Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
aquariums have not served as effective gene banks for
endangered marine species, especially marine mam-
mals that need large volumes of water.
Instead of seeing zoos and aquariums as sanctuar-
ies, some critics claim that most of them imprison
once-wild animals. They also contend that zoos and
aquariums can foster the notion that we do not need to
preserve large numbers of wild species in their natural
habitats.
Other people criticize zoos and aquariums for
putting on shows in which animals wear clothes, ride
bicycles, or perform tricks. They see such exhibitions
as fostering the idea that the animals exist primarily to
entertain us and, in the process, raise money for their
keepers.
Regardless of their benefits and drawbacks, zoos,
aquariums, and botanical gardens are not biologically
or economically feasible solutions for most of the
world's current endangered species and the much
larger number of species expected to be threatened over
the next few decades.
in places where people live, work, or play. In other
words, we need to learn how to share the spaces we
dominate with other species.
Science and Stewardshp: Implementing
Reconciliation Ecology
Some people are finding creative ways to practice
reconciliation ecology in their neighborhoods and
cities.
Practicing reconciliation ecology begins by looking at
the habitats we prefer. Given a choice, most people
prefer a grassy and fairly open habitat with a few scat-
tered trees and many people prefer to live near a
stream, lake, river, or ocean. We also love flowers.
The problem is that most species do not like what
we like or cannot survive in the habitats we prefer. No
wonder so few of them live with us.
So what do we do? Reconciliation ecology goes far
beyond efforts to attract birds to backyards. For exam-
ple, providing a self-sustaining habitat for a butterfly
species may require 20 or so neighbors to band to-
gether. Maintaining a habitat for an insect-eating bat
species could help keep down mosquitoes and other
pesky insects in a neighborhood.
Some monoculture grass yards could be replaced
with diverse yards using plant species adapted to local
climates that are selected to attract certain species. This
would make neighborhoods more interesting, keep
down insect pests, and require less use of noisy and
polluting lawnmowers.
Communities could have contests and awards for
people who design the most biodiverse and species-
friendly yards and gardens. Signs could describe the
type of ecosystem being mimicked and the species be-
ing protected as a way to educate and encourage exper-
iments by other people. Some creative person might be
able to design more biologically diverse golf courses
and cemeteries. People have already worked together
to help preserve bluebirds within human-dominated
habitats (Science Spotlight, p. 204).
San Francisco's Golden Gate Park is a large oasis
of gardens and trees in the midst of a major city. It is a
good example of reconciliation ecology because it was
designed and planted by humans who transformed it
from a system of sand dunes.
The Department of Defense controls about 10 mil-
lion hectares (25 million acres) of land in the United
States. Perhaps some of this land could serve as labora-
tories for developing and testing reconciliation ecol-
ogy ideas. Some college campuses and schools might
also serve as reconciliation ecology laboratories. How
about yours?
Clearly, protecting the species that make up part of
the earth's biodiversity from premature extinction is a
difficult, controversial, and challenging responsibility.
9-6
RECONCILIATION ECOLOGY
Science and Stewardshp:
Reconciliation Ecology
Reconciliation ecology involves finding ways
to share the places that we dominate with other
species.
In 2003, ecologist Michael L. Rosenzweig wrote a topic
entitled
Win-Win Ecology: How Earth's Species Can Sur-
vive in the Midst of Human Enterprise.
Rosenzweig
strongly supports the eight-point program of Edward
O. Wilson to help save the earth's natural habitats by
establishing and protecting nature reserves (p. 181).
He also supports the species protection strategies dis-
cussed in this chapter. But he contends that, in the long
run, these approaches will fail for two reasons.
First,
current reserves are devoted to saving only
about 7% of the world's terrestrial area. To Rosenzweig,
the real challenge is to help sustain wild species in the
human-dominated portion of nature that makes up
97% of the planet's terrestrial ecological “cake,” exclud-
ing polar and other uninhabitable areas.
Second,
setting aside funds and refuges and pass-
ing laws to protect endangered and threatened species
are essentially desperate attempts to save species that
are in deep trouble. They can help a few species, but
the real challenge is learning how to keep more species
away from the brink of extinction.
Rosenzweig suggests that we develop a new form
of conservation biology, called
reconciliation ecology.
This science focuses on inventing, establishing, and
maintaining new habitats to conserve species diversity
