Discussing shifting baselines, the idea that in each generation we accept lower biodiversity considering it as the norm, and its relevance to restoration. Heckled by a crane! For all videos see

Sure this is true.. there's another aspect too where remnant species populations pushed into marginal habitat are perceived as coming from/adapted to that habitat... rather than the lost habitat areas they originally inhabited.. so the description and conservation policy is wrong

Absolutely! Is on my list to cover. Red kite and purple emperor are good examples.

Good stuff! This is my favourite figure for showing shifting baselines when teaching as it really highlights that we hark back to our former experiences as "the norm" -discussed in depth here

Yes! Compare Dony's 1960's habitat accounts (flora) in Herts with present day & the decline is shocking. Again comparing to later SSSI accounts, you begin to realise that baselines on designation represent a stage when habitats were being rescued.

Hi Bill. It’s hard to believe it’s four years ago that I wrote this. At the time I was wondering about wandering baselines whilst watching what appeared to be some sort of lockdown induced baseline shift hinting of earlier times -

So true. I try to explain to my kids how different things were for us. We caught fish when we threw a line in!

@_JoelAshton

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