Why a (Re) connect is Important for the survival of our Species
To give you context on this paper, I will be looking at how ‘Reconnect’ as seen in the Biomimicry design lens in the digram above, serves as the most important quality in learning from natural systems. The paper will flow from the scientific lessons of ‘reconnect’ towards a more emotional form that we innately have with the natural world, looking into ecological theory such as Deep Ecology and Biophilia.
Biomimicry is a difficult word to use when having a conversation around nature, because it lacks our ability to see the intrinsic value inherent within Ecosystems. Biomimicry is essentially mimicking either form, function or process within the natural world and applying it to human built systems, to make our systems more efficient. Yet in order for us to learn these core lessons, we need to have patience and spend time listening to that which constantly surrounds us. How can Nature be our guide, mentor and teacher ? What does it mean to reconnect ?
What do you see when you view the landscape above?
Look into the layers of this mountain belt, within them you can find and multiple stories. These landscapes used to be under water, and if you venture through this unforgiving terrain you may find fossils such as trilobites that date back to 521 million years ago.
The picture above was taken within the Cedarberg Wilderness, Which is part of the Cape Fold Mountains just outside Cape Town. The Cape Fold Mountains form a series of parallel ranges that run along the south-western and southern coastlines of South Africa for 850 km from the Cederberg 200 km to the north of the Cape Peninsula, and then along the south coast as far as Port Elizabeth, 650 km to the east (see the map which illustrates them well).
To reconnect with ecology, one must study and learn the foundations/context of the land itself. How has the soil type influenced the wildlife that roams upon it? Climate also has a big impact on the wilderness. For example the Cedarberg mountain range is within an an area called an Ecotone . An ecotone is where a transition of ecosystems exists (the clash of two different climates).These spaces are abundant with life as they are a conglomerations of two mature ecosystems.
The 2 biomes in the Cearberg are the Fynbos and Succulent Karoo. One may find plant Species such as Protea, Erica, Restio, Wild rosemary, Buchu, and loads of indigenous wild flowers of the Karoo. These plant species attract a huge variety in both plant and animal life (Pollinators, herbivores, omnivores, insects, birds etc...).
Something often overlooked, is the influence/role the Black Eagle and Cape Leopard play as Keystone Species within the context of the Roggeveld Mountain range in the Cedarberg?
A keystone species is an organism that helps define an entire ecosystem. Without its keystone species, the ecosystem would be dramatically different or cease to exist altogether.
Both these organisms help to regulate population numbers of various browsers and grazers such as Dassies and Klipspringers. Without the influence of these predators, these species would overpopulate, reach a carrying capacity, and both vegetation and grazers/browsers population would decrease substantially. This is why the Work of the Cape Leopard Trust in the Cederberg mountain range has had a profound influence within these areas.Their scientific studies has helped prove the importance of these ecosystem engineers, and have since developed initiatives to help sustain healthy populations of leopards,Caracals and Black Eagles . The video “how wolves influence rivers” later in the paper further how there is still so much to learn from the balance of trophic cascades.
What is Deep Ecology and Biophilia? And how does its philosophy influence conservation today?
The word “deep” in part, is referred to the level of questioning of our purposes and values when arguing in environmental conflicts. The “deep” movement involves deep questioning, right down to fundamental root causes. The short-term, shallow approach stops before the ultimate level of fundamental change, often promoting technological fixes (e.g. recycling, increased automotive efficiency, export-driven monocultural organic agriculture) based on the same consumption-oriented values and methods of the industrial economy. The long-range deep approach involves redesigning our whole systems based on values and methods that truly preserve the ecological and cultural diversity of natural systems.
Deep Ecology allows us to further question our role as a species within the greater ecosystem. It is fundamentally taking us on a journey to grow more knowledge around how systems in the natural world function, and are interconnected. A distinguishing characteristic of the deep Ecology movement is the recognition of inherent value of all living beings and the use of this view in shaping environmental policies.
The short film below “ how wolves change rivers” briefly brings you into the role that apex predators have within the Ecosystem. Notice the feeling that this film brings to your knowledge and experience of the world.
Biophilia as understood by Edward O Wilson, is that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life. It is difficult for us to explain why we need to stop to watch a sunset, or climb a tree to see what we might find.
“Nature holds the key to our aesthetic, intellectual, cognitive and even spiritual satisfaction” . Edward O Wilson, author of the ‘Diversity of Life
At a young age, this innate ability to connect with wilderness was exceptionally strong. Through the levels of education, we were forced to see things in separate silos. In separation it is hard for us to understand the ‘deep’ context of relationship, inherent within the natural world, nothing lives in separation, everything lives in huge web of relations.
Biophilia acts as something much deeper than what our rational perception of nature can define. It is something much more entrenched within our Psyche. How can we allow this innate tendency to be built more into our imagination and dream of the future?
“Genes that influence biophilia have not been identified, and it is suspected that the increased dependence of the human species on technology has led to an attenuation in the human drive to connect with nature. Wilson and others have argued that such declines in biophilic behaviour could remove meaning from nature, translating into a loss of human respect for the natural world. In fact, the loss of desire to interact with the natural world, resulting in a decreased appreciation for the diversity of life-forms that support human survival, has been cited as a potential factor contributing to environmental destruction and the rapid rate of species extinction. Thus, reestablishing the human connection with nature has become an important theme in conservation.”
What Edward O Wilson emphasizes is that losing our human connection to wilderness, and replacing it with technology may be the very thing that exaggerates environmental degradation and exaggerated potential feedbacks as seen with Climate change . Technology is slowly but surely creeping more into our lives, becoming the main access to connect with the world. What might we missing through our addiction with Technology? There is more than what just meets the eye, how can connect through with our other senses at play, that allows us to see life in much more detail. Think back to those moments of smelling a flower, what is this level of attraction compared to just viewing it ? How might we be narrowing our depth of field as our reliance on technology grows.
If you have got this far in this piece, do yourself the favour and have a watch very well articulated short film called a ‘Queen of Tree”. The narrative of this film surrounds the life and experience of a significant tree in the African Savanna. The African Fig tree, is a great example of how nature sees the world around it through relationship — How can the systems we create be as aware and attuned as a tree is in this environment?
How might we allow business to build the senses and relationships much like the African Fig tree. This is what is exciting for our future with regards to Biomimicry. The future of our cities can look a lot different, if we start seeing how they can begin to meet more of Life Principles. Have a look a the Diagram below. See the life principles as a skeleton to help learn how nature functions. Take the time to see how your systems may create rapid feedback loops, build from the bottom up, incorporate diversity etc…
How might we Rewild and reconnect back to older ways of knowing? This knowledge may help us to to live more collaboratively with people, Wildlife and planet.
If you were interested in this paper, please see the business I am building with my best friend and co founder Alistair Daynes. Below is a link to our website.
Wild Regards & Cheers for now
