efforts to 'renaturing' landscape are gaining popularity in some parts of the world, but researchers say that scientific evidence supporting the potential benefits of these restorations are limited. Moreover, history has shown that the introduction of new species has often led to unexpected negative consequences for the environment.
In that sense, in Siberia scientists they are trying to rebuild an ecosystem that had been lost for thousands of years, introducing elk, bison, horses, reindeer and musk oxen in a field called 'Pleistocene Park'.
The director of a research group that studies, David Nogues-Bravo, Macroecology Center, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen (Denmark) says in an article for the journal Current Biology that the "application of the 'renaturation' is already happening. " "However, we are not scientifically the basement of the consequences and we are concerned about the general lack of critical thinking on these often very expensive conservation efforts," he said.
Nogues-Bravo and his team say that before implementing the 'renaturation' in the field as a major conservation effort, basic research on the consequences of ecosystem change is necessary. The team argues that conservation efforts should focus on the protection of biodiversity and the reduction of the main threats to the environment, such as deforestation, climate change and invasive species.
For his part, Daniel Simberloff, University of Tennessee (USA), highlights the danger of this phenomenon and notes that "only in some cases you can find evidence of strong knock-on effects of large mammals, while others examples show only weak or even unexpected effects, since they have dramatic and negative consequences. Therefore, we advocate caution and careful consideration for animals 'renatured' and on the ecosystems in which they are placed. "
In this context, researchers say they are exploring the feasibility, appropriateness and risks 'renaturation game' with extinct species by studying the fossil remains and their DNA in museums around the world. Its aim is to understand the changes that have been made to ecosystems in recent natural experiments that resemble the process of 'renaturation'.
In Siberia, scientists are trying to rebuild an ecosystem that was lost thousands of years ago. In their study they included elk, bison, horses, reindeer and muskoxen in the "Pleistocene Park".
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David Nogues-Bravo, director of the Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen (Denmark) said that the "application of renaturation is already happening."
The study was published in the journal "Current Biology" and said it was important a thorough investigation of the consequences of changes in ecosystems.
"However, we are not scientifically aware of the consequences and we are concerned about the general lack of critical thinking on these attempts at conservation often very expensive."
Daniel Simberloff, University of Tennessee, USA, said that the danger of the phenomenon is characterized by "only in some cases can be found evidence of strong effects on chains of large mammals, while other examples show only weak effects or even unexpected, since they have dramatic and negative consequences. "
Experts believe it best to explore the feasibility, appropriateness and risks of "renaturation game" with extinct species through the study of fossil remains and their DNA in museums around the world.
In that sense, in Siberia scientists they are trying to rebuild an ecosystem that had been lost for thousands of years, introducing elk, bison, horses, reindeer and musk oxen in a field called 'Pleistocene Park'.
The director of a research group that studies, David Nogues-Bravo, Macroecology Center, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen (Denmark) says in an article for the journal Current Biology that the "application of the 'renaturation' is already happening. " "However, we are not scientifically the basement of the consequences and we are concerned about the general lack of critical thinking on these often very expensive conservation efforts," he said.
Nogues-Bravo and his team say that before implementing the 'renaturation' in the field as a major conservation effort, basic research on the consequences of ecosystem change is necessary. The team argues that conservation efforts should focus on the protection of biodiversity and the reduction of the main threats to the environment, such as deforestation, climate change and invasive species.
For his part, Daniel Simberloff, University of Tennessee (USA), highlights the danger of this phenomenon and notes that "only in some cases you can find evidence of strong knock-on effects of large mammals, while others examples show only weak or even unexpected effects, since they have dramatic and negative consequences. Therefore, we advocate caution and careful consideration for animals 'renatured' and on the ecosystems in which they are placed. "
In this context, researchers say they are exploring the feasibility, appropriateness and risks 'renaturation game' with extinct species by studying the fossil remains and their DNA in museums around the world. Its aim is to understand the changes that have been made to ecosystems in recent natural experiments that resemble the process of 'renaturation'.
In Siberia, scientists are trying to rebuild an ecosystem that was lost thousands of years ago. In their study they included elk, bison, horses, reindeer and muskoxen in the "Pleistocene Park".
SEE ALSO: This is life time left to the Sun, will we live?
David Nogues-Bravo, director of the Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen (Denmark) said that the "application of renaturation is already happening."
The study was published in the journal "Current Biology" and said it was important a thorough investigation of the consequences of changes in ecosystems.
"However, we are not scientifically aware of the consequences and we are concerned about the general lack of critical thinking on these attempts at conservation often very expensive."
Daniel Simberloff, University of Tennessee, USA, said that the danger of the phenomenon is characterized by "only in some cases can be found evidence of strong effects on chains of large mammals, while other examples show only weak effects or even unexpected, since they have dramatic and negative consequences. "
Experts believe it best to explore the feasibility, appropriateness and risks of "renaturation game" with extinct species through the study of fossil remains and their DNA in museums around the world.