proliferation of modern apocalyptic imaginaries also held up the promise of redemption: the
horsemen of the apocalypse, whether riding under the name of the proletariat, technology or
capitalism, could be tamed with appropriate political and social revolutions.
Erik Swyngedouw (2010, 218)
7 Species Extinction and Degradation of Ecosystems
Most countries in the world have signed the CBD (Convention on Biological
Diversity). There is an awesome comprising agreement to protect species from
extinction and to protect ecosystems, ecosystem functions and ecosystem services
around the globe. However, species extinction as the result of a process of continuous decline until the last individual has died is theoretically a sudden event, but
because of an absent alarm, will rarely be recognised as such. Extinction works
quietly and thus, will normally not reach the same awareness as terror, tsunamis or
volcanic eruptions. Furthermore, humans can hardly feel the loss or consequences to
their own lives. The same is true for many chemical components polluting water and
the atmosphere, which are killing not directly but may trigger diseases that may
shorten individual lives (Landrigan et al. 2017).
Environmental consciousness and relating consequences—due to science, technologies, rules—have reduced disasters for humans at different scales of space with
the result of a still growing world population and increasing life span in most parts of
the world. The permanent adjustment of the relationship between environment,
awareness and management may still reduce the risk of direct impacts on the
environment.
The growing population of humans and the increase in lifespan are used as
indicators of a success story in the interplay of culture and nature (cf. e.g., de
Sherbinin et al. 2007). However, environmental consciousness related to human
survival/wellbeing and to biodiversity/ecosystems is different.
The political landscape for biodiversity and ecosystems is a little more complicated because environmental changes are often creeping and ‘invisible’. The slowly
increasing intensity in the use of land and water by a growing world population of
humans, the use of wild and domestic animals, and of wild and cultivated plants
during the last centuries is the most important problem for the survival of ecosystems
and biodiversity. Agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, growing cities and growing
infrastructure are identified as the main drivers (cf. diverse Red Lists, e.g. the
IUCN Red List of threatened species). However, human health and wellbeing does
not seem to be linked directly to the natural environment in these instances.
Furthermore, human life and the life of other organisms seems to be decoupled.
Thus, for the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity it may be helpful to focus
more on quiet than loud, on slow than fast, and on slowly increasing human activities
and output than on sudden events. This might be the next step for environmental
analyses. Humans would be the winners in this new paradigm since cultural life
depends on natural conditions and every loss, for example of a plant species, animal
36
C. Hobohm
horsemen of the apocalypse, whether riding under the name of the proletariat, technology or
capitalism, could be tamed with appropriate political and social revolutions.
Erik Swyngedouw (2010, 218)
7 Species Extinction and Degradation of Ecosystems
Most countries in the world have signed the CBD (Convention on Biological
Diversity). There is an awesome comprising agreement to protect species from
extinction and to protect ecosystems, ecosystem functions and ecosystem services
around the globe. However, species extinction as the result of a process of continuous decline until the last individual has died is theoretically a sudden event, but
because of an absent alarm, will rarely be recognised as such. Extinction works
quietly and thus, will normally not reach the same awareness as terror, tsunamis or
volcanic eruptions. Furthermore, humans can hardly feel the loss or consequences to
their own lives. The same is true for many chemical components polluting water and
the atmosphere, which are killing not directly but may trigger diseases that may
shorten individual lives (Landrigan et al. 2017).
Environmental consciousness and relating consequences—due to science, technologies, rules—have reduced disasters for humans at different scales of space with
the result of a still growing world population and increasing life span in most parts of
the world. The permanent adjustment of the relationship between environment,
awareness and management may still reduce the risk of direct impacts on the
environment.
The growing population of humans and the increase in lifespan are used as
indicators of a success story in the interplay of culture and nature (cf. e.g., de
Sherbinin et al. 2007). However, environmental consciousness related to human
survival/wellbeing and to biodiversity/ecosystems is different.
The political landscape for biodiversity and ecosystems is a little more complicated because environmental changes are often creeping and ‘invisible’. The slowly
increasing intensity in the use of land and water by a growing world population of
humans, the use of wild and domestic animals, and of wild and cultivated plants
during the last centuries is the most important problem for the survival of ecosystems
and biodiversity. Agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, growing cities and growing
infrastructure are identified as the main drivers (cf. diverse Red Lists, e.g. the
IUCN Red List of threatened species). However, human health and wellbeing does
not seem to be linked directly to the natural environment in these instances.
Furthermore, human life and the life of other organisms seems to be decoupled.
Thus, for the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity it may be helpful to focus
more on quiet than loud, on slow than fast, and on slowly increasing human activities
and output than on sudden events. This might be the next step for environmental
analyses. Humans would be the winners in this new paradigm since cultural life
depends on natural conditions and every loss, for example of a plant species, animal
36
C. Hobohm