Question

In recent years, the conservation strategy known as "Pleistocene rewilding" has transitioned from the fringes of ecological thought to mainstream academic discourse. Its most vocal proponent, evolutionary biologist Aris Thorne, argues that restoring proxies of extinct Pleistocene megafauna—such as introducing modern elephants, camels, and lions to North America to replace extinct mammoths, camelops, and American cheetahs—is essential for restoring true ecological balance. Thorne asserts that the current North American ecosystem is fundamentally incomplete, suffering from a drastic reduction in large herbivores and top predators that shaped the continent’s flora and fauna for millennia. By reintroducing these functional equivalents, Thorne posits, conservationists can revitalize stalled evolutionary processes, control encroaching invasive species, and restore biodiversity to a baseline predating human intervention.

Thorne’s theoretical framework is undeniably elegant, grounded in a rigorous and imaginative interpretation of evolutionary history. His premise that North American flora still bears the unmistakable evolutionary imprint of megafauna—evident in the formidable thorns of the Osage orange or the large, tough fruit of the honey locust, which were once dispersed by mammoths—is well-supported by current paleobotanical evidence. To read Thorne is to be compellingly reminded of the deep, interconnected history of ecosystems and the profound, landscape-altering impact of apex species. He successfully forces the reader to reconsider what constitutes a "natural" landscape.

However, the leap from elegant evolutionary theory to contemporary ecological management is fraught with complications that Thorne’s proposal largely glosses over. The North American landscape has not remained static since the Pleistocene epoch. Millennia of subsequent climatic shifts, extensive human development, and the introduction of countless exotic species have created a novel, highly complex biosphere. Introducing African or Asian megafauna into this delicately reconfigured environment carries enormous risks of unpredictable, cascading ecological disruptions, potentially endangering the fragile native species currently struggling to survive. Furthermore, Thorne noticeably sidesteps the staggering logistical and socioeconomic hurdles of his plan. The acquisition of vast tracts of land necessary to support herds of elephants or prides of lions, and the inevitable, potentially dangerous conflicts with agricultural interests and sprawling urban populations, are treated as mere implementation details rather than fundamental barriers.

Ultimately, while Thorne provides a compelling lens through which to view the evolutionary legacy of North American ecosystems, his prescriptive solution remains tethered more to a romanticized vision of the prehistoric past than to the sobering realities of present-day conservation. The lasting value of his work lies less in its viability as a practical blueprint for action and more in its capacity to force conservationists to think more expansively about ecological time and the critical functional roles of vanished species.

Based on the passage, which of the following phrases best captures the author's attitude toward Thorne's proposal?