Re: a to-do list for the next century

From: Robert Owen (rowen@technologist.com)
Date: Thu Mar 23 2000 - 03:05:33 MST


Robert J Bradbury wrote:

> Catologing is *unimportant*. What is important is getting
> samples on ice.

Hello Robert,

Apart from the cost-benefit ratio of the census, why do you
see value in preserving the genetic material of marginally
viable species?

You seem to suggest that, at some future time, the ecolog-
ical niche to which they were well-adapted might recur, in
which case we could repopulate the region with its original
inhabitants.

But why would our successors want to do that? Centuries
hence, wouldn't they be as dubious of the prospect of re-
creating a black rhino as we are of arranging for for an
Archaeopteryx to glide on batty wings down to our lakeside
decks?

Bob

=======================
Robert M. Owen
Director
The Orion Institute
57 W. Morgan Street
Brevard, NC 28712-3659 USA
=======================



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