Antinuclear

 That a billion animals may die as a result of this summer’s fires has horrified

the world. For many conservation biologists and managers, however, the

unprecedented extent and ferocity of the fires has incinerated much more

than koalas and their kin.The scale of the destruction has challenged what

is fundamentally an optimistic worldview held by conservationists: that with

sufficient time, love and money, every species threatened by Australia’s 250

years of colonial transformation cannot just be saved from extinction, but can

flourish once again.

The nation’s silent, apocalyptic firescapes have left many conservation

biologists grieving – for the animals, the species, their optimism, and for

some, lifetimes of diligent work.

So many of us are wondering: have lives spent furthering conservation

been wasted? Should we give up on conservation work, when destructioncan be wrought on the environment at such unprecedented scales?

The answer is, simply, no.

Acknowledge the grief

Federal government figures released on Monday showed more than half of the

area occupied by about 115 threatened species has been affected by fire.

Some of these species will now be at significantly greater threat of extinction.

They include the long-footed potoroo, Kangaroo Island’s glossy

black-cockatoo and the East Lynne midge orchid……….

1.action is an effective therapy for grief. There is plenty to do: assess the extent of damage, find and nurture the unburned fragments, and feed the survivors.

The official recovery response has been swift. Victoria, New South Wales and

now the Commonwealth have all issued clear statements about what’s

happened and how they’re responding. The determination and unity among government agencies, researchers and conservation groups has been remarkable…….

https://theconversation.com/conservation-scientists-are-grieving-after-the-bushfires-but-we-must-not-give-up-130195?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20January%2021%202020%20-%201513414411&utm_content=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20January%2021%202020%20-%201513414411+CID_b1a4e56b60b4b4001fccc5338d16c736&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=write%20today