theguardian.com
Human Impact on Nature: A New Perspective
A new Guardian series, "The Aftermath," explores how nature responds to human-caused changes, revealing that most of Earth's land has been shaped by humans for thousands of years, and that unexpected havens can arise even in damaged landscapes.
- How has the conventional understanding of "nature" been challenged by recent research?
- Recent research, using hindcasting models, shows that humans have occupied and shaped nearly three-quarters of Earth's land for 12,000 years, including most temperate and tropical woodlands. This contradicts the common perception of pristine, untouched nature.
- What are some examples of unexpected ecological responses to human intervention or catastrophe?
- A bombed-out reservoir in Ukraine has become a large forest, abandoned villages in Bulgaria show unexpected biodiversity responses, and the Korean DMZ, despite being a conflict zone, has become an ecological oasis with thousands of species.
- What potential implications does this new understanding of human-nature interaction have for environmental rehabilitation?
- Understanding that ecosystems can adapt and thrive in human-altered landscapes opens new avenues for rehabilitation. Studying areas impacted by conflict, contamination, or abandonment can teach us how to restore damaged environments more effectively.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article presents a balanced view, acknowledging both the negative impacts of human activity on nature and the surprising resilience and adaptability of ecosystems in the aftermath of significant change. The framing emphasizes the potential for rehabilitation and the unexpected opportunities found in 'damaged' landscapes. However, the initial framing of 'pristine' nature as a narrow view might subtly downplay the historical human impact on a wider scale, although this is later addressed in detail.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and objective. Words like "catastrophic" and "toxic" accurately reflect the severity of some situations, while terms like "amazing ecosystems" and "unexpected havens" express the positive aspects of nature's resilience. There is no significant use of loaded or emotionally charged language to sway the reader's opinion.
Bias by Omission
While the article covers various examples of post-human impact on the environment, a more comprehensive overview of different types of human interventions (beyond the examples given) and their varying degrees of impact could provide more nuance. Also, a discussion of the ethical implications of using landmines for conservation could be beneficial.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article directly addresses the impact of human activities on terrestrial ecosystems and the surprising ways nature can recover and adapt. It highlights examples of biodiversity thriving in unexpected places, such as bombed-out areas and abandoned villages, challenging conventional notions of pristine nature and offering insights into ecosystem rehabilitation. The examples of the Ukrainian reservoir and the Korean DMZ showcase unexpected positive ecological outcomes resulting from human-caused destruction and conflict.