What happens when we put nature on the ballot? | Mike Phillips | TEDxBoston

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The biodiversity crisis is not a black-and-white story of heroes and villains. It is caused in part by billions of law-abiding people making billions of ordinary decisions that the law permits, but with consequences that nature cannot absorb. The relentless and mostly invisible burden that human actions are piling on nature cannot continue. Strained, degraded systems can heal with supportive systems in place. Mike Phillips has spent 45 years proving that restoration works. Nearly 1,000 wolf pups have been born in Yellowstone since the reintroduction, made possible by the Endangered Species Act. But he argues that a mountain of additional lawmaking is still required, and it will only happen if voters across the political spectrum elect officials willing to advance a restorative relationship with nature (or run for and win elected office). Mike Phillips is a wildlife biologist and former Montana state senator who has spent over four decades working to conserve biological diversity. He was instrumental in the 1995 reintroduction of gray wolves to Yellowstone National Park, one of the most significant wildlife restoration projects ever attempted. Mike has served as the Executive Director of the Turner Endangered Species Fund and advisor to the Turner Biodiversity Divisions since co-founding both with Ted Turner in 1997. Mike has successfully passed legislation mandating large-scale wildlife restoration and advocates for the role politics must play in halting the biodiversity crisis. He holds a PhD in wildlife ecology and has published extensively on predator recovery, endangered species policy, and the intersection of law and conservation. He is a recipient of the Aldo Leopold Award, the highest honor bestowed on wildlife biologists by The Wildlife Society, recognizing lifetime contributions to the field. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx