Chapter 13 - Michael Torres

In the concluding chapter of the book, Kolbert visits the Institute for Conservation Research in San Diego, where she explores what’s in store for the future of our endangered animals.  While Kolbert mentions the human race’s tendency to cause destruction to other species, she brings light to the potential of humans that can save species that have yet to become extinct.  By exploring that potential, Kolbert touches on another APES theme: Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems.  On page 268, Kolbert quotes the ecologist, Paul Ehrlich by writing, “In pushing other species to extinction, humanity is busy sawing off the limb on which it perches.”  In my opinion, this is the line that can fully describe one of the biggest conclusions from this book and from the reason the Sixth Extinction is happening. We as humans need to develop systems where we can sustain other forms of life beside humans.  This reminds me of a Ted-Ed book called Why Dinosaurs Matter because it explores how dinosaurs played no role in their extinction whereas us humans are the cause of many extinctions and could possible cause our own demise.