Campaigns to protect native species 'are racist'[UK]

Telegraph ^ | 26 Jan 2009 | Mathew Moore

[BGHater]

Campaigns to protect animal and plants species because they are native to Britain are "racist", a leading environmental historian has claimed.

There is no justification for conservationists to defend particular species because of their "ethnicity", Professor Christopher Smout writes in a new book, Exploring Environmental History.

Campaigns against "alien invaders" – such as the cull of American ruddy ducks to prevent them from breeding with European duck species – have no basis in science, he argues.

"Conservationists are up in arms because they fear the ducks will all get turned into some kind of mishmash," he told The Independent.

"The conservationists would say: 'We're doing this because it's endangering the genetic integrity of the white-headed duck."

"I don't think that's a scientifically valid point of view. The concern with genetic integrity seems almost quasi-racist. Our attitude to alien species is culturally determined and sometimes you end up with rather bizarre actions by scientists."

Prof Smout, who is Scotland's Historiographer Royal and founder of the Institute for Environmental History at St Andrews University, said that conservationists should judge species based on whether or not they are pests, and ignore their origins.

He added that interbreeding between species could often bring evolutionary benefits, and dismissed fears that the genetic identity of red deer in Scotland is threatened by silka deer, which were brought to the UK from Asia in 1860.

[Blood of Tyrants]

You have got to be kidding. This MUST be satire.

[Ciexyz]

Let's all join forces to protect the American ruddy duck from those nasty Brits. 'Foul' actions, indeed!

[Ciexyz]

I bet Prince Harry was out in Nazi regalia shooting at the winged flyovers. Tsk, tsk.

[Oztrich Boy]

No ruddy ducks!

[a fool in paradise]

It's “racist” to protect species from outside invaders until they become “endangered” and then the indigenous species are excuse to prohibit any futher eating or redevelopment of a region.

With global trade there are plenty of species (plant and insect and rodent) that sneak into a nation (because of improper quarantine at the port). And with no internal predator (they are not part of the local animal or plant food sources) they take over an area.

We've seen it with ants, weeds, birds, and yes laborers.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

This guy needs to spend a month clearing a few acres of Kudzu by hand.

[Mariebl]

This guy needs to spend a month clearing a few acres of Kudzu by hand.

You realize that the hatred/fear of Kudzu, which originated in Japan, exactly parallels the hatred/fear typified by the phrase 'yellow peril', do you not? You could not have chosen a clearer example to clarify the article's point. /s

[autumnraine]

Yes, I am racist against the Japanese. Damn Kudzu.

[SunkenCiv]

Ping!