago that is now being starved of sunlight due to the trees growing back. Interesting that this in some ways does support your argument in a round about way.

Considering new diseases are appearing out of the wilderness, I think it would be wise to save this moss in the event it has a future medicinal use.