Can urban areas have ecological integrity

摘要: The question of whether urban areas can offer asemblance the natural world – a vestige (at least)of ecological integrity is an important one to manypeople who live in these areas. As more and ofthe becomes urbanized, this becomeshighly relevant broader mission maintain-ing Earth’s biological diversity.Most people, especially when young, are attractedto living things, Ed Wilsoncalled attraction “biophilia.” And entire bookshave been written about it one, for example, bySteve Kellert, also appears morning’sprogram. Personally, I share Wilson’s speculationthat biophilia has genetic basis. Some people arebiophilic than others. This tendency very likelyheritable, although certainly influenced by theenvironment, particularly early experiences. Myown experience, which includes working manyyears as camp counselor environmentaleducator my career, having 3 children ofmy own, suggests that most biophilic.They fascinated non-human life forms. Kidsthat have abundant exposure nature tend bemore biophilic. they get older, however, mostkids seem lose touch with nature. They aresocially conditioned value television, computers,and video games above bugs salamanders.Their teachers parents reinforce whatever fearsthey outdoors (e.g. snakes,spiders, poison oak) their peers tell themthat isn’t “cool. Only nerds interested inthat stuff.” With few or no near theirhomes alternative experiences, many youngpeople let dwindle away nothing asthey grow older. It wonder we populacedistanced from unwilling supportmeaningful conservation programs.I just outlined what believe majorchallenge wildlife conservation. What, then,do do it? Basically, maintainand, where possible, restore lot naturalhabitat within around areas,where live. But, if embark on thisventure, how know succeeding?There both social measures ofsuccess. include increasedawareness appreciation native wildlifeand healthy ecosystems. arethe subject talk morning; will focus onadaptation concept tourban suburban role connectiv-ity (i.e. corridors) promoting ecologicalintegrity.