Truly thought provoking. It is a paradigm shift that needs to ripple through the conservation community, and indeed the population at large. ( )

This is an interesting book that takes a look at the not so doom-and-gloom effects of man's impact on the environment and the ever changing nature of the environment.

The author points out that man is part of nature and man's activities are no different from any other animal, we just use different means to accomplish out goals. He also points out that nature, evolution and the environment are dynamic and ever changing and that conservation efforts that assume nature is static are doomed to failure and go against the natural order of "how things work". Thomas makes use of many examples to make his points, but I felt his chapter arguments could have been more focused. While I don't agree 100% with everything he writes, I felt this book is important in terms of providing food for thought and in shaking up the conservation/environmental people to take a good look at what they are actually trying to accomplish and if the current methods are working. ( )

Without being pollyannish or denying any of the damage climate change and habitat destruction are car=using and will cause, Chris Thomas presents a realistic and yet optimistic long view of the impact of humans on our planet. Change is constant and trying to preserve or resurrect a mythic Eden of ecological perfection is a waste of time and potentially harmful. Yes, we should preserve as much diversity of all species and habitats as possible, he writes. But we are part of nature, not separate from it. We are a conscious part of nature, so we do have choice. But as thoughtful and data-drive Noahs, we should continue the revolutionary distribution of species that has increased diversity around the world, and saved some species from extinction.

This is a hopeful book and a good antidote to the spate of end-time writings. He does not take us off the hook, but rather enlarges our stewardship pf the natural world we came from, live in, and will always be a part of. ( )

Interesting read, but a bit repetitive.

I was thrilled to see a title that might offer hope amidst the gloom of extinctions (As I write this, the common bumblebee has just made the Endangered Species List). Chris Thomas is an environmental scientist, and his claims are evidence-based. He travels the world and sees all kinds of rare species. He researches where they came from and how they got there, and what effect they’ve had. All good.

The book has four sections, all dealing with biodiversity and Man’s destruction (or not) of it. They are 1) the outright wiping out of species, 2) habitat destruction, 3) climate change, and 4) species invasion. Thomas says these are the biggest reasons for species extinction under Man’s management. But it’s all good.

Man and his domesticated animals account for 97% of vertebrate biomass. From Thomas’ standpoint, they are the inheritors who will survive, as long as we’re here to promote them. And he wants us to think this is a good thing. He positively celebrates that we haven’t killed off everything. (I’m not making this up.) And all of these things have a result of increasing diversity. Bottom line: we’re making Earth great again.

Thomas is crystal clear that Man has changed everything and it cannot revert: “This sense of a wild world without humans is a mirage. We have transformed the whole planet. … There is no longer any such thing as human-free nature …. The harmonious coexistence of humans and the rest of nature in the distant past is a romanticized and largely fictional notion.” But that’s all okay, because new hybrids are appearing, and species are spreading where they’ve never been before thanks to us. Of the 12,000 invasive species now thriving in Europe, none is going to disappear no matter what. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

In his book Half-Earth: Our Planet's Fight for Life, E.O. Wilson rails against scientists who defend the pathetic state of the planet damaged by Man. To avoid long explanations In my review, I called them Anthropocene Apologists (AA). Chris Thomas is an AA, the first I have read. He might even be THE AA Wilson writes about – the points are so close. The AA argument is:

-Some species are more successful than others, and a boost from Man is not a negative.
-We should welcome the invasive species as adding to or making up for what little diversity remains.
-We should celebrate their success outcompeting the natives.
-Only a tiny percentage of invasives cause local extinctions.
-Since Man has upset the balance (wiping out most large mammals for example), there’s nothing we can do about it, so we should just keep going.
-Man is in charge, and as a part of Nature, everything he does is ultimately beneficial.
-Nature and evolution will correct for Man’s sins, and flourish.

This is precisely what Wilson cannot abide, and can barely believe scientists would say. Thomas, on the other hand is excited that Man continues introducing non-native species all over the world, creating a new Pangea where everything can mix. How all the species will evolve in their new homelands is quite magical to him. He even says “evolutionary acceleration is starting to gather pace” because of these acts. He doesn’t say, but Thomas must be positively euphoric over the possibilities from genetically modified organisms being released into the biosphere.

In the Epilogue, Thomas doubles down and calls for active transportation of pretty much every living thing from continent to continent, so that everywhere on Earth has the same stock, and everything can mix and thrive and evolve its own way. His idea is that unprecedented diversity will develop over the next thousand years. Fortunately, I won’t be around to see it.

David Wineberg ( )