We Are Gardeners of the Wilderness

"We've entered what some scientists are calling the Anthropocene -- a new geologic epoch in which human activity, more than any other force, steers change on the planet. Just as we're now causing the vast majority of extinctions, the vast majority of endangered species will only survive if we keep actively rigging the world around them in their favor ... We are gardening the wilderness. The line between conservation and domestication has blurred." When journalist Jon Mooallem and his four year-old daughter, Isla, ventured outside of the world of plush animal toys and raptor-themed sports teams, they came across an endangered butterfly in the Antioch Dunes. This small, precious butterfly reflected much of our human fascination with the wild world -- and offered a powerful lesson in letting go.

READ FULL STORY