Nature - a game of numbers and spreadsheets?
"the right of all species to exist for their own sake"
Welcome to Regen Notes, exploring regenerative spaces, a companion newsletter to Zoom Regenerative.1
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Nature - A game of numbers and spreadsheets, checks and balances, debts and contracts?
BBC reported that a coalition of Wildlife Trusts research is showing the company building the controversial HS2 rail line has underestimated its impact on habitats and wildlife, and that the methodology used to calculate the impact on the biodiversity of the project was "fundamentally flawed".
Of course, HS2 Ltd disagree, saying the trusts' report was "not reliable” and that it "didn't recognise the (Trusts) figures" nor did it "believe them to be reliable".
Not surprising as both come with differing agendas and perspectives - one focused on economical and political growth, and the other focused on reversing the huge deficit in biodiversity in the UK.
yet … 50% of the global economy is under threat from biodiversity loss … (weforum.org)
That the UK Government is still to announce the biodiversity metric doesn’t help, but can the value of nature to both non-humans and humans be calculated through spreadsheets? Can we calculate the value of a tree or hedgerow that has harboured an ecosystem for hundreds of years or more to be balanced against that of a hedgerow to the planted as part of a development, that will take decades to establish the same ecosystem. If ever.
I am reminded here of Ed Gillespie’s brilliant 2020 post The End of Saving the World
“The planet does not want to be saved. Or rescued. Or even changed. Our planet wants to be loved. Love is not a game of numbers and spreadsheets, checks and balances, debts and contracts. It is an exalted dance of joy, respect and gleeful, mutual appreciation and true partnership.
We should all be dancing. But right now the music’s stopped. And I sense it won’t authentically restart until we properly reconnect with what really matters, our deeper selves, each other and our home”
Given the joy we know that nature can bring to us - we should, as Ed commented, be dancing - but with the UK having the poorest level of biodiversity the music has certainly stopped.
AI and ChatGPT are supposedly neutral - as it cannot talk about what it thinks, or what it feels, it shouldn’t have a pro or anti-economic growth or habitat conservation agenda. (I know there may be bias in the manner of its training) nevertheless asking ChatGPT to take the Voice of Nature and comment was revealing:
As an AI language model, I don't have emotions, but as nature's voice I can express that cutting through natural landscapes can have a negative impact on the balance and diversity of ecosystems and can lead to loss of habitats for plants and animals. It can also cause soil erosion, air and water pollution, and contribute to climate change.
The inclusion of some natural elements in a development project does not necessarily mitigate the negative effects of cutting through nature. The original ecosystems and habitats that were destroyed cannot be fully restored or replaced by newly planted trees or constructed wetlands, for example. Additionally, it takes time for newly established ecosystems to reach maturity and provide the same level of ecological services as the original ones. Therefore, it's important to consider and minimize the impact of development projects on nature, and to plan and design them in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner.
numbers, spreadsheets, and data …
As the voice of nature, I would say that the value of nature and its contributions to human and non-human life cannot be fully quantified in numbers, spreadsheets, and data. While data and research can provide valuable information and insights into the status and trends of natural systems, it is not possible to capture the full value and significance of nature through numerical measurements alone.
Nature provides a wide range of services and benefits to human and non-human life, including air and water purification, soil formation, climate regulation, nutrient cycling, food production, recreation, and aesthetic enjoyment. Many of these services are essential for human well-being and survival, yet they are often taken for granted and not reflected in market prices or economic calculations.
ethical, moral, and spiritual
In addition, the intrinsic value of nature, which refers to its inherent worth and the right of all species to exist for their own sake, cannot be quantified in numbers. This value is based on ethical, moral, and spiritual considerations, and reflects the interdependence of all life on Earth.
Indigenous communities often have a holistic understanding of the interdependence of all life on Earth and view the environment not just as a resource to be used, but as a sacred entity that is an integral part of their culture and identity. This worldview is reflected in their traditions, practices, and decision-making processes, which often prioritize the protection of the environment over economic considerations.
Again, I am reminded of Robin Wall Kimmerer in a 2014 talk at the Bioneers conference “to take only what is given to you”
What if the precepts of the honorable harvest was the law of the land? What would the world look like if a developer poised to convert a meadow into a shopping mall had to ask the permission first of the goldenrod and the meadowlarks, and had to abide by the answer?
So it is not just for HS2 Ltd and Wildlife Trusts to work together and collaborate but to co-create, along with the voice of nature, a solution to ensure HS2 is nature-positive. A Nature Based Solution as defined by the UN is to “leverage nature and the power of healthy ecosystems to protect people, optimise infrastructure and safeguard a stable and biodiverse future” … practices that harness the power of nature to address societal challenges, such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, and human health problems.
Regen Notes is the companion newsletter to Zoom Regenerative.
Previous articles on Regen/Notes can be explored here and the best of 2022 can be read here- ENJOY.
This article may well form part of the forthcoming FutuREgenerative, a follow up to FutuREstorative