CBR14 BINGO: New, because this is by an author I hadn’t read before
BINGO: Minds, Adapt, Heart, Monster, New
The extinction of species and the rapidly declining state of nature are problems that haunt me. I fear that I will live to see the day when the planet is no longer habitable, and I know I’m not alone. Yet most of us approach the problem with a feeling of learned helplessness: The problem is much too big and political for us to be able to make any meaningful change on our own. In Nature’s Best Hope, Douglas Tallamy argues that it’s not too big an issue for us, as individuals, to have a positive impact.
The gist of Tallamy’s case is this: Across the United States, millions of acres of potential habitat for birds, bugs, and animals is currently covered by lawn. If we converted that land to a more productive habitat, the Earth would be in much better shape. He writes, “What if each American landowner made it a goal to convert half of his or her lawn to productive native plant communities? Even moderate success could collectively restore some semblance of ecosystem function to more than twenty million acres of what is now ecological wasteland. How big is twenty million acres? It’s bigger than the combined areas of the Everglades, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Teton, Canyonlands, Mount Rainier, North Cascades, Badlands, Olympic, Sequoia, Grand Canyon, Denali, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Parks.”
Tallamy makes many excellent points in this book and argues that the approach that we are taking to saving habitat falls short. It’s great that we have National Parks and preserved habitat set aside; however, that doesn’t do enough because we are only addressing those specific ecosystems. It’s great when people plant one or two trees on their property, but having a large oak surrounded by non-native grass still doesn’t address the needs of most creatures, who often need multiple sources of food and shelter to survive. We need a broader approach that touches on habitat across the country to really make a difference. He calls this setting aside of small parcels of habitat “Home Grown National Park,” which is a bit too corny for my taste, but I am on board with the sentiment.
This book contains lots of great information: Tallamy talks about habitat fragmentation and the importance of predators, which are both critical issues we need to address if we are to achieve a healthy environment. I take exception to his attitude towards The Endangered Species Act, which he deems a failure. I would argue that it doesn’t do enough, but there have been notable success stories (the island fox is one close to my heart).
My problem with Tallamy is I’m not sure who the audience is for this book. As someone who pulled out my lawn years ago in favor of native plants, Tallamy is preaching to the choir. I did learn some things, though. For example, be cautious about nurseries that claim certain plants are good for bees or butterflies. You have to ask the next question: Which bees? Which butterflies? We have hundreds of native butterflies in the United States, and some “butterfly-friendly” plants feed and provide shelter for maybe one species. Our native bees, which are very much in danger, are often forgotten in favor of the European honeybee. So even people with the best intentions could be falling short in their quest to provide natural habitat if they aren’t better informed.
At times, Tallamy writes like a smug college professor talking down to his students and at other times he puts on a Grandpa Joe persona that I find irritating. I really do recommend this book but I want you to be forewarned. If you can push past the uneven tone, the information is worthwhile. Each individual can make a difference, and this book provides important tips about how to go about it.
