Shifting baselines – Which ones should we ‘shift back’?

We all experience the syndrome where we unconsciously lower our expectations to normalise what might otherwise as a constant stream of losses. In this issue, Steve Sinclair and colleagues talk about ‘shifting baseline syndrome’ in their feature article how seem not have noticed loss some 11 previously common Victorian basalt plains grassland forbs. The authors imply it is likely be process gradual ‘forgetting’ species slowly disappear from landscape no longer encounter them. It unusual for something that think (or at least ‘special’) become neglected, squandered or lost. just do happen notice; adjust baselines. grasslands themselves, like so many ecosystems, were once considered un-special they could reduced 0.15% prior range. So surprise once-common forbs also disappear. same story repeated hundreds ‘common’ but now endangered ecosystems around continent rest world. This was brought home me one recent weekend when I helping out Canberra’s Friends Grasslands’ leased Travelling Stock Reserves on Monaro Tablelandsx, NSW. turned up planned weed working bee alighted vehicles, donning tool belts grabbing bags usual, making ready ‘enter’ reserve. Having never visited site before, looking forward entering most intact species-rich remnants rapidly declining regional grassy ecosystem. But did enter it. had, contrary my expectations, stepped straight into grassland. very road verge high-quality area rich native grasses hard explain effect had me, startled realise expected degradation matter course, here upside down. expect rural roadsides degraded, find such tapestry roadside triggered realisation will forget. dawned condition across whole only century half ago, time own grandmother’s birth. looked expanse healthy ecosystem experienced shock imagining grassland, replete with wildflowers, extending everywhere eye see full range weed-dominated grazing land. sense wonder closely followed by rising anger thought taken forebears short completely effectively destroy legacy. suddenly shifted back grief has been lost over hit if recently occurred. Such an would termed solastalgia, others pure nostalgia past, return. why necessarily case Australian must thing past? Not too far there farmer turning tide, shifting his pastures different sort prosperity; earning living while bringing biodiversity better suited future climates than European are dependent inputs irrigation. And suspect follow example years come. Indeed, good news stories health abound issue EMR. interview Nature Conservancy (TNC)’s, James Fitzsimons, example, tells TNC’s initiatives privately purchase land conservation started New York spread world, having other independent private trusts. TNC expanded endeavours, well-judged effective restoration Australia, arid marine involving both public players social–ecological benefits. Certainly, cannot bring – chance (i) stemming before more things threatened extinction (ii) value, even valuing requires new knowledge. Whether forgotten annual (Sinclair colleagues), shellfish reefs Port Phillip Bay (Diggles issue), freshwater fishes Murray-Darling (Boys colleagues) Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo north Queensland (Heise-Pavlov efforts being made avoid restore important biodiversity. figures perhaps that, should these result return increasing exposure them people (coupled special effort taken) gradually reset society’s positive rather negative trajectory. start decline again, care sufficiently notice. Yes, remembering causes can prompt necessary