"A bird flushed noisily through the undergrowth. "Look there, a ruffed grouse," he said, his delight obvious. This place is an example of what Davis calls "rewilding," which means the footprint of human activity has begun to fade. "It simply means stepping back and letting nature unfold as it will," he said. "Some of this was farmed as recently as the 1990s. Probably used for sheep pasture and certainly for logging. You're seeing old stone walls.""
"Populations in many countries are beginning to age rapidly and gradually decline, in large part due to individuals choosing to have fewer children. It's a trend that alarms many experts, and politicians, who say the fabric of whole communities could unravel, but many activists, researchers and economists also see big upsides. This part of New York state, Essex County, has lost about 6% of its population since 2010 due to out-migration and the declining birthrate."
"Davis, who works for an organization called the Rewilding Institute, says the pivot toward fewer people is allow landscapes like this one to heal. "I have a perhaps unpopular view on human population, I believe we are too many and we consume too much," he said. "We need to encourage a small family ethic, especially among affluent people." Upsides: More choice and a huge decline in teen pregnancy"
Global fertility rates have fallen as many individuals choose to have fewer children, producing rapid population aging and gradual decline in numerous countries. Some experts and politicians warn of social and economic strains from shrinking communities, while activists, researchers and economists identify environmental and social upsides. Reduced birthrates and out-migration have left places like Essex County, New York, about 6% smaller since 2010. Landscapes previously farmed are reverting toward wild conditions, a process termed rewilding. Lower fertility has contributed to a dramatic decline in teen pregnancy and expanded personal choice. Some advocates argue that smaller families reduce consumption and help conserve habitats.
Read at www.npr.org
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