The New Wild: Why Invasive Species Will Be Nature's Salvation
Apr 2015 · Sold by Beacon Press
Ebook
272
Pages
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About this ebook
Introducing environmental conservation for the 21st century—one that reframes how we think about invasive species and champions nature’s biodiversity and capacity for change
For a long time, veteran environmental journalist Fred Pearce thought in stark terms about invasive species: they were the evil interlopers spoiling pristine “natural” ecosystems. Most conservationists and environmentalists share this view. But what if the traditional view of ecology is wrong—what if true environmentalists should be applauding the invaders?
In The New Wild, Pearce travels across 6 continents to rethink conservation and restoration in the 21st century, offering a paradigm-shifting exploration of the “new ecologists” who believe invasive species aren’t a scourge but a sign of nature’s strength. Rather than fighting a losing battle to protect what we imagine to be pristine, we need to encourage nature’s rebirth by celebrating the species that are most able to adapt.
In an era in which humans have affected every inch of the planet through globalization and climate change, there are no undisturbed ecosystems—and most are a mixture of native and alien who get along just fine. But by embracing the new ecology, we can help nature regenerate. To be an environmentalist in the 21st century means embracing nature’s wildness and capacity for change.
For a long time, veteran environmental journalist Fred Pearce thought in stark terms about invasive species: they were the evil interlopers spoiling pristine “natural” ecosystems. Most conservationists and environmentalists share this view. But what if the traditional view of ecology is wrong—what if true environmentalists should be applauding the invaders?
In The New Wild, Pearce travels across 6 continents to rethink conservation and restoration in the 21st century, offering a paradigm-shifting exploration of the “new ecologists” who believe invasive species aren’t a scourge but a sign of nature’s strength. Rather than fighting a losing battle to protect what we imagine to be pristine, we need to encourage nature’s rebirth by celebrating the species that are most able to adapt.
In an era in which humans have affected every inch of the planet through globalization and climate change, there are no undisturbed ecosystems—and most are a mixture of native and alien who get along just fine. But by embracing the new ecology, we can help nature regenerate. To be an environmentalist in the 21st century means embracing nature’s wildness and capacity for change.
About the author
Fred Pearce is an award-winning author and journalist based in London. He has reported on environmental, science, and development issues from eighty-five countries over the past twenty years. Environment consultant at New Scientist since 1992, he also writes regularly for the Guardian newspaper and Yale University’s prestigious e360 website. Pearce was voted UK Environment Journalist of the Year in 2001 and CGIAR agricultural research journalist of the year in 2002, and he won a lifetime achievement award from the Association of British Science Writers in 2011. His many books include With Speed and Violence, Confessions of an Eco-Sinner, The Coming Population Crash, and The Land Grabbers.
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