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CrowdScience

Can humans be part of healthy ecosystems?

CrowdScience

BBC

Science, Technology

4.8985 Ratings

🗓️ 6 October 2023

⏱️ 31 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Humans have an outsized impact on the planet: we’ve wreaked havoc on countless ecosystems and one study estimates only 3% of land on Earth remains untouched by our influence. CrowdScience listener Teri has witnessed the harmful effects of development on natural habitats near her home, and wonders whether we can ever function as part of a healthy ecosystem.

We look for answers in Teri’s home state, California. Humans have lived here for over 10,000 years and its first inhabitants formed a connection to their landscape unlike the exploitative approach of many later settlers. Today, the beliefs and traditions of the Karuk Tribe of northern California still emphasise a symbiotic relationship with nature, seeing plants and animals as their relations.

Over the past couple of centuries much of the Karuk’s land has been degraded by mining, the timber industry and the outlawing of traditional burning practices. Tribal members show us how they’re working to try to restore ecological balance.

As for the rest of humanity: can we rein in our destructive relationship to nature; or even have a beneficial effect on our local ecosystems?

Contributors:

Kathy McCovey - Karuk Tribe member and cultural practitioner Dr Steward Pickett - Ecologist, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies Bill Tripp - Karuk Tribe member and Director of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy, Karuk Tribe Department of Natural Resources Dr Frank Kanawha Lake - US Forest Service Research Ecologist and Tribal Liaison Will Harling - Co-lead, Western Klamath Restoration Partnership

Presenter: Caroline Steel Producer: Cathy Edwards Editor: Richard Collings Production Co-ordinator: Jonathan Harris Studio Manager: Giles Aspen & Steve Greenwood

(Image: Huckleberries and tanoak acorns gathered near a burn site. Credit: Stormy Staats)

Transcript

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0:00.0

Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, the Science of

0:07.0

Happiness Podcast.

0:08.0

For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want

0:14.4

to share that science with you.

0:16.1

And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley.

0:19.4

I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that

0:25.4

calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds.

0:31.2

So this is the road between forested area and another forested area

0:39.0

where there was a concrete barrier for about a mile down the middle of the road.

0:45.0

So as I was driving down the road, I saw in front of me a possum that had tried to cross the street, but had come right to this concrete barrier.

0:54.8

So he couldn't escape.

0:56.8

He was obviously hit by a car and it just passed away right there.

1:00.8

Poor Possum.

1:05.0

You're listening to crowd science from the BBC World Service.

1:08.0

I'm Caroline Steele and I'm with listener Terry next to a very busy road on the edge of the housing development where she lives in Lincoln, California.

1:17.0

I mean, it seemed like indignity heaped upon indignity when he's this fully knowledgeable animal.

1:23.0

It's just a consequence of the process of developing and not taking wildlife into concern.

1:30.0

Frustrated by how little humans seem to care about other animals lives a question

1:37.8

started nagging at Terry which back in her much more peaceful garden, she put to us.

1:43.2

So my question is, where do humans fit into the ecology of the earth?

1:58.2

The earth is filled with ecosystems and many thousands of years ago it seems like things were more in balance but it seemed like we began to affect all the ecosystems, which made me

2:07.0

think, do we have a place in a balanced ecosystem anymore, or are we just in invading species? I've always been

...

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