[LUM#8] Nature in Crisis

[LUM Magazine] - Published on November 13, 2018 in Science and Society

Twenty-five years ago, researchers expressed concern that “humanity was pushing ecosystems beyond their capacity to sustain the fabric of life.” This concern is more relevant than ever in the face of a biodiversity crisis that remains one of the key challenges facing our societies.

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“We are jeopardizing our future.” This is the warning issued by 15,000 scientists concerned about the state of our planet. In an article published in November 2017 in the scientific journal BioScience, the researchers warn of a “mass extinction event that could lead to the total disappearance of many life forms, or at the very least leave them on the brink of extinction by the end of the century.” An alarming assessment?“Yes, our planet is facing an unprecedented ecological crisis,”confirms Vincent Devictor.

How many species are disappearing this way every day? “It’s impossible to answer that question precisely, but one thing is certain: the current rate and scale of species extinction exceed those of past mass extinction events,” explains the ecologist from the Institute of Evolutionary Sciences in Montpellier. So much so that researchers are now referring to the^“sixth mass extinction.” Needless to say, the previous crisis saw the disappearance of the dinosaurs…

What is causing such a decline in life on our planet?“We know of four major causes responsible for this loss of biodiversity,” explains Vincent Devictor. These include habitat destruction—driven in particular by urbanization, deforestation, and intensive agriculture—as well as resource overexploitation, pollution, and invasive species.“Not to mention climate change, which is accelerating these existing threats,”adds the ecologist. And when a species goes extinct, it doesn’t go alone.“The other species that fed on it are affected in turn; we call this phenomenon a cascade of extinctions,” explains Vincent Devictor.

Whistleblowers

While the scientific community and the general public are now alarmed by this exponential loss of biodiversity, this awareness is not new. As early as the 1970s, it was known that nature was being profoundly affected by human activities.“This was the era of the first maps showing the retreat of the rainforest,” notes Vincent Devictor. “It was also a profound turning point in the aftermath of World War II, when humanity became aware of its capacity for destruction. The advent of nuclear power was accompanied by a reevaluation of the race for technology.”

This “environmentalist decade” from 1970 to 1980 saw the emergence of the first whistleblowers, long before the term was coined in the 1990s.“They found a favorable response from the public, and this led to a profound reevaluation of how we exploit nature. The first measures to restrict the exploitation of species were then introduced. It was already clear that our model of development was incompatible with the preservation of biological diversity ,” explains the ecologist. Why, then, does the situation seem hardly any better more than half a century later? “The whistleblowers were quickly confronted with a dominant ideology, and the rise of this environmental movement was accompanied by a counter-movement that has brought us to where we are today,” replies Vincent Devictor.

The Dictatorship of Consensus

So what has been the response to the ecological crisis? As early as 1987 (the Brundtland Report), people began talking about “sustainable development.”“This concept has become an economic, scientific, and social mantra, enshrining an ideological feat that will profoundly shape biodiversity policy ,” explains Vincent Devictor. For the ecologist, the phrase—which combines two contradictory terms—is meaningless.“Its use has prevented any ambitious reform; it is an instrumentalist logic designed to avoid addressing the ecological crisis.”

While the current state of affairs 30 years later is considered cause for concern, the researcher notes that there are also reasons to be optimistic.“There is good news! The use of certain pollutants, such as ozone, has dropped dramatically. We’re also seeing that the conservation policies put in place are having positive effects; species like the wolf, the genet, the otter, the beaver, and even the gray heron are making a comeback.” Studies on birds also show that communities are adapting better to climate change in protected areas.“In environments where the impact of human activities is receding, we are witnessing the spontaneous return of certain forms of life; nature is overflowing beyond our quest for control and domination , ” notes Vincent Devictor.

“Because the issue of the ecological crisis is, above all, about humanity’s relationship with nature,” notes Vincent Devictor. “But amidst all this, there are many people who spend their time observing nature, trying to protect it, respect it, and understand it better,” enthuses the ecologist, who advocates for environmental ethics.“It is now essential to reflect on the conditions necessary for sustaining life on Earth.”