title: Domesticated nature: shaping landscapes and ecosystems for human welfare.
abstract: Like all species, humans have exercised their impulse to perpetuate and propagate themselves. In doing so, we have domesticated landscapes and ecosystems in ways that enhance our food supplies, reduce exposure to predators and natural dangers, and promote commerce. On average, the net benefits to humankind of domesticated nature have been positive. We have, of course, made mistakes, causing unforeseen changes in ecosystem attributes, while leaving few, if any, truly wild places on Earth. Going into the future, scientists can help humanity to domesticate nature more wisely by quantifying the tradeoffs among ecosystem services, such as how increasing the provision of one service may decrease ecosystem resilience and the provision of other services.
authors.affiliation: Nature Conservancy, 4245 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203, USA. pkareiva@tnc.org
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kareiva
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boucher
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D002947:Cities; D003132:Commerce; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D018556:Crops, Agricultural; D004190:Disasters; D017753:Ecosystem; D005398:Fisheries; D006802:Human Activities; D006801:Humans; D014197:Trees