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Sustainable Ecosystem Change: Is It Possible?
from:Much of the information found on the internet and indeed, even taught in schools today indicates that human activity is to blame for a whole variety of planetary ills, including climate change, depletion of irreplaceable natural resources, and animal and plant species decimation. Oftentimes the paradigm for these articles is that there is a "natural" environment, which has been offset or otherwise ruined by human involvement. However, if we consider the idea that mankind is ultimately a part of his ecosystem as much as anything else, then the question becomes this: is sustainable ecosystem change possible? And if so, what does it look like?
The question begs a bit of explanation. "Ecosystem change" is the term broadly applied to all the changes that have been observed as taking place over the time recorded in human history. For example, there is no dispute to the fact that glaciers have melted and generally shrunk over the past 100-200 years. Photographs show it; recorded data prove it. The debate begins when the question becomes: How much of this is due to human influence, and how much would have taken place in an imaginary world with no humans?
The idea that humans are not "outside" the natural ecosystem, but rather a part of it, means that some amount of ecosystem change may be unavoidable and even desirable. After all, what is there in nature that is not constantly in flux? Trees grow new leaves every season; animals give birth to young and raise them. Anything that is not changing, is dead. So then perhaps some amount of ecosystem change, whereby one ecosystem is converted to another type of ecosystem, is actually a healthy part of nature's course. The difference between humans and everything else is that a salmon doesn't worry when he defecates how it will affect his ecosystem; humans do.
Not to say that there hasn't been a vast amount of human abuse of their ecosystem, wreaking havoc on the animal and plant life forms within those systems; there has. But the question for the 21st century scientist ought to be: does human existence have to include self-destructive ecosystem change? Or could a society exist with a reasonable of comfort, safety, etc., and yet not become a major force for change within their ecosystem?
For future generations, it could be more than just an academic question; it may be the question on which their very survival depends. For if the rate of current ecosystem change cannot be slowed, by almost any account, human existence will surely be wiped out or severely curtailed.
Elephants Ecosystem News
Could imported elephants trample Australia's environmental woes? - io9
Could imported elephants trample Australia's environmental woes? io9 These mammals threaten the Australian ecosystem because of "the lack of any population control," explains Bowman. The once-domestic animal populations can increase quickly without warning, spreading into new territory and out-competing native species. |
Dragons & elephants may save Australia, scientist says - Fox News
 Fox News | Dragons & elephants may save Australia, scientist says Fox News Now, an Australian scientist says he has a radical solution to these issues: Import large animals, such as elephants, to consume flammable grasses and combat the feral animals that are reconstructing the ecosystem. "A lot of people are saying that we ... Introduce elephants to solve bushfire risks: professor Conservation: Bring elephants to Australia? Move elephants into Australia, scientist proposes |
Will the elephant in the room please come to the table? - ABC Online
 ABC Online | Will the elephant in the room please come to the table? ABC Online Professor David Bowman has published an opinion piece in the respected science journal Nature today suggesting that we introduce elephants to Australia. He makes two critical points with which I agree. Australian ecosystems are in a desperate state of ... Australia's Newest Firefighters: Elephants? A Proposal to Introduce Elephants to Australia: Really? |
Scientist Suggests Importing Elephants and Rhinos to Australia - Outdoor Life Magazine (blog)
Scientist Suggests Importing Elephants and Rhinos to Australia Outdoor Life Magazine (blog) "What I am saying is that we need a new nature — we need to try ecosystem engineering." Non-native, flammable grasses like the African gamba grass make fires a constant problem in Australia. Foxes, cats and other feral animals are reducing native ... Real elephant in the room is the loss of science's credibility |
'Journey 2' just plain silly - Toronto Sun
 Globe and Mail | 'Journey 2' just plain silly Toronto Sun We're talking an island that volcanically pops intermittently in and out of the ocean with a full ecosystem. Said ecosystem supports pygmy elephants along with giant iguanas, birds and bees (insects that apparently don't mind being ridden bareback by ... Journey 2: The Mysterious Island Movie Review |
Paignton Zoo project captures rare forest elephant on film - This Is South Devon
Paignton Zoo project captures rare forest elephant on film This Is South Devon Sue Lowe continued: “Elephants play an important role in the ecosystem of the forest – they spread seeds from the fruit and nuts that they eat. Some of these seeds can only germinate after they have been through the digestive system of an elephant. |
Majority of protected tropical forests "empty" due to hunting - Mongabay.com
 Mongabay.com | Majority of protected tropical forests "empty" due to hunting Mongabay.com Poaching of big animals such as elephants, tigers, and rhinos often make the most news, but Harrison says smaller, less well-known animals are just as vital to the maintenance of the ecosystem. Hunters often target fruiting trees for their quarry ... In the News: Majority of tropical forest reserves “empty” due to hunting |
Kenya: Voi Rogue Elephant Moved to Tsavo Park - AllAfrica.com
Kenya: Voi Rogue Elephant Moved to Tsavo Park AllAfrica.com Two weeks ago, a man was killed by a rogue elephant sparking off protests by the villagers. Assistant director of KWS in-charge of Tsavo ecosystem Wilson Korir said the elephant could not be driven to the park since it wanted to protect its young one. |