In the concluding chapter of Rambunctious Garden, Emma Marris leaves us with the seven conservation goals she believes we must work together to achieve. In laying out these goals, Marris also confronts the problems associated with them, further making us realize the scope of the project.
The first goal that Marris cites is protecting the rights of other species. In short, we all coexist together and all have intrinsic value. Therefore, we all have basic rights that must be protected. This is a very difficult goal to achieve, in that everyone disagrees on the value of certain species over others. The contradiction that Marris presents is that to protect diversity, we sometimes must intentionally kill off certain species; thereby valuing them less. This leads us to goal #2: protecting charismatic megafauna. Humans seem to have soft spots for certain species over others, namely “big mammals with big eyes” (156). Due to the likeable nature of these species, efforts to protect them take priority over smaller fauna. These keystone species lead to umbrella conservation, which can have undesirable effects, as with elephants in South Africa.
Goal #3 calls for slowing the rate of extinctions. This goal seems like a given, especially considering how many ecologists are against it (obsessing over restoring baselines, introducing proxies, etc.). The effects of this goal are hard to describe. It can potentially work… but then ecosystems might change while the species is being bred in captivity. Of course, we must also keep in mind resources, namely monetary ones, and whether or not it should be concentrated on this goal over others. Again, certain species just seem to be held higher than others. While the previous goal focused on protecting species from extinction, goal #4 is centered on protecting genetic diversity. The purpose for this is that though “species are real entities…the distinctions are not clear-cut” (160). Preserving genetic diversity may be better because it is what creates diversity, which is favorable in a changing world. Though we could shave “millions of years of evolution not represented in any other gene pool” (161), opponents ask if frozen tissue samples are better than having actual species around. It may save “all the unites but severs all the ecological links between them” (162).
The fifth goal, which sounds the best to me in theory, is attaching a definition and defending biodiversity. The reason it sounds so appealing is because it is so general; it encompasses species, genes, and ecosystems. “Evolution has produced a beautiful web of interrelations” (162) and maintaining this chain of dependence is necessary. This requires an unfathomable amount of resources. It may also be the most difficult goal to achieve because of how much it tries to achieve. “Nevertheless, it may come closest to capturing what people like about nature” (163).
Goal six strives to maximize ecosystem services. This goal is selfish in that nature is being assigned a value solely based on its useful to humanity. Species that do not directly affect us, but are necessary in the chain, are assigned a lower intrinsic value. This same selfishness is what led to the depletion and extinction of many species. The last goal also focuses on another need of nature that humans have used for years: spiritual and aesthetic experiences. It goes without saying we have a soft sport for nature that we have memories with or that are beautiful, such as Niagara Falls. I personally disagree that people narrowly consider pristine areas as more beautiful; it holds the same beauty, it may just considered less valuable to some. Take Central Park as an example. I’m sure many people who visit it still regard it as beautiful and highly valuable. As Marris says, “humans and birds have collaborated to create this beauty” (169).
Thus far, my commentary on past chapters has been supportive of the notion of a rambunctious garden. However, I have only advocated human intervention only to a certain extent. After reading through this last chapter, I am more aware of the role that humans need to play to achieve a rambunctious garden. Marris’ closing lines, however, really struck me: “We’ve forever altered the Earth, and so now we cannot abandon it to a random fate. It is our duty to manage it. Luckily, it can be a pleasant, even joyful task if we embrace it in the right spirit. Let the rambunctious gardening begin” (171). Marris effectively puts into perspective that it is our duty to maintain the Earth’s ecosystems and does so with an optimistic outlook. Having the world be a rambunctious garden gives us the best of both worlds: aesthetics and thriving ecosystems. Though ecologists might favor pre-human baselines, the general population may be more drawn to the beautiful.
