Conservation and Sustainable Use of the Biosphere - WBGU
Conservation and Sustainable Use of the Biosphere - WBGU
Conservation and Sustainable Use of the Biosphere - WBGU
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Introduction B<br />
9<br />
In early 1962, <strong>the</strong> American biologist Rachel Carson<br />
published her book entitled ‘Silent Spring’ – a black<br />
mark on <strong>the</strong> seemingly immaculate façade <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
agro-industrial revolution <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> post-war period, a<br />
book that gave strength <strong>and</strong> direction to <strong>the</strong> emerging<br />
environmental movement <strong>and</strong> thus, possibly,<br />
changed <strong>the</strong> course <strong>of</strong> modern history. In a compelling<br />
combination <strong>of</strong> analysis <strong>and</strong> poetry Carson’s<br />
work for <strong>the</strong> first time highlighted <strong>the</strong> threats posed<br />
to <strong>the</strong> natural biosphere by <strong>the</strong> thoughtless use <strong>of</strong><br />
chemical plant protection agents.<br />
Almost forty years later many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> terrifying<br />
visions <strong>of</strong> ‘Silent Spring’ have not become reality (in<br />
line with <strong>the</strong> logic <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ‘self-avoiding prophecy’?).<br />
None<strong>the</strong>less, some aspects <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ecological reality <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> late 20th century eclipse Carson’s worst presentiments<br />
in <strong>the</strong> most banal <strong>and</strong> malicious way. A brief<br />
report in <strong>the</strong> Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung <strong>of</strong> 14<br />
April 1999 casually states: ‘The European Commission<br />
has prohibited <strong>the</strong> import <strong>of</strong> fish <strong>and</strong> fisheries<br />
products from Lake Victoria, East Africa. Allegedly<br />
some fishermen deliberately discharge pesticides<br />
into <strong>the</strong> Lake in order to improve <strong>the</strong>ir catches. In <strong>the</strong><br />
last few weeks a number <strong>of</strong> people have died in <strong>the</strong><br />
littoral states <strong>of</strong> Ug<strong>and</strong>a, Tanzania <strong>and</strong> Kenya due to<br />
poisoning from residues <strong>of</strong> plant protection agents in<br />
fish.’<br />
Is it not a grotesque irony <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> biosphere’s fate<br />
that those chemicals whose unintentional side effects<br />
in conjunction with a definitely beneficial increase in<br />
food production were denounced in <strong>the</strong> 1960s, are<br />
now being deliberately misused in <strong>the</strong> 1990s in order<br />
to directly destroy higher animal life with <strong>the</strong>ir main<br />
toxic effect? This observation makes it alarmingly<br />
clear that <strong>the</strong> onslaught <strong>of</strong> humankind on creation is<br />
no longer being waged in <strong>the</strong> wealthy centres <strong>of</strong><br />
‘Western civilization’, but mainly in <strong>the</strong> least developed<br />
countries <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world, where sheer poverty<br />
makes all scruples <strong>and</strong> considerations <strong>of</strong> self-protection<br />
appear pure luxury when plundering natural<br />
resources. As a result, destructive <strong>and</strong> thoughtless<br />
exploitation <strong>of</strong> fauna <strong>and</strong> flora is currently being perpetrated<br />
in most tropical <strong>and</strong> subtropical regions.<br />
While <strong>the</strong> hunt for <strong>the</strong> last hyacinth macaws (worth<br />
US$40,000 each on <strong>the</strong> black market) is on in <strong>the</strong><br />
Amazon rainforests <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> ecological integrity <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> West African jungle is being sacrificed to <strong>the</strong><br />
extraction <strong>of</strong> individual high-value trees, <strong>the</strong> destruction<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> coral reefs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Indonesian archipelago<br />
by cyanide <strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> dynamite fishing continues at a<br />
breathtaking pace.<br />
This means that <strong>the</strong> total triumph <strong>of</strong> a single<br />
species over millions <strong>of</strong> species in co-evolution is<br />
nearing completion; <strong>the</strong> crowing glory <strong>of</strong> this victory<br />
will ultimately be a completely reconstructed biosphere.<br />
This most spectacular <strong>of</strong> all monuments to<br />
civilization will sit on three main pillars, namely:<br />
1. <strong>the</strong> reduction <strong>of</strong> genetic <strong>and</strong> species diversity,<br />
2. <strong>the</strong> functionalization <strong>and</strong> homogenization <strong>of</strong> ecosystems<br />
<strong>and</strong> l<strong>and</strong>scapes,<br />
3. <strong>the</strong> modification <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> regulatory services <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
biosphere at <strong>the</strong> planetary level.<br />
Species, l<strong>and</strong>scapes, cycles – <strong>the</strong>se are in fact <strong>the</strong> three<br />
basic quantities whose hyper-complex interactions<br />
determined <strong>the</strong> identity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pre-modern biosphere<br />
(Box B-1). Humankind not only shapes <strong>the</strong> associated<br />
elements according to its short-sighted wishes, it<br />
also tears <strong>the</strong>ir interaction out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> evolutionary<br />
time-space context <strong>and</strong> forces an artificial, highly<br />
unstable metabolism on <strong>the</strong> biosphere. Today, for<br />
example, essential nutrients for plant growth are<br />
transported <strong>and</strong> distributed by <strong>the</strong> machinery <strong>of</strong><br />
international trade to a greater extent than by natural<br />
processes.<br />
The extent to which <strong>the</strong> reconstruction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> biosphere<br />
by its modern ‘flagship species’ has already<br />
progressed can be shown by dry figures, but perhaps<br />
even more impressively by some current, r<strong>and</strong>omly<br />
selected examples that throw a harsh light on <strong>the</strong><br />
limited wisdom <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ‘architects’:<br />
Since <strong>the</strong> beginning <strong>of</strong> 1999 <strong>the</strong>re has been bitter<br />
debate in <strong>the</strong> United Kingdom about <strong>the</strong> ecological<br />
risks <strong>of</strong> genetically modified crops. In particular, <strong>the</strong><br />
effects <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> release <strong>of</strong> GMHT (genetically-modified<br />
herbicide tolerant) cereal varieties on <strong>the</strong> natural<br />
interrelationship <strong>of</strong> species in a mature cultivated<br />
l<strong>and</strong>scape are <strong>the</strong> subject <strong>of</strong> extremely controversial<br />
assessments. Given <strong>the</strong> limited <strong>the</strong>oretical<br />
knowledge <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> almost complete empirical ignorance<br />
<strong>of</strong> some experts, a debate <strong>of</strong> this kind is not<br />
only underst<strong>and</strong>able, but is also necessary (<strong>WBGU</strong>,<br />
1998a). However, it will become dubious <strong>and</strong> even<br />
counterproductive if it diverts public attention from<br />
<strong>the</strong> fact that – beyond all speculation – a verdict can<br />
already be given on normal, ‘st<strong>and</strong>ard’ agriculture as<br />
regards <strong>the</strong> extinction <strong>of</strong> species: as <strong>the</strong> New Scientist<br />
magazine reported on 27 February 1999, from 1971 to<br />
1995 <strong>the</strong> populations <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> previously dominant<br />
British bird species fell by up to 90 per cent. ‘The<br />
problem has been caused by <strong>the</strong> everyday use <strong>of</strong><br />
highly toxic chemical sprays, by ripping out hedgerows,<br />
<strong>and</strong> by <strong>the</strong> relentless spread <strong>of</strong> farming practices<br />
which we have never quite had <strong>the</strong> collective<br />
energy or will to resist.’<br />
An almost touching counterpoint to <strong>the</strong> destructive<br />
everyday practice is being attempted by a zoological<br />
project in <strong>the</strong> Hai-Bar Nature Reserve, near<br />
<strong>the</strong> Israeli port <strong>of</strong> Eilat: <strong>the</strong>re, in <strong>the</strong> middle <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Negev Desert, all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> animal species that are mentioned<br />
in <strong>the</strong> Holy Scriptures are to be brought<br />
toge<strong>the</strong>r again in a limited area. In spite <strong>of</strong> successes