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Living with nature: everyday actions to sustain our planet

Natural History, Feb, 2004

We spoke with Dr. Eleanor Sterling, Director of the American Museum of Natural History's Center for Biodiversity and Conservation (CBC), about Living with Nature, the upcoming special program celebrating the CBC' s tenth anniversary.

Why is the CBC presenting this program, and why now?

We feel that it's very important to complement our research and education efforts with programs that reach out to the general public. The CBC has just marked its tenth anniversary, and we are celebrating the occasion with a special event that looks at the impact of our everyday actions on the natural world, and what that means for the future. The goal of the Living with Nature event on February 11 is to convey the message that everyone has a role to play in meeting the challenges of the biodiversity crisis--the accelerating loss of animals, plants, and habitats that is caused primarily by human activities.

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What type of "everyday actions" will this event cover? Some people may feel that they have absorbed the "reduce, reuse, recycle" message, and want to hear more.

Certainly the "three Rs" are a central tenet of sustainability, but it's also important to recognize that many, many things we do and buy every day affect biodiversity. For example, the production and transport involved in simply a cup of coffee impacts myriad species--from invertebrates to birds to fish. And it will likely come as no surprise that we in the United States are the biggest consumers globally--it is estimated that if everyone in the world lived like we do it would take at least two additional planets to produce the resources, absorb the wastes, and otherwise maintain life.

Does living "more sustainably" mean making major lifestyle changes?

Absolutely not! I teach conservation biology, and I always tell my students that they should go ahead and indulge in those things they feel are necessary to live happy, fulfilling lives. However, I also suggest that if they take a reflective look at their everyday choices, they may find areas in which they can make changes that will not turn their lives upside down. For example, if you drink coffee, you might choose to purchase shade-grown, organic coffee. Biologists report finding significantly more bird species in traditional shaded coffee plantations than in the newer, sunny coffee fields. Coffee grown in the shade also requires few or no chemical inputs--the leaf litter replenishes the soil nutrients and birds discourage pests.

What do you think is the most important lifestyle change you've made?

Buying organic, locally grown food is a great way to help sustain biodiversity--it reduces the pollution and energy associated with transporting food and avoids chemical pesticides. My husband and I participate in community-supported agriculture, or CSA. CSA links local farmers with local communities, strengthening the economy and providing people with a wide variety of foods harvested at the peak of ripeness and flavor. It's very affordable as well, and growing in popularity in New York City. Of course, there are other things that I do that are not as sustainable; for example, I'm writing a book on the natural history of Vietnam, and I seem to be filling several rooms with paper in the process (though it is double-sided).

I am very optimistic about the power of consumer choices as an effective tool to stern the tide of the biodiversity crisis, and I'm looking forward to February 11 when we will delve more deeply into this issue. If everyone committed to just one lifestyle change that was more sustainable, over time this would have a cumulative and positive impact on Earth.

Support for the Living with Nature program series and publications is provided by a generous anonymous donor.

Living with Nature: Everyday Actions to Sustain Our Planet Wednesday, February 11, 7:30 p.m. LeFrak Theater

Free and open to the public. Reservations are strongly recommended: visit http://research.amnh.org/biodiversity/ or call 212-496-4323.

Roundtable participants Tundi Agardy, renowned conservation biologist; Eric Chivian, founder and director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School; and Betsy Taylor, founder and president of the Center for a New American Dream, gather to discuss ways we can sustain biodiversity while still benefiting from and enjoying it. Moderated by Brian Lehrer of WNYC Radio.

A Resource Fair will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Hall of Northwest Coast Indians.

Living with Nature marks the occasion of the CBC's tenth anniversary and will continue with a series of in-depth public programs--the first, in fall 2004, will focus on sustainable (and delicious!) food choices.

Living with nature: everyday actions to sustain our planet

Natural History, Feb, 2004

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