Climate change isn’t a new phenomenon, it’s been in constant flux since our planet was formed. Our impact may be causing an acceleration in the pace, but life will still adapt; even if some species disappear, in a diverse ecosystem, new ones will appear to fill their niche. This is what evolution and natural selection are all about, but it’ll only work if given enough time and space.
This is where we could have a serious problem. Rapid change shortens the time scale, but if species and their habitats are allowed to move: to cooler areas as ambient temperatures rise, or salt marsh moving inland as the coast erodes, they can buy time for natural selection to have an effect. Unfortunately human activity is so widespread that we can block such progressive change with our constructions, such as highways, cities, and dams.
Our species is enhanced by rich biodiversity; think of how our food is produced, and where many medicines are sourced. It’s clear we need to adopt a more holistic approach to the natural world: it’s essential it becomes an integral part of our lives.
This imperative is reflected in a change in the way conservation is being approached, as noted on Page 5 of Living landscapes: A call to restore the UK’s battered ecosystems, for wildlife and people, published by The Wildlife Trusts.
To recreate genuine living landscapes, we need to embrace this approach:
- Move from dominators and controllers of nature to
appreciators and influencers of nature;- Move from nature as special interest to nature as
providing our living conditions – locally, regionally and
globally;- Move from a situation of nature in boxes to nature in the
neighbourhood and nature in the landscape.
Everyone has a part to play in this kind of strategy, so when considering flood defences, coastal erosion projects, transport systems, or even paving your garden, please consider the impact on our living landscapes.
