Conservation in the Anthropocene.
نویسندگان
چکیده
It has become commonplace to remark that humans are now the dominant environmental force on the Earth. The indications are strong and diverse. They range from paleontologists reaching a consensus that humans contributed to megafaunal extinctions on at least two continents, North America and Australia (Barnosky et al. 2004); recognition that formerly intact marine ecosystems have changed enormously (Jackson et al. 2001); suggestions that climate has changed sufficiently that no ecosystem is immune from alterations in species composition (Lavergne et al. 2010); remarks that pollution is widespread even in Antarctica (van den Brink et al. 2011); and arguments that human predation on mammals is pernicious (Collins & Kays 2011) and the principal driver of changes in phenotypic traits of exploited species in many areas (Darimont et al. 2009). Some scientists use geographic data to show that human activities affect almost every terrestrial system (e.g., the human footprint [Sanderson et al. 2002]). Indeed, the current epoch is now being referred to as the Anthropocene (Crutzen & Stoermer 2000), which has led geologists to formally debate stratigraphic evidence for this new phenomenon (Zalasiewicz et al. 2011) and to argue over not if but when it began (Ruddiman 2003). With the catchword Anthropocene in ascendancy, one might easily come away with the impression that nowhere on Earth is natural, in one of the word’s specific meanings of ecosystems being untouched by humans (Karieva et al. 2007), and indeed it is common to hear the phrase humans have altered everything. Although we agree that humans are a dominant species and have affected natural systems at a global scale, we suggest that humans may have less influence at smaller extents of specific regions and even ecosystems. We fear that the concept of pervasive human-caused change may cultivate hopelessness in those dedicated to conservation
منابع مشابه
The Anthropocene concept in ecology and conservation.
The term 'Anthropocene' was first used in the year 2000 to refer to the current time period in which human impacts are at least as important as natural processes. It is currently being considered as a potential geological epoch, following on from the Holocene. While most environmental scientists accept that many key environmental parameters are now outside their Holocene ranges, there is no agr...
متن کاملConservation physiology and the quest for a ‘good’ Anthropocene
It has been proposed that we are now living in a new geological epoch known as the Anthropocene, which is specifically defined by the impacts that humans are having on the Earth's biological diversity and geology. Although the proposal of this term was borne out of an acknowledgement of the negative changes we are imparting on the globe (e.g. climate change, pollution, coastal erosion, species ...
متن کاملDesafíos de la conservación del mangle en el antropoceno
This essay addresses the conservation issues facing mangroves in the Anthropocene, defined as the era of human domination over the world. We review the laws, policies, international agreements, and local actions that address the conservation of mangrove forests in the Neotropics and relate them to the Anthropocene. Collaboration between governments, non-governmental organizations, and communiti...
متن کاملPalaeontological evidence for defining the Anthropocene
Palaeontology formed the basis for defining most of the geological eras, periods, epochs and ages that are commonly recognized. By the same token, the Anthropocene can be defined by diverse palaeontological criteria, in accordance with commonly accepted biostratigraphic practice. The most useful Anthropocene biostratigraphic zones will be assemblage and abundance zones based on mixes of native ...
متن کاملTowards an Animal Ethics for the Anthropocene 1
The complex problems of wildlife conservation during the current stage of the Anthropocene – the ‘Great Acceleration’ – are forcing us to develop an alternative to the traditional (utilitarian und deontological) approaches within animal ethics. I will put forward Martha Nussbaum’s capability approach as a promising alternative to these traditional approaches, with the proviso that the current v...
متن کاملذخیره در منابع من
با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید
برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید
ثبت ناماگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید
ورودعنوان ژورنال:
- Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology
دوره 26 1 شماره
صفحات -
تاریخ انتشار 2012