914: Ben Lamm | Resurrecting the Woolly Mammoth

Rewilding Impact

The reintroduction of woolly mammoths is seen as a potential game-changer for Arctic ecosystems. Ben Lamm explains that these large mammals can help lower ground temperatures by compacting snow, which enhances the cooling effect of Arctic winds 1. This process could significantly reduce carbon and methane emissions, as the Arctic holds more of these gases than anywhere else on Earth. Additionally, mammoths can transform the tundra into grasslands, which are more efficient at carbon sequestration than current forests 1.

If you can transform that kind of tundra ecosystem more into an Arctic grassland, we find that's about six times more efficient at storing carbon than the Tiger Forest.

--- Ben Lamm

The presence of mammoths could also restore biodiversity by promoting a rich oxygen-nitrogen cycle through their grazing habits 2.

   

Biodiversity Crisis

Colossal Biosciences aims to address the current biodiversity crisis by reviving extinct species like the woolly mammoth. Ben Lamm highlights the alarming rate of species loss, which is 1,000 to 10,000 times higher than natural extinction rates 3. By bringing back key species, the company hopes to develop technologies that can aid conservation efforts globally. This initiative not only seeks to curb the biodiversity crisis but also to create a sustainable model for future ecological restoration.

If we can use the extinction, the de-extinction of a couple of these species to develop tech that conservationists don't have the money or expertise to go develop, I think that's huge.

--- Ben Lamm

The project also aims to open-source these technologies to empower conservationists worldwide, making it a win for both humanity and the environment 4.