We once blindly accepted the premise that “Wildlife conservation and economic use simply do not mix. Why restore a species to its habitat, then hunt or fish it? Instead, we should take shots not with guns, but with cameras. We should protect charismatic megafauna as watchable wildlife in accessible reserves where people can see them. These flagship species that will allow “trickle down” conservation to be achieved.”
We might be better served by “Broadening our focus to conserve and restore all sorts of wild and cultivated species, including microbes, plants and animals. There is no good ethical reason that we should not particular attention to safeguarding and enjoying the very species that bring us our daily bread. They also provide many of nature’s services that keep our watersheds, airsheds and foodsheds functioning for other species as well.”
-Brother Coyote
