'Shifting Baseline Syndrome: causes and consequences on nature conservation' with Margaux Pierrel

Shifting baseline syndrome (SBS) is a psychological and sociological phenomenon describing a gradual change in the accepted norms for the state of nature, due to a lack of memory, knowledge or experience of its past condition. In other words, what we consider to be a normal state of nature now, previous generations might consider degraded; and what we consider to be degraded now, future generations may consider 'normal' or healthy. With ongoing environmental degradation at local, regional and global scales, people’s accepted thresholds for environmental conditions are continually being lowered, leading to various consequences for nature conservation. Originally from France, Margaux grew up surrounded by nature in the Forest of Tronçais, considered one of the most beautiful oak forests in Europe. She has an a master’s degree in agronomy, territorial development and environmental sciences. Since 2021, she has been working as a Conservation Ranger in the South-West Galway area for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).