Inheritors of the Earth: How Nature Is Thriving in an Age of Extinction - Chris D. Thomas (Book)

Title: Inheritors of the Earth: How Nature Is Thriving in an Age of Extinction

Author: Chris D. Thomas

Date Published: September 5, 2017

Publisher: PublicAffairs

Category: Non-fiction / Ecology / Conservation

In Inheritors of the Earth, evolutionary biologist Chris D. Thomas challenges the prevailing narrative of ecological decline by presenting a more nuanced perspective on biodiversity in the Anthropocene. While acknowledging the significant environmental damage caused by human activity, Thomas argues that these changes have also created new opportunities for certain species to thrive. He highlights how urbanization, agriculture, and global species introductions have led to increased biodiversity in some regions, as species adapt to novel environments and hybridize, leading to the emergence of new species. Thomas contends that humans should be viewed as part of nature, not separate from it, and that conservation efforts should embrace the dynamic and ever-changing nature of ecosystems rather than attempting to preserve a static snapshot of the past.

The book has been praised for its thought-provoking and optimistic approach to conservation. The Guardian described it as “a provocatively optimistic picture of new species diversity” , while Science Magazine noted that it “demands the sort of fresh thinking that is found in Inheritors of the Earth” . However, some critics caution that Thomas’s perspective may downplay the severity of current extinction rates and the importance of preserving existing species.

Inheritors of the Earth offers a compelling reexamination of humanity’s impact on the natural world, encouraging readers to consider a more flexible and forward-looking approach to conservation in an era of rapid environmental change.