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from 21 may 2006 blue vol V, #6 |
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Protecting and Restoring Natural Ecosystems for After the Crash 
by Glen Barry
This meander occupies itself with identifying global environmental policy initiatives, and personal actions in their support, that are most likely to prove sufficient in maintaining a biosphere able to support humans, albeit at a reduced density and consumption level, and other species with whom we share the planet. What hope remains for the Earth and the human project can be found in protecting large intact ecosystems known as "core ecological areas", regional restoration of key ecosystems and connecting corridors known as "rewilding"; and in reducing humanity's sum total energy use through energy conservation. The Earth is in a condition of ecological overshoot, meaning that levels of population, environmental decline and resource depletion have exceeded the replenishment capacity of the Earth. We have simply misjudged the weight of the human enterprise upon the Earth, her natural systems and other life forms, and have already exceeded the Earth's carrying capacity. Such a crash will entail massive mayhem, death and violence as not only ecological but also agricultural, economic, political and social systems cease functioning. I have long thought that global ecological collapse holds the potential to completely eradicate, if not all humans, all semblance of modern life. Increasingly I am coming to realize that while this may be true, there is likely to be decades if not generations where bands of humans are called upon to subsist mostly locally. Whether humans perish or adapt is largely dependent upon the ability of formerly modern and affluent humans to re-acclimate to living with nature in a decentralized, re-localized fashion. And this depends critically upon the state of local ecosystems and the resource base of soils, forests, water and other sources of natural capital. In order to provide conditions suitable to widespread survival of human populations post-ecological collapse, the bright green environmental movement must focus upon protecting the world's remaining large core ecological areas, rewilding degraded landscapes and rigorously conserving energy in order that post-collapse there remain ecosystems and resources to reconstitute local steady state sustainable economies. And just maybe success in these realms will avert a major global ecological collapse. Cushioning the Crash When some actual event heralding major ecosystem collapse occurs, and perhaps all of a sudden the public wakes up, the chances of doing anything at that point will depend mightily upon how much we have managed to protect (I would suggest these events occur regularly but are not perceived as such). Even as the forces of destruction including the oil, logging and mining industries continue to destroy ecosystems, our task is to protect and restore as much functional and healthy ecosystems as we can, so there are as many seeds of recovery as possible. Ecological core areas are particularly important in this regard. This conservation biology term defines ecosystems large enough to contain viable populations of all species in an area, particularly top predators other than humans, and large enough to incorporate natural disturbances such as fire and storms. Such areas provide for local and regional ecosystem needs, while powering the global ecological system. Large mostly intact and contiguous forest wildlands like those found in the Amazon, Congo, Papua New Guinea, Canada and Russia are the ultimate ecological core areas. Their existence is a prerequisite for the global ecosystem to function, and their loss or fragmentation may well push the Earth into collapse. Rewilding is reconnecting landscapes to again achieve ecological core areas, albeit at a smaller spatial scale, by carefully planning massive restoration of ecological systems. This may be as simple as removing human disturbances such as roads in key areas, and letting remnant vegetation expand. Or it may require replenishment plantings and removal of exotic species. Vast areas of America, Asia, Africa and Europe have simply seen their ecosystems decimated, largely causing the planetary predicament now facing humanity. For example, it is vitally important that important watersheds and lands undergoing desertification are rewilded. Given the magnitude of the looming ecological catastrophe, it is easy to think that conserving energy really does not matter much. It does. No human activity is more responsible for ecological decline than production and use of energy - in particular oil, coal and gas. From exploration, to production, transport, refining and consumption - the industrial behemoths producing these products and consumers like you and me are literally killing species, destroying rainforests and ravaging the atmosphere every time we drive or turn on a light. Energy of any type - even renewable - comes at great expense to the Earth. There are many ways to use less energy - from living closer to work to better light bulbs - that remain to be fully implemented with haste. I recommend humanity conserve and restore as many natural ecosystems as possible (particularly the World's last large wildlands) and reduce our energy use as the most important things that can be done to maintain a biosphere that is as least damaged as possible. This will not allow humanity to continue along it current population/consumption/ecological destruction trajectory. Nothing will. But it may reduce the extent of the ecological overshoot, and allow for enough ecosystems and energy to recover from the inevitable crash towards which humanity careens. Personal Sustainability There are several actions you can take now to work on the sustainability of your own lifestyle in support of the broader global ecological imperatives described above. Become a citizen advocate, working for protection of core ecological areas, rewilding of vital large ecosystems, and promoting energy conservation. And in a huge conflict of interest - I recommend you divert your charitable giving to organizations like Ecological Internet that are committed to sufficient responses such as ending ancient forest logging. I frequently get emails asking me "what can I do", and I always recommend picking an ecosystem that is important to you - perhaps a special state park near you, or a larger area like the Amazon even - and become an expert on its conservation. Educate yourself, identify like minded people with whom to gather information, develop strategies and policies to protect and restore the area, and then get active in implementing the plan. Protest, advocate and agitate to protect that one area - and network with others doing so elsewhere. Our networked movement of such grassroots efforts will maximize options for the future. And again I recommend you get yourself to a piece of land to love and restore, and where you can subsist following the crash. While it is true that apartment living usually leaves the smallest ecological footprint, after the collapse cities and suburbs in particular are going to be no go zones that will become post-collapse slums. If you intend to have any possibility of surviving the collapse and being part of the resurgence, you will need to be on land where you subsist within a community of green living practitioners. My own personal struggle to establish myself on the land continues apace. I remain committed to a Jeffersonian vision of agrarian democracy updated with deep ecology sentiments. There is much evidence of rewilding on my land as the bats in the attic continue to thrive and squirrels and other wildlife return. The old farm house is insulated and well stocked, and hundreds of trees are planted. But it is still to be determined whether I can make a living from my web offerings to pay student loans and meet other basic needs from deep in rural Wisconsin. I have yet to develop a sense of community with like minded practitioners of green living, and find it difficult at times to avoid abject loneliness. This undoubtedly has much to do with my general alienation from society (present net community excepted), a dearth of close friends in a new community, and not having a partner (anyone out there want to date a cute aging seer of green apocalypse? I didn't think so ;-) It scares me more to be alone than to contemplate the death of the Earth and her humanity. Frequently I am asked why I care that ecological crash will kill billions and perhaps drive humans to extinction. As well as being a political ecologist I am a humanist and I believe that the most fundamental instinct of all species is to work for survival of their kind. Death and destruction may come against our best wishes. And it may be exactly what the Earth requires to be renewed. But nonetheless we must continue to live in a manner likely to maximize the beauty and fullness of the Earth and humanity following their rebirth. 
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