Was There Ever a Pristine Pre-Colonial Baseline?

What should we really aim for in nature conservation—and who gets to decide? In this episode of Inside Biodiversity, science writer Emma Marris challenges long-held ideas about wilderness, ecosystem integrity, and invasive species. She argues that conservation is driven by human values—not objective science—and calls for a more democratic, transparent approach to setting goals for nature. If you’ve ever wondered whether “naturalness” is an illusion or why change in ecosystems isn’t always a loss, this thought-provoking conversation will make you see biodiversity in a whole new light.

Related links:

Emma Marris’s popular science books https://emmamarris.com/books/

Perspective paper “Ecosystem integrity is neither real nor valuable” (2021) https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/csp2.411

Media article “Inevitable Planetary Doom Has Been Exaggerated“ (2021) https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/02/other-side-catastrophe/617865/

Media article “Nature Doesn’t Care Where a Species Is From“ (2024) https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2024/02/invasive-species-large-herbivores-plants/677325/

Host: Dr. Volker Hahn, Head of Media and Communications at iDiv Postproduction: Leven Wortmann