Native Versus Exotic Species

This Q&A is pulled from a collection of questions posed to me by students of my Online Permaculture Design course (PDC). Learn more with my free four-part Masterclass series, here:
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Question: Watching course content on how well-established ecosystems work together I wonder about introducing so many new exotic species to what is already working so well on its own. I understand the benefits of "hard-working immigrants" but aren't they missing the allies and associates that exist to aid them in their native ecosystem? Doesn't tipping the native ecosystems more out of balance with more severe changes "break" the existing ecosystem and obscure what we would learn from it? While there are benefits to a "manmade" ecosystem why not work with natives species first? Do we have a responsibility to use the smallest possible deviations from the native ecosystem needed to achieve our goals?
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About Geoff:
Geoff is a world-renowned permaculture consultant, designer, and teacher. He has established permaculture demonstration sites that function as education centers in all the world’s extreme climates - information on the success of these systems is networked through the Permaculture Research Institute and the www.permaculturenews.org website.
About Permaculture:
Permaculture (en.wikipedia.o...) integrates land, resources, people and the environment through mutually beneficial synergies - imitating the no waste, closed loop systems seen in diverse natural systems. Permaculture applies holistic solutions that are applicable in rural and urban contexts and at any scale. It is a multidisciplinary toolbox including agriculture, water harvesting and hydrology, energy, natural building, forestry, waste management, animal systems, aquaculture, appropriate technology, economics, and community development.
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