Our species’ obsession with controlling nature is almost overwhelming. But one animal can never force an outcome. No matter how hard we try, our efforts to create ecosystemsHow ecosystems function An ecosystem is a community of lifeforms that interact in such an optimal way that how ecosystems function best, is when all components (including humans and other animals) can persist and live alongside each other for the longest time possible. Ecosystems are fuelled by the energy created by plants (primary producers) that convert the Sun's heat energy More fail, unless we embrace the power of wildlife communities. The first and ongoing problem we have is our definition of ‘nature’. The adoption of new jargon called ‘nature-based solutions’ is not helping the case for wildlife conservationWhy is animal conservation important? Animal conservation is important, because animals are the only mechanism to create biodiversity, which is the mechanism that creates a habitable planet for humans. Without animals, the energy from today’s plants (algae, trees, flowers etc) will eventually reach the atmosphere and ocean, much of it as carbon. The quantity of this plant-based waste is so More. Because the lack of appreciation of animals as fundamental drivers of all ecosystems is still missing from the global narrative. The fact is, reversing extinction using wildlife, is our only hope. That’s why this event at Knepp Farm in the UK is so significant.
Resurrection of Large Tortoiseshell
For over fifty years the Large Tortoiseshell butterfly has been extinct in Britain. Breeding colonies have just been found at Knepp Farm, the famous ‘rewilding’ site, written about in the book Wilding by Isabella Tree.
A US research paper in 2008 found that ‘Based on a broad review of published and unpublished literature and 47 interviews with agency staff, we find that the majority of species require active restoration’.
But the policy at Knepp Farm is non-intervention and letting nature take its course. Transformation of land happens fastest when when we let go. Knepp Farm’s owners didn’t reintroduce Large Tortoiseshell, the wildlife that lives there resurrected the ecosystem – providing new homes for species. White storks even moved in on their own volition too. Knepp Farm is reversing extinction using wildlife.
So beyond stoked about the discovery of large tortoiseshells breeding here @kneppwilding – a butterfly officially labelled as extinct in the UK. Loving our scrubland. Well spotted Neil Hulme and @MatthewOates76! https://t.co/R8zkq2BQY3
— Isabella Tree (@isabella_tree) July 8, 2022
The fact that scientists can’t explain how this works doesn’t surprise me. The systems we are dealing with are so complex we will never be able to predict or describe them. Instead we need to be embracing the miracle. It’s also a lot cheaper!
What is nature?
The miracle of nature is that left to its devices it recovers fast. There is no quicker way to restore land, save humanity and address all manner of environment problems. All we need to do is stand back and give wildlife a chance.
It’s extraordinary that we even think we can create ‘heaven and Earth’ for them … and ignore the actual fact that only wildlife and humans acting together can recreate a habitable planet.
We need a change in human values and widespread acceptance that wildlife conservation is key to all our futures. This is is the subject of my book ‘Wildlife in the Balance’. There is solid science behind why this happens and what to expect. But the scientific community is not sufficiently aware and our leaders are not being told this joyous but critical story for our future.
This leads to the assumption, at the highest level of government, that animals are commodities to be ‘used’. Ian Redmond recently raised concern about the rhetoric around CITES (see tweet, below). Of course the reality is that we are using up our planet and animals are humanity’s best hope.
Congratulations on being elected to this important role, Yvonne.
— Ian Redmond (@4Apes) July 5, 2022
Surely the partnership exists not to promote the use of #wildlife, but to promote conservation and ensure that any use is #sustainable.
Subtle but important difference!@ivonnehiguero @BonnConvention @andersen_inger https://t.co/ewirzTXCzB
Changing the narrative
First we have to accept that ‘nature’ is not some external entity that we can toy with. It’s a system that incorporates trillions of entities all working together and we are part of that. By imagining ourselves as separate or superior, we actually render our own species surplus to requirement. The irony is that the more we try to control the outcome, the faster our environment declines. This hastens our own potential extinction.
Our ham-fisted attempts at conservation are hence too crude. Reversing extinction using wildlife is the only approach. Without the sophisticated, subtle and widespread assistance of a tribe of different species working together, we break ecosystems. We just don’t have the necessary precision of thousands of animals.
It’s extraordinary that we even think we can create ‘heaven and Earth’ for them … and ignore the actual fact that only wildlife and humans acting together can recreate a habitable planet. If you either take the people out of nature or the people out of wildlife, nothing makes sense.
Examples of the power of nature to restore, such as the story of large tortoiseshell butterflies nonetheless gives me great hope. Hope at least, that wildlife will restore itself, even long after we are gone.
If we’re to be part of that future though, we have to find our place among animals. And that means exercising less control and being more aware of our limits.
