South SFV Today

Paul Ehrlich, Rodolfo Dirzo, and Gerardo Ceballos have released a new book titled "Before They Vanish: Saving Nature’s Populations – and Ourselves," which calls for early detection and mitigation of threats to prevent population extinction. The authors argue that waiting until a species is on the brink of extinction often makes interventions too late.

The book emphasizes the need to address the loss of plants, animals, fungi, or microbes within specific geographic areas. Drawing on decades of research, the authors highlight how human activities are pushing numerous species towards extinction with severe consequences for ecosystems and human civilization.

Ehrlich, Dirzo, and Ceballos discuss their work in an interview. Rodolfo Dirzo illustrates the cascading effects of population extinctions by citing the impact of deforestation and poaching on African savannas. He explains that the decline in large herbivores leads to vegetation changes that benefit small mammals hosting zoonotic diseases.

Gerardo Ceballos responds to potential criticism by emphasizing the importance of focusing on both population-level and species-level conservation. He argues that maintaining regional populations helps prevent further deterioration and preserves ecosystem services.

Paul Ehrlich reflects on his long career in conservation, noting significant shifts in understanding biodiversity's importance. He mentions discovering the "insect apocalypse" as a major factor in bird population declines.

Dirzo highlights policy intervention as crucial for preventing ecological interactions' extinction, such as pollination or pest control. He also underscores biodiversity conservation's role in societal well-being, including human health.

When asked about key takeaways from their book, Dirzo advocates for reducing unsustainable meat consumption and industrial agriculture. Ceballos urges voting for politicians prioritizing conservation.

Despite accelerating vertebrate losses, Ehrlich remains hopeful due to humanity's capacity for swift behavioral change when threatened. Ceballos points to successful conservation cases indicating that the current crisis is not predetermined.

Ehrlich holds several emeritus positions at Stanford University while Dirzo serves as a professor and associate dean at Stanford's School of Humanities and Sciences. Ceballos is a senior researcher at Mexico’s National Autonomous University’s Institute of Ecology. All three are members of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.

Rob Jordan from Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment can be contacted for media inquiries at 650-721-1881 or rjordan@stanford.edu.

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