The Rescue Effect: The Key to Saving Life on Earth

by Michael Mehta Webster

“Details profound examples of life’s resilience and makes a convincing case that the natural world still has a lot worth fighting for.” —Paul Greenberg, New York Times bestselling author of Four Fish and The Climate Diet
 
As climate change continues to intensify, the outlook for life on Earth often seems bleak. Yet hope for the future can be found in the “rescue effect,” which is nature’s innate ability to help organisms persist during hard times. Like a thermostat starting the air conditioning when a room gets too warm, the rescue effect automatically kicks in when organisms are stressed or declining.
 
In The Rescue Effect , Michael Mehta Webster reveals the science behind nature’s inherent resilience, through compelling stories of species that are adapting to the changing world—including tigers in the jungles of India, cichlid fish in the great lakes of Africa, and corals in the Caribbean. In some cases, like the mountain pygmy-possum in the snowy mountains of southeast Australia, we risk losing species without intensive help from people. As observers to—and the cause of—species declines, we must choose whether and how to help, while navigating challenging questions about emerging technologies and the ethics of conservation actions.
 
Ultimately, Webster argues that there are good reasons to expect a bright future, because everywhere we look, we can see evidence that nature can rescue many species from extinction; and when nature alone is not up to the task, we can help. Combining rigorous research with gripping storytelling, The Rescue Effect provides the cautious optimism we need to help save life on Earth.
 

Genres: Environment, Nonfiction, Science, Anthropology, Nature

296 pages, Hardcover

Published October 11, 2022

Reviews

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is "the rescue effect"? What processes contribute to it? We live in an era of extinction. Never before the changes in biodiversity had occurred as fast as now. However, extinction is a natural occurrence. As the author says: "scientists estimate that more than 99 percent of the species that have ever lived are now extinct". I didn´t know that. This doesn't sound bad, right? Well, hear this: "we are currently losing about 200 species a year as a result of human activity". This is scary! and I don´t care that it´s in fact only a 0.01 percent loss of global species yearly, it´s still way too much! This should not be happening at all! and yet the author looking at the numbers says that the extinction rate is... actually quite slow because the rescue effect is working for most of the other organisms. In other words, we aren't as effective killers as we thought. Could we do better? Please, don't answer that.
The book talks us through different ways how the rescue effect works for different animals. When and how we should give them a hand?
Definitely it´s a thought-provoking book. And yet I am going to stick with the traditional point of view believing that we should protect nature more firmly and limit the significant human impact on it. Nature is smart, but I still think that it needs our help. And if we won´t do something very fast and on a huge scale... then God helps us all.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Underscores the importance of adaptability and resiliency in nature and humans’ role in facilitating this response in animals in the face of climate change. I really resonate with this book because it does a great job of dismantling the idea that humans are separate from nature and that nature is static.

[Melissa Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about understanding conservation efforts! Easy to read!

[Lisa Konet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was an interesting take on global life extinction and how nature has a built in defense mechanism. Well written. Thought provoking and a definite read for those interested in climatology/global warming. Definitely recommended.

Thanks to Michael Mehta Webster, Netgalley and Timber Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already available.

[Dallin Kohler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid 3.5 stars. Well written and didn't drag on. I liked how Webster addressed several ethical dilemmas related to conservation but would have liked a little more depth.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The rescue effect is the term to refer to animal demographics surging in numbers after being decimated, either from natural or man-made events. The rescue effect can take multiple forms and can be either from natural or human efforts.

In this book, each chapter focuses on a situation where the rescue effect has either helped an animal or ways the effect could be applied to help a particular animal.

The book isn't heavy on numbers and contains no graphs. This a book aimed at a more layman reader than one who isn't steeped in the sciences, though it may still read dry for those not used to science-focused texts.

Overall, I quite enjoyed the book. It has helped enlarge my understanding of how science is used in conservationism and the many forms it plays. There were aspects I never knew until I read this, and the ending does raise a question on how conservationism should play out.

[Rama Rao · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reshuffling the environment

The author uses a term “Rescue Effect” to describe the fate of endangered species and how humans could assist them to evolve naturally under renewed environmental conditions. The author cautions that humans need to diminish the destructive aspects of the fossil fuel burning, loss of forests and raising sea levels. This could transform habitats, offer opportunities to for endangered species evolve, or move species to new locations. He observes that this will engineer the reshuffling of species on the planet that is honed to evolutionary processes under new challenges and opportunities. The author uses examples of Bengal Tigers in India, Cichlid fish in the great lakes of Africa, Coral Reefs in the Caribbean, and the Mountain Pygmy-Possum in Australia to illustrate his theory.

African cichlid fish have tremendous morphological variations that allow them to live in niche habitats. Some fish have adapted to eat the scales of other fish. Others have adaptations that allow them to live among rocks. Several species adapted to reproducing in turbulent waters by carrying fertilized eggs in their mouths until they hatch. More than 50% of all coral species in the Caribbean went extinct between one and two million years ago, probably due to drastic environmental changes. But one group of corals in the genus Orbicella adapted to these climate changes because of their high genetic diversity and prospered.

This book is a collection of essays that does not provide the ecological or biological or statistical data that supports his hypothesis. He merely offers narratives but doesn’t get to the core issues with scientific data that would be helpful to readers who are interested in protecting the environment and the preservation of endangered species.

[Kharah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely change from the often grim messaging around climate change: even though climate change needs to be curtailed, nature is remarkably resilient and we aren't quite screwed; there's hope. I also appreciated that the author challenged the idea that nature conservation is about preservation (nature is too dynamic for that) and that what is natural is what is free from humans (we are part of nature, not separate from it). But this is still a very "Western" take on conservation; it would have benefited from an Indigenous perspective.

[Ritika Chandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book for explaining complex scientific concepts simply and clearly, and for being hopeful and optimistic, while not shying away from the hard truths of climate change. I also loved its parting thought, that the only constant in nature is change. Sometimes it helps to zoom out, to avoid being consumed by climate dread.

[Sandiip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Optimistic, clear examples of how nature can rescue different species if they're left to their own (mostly) & if not how humans can help.. probably the only positive book on this topic I've come across and defi shifted my nihilistic view of where we're heading

[Johnny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really nice to read a glass half full outlook on the future. Nature will always adapt and change as it has for billions of years, just not always to our liking or expectations.

[Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author suggests that we can effect change within climate change to counter act negative effects through active environmental engagement. Interesting.

[Sirah · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a changing world, species are disappearing at alarming rates, but many have remarkable ways to sustain life, through adaptation or intervention. This book follows a handful of different animals on the brink of extinction and considers how people and other animals are helping or harming their chances of survival.

I appreciate that this book is conscious of its scientific language and never hesitates to explain things in at least one way, often more, to make sure that no reader is left behind. It deals with some complicated topics, but I never feel left in the dark. I learned so much from this book, not the least of which being that opossums and possums are actually completely different creatures. Amazing. While I've always been interested in conservation, this book has inspired me to look closer at the many amazing creatures both near me and across the globe. I have hope that there will be a way to save some of them, if not all.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.