Beyond the pristine.

The article discusses the significance of pristine environment. It states that pristine sites harbour much of Earth's biodiversity and offer a unique opportunity to learn how nature works. It reveals that the majority of Earth is not pristine which provides critical for human life, in the form of agriculture, development and the ecosystem services. Moreover, it points out that exotic species, pollution and mindless development have wreaked widespread havoc in the past, and strong safeguards are still needed to minimize future damage.