Chapter 1: Understanding the Patchy Anthropocene

In a recent article, environmental anthropologist Anna Tsing, along with her colleagues Andrew S. Mathews and Nils Bubandt, introduces a new environmental term: the "Patchy Anthropocene." This concept emerges in the context of growing discussions regarding the human relationship with the planet, especially since the term Anthropocene was first suggested in the early 2000s. This idea signifies that humans have become the primary geo-bio-chemical force shaping Earth, necessitating a transition from the Holocene to this new epoch.

The assertion that we are now living in the Anthropocene has not only ignited debate within Earth System Science but has also expanded beyond academic circles, becoming a widely used term in discussions surrounding global environmental changes. However, the term has also faced significant critique.

In her insightful book, The Mushroom at the End of the World, Anna Tsing offers a succinct definition of the Anthropocene and its critiques:

> "Geologists have begun to call our time the Anthropocene, the epoch in which human disturbance outranks other geological forces. As I write, the term is still new — and still full of promising contradictions. Thus, although some interpreters see the name as implying the triumph of humans, the opposite seems more accurate: without planning or intention, humans have made a mess of our planet. Furthermore, despite the prefix 'anthropo-', that is, human, the mess is not a result of our species' biology. The most convincing Anthropocene timeline begins not with our species but rather with the advent of modern capitalism, which has directed long-distance destruction of landscapes and ecologies. This timeline, however, makes the 'anthropo-' even more of a problem. Imagining the human since the rise of capitalism entangles us with ideas of progress and with the spread of techniques of alienation that turn both humans and other beings into resources" (p.19).

Building on these concerns, rather than dismissing the Anthropocene concept outright, it has inspired numerous researchers to propose alternative terms for our current epoch. So far, at least 80 alternatives have emerged, including "Capitalocene," "Cthulucene," "Plantationocene," and even "Trumpocene."

Nevertheless, Tsing and her colleagues maintain that the term "Anthropocene," despite its criticisms, will likely continue to foster interdisciplinary dialogue for the foreseeable future. Thus, they have opted to retain the term while modifying it to "Patchy."

This video introduces the concept of the Anthropocene and its implications for our understanding of environmental changes.

Chapter 2: The Meaning of the "Patchy Anthropocene"

What exactly does the term "Patchy Anthropocene" entail? The authors highlight several key aspects:

• The "Patchy Anthropocene" narrative illustrates the uneven conditions of more-than-human livability in landscapes increasingly shaped by industrial processes.
• The term "patch" derives from landscape ecology, where landscapes are understood as heterogeneous units composed of various patches at different scales. These patches reveal how humans and nonhumans are arranged within the landscape, whether it be a forest, a city, or a plantation.
• To comprehend anthropogenic disturbances better, "Patches" emphasizes a tension between humanity's desire to control the environment and the unintended, often harmful consequences that arise from such efforts. The authors refer to these attempts at ecological control as "modular simplifications," while the unforeseen outcomes are termed "feral proliferations."

For instance, the authors explain the relationship between plantations and diseases:

> "Plantations are an example of modular simplifications; plantation-encouraged diseases are an example of feral proliferations. Anthropocene patches emerge in the relationship between simplifications and proliferations. Tracing these relations can show us just how and why Anthropocene landscapes are so proliferous and so treacherous."

This raises an important question: Are we destined to navigate these treacherous Anthropocene landscapes, or is there potential for fostering improved living conditions for both human and nonhuman beings? The authors assert, "Can we acknowledge catastrophe while also imagining possibility? Yes, there is hope! But this is a 'patchy hope.' The Anthropocene may be planetary, but our grip on collaborative survival is always situated — and thus patchy…. Patchy landscapes reverberate with the patchy hope of multiple histories."

Additionally, the "Patchy Anthropocene" seeks to address the misconception that studies of nonhumans neglect social justice issues. Historically, the environmental movement has often overlooked or even worsened social injustices in its quest to protect "Wild Nature." However, this perspective is changing. Today, the climate movement is fundamentally a social justice movement, striving to include plants, animals, and other nonhuman entities in our understanding of "the social." As environmental philosopher David Abram emphasizes,

> "We don’t have a hoot of a chance of healing our social justice issues until we begin including the more-than-human world within our sense of the socius, or the community. I just don’t think real community is possible, for instance, anymore without turning toward and realizing that the human community is nested within, or embedded within, a more-than-human community of beings."

Critics of the term "Anthropocene," like Tsing, argue that blaming "Anthropos" or humanity for ecological disasters unfairly groups together those most accountable for the climate crisis with those least responsible and most vulnerable. This conflation hampers political accountability. As Greta Thunberg articulated at the 2019 Davos Economic Forum:

> "If everyone is guilty then no one is to blame. And someone is to blame. Some people, some companies, some decision-makers in particular, have known exactly what priceless values they have been sacrificing to continue making unimaginable amounts of money."

An audiobook preview discussing the Anthropocene and its implications, narrated by Erle C. Ellis.

Chapter 3: Navigating the Complexity of the Anthropocene

In summary, employing the concept of "patches" allows us to view ecological destruction in specific areas not as isolated incidents but as interconnected stories reflecting both damaging and hopeful relationships between humans and the planet.

The detrimental aspects of the Anthropocene reveal histories of genocide, displacement, and exploitation, alongside the ecological fallout from these actions. On the other hand, the notion of "patchy hope" is more ambiguous, as it involves both envisioning a future and addressing a troubled past. However, "patchy hope" directs our focus to localized forms of hope that are arising globally as communities strive to navigate their unique ecological and social contexts.

What might "patchy hope" look like? Anthropologist Eben Kirksey aptly describes it as the "tiny actions" that emerge in specific patches of the Earth, where individuals work to create a more livable world.

Next Steps

• Read the article “Patchy Anthropocene: Landscape Structure, Multispecies History, and the Retooling of Anthropology” for further insights.
• Explore the collection “Complicating the Anthropocene,” a valuable compilation of essays and articles curated by Min Hyoung Song, a professor at Boston College.
• For more on effectively communicating the Anthropocene concept, check out my other writings, such as “How to Talk About The Anthropocene.”
• Consider joining my list, Wild Ones: Ideas in Environmental Writing & Storytelling.