Assisted Survival in a Changing World (part one, an overview)

Disclaimer: Many of my ideas and prescriptions for what should be done, are my opinion and are based largely on anecdotal evidence. While I strongly believe in this assessment, as much of what I'm discussing is based on future conditions, I'm certainly open to reevaluating my beliefs as new evidence emerges. That being said, I try my best to lay out a case for these ideas and concerns.

I've been thinking a lot about our role on this planet. For the past few millennia, humans have been re-shaping the Earth, molding it to our desires, consequently spoiling its fragile systems. We began by discovering and wielding the power of fire, and over the centuries, we've only accelerated our conquest by cutting forests, extracting minerals, and burning fossilized fuels. The climate change we are experiencing today is a product of over 200 years of coal and gas extraction that has fueled our increasingly technologically dominated global society. Yet the changes we are seeing now are just the tip of the iceberg, for our planet is warming and will continue warming for many generations to come. And the implications are enormous for all of Earth's life.

In September NPR aired a story about fires raging in the Sierra Nevada of California and the threats they pose to the world's largest trees. Giant sequoias evolved with fire, but not to fires of this magnitude. These giants live for thousands of years yet seem unequipped to handle the warming climate of today. In a desperate attempt to save the most magnificent specimen, park employees went as far as wrapping fire retardent material around the base of General Sherman.

Yet no amount of protective shielding is going to save these and countless other plants from the devastating impacts of global climate change. Climate affects every stage of a plant's development. Seeds won't germinate, pathogens proliferate, and there's new competition from more adaptable species... simply put, the plant is no longer adapted, or "native" to its original habitat.

It is increasingly clear to me that if we are to preserve our beloved natural history, we must change strategy. No longer can we take a hands-off approach. The traditional conservation model of in situ preservation, or preserving original/ endemic habitats, is not enough nor does it address the realities faced by a rapidly warming world and consequent ecological realignment.

Ever since I first learned of man-made climate change, I've been an advocate for radical measures to save species. Yet my outspokenness for tactics like assisted migration has put me at odds with the conservation establishment. The practice of "assisted migration" simply refers to a strategy to help plants, and other organisms, move to suitable habitats and climates. It is simply accelerating a process that would occur naturally over millennia. But because of human development and fragmentation of biomes, many plants are incapable of reaching more hospitable environments. For without human "assistance", I fear many plants will be unnecessarily lost. Do we really want to needlessly back away as countless beauties of nature are lost forever? I for one, want to devote much of my time here on Earth to preserving life, even if it is for an uncertain and inhospitable future.

My primary worry is that the historic and often painstakingly slow pace of scientific research and traditional conservation will not be quick enough to deal with the rapid pace of climate change. I hope we have time, but at this point, I fear the worst. There are just too many uncertainties regarding the future and how much warming will occur. Therefore, I feel the risks of extinction merit radical measures that involve lay citizens.

As mentioned in my title, I'm proposing a concept I call, "assisted survival". I'd like to think this idea is common sense, yet I know some will consider it controversial. I believe concerned passionate gardeners should consider offering up space in their gardens to grow and propagate rare plants- those that are threatened by human development, invasive species, and climate change. The responsibility for biological preservation has largely been relegated to botanical gardens and perhaps a few crazed specialists, but what I'm proposing is a more widescale movement. I foresee a future where there are countless mini-repositories tended by private landowners. For many of our temperate plants will not be able to adapt, or evolve quickly enough to cope with climate change without human intervention.

Push-back will be fierce regarding this kind of citizen-led conservation. Anytime privileges, once afforded to a select group, are dispersed to a wider community, feathers will be ruffled. But the ineffectiveness and complacency of academic and governmental conservationists, will not, in my view, be capable of the enormous work before us.

Yet many will argue that this work should be done by professionals with education and strict protocols, etc... In a perfect world with ample funding, I'd agree, but we are at the precipice of a great ecological disaster, and now is the time to act. And I feel strongly that All of us, no matter our education, are capable of this work. Baked deep inside our DNA is a primal longing and wisdom to grow things. Moreover, our country is in desperate need for a horticultural revival. Giving people a higher calling or a sense of purpose will help ease the existential angst that is building in a world increasingly dominated by automation and virtual escapism. The work of the future should involve a reconnection to nature.

Yet many will also argue that planting species outside their native ranges is "toying with nature" and potentially unleashing plages of exotic invasives. This concern is valid. For any plant that is reproducing in cultivation has the potential to "escape" and "disrupt" the surrounding natural world. But what I'm proposing is not revolutionary. We have been manipulating our environments for centuries. Even the native Americans, who have always been portrayed as one-with-nature, were responsible for moving plants around the hemisphere. The native-only movement is flawed because it fails to acknowledge our human instinct to cultivate, trade, and manipulate nature. We are gardeners to the core of our being. It is idealistic and naive to assume humans won't "mess with nature".

Indeed, we are all in a way "bioengineering" the planet. We must admit that we all are complicit in rearranging life on this planet even if we only grow native plants. Almost all our food has been grown outside of its "native range". And practically all of it has been altered for centuries through selection and breeding. Almost all the life around us, from roaches to our pets, has been shaped by our presence.

But I totally digress, essentially the main point I'd like to underscore is that everything we plant or allow to grow in our home landscapes and public spaces is connected to the whole of nature. Even if we live in an urban environment and not adjoining a natural area, our plants can still "escape" and "contaminate" the rest of nature.

Despite the growing alarm and public awareness of invasive species, I predict that this trend will only accelerate throughout this century because of globalization. We've essentially created a new supercontinent where plants, animals, and pathogens from all over the planet can mix freely. This has resulted in great disruption and ecological disaster, but as I'll try to explain, it is also a source for new possibilities for life.

I don't subscribe to the whole "doom and gloom" attitude of most environmentalists. Rather, I see the planet entering an unprecedented era of flourishing and diversification. An "Anthropocene Explosion" of sorts, an evolutionary radiation of new forms and species unleashed by human-induced mixing and climate change. This is both a period of loss and rebirth. Btw, if you want to dig deeper into these ideas, I'd urge you to check out the work of the British ecologist, Chris Thomas. He lays out a strong case, based on research, for a reason to be hopeful. His book, Inheritors of the Earth, has helped to shape my emerging philosophy.

So back to what we should be doing now to save our beloved species. Anyone who has a passion for gardening has the potential to preserve plants. First, we must identify our focus for preservation. Specialize! I'd suggest picking a handful of species and learning everything you can about just those few plants. Once you've done your homework, then devote space to growing them. If you are like me and don't have a personal garden, I'd suggest befriending someone who does or volunteering at a botanical garden, or even just adopting an abandoned space. Your plot doesn't have to be big. Even if you have just a small balcony or stoop, you can grow plants in containers. All of us, no matter our means, can be preservers of life.

After you've acquired your plants, learn how to propagate them, both through sexual reproduction and clonally, i.e. rooting, divisions, etc... In some cases, you may have to hand pollinate your plants because of a lack of pollinators. This new way of living and interacting with nature will require us to become intertwined with nature, both performing the role of the gardener and, in some cases, breeder. I hope to get into the specifics of this in a later essay.

Artificial selection, or plant breeding, is a powerful tool and can be directed to save imperiled species. In the coming decades, the powers of genetic engineering will also be increasingly available to us. This will be used for an infinite variety of purposes, from making native plants more competitive to, and conversely, making invasive species less successful.

Yet because of the uncertainties of future civilization and technology, we must re-learn and employ the tried-and-true techniques of plant breeding and horticulture. These are some of the most ancient practices of humanity and are what helped us to build our first civilizations.

Now is the time to recognize our unique role in the survival of our fellow species. While we have changed the Earth in so many destructive ways, we should now direct our powers towards preserving and enhancing biodiversity. I for one want to live in a world with great richness. Diversity, in all areas of life, gives existence flavor and complexity. And we as humans can play a vital role in enhancing the richness of this Earth. Please stay tuned for more of the practical things we can do to help assist life through this uncertain transitional period.

Thanks for reading this convoluted rant. I hope to expand on the ideas mentioned above and offer specifics on how I intend to live out these ideas. I welcome criticism because I don't have all the answers, and this is just my opinion based on my experience. Stay tuned for more on this subject.