Joe lives in a swamp "nearby". You better watch out when you're going to watch birds after this latest episode...

Joe Swamp Ecosystem Services Inc. happy to oblige

"Hey Joe" I said, "what are you so happy about ?"

He roared with joy as he handed me a badge with the words "Hug me I'm a thinking, feeling, doing scientist" printed on it.

"I can't believe it," He said " I have just come back from EcoSummit 2000 in Canada. "

"What?" I said "That international conference of ecologists, economists, engineers, health practitioners and such like? The one set up to integrate the sciences in order to... "

"... find ways of saving the planet from ecological disaster ?" Joe continued. "Yeh! ... Anyway, I was visiting some relatives and I thought I would just pop my long neck in. Y'know, find out what you scientists were intending to do. Well ... we're all going to be OK! Yep, I know you look surprised but your scientist and engineer buddies have really changed their view of us other inhabitants of this planet!"

"How?" I blushed.

"For one thing, I heard from some ecological engineers that from now on their products would no longer be the weapons of war against nature. and I quote. Instead they would be the means to make peace with nature. Cool, heh? Second, there were agreements from the delegates that it was crucial to incorporate ecosystem information in all forms of economic indices in future. Wow. Thirdly, they have decided it's important to acknowledge the full cost of humanity's use of my and my relatives' resources. From now on, I am to be viewed as a respected and cherished ecosystem service provider." He gestured to his stall. "That's why I have set this up. I just cannot wait for you lot to come on down and actually pay me for some of the stuff that I do for you people." Joe slapped me on the back. "Y'know, as they said at the summit, I do help you humans maintain your physical and mental health. Oh, you bet I do, pal!"

He then got even more excited. "And what's more, the scientists presented what looked like a manifesto for political change and education in the 21st Century. It's radical: equity for all you lot, elimination of poverty, maximum income limits, wealth re-distribution. I tell you, it's gonna shake up a few of your politicians when those scientists get home and start the ball rolling! I'm so excited. They're going to create Eco-to-pi-a " He clapped his taloned hands together in joy. "A world for us all!!"

"Um ... I'm stunned" I replied.

"Look at this other badge I got". It read: "Hi, I'm a scientist: knowledge of the social and ecological impacts of my work informs all my research. Have a nice day!" Joe just began beaming at me.

"Wow" was all I managed, shocked.

" So, why have you come down here, my friend? Can I do you an ecosystem service, get you a milkshake, perhaps?"

"Uh, no, Joe. You got a parcel sent to you before you left. The postal services asked me to give it to you when you returned. Well ..." I passed him the parcel "... here it is."

Immediately, he tore open the attached letter. it had been sent by some concerned scientists and policy makers from outside Joe's corner of the world.

"Dear Mr. Swamp," he read alound "we have decided to make your swamp a safer place for you and your kind. Hence we are sending you a free no-money-back-guaranteed, genetically-engineered mosquito. Simply release this loveable version of the old pest into your currently hostile habitat, watch the genetic modifications jump' from generation to generation of mosquito and see your swamp become a safer place before your eyes! Malaria will disappear from your world!"

The sign on Joe's stall suddenly came off its mountings with a loud klunk'.

He continued reading. "Warning: as with any human intervention, ecosystem quality can go down as well as up (see, for example, the introduction of Cane Toads (Bufo marinus) to Australia: http://www.jcu.edu.au/school/phtm/PHTM/staff/rsbufo.htm). Side effects may be numerous ... but it's just too complicated to go into detail. Just wait and see. In the meantime, please stand well clear."

A roar of anger came from Joe's throat as he ripped the letter into shreds, and stamped on the parcel. It was at this point that I hurriedly retreated from the swamp, shouting "Joe, they're just kidding you. They're not really going to introduce such things into the environment before they have carried out all the proper tests!" But it was to no avail. There was something about the way he began eating the badges and the stall that made me think he would soon be doing the ecosystem a service ... starting with me.

EcoSummit was held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from 18th-22nd June 2000. Coincidentally, on the last day of the conference, newspapers across the world heralded a breakthrough in science (see Nature, 22nd June 2000) which they believed could contribute to the eradication of malaria by enabling the introduction of genetically-engineered mosquitoes, which would be immune to the malaria parasite, into the environment.

© 2000, International Ecological Engineering Society, Wolhusen, Switzerland