Re: Not so "native" introductions

On Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:42:06 -0000, "BAC"
<casswalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


<amacmil304@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:pobup3tq72k3nakk591uj1ai5ulloo4bi4@xxxxxxxxxx
Not so "native" introductions

One of the key criteria for determining if a species is "native" is
that it should have evolved with all other species within its own
environment and not have been introduced or assisted by man to arrive
at what is regarded as its natural location. In short, it should have
got to where it is by its own efforts and evolved naturally.


Given that virtually every part of the planet's surface has been (and
continues to be) significantly altered by the activities of humanity, to the
extent that some people believe we are no longer in the eocene, but the
anthropocene, it seems somewhat pointless to argue too much about
'nativeness' being invalidated by human 'assistance'.

I agree. But the job of those who say they are conserving the natural
environment should be to try to roll back the effect of human
activities; not encourage them.


However, in practical conservation terms, people tend to conserve that
which, for whatever reason, they consider worthy of conservation, whether in
the field of the built environment, art, or fauna and flora. Regardless of
scientific definitions :-)


I have no objection to anybody conserving anything but I strongly
disagree with killing some to conserve others.


Angus Macmillan
www.roots-of-blood.org.uk
www.killhunting.org
www.con-servation.org.uk

All truth passes through three stages:
First, it is ridiculed;
Second, it is violently opposed; and
Third, it is accepted as self-evident.
-- Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Unambiguous definition?
    ... Norway has a different environment to Scotland, ... different species regarded as native by fake conservationists and a ... that native species must evolve within their own ... is that your nativeness is complete nonsense. ...
    (uk.environment.conservation)
  • Re: Unambiguous definition?
    ... Norway has a different environment to Scotland, ... different species regarded as native by fake conservationists and a ... that native species must evolve within their own ... is that your nativeness is complete nonsense. ...
    (uk.environment.conservation)
  • Re: Bringing back woolly mammoths
    ... "mammoth sperm". ... The mind boggles. ... I'd like to see the same effort going into conserving the thousands of ... species we are currently losing to extinction. ...
    (soc.culture.scottish)