| Change is in the air - and in the sea and on the land. | | | | way it was centuries ago. Today's and tomorrow's |
| In fact, the entire planet is undergoing a | | | | forests, coastal ecosystems, and oceans may not |
| transformation called climate change. | | | | support yesterday's species. And this change is now |
| Temperatures will rise, along with humidity and the | | | | fast upon us. |
| level of the oceans. Storms will be more severe, | | | | Changing conditions will lead to a rebalancing of the |
| along with droughts and floods. Animals and plants | | | | entire food chain. Some dominant species that |
| and microorganisms will have to adapt to survive. | | | | preferred the old conditions will fall, and new species |
| Some species will not make it. Others will evolve and | | | | that thrive on the change will take their place. |
| adapt to the new, changing ecosystem conditions. | | | | In short, this is a time of rapid evolution. It is a time |
| However, despite all this change that is | | | | to look forward, not backward. |
| acknowledged and feared by governments | | | | As we assess species for their ability to survive and |
| throughout the world, there has been no change in | | | | thrive in the new environmental conditions that are |
| the way we conserve our natural resources and | | | | coming, we may discover that some species |
| protect endangered species. | | | | currently considered "invasive" for their ability to |
| The goal of modern conservation goes beyond | | | | grow well are actually "invaluable" for being able to |
| protection of forests and wild spaces from | | | | keep natural areas forested into the future, and our |
| development and pollution. Today's conservationists | | | | oceans vital and healthy. |
| fight to protect and preserve native ecosystems and | | | | The goal of environmental management should be to |
| native species against "invasive" species. The goal is | | | | have healthy, vital ecosystems, regardless of the |
| to return "invaded" ecosystems to their condition | | | | nativity of the species creating them. We cannot |
| prior to the introductions of highly competitive "alien" | | | | afford to attack introduced species for growing well |
| species that have altered the environmental | | | | and outcompeting native species. This ability to |
| landscape. | | | | survive and thrive may make them invaluable in the |
| Essentially, conservationists and preservationists are | | | | future. |
| resisting environmental change. | | | | Those conservationists and preservationists who |
| In the past, environmental managers introduced | | | | want to maintain native species and native |
| species into new environments to increase | | | | ecosystems can fence, weed and manage areas that |
| biodiversity and resource values of forests and other | | | | can serve as museums of the past biological world. |
| natural areas. They valued species for their ability to | | | | But such natural preserve areas will require constant |
| grow well in their new environments. Now, however, | | | | commitment of resources in an endless battle against |
| they call these thriving introduced species "invasive", | | | | the tide of climate change. |
| and introduce insects, fungi, or other biocontrol pests | | | | More importantly, we need to plant for the future, |
| to slow down their growth, or kill them with poisons, | | | | not weed for the past. We need to stop killing the |
| chainsaw, or bulldozers. | | | | fittest and saving the least fit, or the future forests |
| The hope is that by eliminating species that "don't | | | | will consist solely of weak and unhealthy trees. We |
| belong" in a certain ecosystem, we can return that | | | | need to value trees for growing well, and not just |
| ecosystem to a more natural, balanced state where | | | | for being native, ensuring that we will still have |
| native species and endangered species can thrive | | | | forests to clean the air, remove carbon dioxide, and |
| without competition from introductions. | | | | provide resources for man and wildlife as the climate |
| However, climate change is a deal breaker for all | | | | changes. |
| conservation strategies. | | | | Conservationism itself must change, evolving from an |
| Climate change means that native species that once | | | | environmental philosophy that fights change into one |
| thrived in past ecosystems may be threatened with | | | | that embraces and manages it. |
| extinction in the near future. Every species of plant, | | | | The past is done. Climate change is now giving us a |
| insect, mammal, bird, fungus, bacteria, and even virus | | | | new world unfolding before our eyes. Either we fight |
| will be impacted by these changes in the conditions | | | | the inevitable changes kicking and screaming for a |
| of life. Native ecosystems existed in a different world | | | | lost past, or we plan for a better future by surfing |
| of the past, with different conditions than we have | | | | the wave of change. |
| today and will have tomorrow. | | | | I say let's surf! |
| Climate change means you can never go back to the | | | | |