Nov 12, 2018
There's no question that human
activity is causing enormous changes on our planet's environment,
from deforestation to mass extinction to climate change. But
perhaps there is a tiny cause for optimism -- or at least, the
prospect of a new equilibrium, if we can manage to ameliorate our
most destructive impulses. Wildlife conservationist Joe Walston
argues that -- seemingly paradoxically, but not really --
increasing urbanization provides hope for biodiversity preservation
and poverty alleviation moving forward. As one piece of evidence,
while our population is still growing, the rate of
growth has slowed substantially as people move into cities and
new opportunities become available. We discuss these trends, the
causes underlying them, and what strategies suggest themselves to
bring humans into balance with the environment before it's too
late.
Joe Walston is Senior Vice President for Field Conservation the Wildlife Conservation Society. He received his Masters degree in Zoology and Animal Biology from Aberdeen University. Before moving to New York, he spent fifteen years working in on conservation programs in Africa and SouthEast Asia. His work in Cambodia was awarded with that country's highest civilian honor. A species of tube-nosed bat has been named Murina Walston in recognition of his work on protecting bat habitats.