“It is the universal consensus of conservation scientists and other environmental professionals that to protect the biosphere it will be necessary to maintain the natural environments in which wild species live. But given how rapidly these refuges are being destroyed, even that straightforward solution seems a daunting task.
To keep the Creation, we need all the science, technology, and moral commitment that can be mustered in the service of ecology. Thus is the word ecology derived: oikos, our home; logos, it’s study and understanding.”
E.O. Wilson, Harvard University, October 20, 1998
Thus starts E. O. Wilson's wonderful book, “The Diversity of Life”. A worthy addition to any book shelf, and if I recall correctly, it may be available free on Google books.
To indulge our imaginations in search of “wilderness” we travel far and pay dearly. Africa, Borneo, the Galapagos, the Amazon, even remote Antarctica and the Arctic have become accessible eco-tourist destinations.
Yet right here at home we have precious, small oases that give us a glimpse of what once was. Our National and State Parks, the Wildlife Refuges and other protected areas are treasures we should cherish.
Humanity faces so many challenges; overpopulation, poverty, hunger, nuclear threats, totalitarian governments and sheer greed and stupidity. But if you had to choose a single issue that would most impact future generations, what would it be?
Our biosphere is in grave danger. Species are going extinct in record numbers, and it could take millions of years to regain the genetic diversity we have lost. It would do all of us, and our kids, and our grandkids, a lot of good if we would seek out and protect whatever is left, wherever we can.
More from Professor Wilson.
“The ethical imperative should be, first of all, prudence. We should judge every scrape of biodiversity as priceless while we learn to use it and come to understand what it means to humanity. We should not knowingly allow any species or race to go extinct. And let us go beyond mere salvage to begin the restoration of natural environments, in order to enlarge wild populations and stanch the hemorrhaging of biological wealth. There can be no purpose more enspiriting than to begin the age of restoration, reweaving the wondrous diversity of life that still surrounds us.”
Sit silently someplace special and think about what it would be like if all was lost. Then do something about it.
2 comments:
Seeing the big picture of the "it" is the problem IMHO. What I find in our travels is that people will do something about "it" only if it touches their lives adversely; otherwise "it" is someone else's responsibility. Like those that travel to the far corners of the earth just to say "I've been there" and check it off some imaginary list, rather than to learn more about how they can be ambassadors for the protection of such places.
I hope I am doing my small part to preserve such diversity. It is, in part, what guides my travels.
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