Todays guest on Nature Bats Last on PRN.FM was Professor Paul Ehrlich, author of over 30 books and numerous peer reviewed science papers.
Kevin Hester and Professor Ehrlich discuss the unfolding collapse, the nuclear implications of climate change, the Trump regime’s abject failure in Puerto Rico and many other aspects of the unfolding train wreck that we are all a part of wittingly or not
Todays show on Nature Bats Last is embedded Here
Professor Ehrlichs’
latest paper entitled; Biological Annihilation via the ongoing Sixth Mass Extinction is embedded Here
Abstract;
The population extinction pulse we describe here shows, from a quantitative viewpoint, that Earth’s sixth mass extinction is more severe than perceived when looking exclusively at species extinctions. Therefore, humanity needs to address anthropogenic population extirpation and decimation immediately. That conclusion is based on analyses of the numbers and degrees of range contraction (indicative of population shrinkage and/or population extinctions according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature) using a sample of 27,600 vertebrate species, and on a more detailed analysis documenting the population extinctions between 1900 and 2015 in 177 mammal species. We find that the rate of population loss in terrestrial vertebrates is extremely high—even in “species of low concern.” In our sample, comprising nearly half of known vertebrate species, 32% (8,851/27,600) are decreasing; that is, they have decreased in population size and range. In the 177 mammals for which we have detailed data, all have lost 30% or more of their geographic ranges and more than 40% of the species have experienced severe population declines (>80% range shrinkage). Our data indicate that beyond global species extinctions Earth is experiencing a huge episode of population declines and extirpations, which will have negative cascading consequences on ecosystem functioning and services vital to sustaining civilization. We describe this as a “biological annihilation” to highlight the current magnitude of Earth’s ongoing sixth major extinction event.
Significance;
“The strong focus on species extinctions, a critical aspect of the contemporary pulse of biological extinction, leads to a common misimpression that Earth’s biota is not immediately threatened, just slowly entering an episode of major biodiversity loss. This view overlooks the current trends of population declines and extinctions. Using a sample of 27,600 terrestrial vertebrate species, and a more detailed analysis of 177 mammal species, we show the extremely high degree of population decay in vertebrates, even in common “species of low concern.” Dwindling population sizes and range shrinkages amount to a massive anthropogenic erosion of biodiversity and of the ecosystem services essential to civilization. This “biological annihilation” underlines the seriousness for humanity of Earth’s ongoing sixth mass extinction event.”
We discussed the loss of 80% of flying insects in Germany in the last 27 years. That aspect of collapse was covered brilliantly by George Monbiot of the Guardian entitled “Insectageddon”, embedded here and by the great blogger Robert Hunziker via Counter Punch entitled “The Ecosystem is Breaking Down”, embedded here
Paul and I discussed the recent announcement from new Prime Minister Jacinda Adhern who has committed to a new climate change category visa which may be introduced in New Zealand in response to our pacific neighbours’ displacement caused by climate change. More information on that brilliant news is embedded Here
All previous shows on Nature Bats Last are embedded Here
Professor Guy McPherson, former host of the show has previously been in a conversation with Paul Uhrlich which is embedded Here Guy is currently touring Canada and will soon travel to Norway, his schedule is continuously being updated at the Current Events Tab at his blog Nature Bats Last
I'm an anti-imperialist, environmental activist and blue ocean sailor, who is passionate about the earth and all it's inhabitants without favour. Brace for imminent impact as we bare witness to the non-linear unraveling of the biosphere and habitability disappearing for most if not all complex life on the only habitable planet we know of. To quote President Niinistö in North Russia: ‘If We Lose the Arctic, We Lose the World’. Folks we have lost the Arctic.
Kevin Hester 
Hi, Kevin. I don’t usually comment, but I just wanted to say that this was one of the best NBL episodes in a long time. Paul was an interesting, well spoken guest and you did a fine job interviewing him. I’m looking forward to hearing more as you get into your stride as the new show host.
– Dave
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the link to the abstract is broken http://biological%20annihilation%20via%20the%20ongoing%20sixth%20mass%20extinction%20signaled%20by%20vertebrate%20population%20losses%20and%20declines/
Please advise.
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On the show Paul Ehrlich and I discussed scientific reticence when discussing the severity of the crisis. Now Dr. James E. Hansen steps up to the plate;
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In my recent interview on Nature Bats Last with Professor Paul Ehrlich he discussed MAHB. Here’s the most recent post from the website;
https://mahb.stanford.edu/blog/human-survival-index/
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https://paulbeckwith.net/2017/11/23/climate-tipping-points-from-cascading-feedbacks-voices-of-dissent-interview-exctinction-radio/
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More coverage on this debacle from The Guardian;
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/27/world-on-track-to-lose-two-thirds-of-wild-animals-by-2020-major-report-warns
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“Earth’s sixth mass extinction event under way, scientists warn”
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jul/10/earths-sixth-mass-extinction-event-already-underway-scientists-warn?CMP=fb_gu
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Interesting article on the collapse of the Monarch migration;
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/monarch-butterfly-migration-was-off-this-year-and-researchers-are-worried/2018/01/19/177555f2-f65a-11e7-beb6-c8d48830c54d_story.html?__twitter_impression=true&__twitter_impression=true&tid=sm_tw&utm_term=.a53543f62915
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Paul Ehrlich’s latest article in The Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jul/11/sixth-mass-extinction-habitats-destroy-population?CMP=share_btn_fb
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[…] was 30 years ago!! The situation is now infinitely worse and deteriorating quickly. In Professor Paul Ehrlich’s interview on my radio show “Nature Bats Last” on PRN.FM I questioned Paul about his latest paper titled; “Biological Annihilation via the […]
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The official statistics are dire but the reality is it is much worse than the dominant culture is prepared to admit.
Flying insect populations in Europe are in collapse now, not long off in the future.
http://www.thebigwobble.org/2018/03/mass-extinction-event-desperate.html?spref=fb
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“Abandoning the normally sober tone of scientific papers, researchers call the massive loss of wildlife a “biological annihilation” representing a “frightening assault on the foundations of human civilisation”.
The above quote comes from a recently released paper by Professor Paul Ehrlich who I interviewed on the paper in November on my show Nature Bats Last of The Progressive Radio Network. Paul has kindly agreed to be reinterviewed in May where we will discuss latest developments and his latest book Jaws. That’s assuming collapse hasn’t unfolded in the interim. When you unpick the biosphere in the way we have anything is possible.
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/mar/12/what-is-biodiversity-and-why-does-it-matter-to-us?CMP=share_btn_fb
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More data on the insect population collapse;
https://www.counterpunch.org/2018/03/27/insect-decimation-upstages-global-warming/
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“We appear to be making vast tracts of land inhospitable to most forms of life, and are currently on course for ecological Armageddon. If we lose the insects then everything is going to collapse.”
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/flying-insects-numbers-drop-ecological-armageddon-75-per-cent-plummet-a8008406.html
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[…] was the collapse of the global insect populations first covered on this blog in the November 2017 interview with Professor Paul Ehrlich. Subsequently we have discovered that this aspect of the extinction event is also happening in […]
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More chilling evidence that the flying insect populations are in danger this time it’s one of the preminent pollinators.
https://buff.ly/2ITyzTB
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“In fact, humans have caused the annihilation of 83% of all wild mammals and half of all plants, the authors of the report found.”
https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/humans-destroyed-83-of-wildlife-report/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=global&utm_campaign=general-content&linkId=52071790
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Here’s the latest from The Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/11/chris-packham-springwatch-warns-of-ecological-apocalypse-britain?CMP=fb_gu
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[…] anything, climate sensitivity is higher”- Glaciologist Jason Box on Climate SensitivityIn my November 7th interview with Professor Paul Ehrlich, Paul mentioned that he and some other colleagues have been having a dialogue in the broader […]
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