IN an economy like that of the US where we spend more on the military than the next 10 nations combined, and the budget for putting out one fighter jet exceeds the entire budget of all the environmental and natural resource agencies combined, one must ask are resources really that limited? Do we really have to ask whether it is worth it to devote resources to preserve a species that is extinct in the wild?
Would it not be nice if we could begin incorporating wildlife/natural areas into urban planning? There comes a point where you must admit that some things that SHOULD are not going to happen, and you need to take a course that is necessary. No point, just thoughts after reading your post. Malcolm McCallum On Mon, Jan 17, 2011 at 7:08 PM, Jason Hernandez < [email protected]> wrote: > This question is inspired by a conversation with a former employer. When > do our interventions cease to be conservation and become gardening? > > For the sake of argument, I was taking the purist position: that ideally, > we want to be able to put a fence around a natural area and walk away, > letting nature manage it. But as my employer rightly pointed out, that is > just not a realistic expectation in the 21st century, what with invasive > species, systemic pollution, human pressures on surrounding areas, and > countless other factors which will not go away. But of course, she also > knew that there is a degree of intervention which crosses the line from > conservation to gardening, that is, caring for a population that no longer > participates in its ecosystem processes. > > There is, of course, a continuum of interventions. Removal of invasive > competitors is a relatively light intervention; growing seedlings in a > greenhouse and then planting them out is more intensive; maintaining an in > vitro germplasm collection still more intensive. Are there any recognized > criteria for determining the boundary between conservation and gardening? > And if a species is beyond saving with conservation, how worthwhile is it to > save that species with gardening? Can we determine when a species' only > hope is gardening? > > Jason Hernandez > Biological Science Technician, USDA Forest Service > > > > -- Malcolm L. McCallum Managing Editor, Herpetological Conservation and Biology "Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive" - Allan Nation 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction MAY help restore populations. 2022: Soylent Green is People! Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
