"Indeed humans have for centuries acted
as though supplies of animals were limitless or as if it didn't
matter if they ran through the supply. The consequence has been
a monument to shortsightedness."
"Indeed humans have for centuries acted
as though supplies of animals were limitless or as if it didn't
matter if they ran through the supply. The consequence has been
a monument to shortsightedness."
In The Rape of the World, Clive Ponting talks about the human impact on the ecosystems of the world. The massive exploitation and forced extinction of many of the world's animal and plant species due to 'human activities' of the last 10,000 years have devastated the earth.
One reason Ponting offers for the devastation of animal life is the fact that noone owns animals or animal species. Therefore, responsibility cannot be placed in any one spot. It is up to humanity to learn from what has transpired. Mr. Ponting's essay concludes with a short outline of efforts in conservation in an attempt to reverse some of the damage.
To delve further into what Clive Ponting discusses in Chapter 9, select any of the links below.