The Nature of Nature: Why We Need the Wild
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- Create Date：2021-10-17 09:53:52
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Enric Sala
- ISBN：1426221010
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Summary
In this inspiring manifesto， an internationally renowned ecologist makes a clear case for why protecting nature is our best health insurance， and why it makes economic sense。
Enric Sala wants to change the world--and in this compelling book， he shows us how。 Once we appreciate how nature works， he asserts， we will understand why conservation is economically wise and essential to our survival。
Here Sala， director of National Geographic's Pristine Seas project （which has succeeded in protecting more than 5 million sq km of ocean）， tells the story of his scientific awakening and his transition from academia to activism--as he puts it， he was tired of writing the obituary of the ocean。 His revelations are surprising， sometimes counterintuitive: More sharks signal a healthier ocean; crop diversity， not intensive monoculture farming， is the key to feeding the planet。
Using fascinating examples from his expeditions and those of other scientists， Sala shows the economic wisdom of making room for nature， even as the population becomes more urbanized。 In a sober epilogue， he shows how saving nature can save us all， by reversing conditions that led to the coronavirus pandemic and preventing other global catastrophes。 With a foreword from Prince Charles and an introduction from E。 O。 Wilson， this powerful book will change the way you think about our world--and our future。
Enric Sala wants to change the world--and in this compelling book， he shows us how。 Once we appreciate how nature works， he asserts， we will understand why conservation is economically wise and essential to our survival。
Here Sala， director of National Geographic's Pristine Seas project （which has succeeded in protecting more than 5 million sq km of ocean）， tells the story of his scientific awakening and his transition from academia to activism--as he puts it， he was tired of writing the obituary of the ocean。 His revelations are surprising， sometimes counterintuitive: More sharks signal a healthier ocean; crop diversity， not intensive monoculture farming， is the key to feeding the planet。
Using fascinating examples from his expeditions and those of other scientists， Sala shows the economic wisdom of making room for nature， even as the population becomes more urbanized。 In a sober epilogue， he shows how saving nature can save us all， by reversing conditions that led to the coronavirus pandemic and preventing other global catastrophes。 With a foreword from Prince Charles and an introduction from E。 O。 Wilson， this powerful book will change the way you think about our world--and our future。
Reviews
Bryan Hatch
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An important book to read/listen in an effort to save our species and all living identities on our planet。
Mabel
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Biodiversity may be hard to quantify and relate to - but the author appeals more to the heart to make a case for why biodiversity matters， breaking down concepts and examining the issue from a romantic， moral followed by economic perspective。 There are plenty of examples throughout the book and it gets even more interesting after chapter 11。 A fresh perspective， good read。
TheStonedMason
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One of the most important reads of my year。。。 No， my life！
L。G。 Cullens
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A rewarding， informative book that lives up to its title。 The forward by HRH The Prince of Wales， and the introduction by Edward O。 Wilson， are what piqued my interest in this book。 And， as can be seen in the preview， the latter half of chapter one where the author notes what he covers in the book also aroused my curiosity。 That despite thinking I already knew a good part of what the book might say。 I saw it as meaningful reading that we all could benefit from in broadening awareness。 I'm happy A rewarding， informative book that lives up to its title。 The forward by HRH The Prince of Wales， and the introduction by Edward O。 Wilson， are what piqued my interest in this book。 And， as can be seen in the preview， the latter half of chapter one where the author notes what he covers in the book also aroused my curiosity。 That despite thinking I already knew a good part of what the book might say。 I saw it as meaningful reading that we all could benefit from in broadening awareness。 I'm happy I did read it as I found the writing straightforward， learned more than I expected， and because of the manner in which the information is presented it helped coalesce and reenforce my understanding。To quote any aspect of this book that I thought stood out would be to diminish the cumulative importance of all that it conveys， so I'm refraining from noting any particular points of interest。 Instead， I can only say that， to me， ignoring this book suggests fostered ignorance and disregard for our and our children's futures。 Harsh maybe， but I believe the pursuit of reality based， meaningful knowledge by a critical mass of humanity is the first step in potentially mitigating the consequences of the dire environmental conditions we are creating。 It isn't through real understanding and wisdom that we got ourselves into this pickle。"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them。" ~ Albert Einstein 。。。more
Ana Cristina Merino Jiménez
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EVERYONE， READ THIS BEAUTY。
Bela Salinger
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3。75A pretty short book but took me a long time to get through I really liked the concepts but I’d heard a lot of them before and the way it was written was just boringgg a lot of timesHowever I did learn some new things about a topic I’m very interested in which was fun！！
Gary Detrick
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This book was an eye-opening expose on what needs to happen to keep our planet and ourselves from environmental catastrophe。 It was very well written and researched。 A wonderful lesson for the common person who is willing to learn and realize how important nature is for environmental success， thus reducing the stress of our natural planet。 If we adhere to this advice， we would be healthier and happier， and for those who only look for profiting of our lands， seas and precious resources， they may This book was an eye-opening expose on what needs to happen to keep our planet and ourselves from environmental catastrophe。 It was very well written and researched。 A wonderful lesson for the common person who is willing to learn and realize how important nature is for environmental success， thus reducing the stress of our natural planet。 If we adhere to this advice， we would be healthier and happier， and for those who only look for profiting of our lands， seas and precious resources， they may realize we would become a more profitable place。 If only we could reach the minds of those who look to destroy our lands for "profit" and convenience。 。。。more
Emily Hales
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I’ve been reading a lot of nature/environmental books recently， but I’m not a scientist， and a lot of these big concepts go right over my head。 Sala breaks down ecology in a clear， accessible way – demonstrating how everything on our planet is connected。 For a relatively short book， I feel like I learned so much。 Not only does Sala warn of the damage we’ve done to the planet， though， he also shows a clear way forward and hope for a better future。 If you’re looking for a “crash course” on environ I’ve been reading a lot of nature/environmental books recently， but I’m not a scientist， and a lot of these big concepts go right over my head。 Sala breaks down ecology in a clear， accessible way – demonstrating how everything on our planet is connected。 For a relatively short book， I feel like I learned so much。 Not only does Sala warn of the damage we’ve done to the planet， though， he also shows a clear way forward and hope for a better future。 If you’re looking for a “crash course” on environmentalism， climate change and our role in it， this was wonderful。 。。。more
Linda
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Fascinating glimpse into
Charles Cai
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It’s an important topic in today’s world but I didn’t feel like I learned anything new after finishing the book - the central theme of everything being interconnected is nothing revolutionary in my eyes
Frances
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This is just one of those books that everyone should read
Andree
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Incredible read！ Will be reading again。
Zoe Guile
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There are better books about nature， ecology， and biodiversity that actually understand the intersections with other issues on the planet and from authors who have consulted with scientists of diverse backgrounds， unlike this one。
Kathryn Lewis
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This book should be required reading in high schools and for anyone in business or politics。 It clearly explains why protecting nature is the only way to protect and save ourselves。 In addition， Sala shows us why we must preserve our world to avoid grave economic and health consequences。 This book will make you fall in love with nature again and again。
Ryan
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I've become increasingly aware of the destruction humans have had on the environment after losing my job to climate change a month ago。 Gone are the days where we can live in blissful ignorance about our reality。 The time for change is now。 This book has me seriously considering a career in environmental policy。 There was so much he didn't say but was implied， too， like implicating a vegetarian diet。 I've become increasingly aware of the destruction humans have had on the environment after losing my job to climate change a month ago。 Gone are the days where we can live in blissful ignorance about our reality。 The time for change is now。 This book has me seriously considering a career in environmental policy。 There was so much he didn't say but was implied， too， like implicating a vegetarian diet。 。。。more
Lindsey Longendyke
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A moving， enlightening， fantastic book。 Sala explains how ecosystems work in vivid， beautiful detail， and expertly connects this information to a profound moral and economic argument for ecological preservation。 I wish everyone would read this book - the world would be on a better trajectory if everyone understood the truths contained in The Nature of Nature: Why We Need The Wild。
Rachel Rogers
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Superb answer to the question "why do we need nature？" I don't know anyone who would honestly ask that question， but apparently some do。 Amazing exploration of different ecosystems and how they interconnect。 Discusses Trophic cascades at length， in different ecosystems to show that the experiment of reintroducing wolves into Yellowstone National Park wasn't a fluke。 We need our apex predators to keep the natural world at balance。 Puts a $ sign on biodiversity and conservation and environmentalis Superb answer to the question "why do we need nature？" I don't know anyone who would honestly ask that question， but apparently some do。 Amazing exploration of different ecosystems and how they interconnect。 Discusses Trophic cascades at length， in different ecosystems to show that the experiment of reintroducing wolves into Yellowstone National Park wasn't a fluke。 We need our apex predators to keep the natural world at balance。 Puts a $ sign on biodiversity and conservation and environmentalism， something that politicians usually request。 And it's a big $。 Without biodiversity the risks are huge with potential （or imminent） catastrophes coming。 Also puts Covid-19 into the big picture of the world and how it jumped to humans and reinforces the need for biodiversity and environmental protections。 Excellent book for any citizen of the world。 Incredibly readable and relatable as well。 。。。more
Shayali Shah
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Absolutely loved reading this book
Casey Johnson
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It started a little slow for me， but by the end， I was captivated by every figure and anecdote about rewilding and the value of nature， both for its natural beauty and its endless economic contributions。
Christine
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Never judge a book by its cover， unless it’s this one！ Both the cover and content of this book are stunning！ Enric takes readers on a journey presenting the beauty of nature—and why we need it。 “Our world has become less wild because we have transformed intact ecosystems into agricultural fields， grazing ranges， hunting and fishing destinations， and cities。 Losing these wild places， we have lost most benefits they provide for us as well， such as flood protection， water security， water filtration Never judge a book by its cover， unless it’s this one！ Both the cover and content of this book are stunning！ Enric takes readers on a journey presenting the beauty of nature—and why we need it。 “Our world has become less wild because we have transformed intact ecosystems into agricultural fields， grazing ranges， hunting and fishing destinations， and cities。 Losing these wild places， we have lost most benefits they provide for us as well， such as flood protection， water security， water filtration， clean air， and naturally fertile soil”。 （P。 177） Enric is able to take the science of ecology， and present it in a way that is easy to understand。 This book will leave you feeling a both a sense of wonder， and overwhelming despair。 He covers the basics of how ecosystems thrive， and how we has humans continue to obliterate them。 He also offers interesting perspectives on how investing money into protected lands has been shown to increase economic revenue for many countries around the world。 Overall I found this to be a very informative， and interesting read。 。。。more
Kharol
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Sala writes the perfect argument for conservation， both morally and economically。 He highlights the interconnectedness of earth’s ecosystems while also describing the beauty that our planet offers us， not just from an academic perspective but from an observer’s point of view。 He discusses our responsibility as humans to protect the environments which provide invaluable services to our species。 Awesome read， highly recommend to lay people who just want to learn more about all the earth’s ecosyste Sala writes the perfect argument for conservation， both morally and economically。 He highlights the interconnectedness of earth’s ecosystems while also describing the beauty that our planet offers us， not just from an academic perspective but from an observer’s point of view。 He discusses our responsibility as humans to protect the environments which provide invaluable services to our species。 Awesome read， highly recommend to lay people who just want to learn more about all the earth’s ecosystems， his analysis simplifies what seems like complicated matters in order for the reader to appreciate our planet and further comprehend the intricate relationships between species。 Sala does an incredible job of breaching the academic/non-academic divide in this incredible book！ 。。。more
Henrique
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Great book to grasp the interconnection between ecosystems。 The book begins presenting simple topics backed by the research that first introduced them。 As the chapters progress the author builds up on complexity。Enric engages the reader by proposing a conflict or a trade-off at the end of each chapter challenging what he has just discussed or some common sense world view。 He proposes an answer in the following chapter。The book is complete， it addresses the human impacts on the natural world， it Great book to grasp the interconnection between ecosystems。 The book begins presenting simple topics backed by the research that first introduced them。 As the chapters progress the author builds up on complexity。Enric engages the reader by proposing a conflict or a trade-off at the end of each chapter challenging what he has just discussed or some common sense world view。 He proposes an answer in the following chapter。The book is complete， it addresses the human impacts on the natural world， it presents the scientific ways we can revert our impact with conservation policy and will， it discusses the financial benefits of doing so and how it is much more expensive to do business as usual。 This is a great read， written by a scientist who turned into an activist and finally a policy maker and enterpreneur。 Enric has been part of the pristine seas program at the national geographic society helping to create no catch preservation zones in several countries。 。。。more
Priya Biswas Miller
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Must read for all of us！ So important to understand how ecosystems work。 How we need to stop thinking we are above nature instead acknowledge that we exist within nature。
Ari
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This is an amazing book。 This is not just another book on environmental protection。 Professor Enric Sala shared with us his professional and personal experience of how all creatures big and small in nature are linked in such a way that we rely on each other and the health of this earth for our ultimate survival。 Most updated ecological scientific research， practical insights into what are the feasible ways to help solve the problem of environmental deterioration， with even a most updated chapter This is an amazing book。 This is not just another book on environmental protection。 Professor Enric Sala shared with us his professional and personal experience of how all creatures big and small in nature are linked in such a way that we rely on each other and the health of this earth for our ultimate survival。 Most updated ecological scientific research， practical insights into what are the feasible ways to help solve the problem of environmental deterioration， with even a most updated chapter on COVID-19。 I love this book。 Thank you for teaching me such a wonderful and important lesson。 。。。more
John Valett
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A fantastic read on the profound importance of nature and the benefits that it gives you。 Recommend this book to everyone to help understand nature。
Wilma Verhagen
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If this book doesn't convince you that climate change is a crisis we must address immediately， nothing will。 Enric Sala makes a profound case why saving our Earth is not only in our best interest as humans but why it is also economically beneficial。 If this book doesn't convince you that climate change is a crisis we must address immediately， nothing will。 Enric Sala makes a profound case why saving our Earth is not only in our best interest as humans but why it is also economically beneficial。 。。。more
Jenny
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An approachable， conversational explanation of ecosystems & biodiversity and why they are so important to each one of us。 Sala， who founded the National Geographic project "Pristine Seas，" gives a compelling "call-to-action" for each of us to do our part for a sustainable future for our wonderful planet Earth。 Weaving together the work of many other scientists into a broad quilt of ecological understanding， he suggests interesting ideas such as the low numbers of whales worldwide contributing to An approachable， conversational explanation of ecosystems & biodiversity and why they are so important to each one of us。 Sala， who founded the National Geographic project "Pristine Seas，" gives a compelling "call-to-action" for each of us to do our part for a sustainable future for our wonderful planet Earth。 Weaving together the work of many other scientists into a broad quilt of ecological understanding， he suggests interesting ideas such as the low numbers of whales worldwide contributing to the current reduction in fishing stock and the die-off of wild wolves in America contributing to the rise in deer ticks and Lyme Disease。 As this book was going into print， the Covid-19 crisis was erupting for which he had these words: "Covid-19 is yet another reminder that conservation is not just a luxury for rich countries or a romantic ideal。 Our very survival depends on our being better members of the biosphere， our larger community" （237）。 Let's all do our part to reduce， reuse， recycle。。。and read books like this to better understand our beautiful blue planet！ 。。。more
Natasha Johnson
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Really good and not overly technical！ The author does a wonderful job of keeping you engaged while imparting important and valuable knowledge。 Wonderful read if you are interested in conservation and how we are all interconnected。
Claudia
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Be prepared for a deep dive into why we should care about nature and why we need to preserve it。 Not only for our future but for today。 Although the author attempts to explain how human impacts are affecting our environment in terms that the general reader can understand， he also delivers tales from his own experiences in various ecosystems along with basic ecological tenets。 Tales that bring the destruction of our environment and the nature that should surround us into vivid and brutal clarity。 Be prepared for a deep dive into why we should care about nature and why we need to preserve it。 Not only for our future but for today。 Although the author attempts to explain how human impacts are affecting our environment in terms that the general reader can understand， he also delivers tales from his own experiences in various ecosystems along with basic ecological tenets。 Tales that bring the destruction of our environment and the nature that should surround us into vivid and brutal clarity。The more biodiversity of an ecosystem， the more production， stability and resilience that same biosphere maintains and bestows on the surrounding areas。 He gives many examples where he and his partners from National Geographic have convinced various government leaders not only of the beauty provided by the living seas but in many circumstances， after only a few years of sanctuary classification， the ocean areas have fish and other marine creatures return and make it and the zone surrounding the sanctuary even more productive。 Not even including the massive amount of tourism money that comes when providing an 'untouched' paradise。 And this works for land as well。One must also consider that plants are what produce the oxygen that we require to breath， to survive。 If we remove all plants - be it the majestic trees to the green algae and plankton that permeate the oceans， seas and lakes - what will be the price to replace the 10 quadrillion （that's 10 with 15 zeros） metric tons of O2 in our atmosphere。 Who will pay for it？ How will it be created and distributed？ How much will it cost？ Per person？ Per family？ As the book was being finalized for publication， the coronavirus struck and Sala felt that an epilogue was required and it basically confirmed that humans need to stop removing the wild from its home。 Even if it was a bat that originally harbored the base virus， another animal was likely the vector that enabled it to jump to humans。 Wet markets with live wild animals for meat and medicine were where the virus emerged。 The wild must remain in the wild no matter how attractive and coveted。 For it is only there that it can continue to do in maintaining a healthy and productive ecosystem。2021-034 。。。more
David Rudin
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