The Future of Life

Edward O. Wilson (born 1929) is an American biologist, naturalist, and writer who focused his career on the study of ants, on which he was a leading authority, and on advocating for the conservation of nature. He won the Pulitzer Prize twice for general nonfiction. The Future of Life is one of his many books that deal with biodiversity.

Wilson’s interest in microfauna—as a biologist who dedicated his career to the study of ants—is evident throughout the book. At several points, Wilson advocates for the consideration of micro-wildernesses (those populated by microbes, fungi, and invertebrates), both as a source of wonder, for their diversity and complexity, and as environments that also need preservation, in addition to the larger ecosystems people typically consider when thinking about conservation. In this way, Wilson is bringing his unique perspective, as someone who’s thought deeply about some of the smallest forms of life, to bear on the question of how to preserve biodiversity and conserve nature. His experience helps him make a broader case for the preservation of biodiversity, and not simply the charismatic species that typify nature in many people’s imaginations.

In discussing the viewpoints of people on both sides of the debate over conservation, and in describing some of the possible solutions to biodiversity loss, Wilson brings his long career, and his stature among those working for the advancement of conservation goals, to his writing, characterizing the stereotypes that supporters of a people-first ethic have of environmentalists, and vice versa. Such discussions provide necessary grounding for these observations, as Wilson notes himself that understanding those with opposing viewpoints, and doing away with stereotypes, is an essential part of achieving common ground on conservation. By citing the sources of his knowledge, Wilson is himself avoiding the trap of stereotypes, and exemplifying how, in trying to understand both sides, people might bridge divides over environmentalism.

Wilson’s career also gives him authority in the discussion of possible solutions. Wilson writes that non-governmental organizations, which are nimbler and more conservation-focused than governments could ever be, are pioneering new strategies to preserve biodiversity, and are adjusting their areas of focus to respond to the threat. He notes that he observed this focus on biodiversity first-hand while serving on the board of directors of the World Wildlife Fund, which shifted during his tenure from focusing on conservation of charismatic mammals such as pandas and bears to preserving biodiversity. The organization also adopted a new model that focused on partnerships with local communities. In describing his first-hand observations, Wilson gives insight into how organizations are responding to the challenge, and to support his argument that NGOs are among the best-positioned actors in society to respond rapidly to the crisis of biodiversity loss.

By bringing his own experience into the book, Wilson is ultimately reminding the reader of a core dimension of his argument—that to preserve biodiversity, people must make a moral commitment to conservation. Wilson is a scientist and draws on his scientific expertise in writing the book, but he’s also an advocate with a clear ethical stance on the value of nature. In detailing how his own moral stance has guided both his thinking and the kinds of organizations and initiatives he’s been involved in, Wilson is showing how he has made that moral commitment to conservation in his own life.