Ecologists as stewards and ecosystem dreamers in a world without baselines

Have you ever thought about the words ecologists use when talking about environmental change? Stewardship, restoration, and prosperity speak of opportunity and a positive, creative role for people. But often we speak of stressors, impacts, and vulnerability, the language of harm. If you were a decision-maker and a molder-of-the-future, which set of words would resonate with you? Without forsaking complexity and uncertainty, ecologists can steward and help create new ecosystems that increase the prosperity of people and nature. In a world that has shifted from its historic baseline, new opportunities to explore values and goals emerges.