Political ecologies of extinction: from endpoint to inflection-point. Introduction to the Special Section

Amidst the many socio-ecological crises facing world today, biodiversity crisis is considered one of most foundational. According to scientists, we have entered yet another mass extinction event in history planet, though first triggered by impacts combined, uneven actions species. This introductory paper a Special Section on "Political ecologies extinction" frames this through political ecology, and explores what could look like focus 21st century. Building emerging literatures author contributions, it agrees that much more than endpoint long rocky road decline It an uneven, historical process conjoins political, geographical, socio-ecological, other factors. Most all, ecology highlights intertwined forces economy, power whereby I argue special should be how biological diversity our understanding has changed over time, especially last two centuries. The capitalist intensification pressures combined with changing perceptions value during time led moment where decisively moves from inflection-point. How relate these 'points' contemporary, local global economy central extinction, as exemplified articles Section. article lays out their core themes, derives them further pointers questions for developing field.