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| ntre:nature [2025/12/16 23:51] – created Simon Grant | ntre:nature [2026/04/15 15:51] (current) – [Related topics] Simon Grant |
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| # The nature problem | This topic is part of [[gt:bushcraft|Bushcraft & Nature]] and [[gt:philosophy|Philosophy & politics]]. |
| | ====== The nature problem ====== |
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| ## What is the nature problem? | ===== What is the nature problem? ===== |
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| You often hear that humans are ‘killing the planet’. We-re not - the earth will continue to spin, with its oceans, volcanoes and hydrological / meteorological systems. Nothing we do can change that. It’s not our planet, but the biosphere of our planet that's being damaged - nature, in other words. And as nature is what keeps us healthy, and ultimately keeps us alive, if we damage nature we damage ourselves. | You often hear that humans are ‘killing the planet’. We-re not - the earth will continue to spin, with its oceans, volcanoes and hydrological / meteorological systems. Nothing we do can change that. It’s not our planet, but the biosphere of our planet that's being damaged - nature, in other words. And as nature is what keeps us healthy, and ultimately keeps us alive, if we damage nature we damage ourselves. |
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| <caption> | <caption> |
| This used to be a major problem when driving on summer evenings. | _This used to be a major problem when driving on summer evenings._ |
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| </caption> | </caption> |
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| <caption> | <caption> |
| Source: Edward O. Wilson via the [Whole Systems Foundation](http://www.whole-systems.org). | _Source: Edward O. Wilson via the [Whole Systems Foundation](http://www.whole-systems.org)._ |
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| </caption> | </caption> |
| </figure> | </figure> |
| </WRAP> | </WRAP> |
| | ==== Who says so? ==== |
| ### Who says so? | |
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| In 2017, an article appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. It’s entitled: [_Biological annihilation via the ongoing sixth mass extinction signaled by vertebrate population losses and declines_](http://www.pnas.org/content/114/30/E6089.abstract). Notice those first two words. This is an establishment, sober, respected and respectable organisation, founded in 1836, whose output is triple peer-reviewed (see below). The researchers involved have clearly chosen those two words carefully to grab attention. | In 2017, an article appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. It’s entitled: [_Biological annihilation via the ongoing sixth mass extinction signaled by vertebrate population losses and declines_](http://www.pnas.org/content/114/30/E6089.abstract). Notice those first two words. This is an establishment, sober, respected and respectable organisation, founded in 1836, whose output is triple peer-reviewed (see below). The researchers involved have clearly chosen those two words carefully to grab attention. |
| [American Museum of Natural History](http://www.mysterium.com/amnh.html): as long ago as 1998, a survey found that 70% of biologists believed that we are entering the fastest extinction event in the Earth’s history. | [American Museum of Natural History](http://www.mysterium.com/amnh.html): as long ago as 1998, a survey found that 70% of biologists believed that we are entering the fastest extinction event in the Earth’s history. |
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| [Edward O Wilson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._O._Wilson): the world’s most respected biologist, in his book, [_the Future of Life_](/thna/the_nature_problem), predicts that we will lose up to half of higher life forms by 2100 if current rates contine. | [Edward O Wilson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._O._Wilson): the world’s most respected biologist, in his book, _[[the Future of Life]]_, predicts that we will lose up to half of higher life forms by 2100 if current rates contine. |
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| [Convention on Biological Diversity](https://www.cbd.int/gbo3/?pub=6667§ion=6673): the abundance of vertebrate species populations declined by a third between 1970 and 2006, and the main pressures driving biodiversity loss are increasing. | [Convention on Biological Diversity](https://www.cbd.int/gbo3/?pub=6667§ion=6673): the abundance of vertebrate species populations declined by a third between 1970 and 2006, and the main pressures driving biodiversity loss are increasing. |
| </figure> | </figure> |
| </WRAP> | </WRAP> |
| | ==== How do we know they’re right? ==== |
| ### How do we know they’re right? | |
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| The sources above are peer-reviewed, which means that independent academic experts in the same field have checked the methods, analysis of data and conclusions before they’re published. It’s not perfect, but there’s nothing better. There is no fixed or absolute authority when it comes to establishing ‘facts’. We can only make best-guesses based on meticulous and impartial work, and then have established, disinterested experts in the field judge the meticulousness and impartiality of the work. | The sources above are peer-reviewed, which means that independent academic experts in the same field have checked the methods, analysis of data and conclusions before they’re published. It’s not perfect, but there’s nothing better. There is no fixed or absolute authority when it comes to establishing ‘facts’. We can only make best-guesses based on meticulous and impartial work, and then have established, disinterested experts in the field judge the meticulousness and impartiality of the work. |
| This is a three-tier review by scientists qualified in the field of study. We want to focus on this process to highlight the fact that this is the exact opposite of something garnered from Facebook or from a conversation in the pub. All opinions are not equally valid. This is as far from fake news as it’s humanly possible to get. If you think it’s wrong, you have to go to as much trouble as they have to show your reasoning. Otherwise you’re just wasting everyone’s time, in the same way that climate change denial wasted time (and still is, in some quarters). | This is a three-tier review by scientists qualified in the field of study. We want to focus on this process to highlight the fact that this is the exact opposite of something garnered from Facebook or from a conversation in the pub. All opinions are not equally valid. This is as far from fake news as it’s humanly possible to get. If you think it’s wrong, you have to go to as much trouble as they have to show your reasoning. Otherwise you’re just wasting everyone’s time, in the same way that climate change denial wasted time (and still is, in some quarters). |
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| It’s the most effective way we have of ascertaining what’s true, to the best of our knowledge. You might hear some people say 'science doesn't know everything' - but as [Daro O'Briain said](https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/557053-science-knows-it-doesn-t-know-everything-otherwise-it-d-stop-but), 'science knows it doesn't know everything; otherwise, it'd stop'. Or you might hear: ‘scientists believed that we were entering a new ice age in the 70s’; [but the](https://www.skepticalscience.com/ice-age-predictions-in-1970s-intermediate.htm)[y didn't](https://www.skepticalscience.com/ice-age-predictions-in-1970s-intermediate.htm). | It’s the most effective way we have of ascertaining what’s true, to the best of our knowledge. You might hear some people say 'science doesn't know everything' - but as [Daro O'Briain said](https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/557053-science-knows-it-doesn-t-know-everything-otherwise-it-d-stop-but), 'science knows it doesn't know everything; otherwise, it'd stop'. Or you might hear: ‘scientists believed that we were entering a new ice age in the 70s’; [but they didn't](https://www.skepticalscience.com/ice-age-predictions-in-1970s-intermediate.htm). |
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| <WRAP center centeralign> | <WRAP center centeralign> |
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| <caption> | <caption> |
| Siberian tigers used to roam from Turkey (where they were known as Caspian tigers) to the Bering Strait – an enormous area. There are now only around 400 left in the wild; so although not extinct, like many creatures, they no longer play a meaningful role in the ecosystem of their natural range. | _Siberian tigers used to roam from Turkey (where they were known as Caspian tigers) to the Bering Strait – an enormous area. There are now only around 400 left in the wild; so although not extinct, like many creatures, they no longer play a meaningful role in the ecosystem of their natural range._ |
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| </caption> | </caption> |
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| ## What are the consequences of the nature problem? | ===== What are the consequences of the nature problem? ===== |
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| Nature is an interconnected web of life. For example, some plants need certain insects to pollinate them, some seeds need to pass through other species to germinate; some species can only eat one kind of plant or animal, some are parasitic on others, or have symbiotic existences, etc. So take enough species out of the global ecosystem and, like a game of [Jenga](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/Jenga.gif), it looks solid until one too many is taken out. When nature is so damaged that it can't reproduce itself any more, there's a point when feedback loops produce what ecologists call a 'cascade effect' - and we have runaway ecological damage with no way of stopping it. | Nature is an interconnected web of life. For example, some plants need certain insects to pollinate them, some seeds need to pass through other species to germinate; some species can only eat one kind of plant or animal, some are parasitic on others, or have symbiotic existences, etc. So take enough species out of the global ecosystem and, like a game of [Jenga](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/Jenga.gif), it looks solid until one too many is taken out. When nature is so damaged that it can't reproduce itself any more, there's a point when feedback loops produce what ecologists call a 'cascade effect' - and we have runaway ecological damage with no way of stopping it. |
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| <caption> | <caption> |
| There are no giant asteroids or huge volcanoes now, but we don’t have to look very far to see what’s causing the current mass extinction event. | _There are no giant asteroids or huge volcanoes now, but we don’t have to look very far to see what’s causing the current mass extinction event._ |
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| </caption> | </caption> |
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| ## What can I do? | ===== What can I do? ===== |
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| So how do we stop the damage, and avoid collapse? [Some](http://www.lifeworth.com/deepadaptation.pdf) believe that [we can’t](https://medium.com/s/futurehuman/survival-of-the-richest-9ef6cddd0cc1) – that it’s already [too late](https://dark-mountain.net/about/manifesto/). If it is too late to prevent collapse, then maybe our actions can push back that collapse so that we can put in place local, resilient infrastructure and gain relevant skills that will mean more of us will survive. But even if this is wishful thinking, we can do things that are more interesting and fulfilling than the crushing tedium of corporate work, consumerism and celebrity. | So how do we stop the damage, and avoid collapse? [Some](http://www.lifeworth.com/deepadaptation.pdf) believe that [we can’t](https://medium.com/s/futurehuman/survival-of-the-richest-9ef6cddd0cc1) – that it’s already [too late](https://dark-mountain.net/about/manifesto/). If it is too late to prevent collapse, then maybe our actions can push back that collapse so that we can put in place local, resilient infrastructure and gain relevant skills that will mean more of us will survive. But even if this is wishful thinking, we can do things that are more interesting and fulfilling than the crushing tedium of corporate work, consumerism and celebrity. |
| As an individual, you can adopt behaviours, technologies and facilities that will reduce your personal contribution to the nature problem, as well as helping to develop local, small-scale, sustainable and [convivial](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tools_for_Conviviality) alternatives, and to gain the skills that might save your life or, in the meantime, help you to change to a career that doesn’t help prop up the corporate economy. We’ve compiled [over 230 of those behaviours, technologies and facilities](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/categories/main). | As an individual, you can adopt behaviours, technologies and facilities that will reduce your personal contribution to the nature problem, as well as helping to develop local, small-scale, sustainable and [convivial](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tools_for_Conviviality) alternatives, and to gain the skills that might save your life or, in the meantime, help you to change to a career that doesn’t help prop up the corporate economy. We’ve compiled [over 230 of those behaviours, technologies and facilities](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/categories/main). |
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| But there’s [only so much we can do](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/environmental-groups-lifestyle-change-isnt-going-enough-avert-ecological-catastrophe/) via individual lifestyle change - bearing in mind that the vast majority of humanity don’t know or care what’s happening. Conservation groups can help, but ultimately, we’re not going to be able to conserve nature with an economic system that has to [grow forever](/stea/steady-state_economics). We believe that [system change](/syst/system_change) is essential to prevent biodiversity loss and extinction, but we don’t believe that this change can happen [via the electoral system](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/posts/our-response-to-why-dont-you-start-a-political-party), and even less so via violent revolution. | But there’s [only so much we can do](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/environmental-groups-lifestyle-change-isnt-going-enough-avert-ecological-catastrophe/) via individual lifestyle change - bearing in mind that the vast majority of humanity don’t know or care what’s happening. Conservation groups can help, but ultimately, we’re not going to be able to conserve nature with an economic system that has to [grow forever](pgec:post-growth). We believe that [system change](/syst/system_change) is essential to prevent biodiversity loss and extinction, but we don’t believe that this change can happen [via the electoral system](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/posts/our-response-to-why-dont-you-start-a-political-party), and even less so via violent revolution. |
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| That [new system](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/categories/new-economy) is already being built. You can help it to grow. | That [new system](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/categories/new-economy) is already being built. You can help it to grow. |
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| <caption> | <caption> |
| Edward O. Wilson is probably the world’s most respected biologist; he believes that we should be extremely worried by the current rate of extinctions. | _Edward O. Wilson is probably the world’s most respected biologist; he believes that we should be extremely worried by the current rate of extinctions._ |
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| </caption> | </caption> |
| There are other people who don’t think it’s particularly important if humans become extinct, or even welcome it, because, well, we’ll have deserved it, and it will allow biodiversity to recover. However, humans represent the universe becoming aware of itself – at least in this little corner of it. What a shame to snuff out that growing awareness because of a bad system, rather than bad people. | There are other people who don’t think it’s particularly important if humans become extinct, or even welcome it, because, well, we’ll have deserved it, and it will allow biodiversity to recover. However, humans represent the universe becoming aware of itself – at least in this little corner of it. What a shame to snuff out that growing awareness because of a bad system, rather than bad people. |
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| ### Should we not talk about this, in case it scares people? | ==== Should we not talk about this, in case it scares people? ==== |
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| Many feel that we shouldn’t mention this, or at least that we should add copious amounts of sweetener, rather than being honest about the scale of the problem. The arguments go something like this: if you scare people, you paralyse them so that they do nothing, or you make them spend and consume more, to shore up their defences against the coming disaster (therefore making the problem worse); and/or you make them hostile to others in their community, who they might see as competitors for dwindling resources. This is the opposite of what we should actually be doing, and so frightening people with the truth is self-defeating. It will dilute people’s will to do anything about it – they will become fatalistic. | Many feel that we shouldn’t mention this, or at least that we should add copious amounts of sweetener, rather than being honest about the scale of the problem. The arguments go something like this: if you scare people, you paralyse them so that they do nothing, or you make them spend and consume more, to shore up their defences against the coming disaster (therefore making the problem worse); and/or you make them hostile to others in their community, who they might see as competitors for dwindling resources. This is the opposite of what we should actually be doing, and so frightening people with the truth is self-defeating. It will dilute people’s will to do anything about it – they will become fatalistic. |
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| <caption> | <caption> |
| Dinosaurs such as this fossilised T-Rex became extinct around 65 million years ago, due to the impact of an enormous asteroid. Human impact is less spectacular, but it’s not a one-off, and so the effects are continuing and getting worse; if we don’t change, the current extinction event will be the biggest ever. | _Dinosaurs such as this fossilised T-Rex became extinct around 65 million years ago, due to the impact of an enormous asteroid. Human impact is less spectacular, but it’s not a one-off, and so the effects are continuing and getting worse; if we don’t change, the current extinction event will be the biggest ever._ |
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| </caption> | </caption> |
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| We should talk about this because if we don’t, the response will be inadequate. And that’s exactly what’s happening. If you could see that someone’s house was on fire, you’d warn them, wouldn’t you? | We should talk about this because if we don’t, the response will be inadequate. And that’s exactly what’s happening. If you could see that someone’s house was on fire, you’d warn them, wouldn’t you? |
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| | ===== Forum ===== |
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| | This topic belongs to the section [[gt:bushcraft|Bushcraft & Nature]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/bushcraft). |
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| | It is also in the section [[gt:philosophy|Philosophy & politics]] (Forum: [Philosophy & politics](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/philosophy)). |
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| | ===== Further resources ===== |
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| | - [[wp>Holocene extinction]] event - the current mass extinction |
| | - [Living Planet Index](https://www.livingplanetindex.org/) - the state of the world's biological diversity based on population trends of vertebrate species from terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats |
| | - [Greenpeace](https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/challenges/wildlife-and-biodiversity/biodiversity-loss/) - biodiversity loss: a beginners' guide |
| | - [Royal Society](https://royalsociety.org/news-resources/projects/biodiversity/human-impact-on-biodiversity/) - how humans affect biodiversity |
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| | ===== Related topics ===== |
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| ## Further resources | - [[pgec:Post-growth]] economics |
| | - [[syst:System change]] |
| | - [[phil:Philosophy]] |
| | - [[coec:Commons economy]] |
| | - [[ecoc:Eco & carbon footprints]] |
| | - [[ntaw:Nature awareness]] |
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| ## Specialist curators of this topic | ===== Specialist curators of this topic ===== |
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