The People's Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast

Ecosystem Balance

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Episode notes

Are we too controlling of the environment? We’ll always justify our own actions, so are there really any categorical answers? What makes us different from the rest of the animal kingdom? Is it really so off putting to be talking about us being animals, and is a negative reaction to that based in self determination or fact? We aren’t descended from monkeys, we share a common ancestor, is that true?

Nature isn’t just ‘out there somewhere’, a backdrop to our lives, it's everywhere, at all times, and we are part of the ecosystem, not separate from it. We know when something’s not balanced, but isn’t deciding on what balance is, too much about human centric thinking at times?

Have you ever seen an evil magpie?

All these points flash through the co-hosts' minds as they were faced with another listener question, received from Bart from Tacoma, Washington, USA. Enjoying the freedom to explore their own thoughts on the open mic without the distraction of an invited ‘expert guest’.

The question is as follows: “What is a healthy and balanced ecosystem, and who decides what that is, and when humans should step in to assist/manage/restore/develop?”

We are part of nature and not separate from it, and we are as much part of the ecosystem of any particular place, as the birds and the bees are. So when confronted with maintenance of a nature reserve say, do we manage what an area is now, return it to what it was, or do we turn it into something we want it to be or feel it should be?

It’s very hard to know what a healthy and balanced ecosystem is, but we can feel when the balance has been tipped, but often divorce ourselves from responsibility and involvement in tipping points. We need to understand what we do or don’t do both have impacts. We need to allow death and decay to readily be part of ecosystems, and not wash them away.

We perhaps need to appreciate the natural order of things. Sometimes some things dominate, so when should we step in? We’ve been so disruptive to ecosystems, so do we actually need to step in to aid biodiversity, or take a step back?

What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to [email protected], or record us a message in your own voice by going to https://anchor.fm/thepeoplescountryside/message

This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice.

In today's episode Stuart and William again talk about Environmental Debate Live & Unscripted happening on the 27th May at the Bothy Vineyard, in Oxfordshire. Here’s a link to book tickets for this event: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/environmental-debate-live-unscripted-tickets-514832145807

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