Catalina Island Deer | Catalina Island | Catalina Island Conservancy

Photo: Carlos de la Rosa

Catalina Island Deer | Catalina Island | Catalina Island Conservancy

AN EMERGING VIEW

The residents and supporters of Catalina Island have passionately opposed the violent solution proposed by the Conservancy to manage the deer population. The dismissal of this outcry as ignorance only serves to highlight the inflexible, hazardous, and short-sighted nature of the Conservancy's stance. It is crucial to recognize that there is still an opportunity to change course.

As the effects of climate change become more pronounced, it is evident that plants and all living beings are constantly adapting to new challenges. We, as humans, also play a significant role in shaping the environment around us.

The concept of compassionate conservation, though it may be perceived as sentimental, emphasizes the potential consequences of all our actions. Applying compassion to our decision-making process is vital as we acknowledge that all forms of life are interconnected.

Everyone should work together to find a solution that respects the natural balance of Catalina Island's ecosystem while upholding the value of compassion and interconnectedness. It is not too late to choose a path that preserves both the deer population and the island's rich biodiversity. The Catalina Island Conservancy’s role as stewards of the land carries significant responsibilities, for human activities also contribute to the immense pressures exerted on the natural landscape.

While conservation efforts often strive to present themselves as purely rooted in verifiable science, it is essential to recognize that the very act of conservation inherently involves value judgments. The selection of which species or habitats to prioritize for protection, the allocation of resources, and the determination of acceptable outcomes are all influenced by subjective human values and perspectives. Scientific data may inform these decisions, but ultimately, it is human values that guide the goals and strategies of conservation initiatives.

The residents of Catalina Island and those who love it, have expressed this in our primal reaction to the violent solution proposed to the challenges of managing deer populations on the island. The categorization of this outcry as ignorance instead reveals the rigid, dangerous, and short sighted qualities inherent in the stance of the Conservancy. 

There is growing consensus that as our climate changes ever more rapidly that all of life is on the move, as it has been for millennia in response to change, and at an ever increasing rate. We are not merely stewards, we ourselves exert enormous pressure on the landscape.  It is extremely important that the actions taken surpass the patently low bar of being a “test”. 

Compassionate conservation, the emerging viewpoint may sound merely sentimental, but all actions can have unintended and long ranging consequences.  The application of compassion is an essential element to bring to our ever increasing awareness that all of life is in this together and how we treat all life is what our lives will become.