Feed: a food systems podcast There is no master metric for biodiversity (with Ville Lähde)
Aug 15, 2024
Ville Lähde, a philosopher and environmental researcher from the BIOS Research Unit in Finland, dives into the complexities of biodiversity. He emphasizes that biodiversity loss is more than just extinction lists; it reflects localized crises impacting ecosystems. Ville shares his personal connection with nature through gardening and composting. He critiques dominant food systems for their detachment from biodiversity while calling for a broader understanding that transcends simplistic metrics. His insights urge a political and context-specific approach to environmental issues.
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Compost Sparked A Personal Biodiversity View
- Ville Lähde describes reconnecting with biodiversity through gardening and compost heaps.
- Working soil and compost taught him that biodiversity matters everywhere, not only in remote 'nature'.
No Single Metric Fits Biodiversity
- Biodiversity cannot be captured by a single master metric like climate can.
- Ville Lähde argues we need a contextual toolkit and constant local awareness instead of one number.
Biodiversity Is Not One Airplane
- The airplane metaphor for biodiversity is misleading because nature is a legion of systems, not one machine.
- Ville Lähde warns there is no single critical boundary and many small crashes can occur unnoticed.
