3.5
The New Wild
ByPublisher Description
Introducing environmental conservation for the 21st century—one that reframes how we think about invasive species and champions nature’s biodiversity and capacity for change
For a long time, veteran environmental journalist Fred Pearce thought in stark terms about invasive species: they were the evil interlopers spoiling pristine “natural” ecosystems. Most conservationists and environmentalists share this view. But what if the traditional view of ecology is wrong—what if true environmentalists should be applauding the invaders?
In The New Wild, Pearce travels across 6 continents to rethink conservation and restoration in the 21st century, offering a paradigm-shifting exploration of the “new ecologists” who believe invasive species aren’t a scourge but a sign of nature’s strength. Rather than fighting a losing battle to protect what we imagine to be pristine, we need to encourage nature’s rebirth by celebrating the species that are most able to adapt.
In an era in which humans have affected every inch of the planet through globalization and climate change, there are no undisturbed ecosystems—and most are a mixture of native and alien who get along just fine. But by embracing the new ecology, we can help nature regenerate. To be an environmentalist in the 21st century means embracing nature’s wildness and capacity for change.
For a long time, veteran environmental journalist Fred Pearce thought in stark terms about invasive species: they were the evil interlopers spoiling pristine “natural” ecosystems. Most conservationists and environmentalists share this view. But what if the traditional view of ecology is wrong—what if true environmentalists should be applauding the invaders?
In The New Wild, Pearce travels across 6 continents to rethink conservation and restoration in the 21st century, offering a paradigm-shifting exploration of the “new ecologists” who believe invasive species aren’t a scourge but a sign of nature’s strength. Rather than fighting a losing battle to protect what we imagine to be pristine, we need to encourage nature’s rebirth by celebrating the species that are most able to adapt.
In an era in which humans have affected every inch of the planet through globalization and climate change, there are no undisturbed ecosystems—and most are a mixture of native and alien who get along just fine. But by embracing the new ecology, we can help nature regenerate. To be an environmentalist in the 21st century means embracing nature’s wildness and capacity for change.
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3.5
Kat
Created 9 months agoShare
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LKeegs
Created over 1 year agoShare
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David T.
Created almost 2 years agoShare
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“I first want to start by saying, not everything written about a scientific topic is in fact scientific. Lay-audience science books are not subject to the peer-review process; however, I think the mark of a good science writer (e.g., https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2951100.Douglas_W__Tallamy , https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/32307.David_Quammen ) is they base their writings in published studies with the best-available scientific rigor. Not only does Pearce fail to do this, but he actively discounts, misunderstands, and misrepresents the entire field of invasion biology, and of ecology as a whole.
In the introduction, Pearce discusses how his views are harshly criticized by ecologists. He states, “true environmentalists should be applauding the invaders.” His own qualifications are as an environmental journalist. Why does he think his qualifications are greater than that of a large community of specialists? Why does he feel he gets to define who is a true environmentalist? This isn’t to discount environmental journalists (Quammen has no formal science education and I greatly respect his works); however, basing your opposition of established scientific knowledge solely on your own anecdotal observations and musings is nothing short of denialism. As a professor in my undergrad was fond of saying, “everyone has an opinion about conservation biology, but few people have knowledge in conservation biology.”
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I read this book as part of my 2023 reading challenge in fulfillment of a “nonfiction book supporting a stance that you know/suspect conflicts with what you currently believe.” Now that I have finished, I need to read a https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2951100.Douglas_W__Tallamy book to help me recover.”
Ashley Furnell
Created over 2 years agoShare
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Jenny Roman
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About Fred Pearce
Fred Pearce is an award-winning author and journalist based in London. He has reported on environmental, science, and development issues from eighty-five countries over the past twenty years. Environment consultant at New Scientist since 1992, he also writes regularly for the Guardian newspaper and Yale University’s prestigious e360 website. Pearce was voted UK Environment Journalist of the Year in 2001 and CGIAR agricultural research journalist of the year in 2002, and he won a lifetime achievement award from the Association of British Science Writers in 2011. His many books include With Speed and Violence, Confessions of an Eco-Sinner, The Coming Population Crash, and The Land Grabbers.
Other books by Fred Pearce
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