Hello! In "American Ocelot", it is mentioned that there is concern that ranches near the boarder will likely be converted to wind farms and are going to occupy potentially crucial corridors for ocelots. In the southwest where I have worked as a field tech, solar farm development threatens the Mojave desert tortoise by eating up crucial habitat for them.
We need to significantly reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. However, as we attempt to move away from them, I worry energy projects like these are being accepted and integrated uncritically by a lot of well-intentioned folks in ways that can ultimately harm fragile wildlife populations and further erode our wildernesses. I don’t think a lot of the public are aware that something being labeled as "green" is not necessarily environmentally harmless. What are your thoughts on this? How should we move towards renewable energy sources without sacrificing crucial habitat for sensitive species?
bobmac102 t1_ix82fjw wrote
Reply to AskScience AMA Series: I'm a wildlife filmmaker who's spent years tracking and filming the endangered ocelot population in Texas. Ask me anything! by AskScienceModerator
Hello! In "American Ocelot", it is mentioned that there is concern that ranches near the boarder will likely be converted to wind farms and are going to occupy potentially crucial corridors for ocelots. In the southwest where I have worked as a field tech, solar farm development threatens the Mojave desert tortoise by eating up crucial habitat for them.
We need to significantly reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. However, as we attempt to move away from them, I worry energy projects like these are being accepted and integrated uncritically by a lot of well-intentioned folks in ways that can ultimately harm fragile wildlife populations and further erode our wildernesses. I don’t think a lot of the public are aware that something being labeled as "green" is not necessarily environmentally harmless. What are your thoughts on this? How should we move towards renewable energy sources without sacrificing crucial habitat for sensitive species?
Thank you so much for your time!