Can a new form of accounting save animals from extinction? No.

Posted on January 13, 2015 by GarryRogers

Corporate sustainability efforts have done little to improve biodiversity. Source: www.theguardian.com

GR: The Guardian article is about assigning value to nature so that businesses can incorporate nature in their accounting. Aldo Leopold wrote about this 66 years ago. He pointed out that it would be impossible to assign value to most species of wild animals and plants. “Of the 22,000 higher plants and animals native to Wisconsin, it is doubtful whether more than 5 per cent can be sold, fed, eaten, or otherwise put to economic use. Yet these creatures are members of the biotic community, and if (as I believe) its stability depends on its integrity, they are entitled to continuance” (Leopold 1949: 210). In my opinion, the “ecosystem-services” concept for preserving nature is so far from reality as to be meaningless. We simply lack the data to assign value to species and groups of species in natural settings. We need eyes on the ground and in the sea.

Save Wildlife from Irresponsible Tourism

Posted on December 10, 2014 by GarryRogers

Tourism–Outdoor Recreation

Important for reminding us that our mere presence can harm wildlife. Please sign the International Fund for Animal Welfare pledge and share the petition.

“Irresponsible tourism can put animals in danger and harm imperiled species. Pledge to be a responsible tourist who helps to protect animal welfare while overseas.”

Source: animalpetitions.org

GR: The dangers of outdoor recreation were long ago defined by my favorite conservation writer. “The retreat of the wilderness under the barrage of motorized tourists is no local thing; Hudson Bay, Alaska, Mexico, South Africa are giving way, South America and Siberia are next. Drums along the Mohawk are now honks along the rivers of the world. Homo sapiens putters no more under his own vine and fig tree; he has poured into his gas tank the stored motivity of countless creatures aspiring through the ages to wiggle their way to pastures new. Ant-like he swarms the continents. This is Outdoor Recreation, Latest Model” (Leopold, 1949: 166).

Useless Creatures (and Why They Matter)

Posted on September 13, 2014 by GarryRogers

Here’s a quote from Aldo Leopold that relates to the article below: “One basic weakness in a conservation system based wholly on economic motives is that most members of the land community [and ocean community] have no economic value. Wildflowers and songbirds are examples. Of the 22,000 higher plants and animals native to Wisconsin, it is doubtful whether more than 5 per cent can be sold, fed, eaten, or otherwise put to economic use. Yet these creatures are members of the biotic community, and if (as I believe) its stability depends on its integrity, they are entitled to continuance” (Leopold, A. 1949. A Sand County Almanac….

strange behaviors

(Illustration: Chloé Poizat)

My latest forThe New York Times:

This article contains no useful information. Zero. Nada. Nothing. If usefulness is your criterion for reading, thank you very much for your time and goodbye, we have nothing more to say. The truth is that I am bored to tears by usefulness. I am bored, more precisely, of pretending usefulness is the thing that really matters.

I mostly write about wildlife. So here is how it typically happens for me: A study comes out indicating that species x, y and z are in imminent danger of extinction, or that some major bioregion of the planet is being sucked down into the abyss. And it’s my job to convince people that they should care, even as they are racing to catch the 7:10 train, or wondering if they’ll be able to pay this month’s (or last month’s) rent.

My usual…

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