Reading: 8/30/12

The term “Anthropocene” refers to the human population’s increasing impact on the Earth’s environment, the processes that allow it to function and the species that inhabit it. The human population’s presence on Earth and our daily activities can have destructive effects on the environment. These activities, such as building dams and cutting down trees, are increasingly threatening to our environment and the species that populate Earth’s land and water.
In order to improve on the issues that “Anthropocene” addresses, it is imperative for us to focus on the source of the problem and then work to install a long-term and sustainable solution. The Science Magazine article suggests that we “must reduce the rate at which we alter the Earth” and make sure we have an “understanding of the Earth’s ecosystems,” emphasizing that we “cannot escape responsibility for managing the planet” (Science Mag). Although the aforementioned techniques sound rational and make sense, the article entitled “Conservation in the ‘Anthropocene’” approaches this issue in a very unique and promising way that could be more practical to execute. In the Breakthrough Journal article, the authors bring up the idea of “nature exist[ing] amid a variety of modern, human landscapes”, an idea parallel to “urban ecology”. In order to make conservation a “societal priority” we must make sure people “believe conservation is in their own best interests” (Breakthrough Journal). We must therefore mix modern ideas of improvement and innovation with ideas of conservation, paying attention to the condition of our environment and the species that inhabit it while still enjoying modern development.
The way in which we view this issue is most important. We cannot speak of the environment in a far-reached sense, but rather as an issue that is relevant and familiar to humans worldwide. It is out of human nature for people to care about the “health and prosperity” (Breakthrough Journal) of their friends, families and themselves. In order to make conservation a priority, we must do what the Breakthrough Journal suggests and “intertwine” nature and people to recognize that the status of one’s health depends on the status of the other (Breakthrough Journal). It is essential for this connection to be made by all at an early age.
The Breakthrough Journal article suggests a unique approach to issues such as rising CO2 levels and deforestation that the article in Science Magazine thoroughly discusses. The idea of urban ecology and an approach that depicts the issue of conservation in a more optimistic light will be beneficial towards improving current conditions. We need to adhere to a mindset that encourages us to continue searching for ways to improve and refrain from giving up.
A hopeless perspective towards the issue of conservation could serve as a potential self-serving prophecy. By viewing the environment as a hopeless cause, we are in turn discouraged to do anything productive to remedy the situation, escalating the very problem we are trying to solve.