Mindful Sceptics Guide to Biodiversity Loss
About this Guide
This guide offers a provocative, evidence-based perspective on biodiversity loss in a world where conventional conservation narratives often fall short. It challenges popular assumptions about species conservation, rewilding, and international pledges, presenting a pragmatic view of how humanity can navigate the complex tradeoffs between feeding 8 billion people and maintaining critical ecosystem functions.
What You'll Learn
Why common species may matter more than rare ones for human survival
How soil biodiversity underpins global food security
Why international biodiversity targets consistently fail
What pragmatic conservation looks like in a human-dominated world
How to think critically about tradeoffs between human needs and nature conservation
Why This Matters Now
With the global population growing by 8,000 people per hour and biodiversity declining at unprecedented rates, we face critical decisions about managing the planet's biological resources. Traditional conservation approaches are proving inadequate to address the scale of the challenge, while food security demands place increasing pressure on natural systems.
This guide arrives at a crucial moment when humanity must navigate the competing demands of food production and biodiversity conservation. Understanding these tradeoffs and making informed decisions about them will shape the future of human civilization and the natural world.
What's Inside
Section 1: The Reality of Biodiversity Loss
Explore why some biodiversity loss is inevitable and what that means for conservation priorities.
Section 2: Beyond Rare Species Conservation
Discover why focusing on common species and ecosystem functions might be more critical than saving endangered species.
Section 3: Pragmatic Solutions
Learn about practical approaches to maintaining critical ecosystem functions while meeting human needs.
Who This Guide Is For
Environmental professionals who want to understand complex tradeoffs in conservation
Policymakers seeking pragmatic approaches to biodiversity challenges
Students and educators interested in challenging conventional conservation narratives
Anyone concerned about the future of nature and human civilisation
About the Authors
Dr. Mark Dangerfield is an ecologist with over three decades of experience in biodiversity research, teaching, and consulting. His work spans multiple continents and ecosystems, bringing a global perspective to local challenges.
Chris Scott is an ecological practitioner specialising in restoration ecology and practical conservation solutions.