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Nature Needs Half | James Brundige| TEDxVail


this is our home she provides everything

this is our home she provides everything we need fresh water clean air all kinds

we need fresh water clean air all kinds

we need fresh water clean air all kinds of food there’s a bounty of

of food there’s a bounty of

of food there’s a bounty of animal vegetable and mineral wealth

animal vegetable and mineral wealth

animal vegetable and mineral wealth which now supports seven billion humans

which now supports seven billion humans

which now supports seven billion humans but seven billion people have had an

but seven billion people have had an

but seven billion people have had an impact on this planet to the extent that

impact on this planet to the extent that

impact on this planet to the extent that we have brought about a new geologic age

we have brought about a new geologic age

we have brought about a new geologic age the Anthropocene the age of man people

the Anthropocene the age of man people

the Anthropocene the age of man people earned their domestic animals have

earned their domestic animals have

earned their domestic animals have replaced most other creatures and

replaced most other creatures and

replaced most other creatures and dramatically changed the planet even the

dramatically changed the planet even the

dramatically changed the planet even the temperature the atmosphere and the

temperature the atmosphere and the

temperature the atmosphere and the chemistry of the oceans humans are

chemistry of the oceans humans are

chemistry of the oceans humans are thriving but for the rest of life on

thriving but for the rest of life on

thriving but for the rest of life on earth our impact is comparable to the

earth our impact is comparable to the

earth our impact is comparable to the common stripe which wiped out the

common stripe which wiped out the

common stripe which wiped out the dinosaurs the fate of these large

dinosaurs the fate of these large

dinosaurs the fate of these large mammals reflects what has happened to

mammals reflects what has happened to

mammals reflects what has happened to everything else birds amphibians

everything else birds amphibians

everything else birds amphibians reptiles and fish 90% of large fish have

reptiles and fish 90% of large fish have

reptiles and fish 90% of large fish have been wiped out in the last 50 years half

been wiped out in the last 50 years half

been wiped out in the last 50 years half of the world’s coral reefs are dead and

of the world’s coral reefs are dead and

of the world’s coral reefs are dead and then there’s the bugs

then there’s the bugs

then there’s the bugs recent studies in Europe have found that

recent studies in Europe have found that

recent studies in Europe have found that 75% of insect life is gone

75% of insect life is gone

75% of insect life is gone we have chopped up nature into small

we have chopped up nature into small

we have chopped up nature into small parcels isolated from the other small

parcels isolated from the other small

parcels isolated from the other small parcels that persist even America’s best

parcels that persist even America’s best

parcels that persist even America’s best idea the national parks are isolated

idea the national parks are isolated

idea the national parks are isolated islands of habitat and that is a formula

islands of habitat and that is a formula

islands of habitat and that is a formula for extinction the biosphere is a very

for extinction the biosphere is a very

for extinction the biosphere is a very thin layer of life how much biodiversity

thin layer of life how much biodiversity

thin layer of life how much biodiversity can we eliminate before we reach a

can we eliminate before we reach a

can we eliminate before we reach a tipping point I grew up in a forest full

tipping point I grew up in a forest full

tipping point I grew up in a forest full of songbirds half of them are now gone

of songbirds half of them are now gone

of songbirds half of them are now gone we have lost a billion birds in North

we have lost a billion birds in North

we have lost a billion birds in North America in the last 50 years and I think

America in the last 50 years and I think

America in the last 50 years and I think it’s a moral issue as well we are not

it’s a moral issue as well we are not

it’s a moral issue as well we are not the only creatures who have at this

the only creatures who have at this

the only creatures who have at this planet what gives us the right to push

planet what gives us the right to push

planet what gives us the right to push all these other species to the brink of

all these other species to the brink of

all these other species to the brink of extinction I had the privilege of

extinction I had the privilege of

extinction I had the privilege of filming this herd of alpha elephants for

filming this herd of alpha elephants for

filming this herd of alpha elephants for a week and let me assure you elephants

a week and let me assure you elephants

a week and let me assure you elephants love their children too

love their children too

love their children too we need to understand what will it take

we need to understand what will it take

we need to understand what will it take to restore and maintain this fabulous

to restore and maintain this fabulous

to restore and maintain this fabulous web of life that we have inherited we

web of life that we have inherited we

web of life that we have inherited we need to ask the question for the good of

need to ask the question for the good of

need to ask the question for the good of all life on Earth what does nature need

all life on Earth what does nature need

all life on Earth what does nature need well in 2009 conservationist Harvey

well in 2009 conservationist Harvey

well in 2009 conservationist Harvey Locke working with the wild Foundation

Locke working with the wild Foundation

Locke working with the wild Foundation suggested an answer nature needs half

suggested an answer nature needs half

suggested an answer nature needs half that’s right we need to protect half of

that’s right we need to protect half of

that’s right we need to protect half of every eco region on earth land and water

every eco region on earth land and water

every eco region on earth land and water and we need to connect them back

and we need to connect them back

and we need to connect them back together so we once again have the real

together so we once again have the real

together so we once again have the real world wide web the world wide web of

world wide web the world wide web of

world wide web the world wide web of life conservation needs to happen at the

life conservation needs to happen at the

life conservation needs to happen at the scale of the problems which are

scale of the problems which are

scale of the problems which are planetary and this is not a made-up

planetary and this is not a made-up

planetary and this is not a made-up number study after study in ecoregions

number study after study in ecoregions

number study after study in ecoregions from the Amazon to the Arctic show that

from the Amazon to the Arctic show that

from the Amazon to the Arctic show that if you want to keep an ecosystem and all

if you want to keep an ecosystem and all

if you want to keep an ecosystem and all its inhabitants alive you need to

its inhabitants alive you need to

its inhabitants alive you need to protect at least half and it’s not an

protect at least half and it’s not an

protect at least half and it’s not an outrageous idea people like nature

outrageous idea people like nature

outrageous idea people like nature communities that integrate nature are

communities that integrate nature are

communities that integrate nature are healthier and happier places to live

healthier and happier places to live

healthier and happier places to live density and nature are not enemies they

density and nature are not enemies they

density and nature are not enemies they could work together for everyone’s

could work together for everyone’s

could work together for everyone’s benefit nature needs half when I first

benefit nature needs half when I first

benefit nature needs half when I first heard the idea my reaction was one of

heard the idea my reaction was one of

heard the idea my reaction was one of gosh that’s a big ask I’ve spent most of

gosh that’s a big ask I’ve spent most of

gosh that’s a big ask I’ve spent most of the last thirty years making

the last thirty years making

the last thirty years making conservation films I made shows about

conservation films I made shows about

conservation films I made shows about wilderness and sprawl about coral reefs

wilderness and sprawl about coral reefs

wilderness and sprawl about coral reefs and logging I’ve made films with

and logging I’ve made films with

and logging I’ve made films with elephants and lions and grizzly bears

elephants and lions and grizzly bears

elephants and lions and grizzly bears and whales most of my films were stories

and whales most of my films were stories

and whales most of my films were stories of conservation heroes doing incredible

of conservation heroes doing incredible

of conservation heroes doing incredible work to save the last bits of wild

work to save the last bits of wild

work to save the last bits of wild nature but at the end of the day there

nature but at the end of the day there

nature but at the end of the day there are not enough of us committed to this

are not enough of us committed to this

are not enough of us committed to this task and we are losing ground we need a

task and we are losing ground we need a

task and we are losing ground we need a big idea we need a big solution to the

big idea we need a big solution to the

big idea we need a big solution to the extinction crisis nature needs half

extinction crisis nature needs half

extinction crisis nature needs half could be that idea a clarion call to

could be that idea a clarion call to

could be that idea a clarion call to action at the scale that we need and

action at the scale that we need and

action at the scale that we need and it’s catching on Neil Wilson’s recent

it’s catching on Neil Wilson’s recent

it’s catching on Neil Wilson’s recent book has the same proposal he calls it

book has the same proposal he calls it

book has the same proposal he calls it half

half

half earth but whatever you call it one earth

earth but whatever you call it one earth

earth but whatever you call it one earth or half earth or nature needs half the

or half earth or nature needs half the

or half earth or nature needs half the idea is the same our relationship with

idea is the same our relationship with

idea is the same our relationship with this planet is badly broken we need a

this planet is badly broken we need a

this planet is badly broken we need a new story about how we live here we need

new story about how we live here we need

new story about how we live here we need a relationship with the earth that is

a relationship with the earth that is

a relationship with the earth that is thoughtful and balanced 50/50 half and

thoughtful and balanced 50/50 half and

thoughtful and balanced 50/50 half and half that sounds like a fair deal and

half that sounds like a fair deal and

half that sounds like a fair deal and around the world people are starting to

around the world people are starting to

around the world people are starting to think big

think big

think big here you see it nature needs half is

here you see it nature needs half is

here you see it nature needs half is possible in China and then there’s my

possible in China and then there’s my

possible in China and then there’s my favorite country in the world Bhutan

favorite country in the world Bhutan

favorite country in the world Bhutan where they have embraced not gross

where they have embraced not gross

where they have embraced not gross national product but gross national

national product but gross national

national product but gross national happiness in Bhutan they understand one

happiness in Bhutan they understand one

happiness in Bhutan they understand one of the foundations of national happiness

of the foundations of national happiness

of the foundations of national happiness is a healthy environment so they have

is a healthy environment so they have

is a healthy environment so they have protected more than half of their

protected more than half of their

protected more than half of their country in a connected system of

country in a connected system of

country in a connected system of protected areas from the high Himalayas

protected areas from the high Himalayas

protected areas from the high Himalayas to lowland jungles they are maintaining

to lowland jungles they are maintaining

to lowland jungles they are maintaining healthy populations of the rarest and

healthy populations of the rarest and

healthy populations of the rarest and most endangered species in the world

most endangered species in the world

most endangered species in the world this is what nature needs conservation

this is what nature needs conservation

this is what nature needs conservation groups around the world are starting to

groups around the world are starting to

groups around the world are starting to embrace the idea here’s an article from

embrace the idea here’s an article from

embrace the idea here’s an article from the rainforest alliance who’s doing a

the rainforest alliance who’s doing a

the rainforest alliance who’s doing a lot of great work in the Amazon and the

lot of great work in the Amazon and the

lot of great work in the Amazon and the Amazon is one place where nature in fact

Amazon is one place where nature in fact

Amazon is one place where nature in fact needs more than half you may have heard

needs more than half you may have heard

needs more than half you may have heard that the rainforest makes its own rain

that the rainforest makes its own rain

that the rainforest makes its own rain well here’s how that works at this

well here’s how that works at this

well here’s how that works at this latitude easterly winds bring moisture

latitude easterly winds bring moisture

latitude easterly winds bring moisture in from the Atlantic Ocean which falls

in from the Atlantic Ocean which falls

in from the Atlantic Ocean which falls as rain on coastal areas it transpires

as rain on coastal areas it transpires

as rain on coastal areas it transpires through the forests evaporates and

through the forests evaporates and

through the forests evaporates and continues to move west each drop of rain

continues to move west each drop of rain

continues to move west each drop of rain falls and evaporates many times before

falls and evaporates many times before

falls and evaporates many times before this airflow hits the Andes if we cut

this airflow hits the Andes if we cut

this airflow hits the Andes if we cut down too much of the forest the rain

down too much of the forest the rain

down too much of the forest the rain will stop and that’s a big problem

will stop and that’s a big problem

will stop and that’s a big problem because some of this moisture makes it

because some of this moisture makes it

because some of this moisture makes it as far north as the american breadbasket

as far north as the american breadbasket

as far north as the american breadbasket and as far east as Central Africa and

and as far east as Central Africa and

and as far east as Central Africa and that’s the function of rain forests

that’s the function of rain forests

that’s the function of rain forests around the world they sequester carbon

around the world they sequester carbon

around the world they sequester carbon dioxide they produce oxygen and they

dioxide they produce oxygen and they

dioxide they produce oxygen and they circulate moisture around the planet

circulate moisture around the planet

circulate moisture around the planet these are big structures that nature

these are big structures that nature

these are big structures that nature needs

needs

needs in order to keep working so we need to

in order to keep working so we need to

in order to keep working so we need to practice conservation at the scale that

practice conservation at the scale that

practice conservation at the scale that protects not just individual places that

protects not just individual places that

protects not just individual places that but these big systems that support life

but these big systems that support life

but these big systems that support life as we know it here’s a map of some of

as we know it here’s a map of some of

as we know it here’s a map of some of the large landscape and seascape

the large landscape and seascape

the large landscape and seascape conservation initiatives around the

conservation initiatives around the

conservation initiatives around the world and there’s the oceans recently

world and there’s the oceans recently

world and there’s the oceans recently the United States made the largest

the United States made the largest

the United States made the largest marine protected area in the world

marine protected area in the world

marine protected area in the world more than a million square kilometers

more than a million square kilometers

more than a million square kilometers and these marine protected areas really

and these marine protected areas really

and these marine protected areas really work

work

work they provide fish a place to breed and

they provide fish a place to breed and

they provide fish a place to breed and recover from constant human pressure

recover from constant human pressure

recover from constant human pressure people who live near these places have

people who live near these places have

people who live near these places have better and more sustainable livelihoods

better and more sustainable livelihoods

better and more sustainable livelihoods nature needs half also recognizes the

nature needs half also recognizes the

nature needs half also recognizes the importance of traditional land tenure

importance of traditional land tenure

importance of traditional land tenure indigenous groups occupy more than a

indigenous groups occupy more than a

indigenous groups occupy more than a quarter of the intact eco regions around

quarter of the intact eco regions around

quarter of the intact eco regions around the earth and if you look at their

the earth and if you look at their

the earth and if you look at their traditions and their self-governance and

traditions and their self-governance and

traditions and their self-governance and their land-use patterns you will

their land-use patterns you will

their land-use patterns you will discover they are protecting at least

discover they are protecting at least

discover they are protecting at least half of the waters and lands where they

half of the waters and lands where they

half of the waters and lands where they live these people need to be empowered

live these people need to be empowered

live these people need to be empowered to control their lands and not uprooted

to control their lands and not uprooted

to control their lands and not uprooted for short-term mineral and timber

for short-term mineral and timber

for short-term mineral and timber extraction indigenous reserves are a key

extraction indigenous reserves are a key

extraction indigenous reserves are a key part of what nature needs a worldwide

part of what nature needs a worldwide

part of what nature needs a worldwide system of protected areas so how are we

system of protected areas so how are we

system of protected areas so how are we going to get there well in 1992 people

going to get there well in 1992 people

going to get there well in 1992 people were starting to wake up to the depth of

were starting to wake up to the depth of

were starting to wake up to the depth of the environmental crisis so the United

the environmental crisis so the United

the environmental crisis so the United Nations convened the Rio Earth Summit to

Nations convened the Rio Earth Summit to

Nations convened the Rio Earth Summit to major threats to the planet were

major threats to the planet were

major threats to the planet were addressed climate change and the loss of

addressed climate change and the loss of

addressed climate change and the loss of biodiversity for climate they made the

biodiversity for climate they made the

biodiversity for climate they made the United Nations Framework Convention for

United Nations Framework Convention for

United Nations Framework Convention for climate change we’ve all heard of them

climate change we’ve all heard of them

climate change we’ve all heard of them their work has finally produced the

their work has finally produced the

their work has finally produced the Paris Accord of 2015 less well known was

Paris Accord of 2015 less well known was

Paris Accord of 2015 less well known was the Convention on Biological Diversity

the Convention on Biological Diversity

the Convention on Biological Diversity or the CBD which was created to address

or the CBD which was created to address

or the CBD which was created to address the extinction crisis after a few years

the extinction crisis after a few years

the extinction crisis after a few years of discussion the CBD suggested

of discussion the CBD suggested

of discussion the CBD suggested conservation targets here’s what they

conservation targets here’s what they

conservation targets here’s what they came up with this is the number of

came up with this is the number of

came up with this is the number of scientific studies these numbers were

scientific studies these numbers were

scientific studies these numbers were based on

based on

based on they came not from what nature needs but

they came not from what nature needs but

they came not from what nature needs but what policymakers thought could be

what policymakers thought could be

what policymakers thought could be accepted and when you ask policymakers

accepted and when you ask policymakers

accepted and when you ask policymakers and scientists how much of the earth we

and scientists how much of the earth we

and scientists how much of the earth we need to protect you get very different

need to protect you get very different

need to protect you get very different answers

answers

answers who should we believe in 2010 they

who should we believe in 2010 they

who should we believe in 2010 they revised these numbers who thinks this is

revised these numbers who thinks this is

revised these numbers who thinks this is enough we need to raise our voices and

enough we need to raise our voices and

enough we need to raise our voices and push the CBD to what nature needs we

push the CBD to what nature needs we

push the CBD to what nature needs we need a Paris Accord for biodiversity a

need a Paris Accord for biodiversity a

need a Paris Accord for biodiversity a global deal for nature and these two

global deal for nature and these two

global deal for nature and these two groups that were separated at birth

groups that were separated at birth

groups that were separated at birth should work together best to stop

should work together best to stop

should work together best to stop cutting primary forests can eliminate a

cutting primary forests can eliminate a

cutting primary forests can eliminate a huge source of co2 maybe 25% of current

huge source of co2 maybe 25% of current

huge source of co2 maybe 25% of current emissions and it can happen really fast

emissions and it can happen really fast

emissions and it can happen really fast protecting nature is the first best

protecting nature is the first best

protecting nature is the first best thing we can do to work on the climate

thing we can do to work on the climate

thing we can do to work on the climate crisis where we are back home no matter

crisis where we are back home no matter

crisis where we are back home no matter what these international groups come up

what these international groups come up

what these international groups come up with this will need to participation of

with this will need to participation of

with this will need to participation of every citizen on the earth most of us

every citizen on the earth most of us

every citizen on the earth most of us are part of the problem most of us need

are part of the problem most of us need

are part of the problem most of us need to be part of the solution nature needs

to be part of the solution nature needs

to be part of the solution nature needs half is a perfect opportunity to think

half is a perfect opportunity to think

half is a perfect opportunity to think global and act local so go out and think

global and act local so go out and think

global and act local so go out and think global and vote for people who support

global and vote for people who support

global and vote for people who support conservation and then go home and act

conservation and then go home and act

conservation and then go home and act local support smart land-use and good

local support smart land-use and good

local support smart land-use and good growth in your communities bring nature

growth in your communities bring nature

growth in your communities bring nature into your cities and your towns we will

into your cities and your towns we will

into your cities and your towns we will all be healthier and happier in a world

all be healthier and happier in a world

all be healthier and happier in a world where nature is present and thriving and

where nature is present and thriving and

where nature is present and thriving and support the people who are working to

support the people who are working to

support the people who are working to save your favourite places or your most

save your favourite places or your most

save your favourite places or your most beloved species my family and I are very

beloved species my family and I are very

beloved species my family and I are very fond of elephants and we support several

fond of elephants and we support several

fond of elephants and we support several groups doing great work on elephant

groups doing great work on elephant

groups doing great work on elephant conservation if you love the sea you

conservation if you love the sea you

conservation if you love the sea you could find organizations doing fantastic

could find organizations doing fantastic

could find organizations doing fantastic work to protect the oceans and our

work to protect the oceans and our

work to protect the oceans and our relatives who live there the time is now

relatives who live there the time is now

relatives who live there the time is now it’s all hands on deck nature needs half

it’s all hands on deck nature needs half

it’s all hands on deck nature needs half and nature needs you

thank you and you nature needs you and

thank you and you nature needs you and you

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