Is there space for nature in the anthropocene? | Louise Firth | TEDxPlymouthUniversity

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we are transforming the planet

we are transforming the planet correction we are designing the planet

correction we are designing the planet

correction we are designing the planet for millennia human beings have been

for millennia human beings have been

for millennia human beings have been designing ecosystems to maximize

designing ecosystems to maximize

designing ecosystems to maximize resources for human beings take the

resources for human beings take the

resources for human beings take the English countryside here it’s beautiful

English countryside here it’s beautiful

English countryside here it’s beautiful isn’t it it’s green it’s got hedges

isn’t it it’s green it’s got hedges

isn’t it it’s green it’s got hedges rolling fields people travel from all

rolling fields people travel from all

rolling fields people travel from all over the world to come and visit the

over the world to come and visit the

over the world to come and visit the English countryside a few years ago one

English countryside a few years ago one

English countryside a few years ago one of my colleagues here in Plymouth

of my colleagues here in Plymouth

of my colleagues here in Plymouth I heard him referring to the English

I heard him referring to the English

I heard him referring to the English countryside to students as a factory and

countryside to students as a factory and

countryside to students as a factory and I thought that was really interesting it

I thought that was really interesting it

I thought that was really interesting it really stuck with me because it was a

really stuck with me because it was a

really stuck with me because it was a really interesting way of looking at it

really interesting way of looking at it

really interesting way of looking at it I presume I think that most people

I presume I think that most people

I presume I think that most people probably look at this environment and

probably look at this environment and

probably look at this environment and they think it’s a beautiful landscape

they think it’s a beautiful landscape

they think it’s a beautiful landscape it’s a place to go and actually enjoy

it’s a place to go and actually enjoy

it’s a place to go and actually enjoy nature but it’s designed for crop

nature but it’s designed for crop

nature but it’s designed for crop production and I wouldn’t necessarily

production and I wouldn’t necessarily

production and I wouldn’t necessarily call it a factory myself I personally

call it a factory myself I personally

call it a factory myself I personally would prefer to refer to it as a

would prefer to refer to it as a

would prefer to refer to it as a cultural landscape one that has been

cultural landscape one that has been

cultural landscape one that has been shaped by both humans and nature next

shaped by both humans and nature next

shaped by both humans and nature next week a moment is going to happen

week a moment is going to happen

week a moment is going to happen probably on Monday the human population

probably on Monday the human population

probably on Monday the human population is going to reach seven point six

is going to reach seven point six

is going to reach seven point six billion people there are so many people

billion people there are so many people

billion people there are so many people on earth and our impact on the

on earth and our impact on the

on earth and our impact on the environment is so great that geologists

environment is so great that geologists

environment is so great that geologists are now talking about calling this era

are now talking about calling this era

are now talking about calling this era this geological epoch the Anthropocene

this geological epoch the Anthropocene

this geological epoch the Anthropocene anthropos humans and we’re not evenly

anthropos humans and we’re not evenly

anthropos humans and we’re not evenly distributed we tend to like living in

distributed we tend to like living in

distributed we tend to like living in cities like Hong Kong here and we

cities like Hong Kong here and we

cities like Hong Kong here and we particularly like living in coastal

particularly like living in coastal

particularly like living in coastal regions right now 40 percent of us live

regions right now 40 percent of us live

regions right now 40 percent of us live within a hundred kilometers of a

within a hundred kilometers of a

within a hundred kilometers of a coastline by 2050 we’re expecting this

coastline by 2050 we’re expecting this

coastline by 2050 we’re expecting this number to increase to 50 percent of 9.8

number to increase to 50 percent of 9.8

number to increase to 50 percent of 9.8 billion people now you guys can do the

billion people now you guys can do the

billion people now you guys can do the maths that’s a lot of people living in a

maths that’s a lot of people living in a

maths that’s a lot of people living in a really small area and of course this is

really small area and of course this is

really small area and of course this is going to have dramatic consequences for

going to have dramatic consequences for

going to have dramatic consequences for vulnerable coastal ecosystems

vulnerable coastal ecosystems

vulnerable coastal ecosystems these burgeoning human populations and

these burgeoning human populations and

these burgeoning human populations and of course let’s not forget climate

of course let’s not forget climate

of course let’s not forget climate change sea level rise and rising storm

change sea level rise and rising storm

change sea level rise and rising storm frequency we’re seeing lots of

frequency we’re seeing lots of

frequency we’re seeing lots of lots more scenes like this very large

lots more scenes like this very large

lots more scenes like this very large coastal defense schemes being designed

coastal defense schemes being designed

coastal defense schemes being designed to protect people and property this

to protect people and property this

to protect people and property this expensive business not just financially

expensive business not just financially

expensive business not just financially but also environmentally as well we are

but also environmentally as well we are

but also environmentally as well we are replacing our natural habitats our

replacing our natural habitats our

replacing our natural habitats our beaches our rocky shores our mangroves

beaches our rocky shores our mangroves

beaches our rocky shores our mangroves our salt marshes we’re replacing them

our salt marshes we’re replacing them

our salt marshes we’re replacing them with hard engineered structures like the

with hard engineered structures like the

with hard engineered structures like the seawall and the rock armor that you see

seawall and the rock armor that you see

seawall and the rock armor that you see in this image here there is increasing

in this image here there is increasing

in this image here there is increasing impetus for us to now make these kind of

impetus for us to now make these kind of

impetus for us to now make these kind of structures to serve multiple purposes

structures to serve multiple purposes

structures to serve multiple purposes not just for humans

not just for humans

not just for humans all of these Hard Rock’s if you place

all of these Hard Rock’s if you place

all of these Hard Rock’s if you place them in the marine environment they will

them in the marine environment they will

them in the marine environment they will become colonized by marine life whether

become colonized by marine life whether

become colonized by marine life whether you like it or not everything represents

you like it or not everything represents

you like it or not everything represents habitat for something and you’ve all

habitat for something and you’ve all

habitat for something and you’ve all heard the phrase build it and they will

heard the phrase build it and they will

heard the phrase build it and they will come right but how you build it

come right but how you build it

come right but how you build it determines who and what will come now I

determines who and what will come now I

determines who and what will come now I work in a research area called

work in a research area called

work in a research area called ecological engineering or eco

ecological engineering or eco

ecological engineering or eco engineering for short and the definition

engineering for short and the definition

engineering for short and the definition of this is the design of sustainable

of this is the design of sustainable

of this is the design of sustainable ecosystems that integrate human society

ecosystems that integrate human society

ecosystems that integrate human society with its natural environment for the

with its natural environment for the

with its natural environment for the benefit of both now even if you’ve not

benefit of both now even if you’ve not

benefit of both now even if you’ve not actually heard the term I’m sure you’re

actually heard the term I’m sure you’re

actually heard the term I’m sure you’re all well aware of the actual concept

all well aware of the actual concept

all well aware of the actual concept many of you I’m sure enjoy green spaces

many of you I’m sure enjoy green spaces

many of you I’m sure enjoy green spaces parks and conservation zones and cities

parks and conservation zones and cities

parks and conservation zones and cities we all recognize that these green spaces

we all recognize that these green spaces

we all recognize that these green spaces are vital for human wellbeing and we

are vital for human wellbeing and we

are vital for human wellbeing and we increasingly recognize this but of

increasingly recognize this but of

increasingly recognize this but of course they’re vital for habitat for

course they’re vital for habitat for

course they’re vital for habitat for wildlife as well let’s take our English

wildlife as well let’s take our English

wildlife as well let’s take our English countryside those hedges are not just

countryside those hedges are not just

countryside those hedges are not just important for defining the boundaries of

important for defining the boundaries of

important for defining the boundaries of fields they’re also really important

fields they’re also really important

fields they’re also really important habitats and corridors that enable

habitats and corridors that enable

habitats and corridors that enable wildlife to travel and safety but how do

wildlife to travel and safety but how do

wildlife to travel and safety but how do we do this in the sea I work in the

we do this in the sea I work in the

we do this in the sea I work in the marine environment and it’s a much newer

marine environment and it’s a much newer

marine environment and it’s a much newer field in the sea we haven’t been working

field in the sea we haven’t been working

field in the sea we haven’t been working on it I where near as long as we have on

on it I where near as long as we have on

on it I where near as long as we have on land let’s take the seawall on the

land let’s take the seawall on the

land let’s take the seawall on the left-hand side it’s been built for human

left-hand side it’s been built for human

left-hand side it’s been built for human purposes it’s been built to retain land

purposes it’s been built to retain land

purposes it’s been built to retain land and to protect from coastal protection

and to protect from coastal protection

and to protect from coastal protection clearly it’s carrying out as primary

clearly it’s carrying out as primary

clearly it’s carrying out as primary function at serving us as humans but

function at serving us as humans but

function at serving us as humans but it’s not really giving anything back

it’s not really giving anything back

it’s not really giving anything back nature yes there are some seaweeds on

nature yes there are some seaweeds on

nature yes there are some seaweeds on here some Hardy species but there’s very

here some Hardy species but there’s very

here some Hardy species but there’s very little else living on there it’s

little else living on there it’s

little else living on there it’s practically devoid of life and the

practically devoid of life and the

practically devoid of life and the reason for this is it’s a very simple

reason for this is it’s a very simple

reason for this is it’s a very simple environment it’s lacking or the

environment it’s lacking or the

environment it’s lacking or the all-important control the natural analog

all-important control the natural analog

all-important control the natural analog to rocky shore to a seawall is a rocky

to rocky shore to a seawall is a rocky

to rocky shore to a seawall is a rocky shore and I’m sure many of you have Rock

shore and I’m sure many of you have Rock

shore and I’m sure many of you have Rock builders kids maybe you still rock pool

builders kids maybe you still rock pool

builders kids maybe you still rock pool today and you know that there are lots

today and you know that there are lots

today and you know that there are lots of weird and wonderful creatures that

of weird and wonderful creatures that

of weird and wonderful creatures that live on rocky shores and there are lots

live on rocky shores and there are lots

live on rocky shores and there are lots of them rocky shores are very diverse

of them rocky shores are very diverse

of them rocky shores are very diverse environments but most rocky shores are

environments but most rocky shores are

environments but most rocky shores are very complex they’re physically complex

very complex they’re physically complex

very complex they’re physically complex they have rock pools they have boulders

they have rock pools they have boulders

they have rock pools they have boulders they have overhangs they’ve channels of

they have overhangs they’ve channels of

they have overhangs they’ve channels of all sorts of areas for marine life to

all sorts of areas for marine life to

all sorts of areas for marine life to live and it’s this physical complexity

live and it’s this physical complexity

live and it’s this physical complexity that’s essential for the diversity of

that’s essential for the diversity of

that’s essential for the diversity of marine life so back to our seawall how

marine life so back to our seawall how

marine life so back to our seawall how can we improve this environment to make

can we improve this environment to make

can we improve this environment to make it better for marine life well this is a

it better for marine life well this is a

it better for marine life well this is a really active area of research now one

really active area of research now one

really active area of research now one that myself and my colleagues here in

that myself and my colleagues here in

that myself and my colleagues here in Plymouth and have been doing a lot of

Plymouth and have been doing a lot of

Plymouth and have been doing a lot of work in for for quite a few years now

work in for for quite a few years now

work in for for quite a few years now and people all over the world are doing

and people all over the world are doing

and people all over the world are doing some really great research designing

some really great research designing

some really great research designing novel ways of enhancing the diversity

novel ways of enhancing the diversity

novel ways of enhancing the diversity the the life on these artificial

the the life on these artificial

the the life on these artificial environments there are even companies

environments there are even companies

environments there are even companies cropping up all over the place that

cropping up all over the place that

cropping up all over the place that actually design products that can help

actually design products that can help

actually design products that can help do this as well so depending on councils

do this as well so depending on councils

do this as well so depending on councils will allow us to do we can let’s take a

will allow us to do we can let’s take a

will allow us to do we can let’s take a scenario we can actually work with the

scenario we can actually work with the

scenario we can actually work with the seawall itself if we were allowed to we

seawall itself if we were allowed to we

seawall itself if we were allowed to we could actually drill directly into that

could actually drill directly into that

could actually drill directly into that sea one we could actually drill the pits

sea one we could actually drill the pits

sea one we could actually drill the pits and crevices and the complexity straight

and crevices and the complexity straight

and crevices and the complexity straight onto the seawall

onto the seawall

onto the seawall we could go to one of these companies

we could go to one of these companies

we could go to one of these companies and we could get artificial rock pools

and we could get artificial rock pools

and we could get artificial rock pools and we can stick them to the sea walls

and we can stick them to the sea walls

and we can stick them to the sea walls some companies even design these large

some companies even design these large

some companies even design these large fasciae so you can actually front the

fasciae so you can actually front the

fasciae so you can actually front the seawall with this large complex

seawall with this large complex

seawall with this large complex environment and sometimes they’re even

environment and sometimes they’re even

environment and sometimes they’re even made of special concrete that’s actually

made of special concrete that’s actually

made of special concrete that’s actually beneficial for marine life and has a

beneficial for marine life and has a

beneficial for marine life and has a lower ph it has a little less of a

lower ph it has a little less of a

lower ph it has a little less of a carbon impact all of this is good stuff

carbon impact all of this is good stuff

carbon impact all of this is good stuff but that’s if we go directly onto the

but that’s if we go directly onto the

but that’s if we go directly onto the seawall

seawall

seawall what if we weren’t allowed to work on

what if we weren’t allowed to work on

what if we weren’t allowed to work on the seawall well there’s lots of options

the seawall well there’s lots of options

the seawall well there’s lots of options available there as well we can easily

available there as well we can easily

available there as well we can easily place boulders in front of the seawall

place boulders in front of the seawall

place boulders in front of the seawall we can actually drill directly into

we can actually drill directly into

we can actually drill directly into these boulders we can create artificial

these boulders we can create artificial

these boulders we can create artificial rock pools we can create pits and

rock pools we can create pits and

rock pools we can create pits and crevices directly into the boulders

crevices directly into the boulders

crevices directly into the boulders themselves or we could actually replace

themselves or we could actually replace

themselves or we could actually replace the boulders with large habitat

the boulders with large habitat

the boulders with large habitat enhancement units like our bio block

enhancement units like our bio block

enhancement units like our bio block that we have here all of this is going

that we have here all of this is going

that we have here all of this is going towards increasing complexity physical

towards increasing complexity physical

towards increasing complexity physical complexity and if you increase physical

complexity and if you increase physical

complexity and if you increase physical complexity you will increase diversity

complexity you will increase diversity

complexity you will increase diversity of life but how do you eco engineer a

of life but how do you eco engineer a

of life but how do you eco engineer a situation like this sure many of you

situation like this sure many of you

situation like this sure many of you recognize this as the Pam’s in Dubai it

recognize this as the Pam’s in Dubai it

recognize this as the Pam’s in Dubai it is the largest artificial island in the

is the largest artificial island in the

is the largest artificial island in the world fantastic engineering feat it has

world fantastic engineering feat it has

world fantastic engineering feat it has a very large footprint and I’m sure you

a very large footprint and I’m sure you

a very large footprint and I’m sure you can imagine anything the natural habitat

can imagine anything the natural habitat

can imagine anything the natural habitat that was underneath that footprint as it

that was underneath that footprint as it

that was underneath that footprint as it was constructed be it coral sand rock

was constructed be it coral sand rock

was constructed be it coral sand rock sea grass that has long since

sea grass that has long since

sea grass that has long since disappeared clearly this is a very

disappeared clearly this is a very

disappeared clearly this is a very extreme example but not a unique one if

extreme example but not a unique one if

extreme example but not a unique one if you go home and Google artificial island

you go home and Google artificial island

you go home and Google artificial island I promise you you’ll be surprised at how

I promise you you’ll be surprised at how

I promise you you’ll be surprised at how many there are and they are on the

many there are and they are on the

many there are and they are on the increase particularly in places like

increase particularly in places like

increase particularly in places like Asia and the Middle East this is a major

Asia and the Middle East this is a major

Asia and the Middle East this is a major concern but this is not something that

concern but this is not something that

concern but this is not something that we can hide from it’s something that we

we can hide from it’s something that we

we can hide from it’s something that we have to face head-on well I personally

have to face head-on well I personally

have to face head-on well I personally am against this kind of mega development

am against this kind of mega development

am against this kind of mega development from an environmental perspective

from an environmental perspective

from an environmental perspective I’m also acutely aware that in the very

I’m also acutely aware that in the very

I’m also acutely aware that in the very short space of time that I’m speaking to

short space of time that I’m speaking to

short space of time that I’m speaking to you tonight probably an extra 2,000

you tonight probably an extra 2,000

you tonight probably an extra 2,000 people have been added to the planet

people have been added to the planet

people have been added to the planet development whether we like it or not is

development whether we like it or not is

development whether we like it or not is inevitable particularly in the short

inevitable particularly in the short

inevitable particularly in the short term but what can we do about it

term but what can we do about it

term but what can we do about it well there are ways that we can deal

well there are ways that we can deal

well there are ways that we can deal with this we can make space for nature

with this we can make space for nature

with this we can make space for nature in these human dominated environments

in these human dominated environments

in these human dominated environments the first thing we can do is avoid

the first thing we can do is avoid

the first thing we can do is avoid developing on what I’m referring to as

developing on what I’m referring to as

developing on what I’m referring to as green and blue spaces the green refers

green and blue spaces the green refers

green and blue spaces the green refers to on land the blue refers to in the sea

to on land the blue refers to in the sea

to on land the blue refers to in the sea these are space

these are space

these are space that have never been developed

that have never been developed

that have never been developed previously okay we haven’t constructed

previously okay we haven’t constructed

previously okay we haven’t constructed on them before we need to do everything

on them before we need to do everything

on them before we need to do everything in our power to protect the green and

in our power to protect the green and

in our power to protect the green and the blue no matter how barren this

the blue no matter how barren this

the blue no matter how barren this habitat or this environment or landscape

habitat or this environment or landscape

habitat or this environment or landscape appears to be we need to protect it it

appears to be we need to protect it it

appears to be we need to protect it it is precious no amount of eco engineering

is precious no amount of eco engineering

is precious no amount of eco engineering can give back that 500 year old coral

can give back that 500 year old coral

can give back that 500 year old coral reef or that virgin rainforest if we

reef or that virgin rainforest if we

reef or that virgin rainforest if we develop on it if development has to go

develop on it if development has to go

develop on it if development has to go ahead and I think it’s safe to say that

ahead and I think it’s safe to say that

ahead and I think it’s safe to say that it will in places we need to actively

it will in places we need to actively

it will in places we need to actively encourage that it happens in the grey

encourage that it happens in the grey

encourage that it happens in the grey and the brown these are areas that have

and the brown these are areas that have

and the brown these are areas that have already been degraded by human beings

already been degraded by human beings

already been degraded by human beings the grey refers to urban landscapes and

the grey refers to urban landscapes and

the grey refers to urban landscapes and like cities for example and the brown

like cities for example and the brown

like cities for example and the brown refers to landscapes that have been

refers to landscapes that have been

refers to landscapes that have been developed but have actually been

developed but have actually been

developed but have actually been abandoned okay sometimes they might be

abandoned okay sometimes they might be

abandoned okay sometimes they might be contaminated land it is the grey and the

contaminated land it is the grey and the

contaminated land it is the grey and the brown that’s where you get the winds

brown that’s where you get the winds

brown that’s where you get the winds okay we call this win/win ecology okay

okay we call this win/win ecology okay

okay we call this win/win ecology okay that’s actually the science making space

that’s actually the science making space

that’s actually the science making space for it nature in human dominated

for it nature in human dominated

for it nature in human dominated environments if we look at it from our

environments if we look at it from our

environments if we look at it from our own perspective we’re probably going to

own perspective we’re probably going to

own perspective we’re probably going to go ahead and develop anyway so we’re

go ahead and develop anyway so we’re

go ahead and develop anyway so we’re gonna win no matter what in the short

gonna win no matter what in the short

gonna win no matter what in the short term but if we think about it from a

term but if we think about it from a

term but if we think about it from a biological perspective an environmental

biological perspective an environmental

biological perspective an environmental perspective this is where the winds are

perspective this is where the winds are

perspective this is where the winds are in the gray and the brown okay

in the gray and the brown okay

in the gray and the brown okay nature will lose out in the gray and the

nature will lose out in the gray and the

nature will lose out in the gray and the blue for sure

blue for sure

blue for sure the title of my talk was how do we make

the title of my talk was how do we make

the title of my talk was how do we make space for nature in the Anthropocene I

space for nature in the Anthropocene I

space for nature in the Anthropocene I think the answer isn’t just is it sorry

think the answer isn’t just is it sorry

think the answer isn’t just is it sorry is there space for nature in the

is there space for nature in the

is there space for nature in the Anthropocene I don’t think the answer is

Anthropocene I don’t think the answer is

Anthropocene I don’t think the answer is just yes the answer is there has to be

just yes the answer is there has to be

just yes the answer is there has to be we must consider nature we must consider

we must consider nature we must consider

we must consider nature we must consider how we can make space for nature in this

how we can make space for nature in this

how we can make space for nature in this human dominated environment otherwise

human dominated environment otherwise

human dominated environment otherwise all we’re going to leave behind for

all we’re going to leave behind for

all we’re going to leave behind for future generations is a lot of gray and

future generations is a lot of gray and

future generations is a lot of gray and a lot of brown thank you

a lot of brown thank you

a lot of brown thank you [Applause]

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