11-27-2006 - Human World

sagar: Author=” program=” video=”“For many, many years, ecologists have focused primarily on what they call “pristine” systems. And having gotten my degree 20 years ago, I certainly fall into that category. Up until maybe 10 years ago, I would drive two or three hours away from the University of Maryland, out west of Washington D.C., to find a watershed that I felt was not impacted.

“Working in systems like that has been extremely important for understanding how ecosystems are put together, and what keeps them together. In fact, that kind of work really has provided the foundation upon which we’re able to do a lot of things.

“But the bottom line is that most systems aren’t like that, and they haven’t been for a long time. Virtually all ecosystems are influenced by humans. There’s no such thing as a pristine ecosystem. We felt that it was time to acknowledge that, and begin to encourage a movement that has already begun – it’s been going on for 10 years now – that includes the recognition that humans are part of the ecosystem.

“All organisms modify their environment. Humans are no different in that regard. The difference is the extent to which they modify it. And so the idea was to encourage more ecologists to take the view that studying systems that humans are included in – studies that include a social science perspective – is probably the only way we can move towards a more sustainable future.

“We need to understand how ecosystems work with humans in them. We need to learn what kinds of science needs to be done to minimize the negative impacts that our huge human population has on those systems, and the ability of those systems to provide the services those people depend on. If we don’t do that science, then the trajectory of extinction of our species is simply going to be accelerated.”

“Complete transcript of our interview with Margaret Palmer”:interviews.php?id=44568

_Margaret Palmer is an ecologist at the University of Maryland. She chaired a committee of the “Ecological Society of America”:http://www.esa.org, in which scientists from many nations tried to envision what needs to happen to enhance the extent to which ecological science influences decisions made by everyday citizens, scientists and policy makers. These scientists discuss their work in_ “Ecology for a Crowded Planet.”:http://www.palmerlab.umd.edu/docs/Palmer et al_SCIENCE 2004.pdf, _a 2004 article in the journal Science._

_Earth & Sky is fortunate to work with hundreds of scientists each year, who help us create our daily radio programs, and who are actively engaged in the process of sharing visions and solving 21st century problems. Earth & Sky asked these experts to help us describe the Human World of the 21st century._

“Fifty scientists describe the human world”:http://208.96.63.114/?p=2607

“What is a human world?”:http://208.96.63.114/?p=1543

“Radio shows and articles about the human world.”:humanworld

“Earth & Sky’s human world image gallery”:http://208.96.63.114/?p=2638

“Human world in a nutshell”:http://208.96.63.114/?p=2610

Written by EarthSky

2 Responses to “Private: Margaret Palmer describes the human world”

1. Steven Earl Salmony, Ph.D., M.P.A. says:

   November 28, 2006 at 11:49 am

   Thanks for these vital, uncommon and rarely expressed ideas. In the light of your view regarding “the trajectory of extinction of our species,” would you agree that now might be a good time to ask the question, “If humankind generally thinks and behaves like those of us in the predominant culture do now, is humanity likely to be sustainable in the year 2050?”

   Reply
2. stevenearlsalmony says:

   December 7, 2006 at 9:34 am

   Dear Dr. Palmer,

   The question above could be made more clear.

   It appears to me as if the predominant culture, of which you and I and millions more are prominent members, is dissipating the Earth’s finite resource more rapidly than those resources can be restored for human benefit. If economies like the large ones in China, India and elswhere in the developing world follow the seemingly endless economic growth path prescribed by the predominant culture’s “developed” world, as these undeveloped countries are now doing, is it not yet evident that economic globalization will soon become patently unsustainable?

   By the year 2050, when there are an already determinable 9+/- billion humans on Earth, I do not think the pristine ecosystems about which people presently worry will be in existence. Humanity will have adulterated them. That alone is source of great concern. What worries me even more is this: Taken together, UNBRIDLED economic globalization, UNRESTRAINED per human increase of resource consumption and UNREGULATED growth of absolute global human population numbers will inadvertently lead to a collapse of global ecosystems and the irreversible loss of life as we know it on Earth now.

   If you would be so kind and think it timely, your thoughts would be welcome.

   Thank you.

   Reply