The Nature of Nature is an argument for the idea that conservation and prosperity are not mutually exclusive ideals. Dr. Sala, an oceanographer and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, does a great job with introducing core environmental concepts in a conversational tone and in a way that is easy to digest, without overly simplifying them. His genuine love and wonder of nature, and our connection to it, is felt throughout the book as he shows us how species interact with each other and their world.
Sala walks us through what ecosystems are and how there is a natural succession of ecosystems that progress within a landscape. The stages start with bare soil, often considered ‘disturbed’ since rarely is an area naturally left bare for very long so it’s likely been disturbed by fire, flood, or construction. Bare soil will typically already contain some seeds, or those seeds may travel via wind and animals, and pioneer species will begin to fill in the land. Homeowners often consider these weeds, but they fill an important niche in the ecosystem by feeding fungus and bacteria in the soil as well as insects and birds. This biomass eventually breaks back down to provide nutrition for the following year’s growth. Over time there is an increase in biodiversity and larger plants and animals may come to the area creating a meadow. Sometimes trees will begin to become the dominant plant life and a forest develops. At each stage, different wildlife has adapted to exploit pieces of the ecosystem. Certain birds are found mostly in meadows, while others live primarily in the trees, and others pass back and forth across the border between two ecosystems.
Not only do species affect one another within an ecosystem, but Sala describes how ecosystems can act on each other as well. A more mature ecosystem can, in a sense, exploit a less mature ecosystem by using resources and stored energy contained in the other ecosystem. In extreme cases, say when humans do this through mining or deforestation, the exploited ecosystem can lose biomass and diversity and be brought to an earlier stage of complexity.
Sala explains the importance of biodiversity and the passing of energy through ecosystems. Beginning with the sunlight used for photosynthesis and through the food web from plants to animals and on to other animals and bacteria. This energy flowing through the ecosystem is part of the natural system and is how these systems stay in balance. He describes how man’s discovery of ancient stored energy, in the form of coal and oil has disturbed that “balance” in the system. We are reintroducing stored energy from millions of years ago back into the planetary ecosystem at a rate that is essentially too fast for our environment to process and maintain the stability we’ve enjoyed for millennia.
Even though the problems of some of our decisions are highlighted in this book, I like Sala’s realism and hope that we can find solutions to push forward to a future that is both more sustainable and economically viable. He not only describes the benefits of protected oceans and rewilding parks in terms of biodiversity and increased biomass, but the economic benefits are becoming very clear as well. Sala has also been involved with protecting oceans personally through National Geographic’s Pristine Seas organization, which he founded in 2008.
For anyone interested in a strong introduction to the interconnectedness of our world and a glimpse of how we can navigate forward, I would strongly recommend this book. Tons of data that is well presented by a passionate expert.
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