Can the World Really Set Aside Half of the Planet for Wildlife? Eminent evolutionary biologist E.O. Wilson has a bold idea for saving Earth from a cataclysmic extinction event, the sixth in the worlds history and the first to be caused by humans. Wilsons vision would see the worldss national parks, rewilded areas, wildlife reserves and restored forests and habitats linked by a chain of permanently protected corridors. Since the first national park was established at Yellowstone in 1871 over 109.5 million acres of wilderness is now protected in the US and there are over 5,000 national parks worldwide. Allowing previously developed land to rejuvenate using fire-and-rain processes takes time we may not have so Wilsons plan includes mass tree-planting, paying landowners to protect present and future forests as well as establishing regional conservation partnerships to take on bigger projects. Re-establishing habitats encourages fauna and flora to move in, rejuvenates biodiversity and restores natural processes. And that not only makes our planet more beautiful to look at but is essential for all life to exist. Full story The Smithsonian, September issue smithsonianmag/science-nature/can-world-really-set-aside-half-planet-wildlife-180952379/?no-ist=&no-cache=&page=2
Posted on: Fri, 05 Sep 2014 10:00:38 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015