I had so much fun taking part in #OurPlanetWeek, to reaffirm the importance and splendor of nature in our lives.
We will only see positive change in our natural world when we, as citizens of the world, band together to create that positive change in the way we live our lives and the way we interact with nature.
Sperm whales are the most spectacular, complex creatures. They sleep vertically, near the surface of the water, for only 7% of their day. So many beached sperm whales have been found with stomachs full if plastic. We must protect these innocent animals.
The large blue became extinct in Britain in the 1970s, and although scientists tried to breed them in captivity, the caterpillars always died. It was later found that this particular butterfly species is dependent on red ants for survival. The red ants take the baby caterpillars to their nest, incorrectly thinking of them as one of their own, and the guests would live there (and even eat their host's family) until they emerged as butterflies the following year. It was found that due to certain agricultural practices the local habitats had changed, causing the red ant population to decrease, and thus effecting the large blue species. Eventually, certain sites were monitored and managed correctly, bringing back the ants, and the large blue was successfully reintroduced in areas of the UK. It's truly amazing how interconnected all the creatures on this planet are.
I find the large blue's conservation story so inspiring and positive. It is vital that we protect our local biodiversity. The earth is a rich tapestry of interwoven ecosystems, and we really don't know which thread, once pulled, could lead to the whole thing unraveling into a disastrous heap.
Bees play a huge part in ecosystem stability--as major pollinators they are partially responsible for plant/floral diversity, and for the production of fruits and seeds. Without them many of our local ecosystems would start to crumble. It is estimated that half of the pollinators of tropical plants are bees. Bumblebees are already being reported as endangered in certain areas. Bees, in a way, are our link to diverse flora--and we can't afford to lose them.
Climate change, pesticides and the cutting of local trees are just some of the major reasons why the number of bees are beginning to dwindle. Each creature has its place in the life cycle of the earth, and whether or not we know what function each one fulfills, we should understand that they all need saving.
It's amazing what being out in nature does to us, how much it soothes us and elevates our stress. There is a sort of peace that is felt outside, when one is surrounded by plants and trees and all sorts of creatures. Once we stop being able to feel that connection to the earth is when we have truly lost ourselves. There is a balance in all things, and when we perfect the balance of give and take from nature is when we will be at harmony with it.
We don't realize how much good the natural world does for us--other than literally providing the oxygen we need to stay alive--scientists are now revealing how deeply we are all connected with nature, and yet we continue to ignore the evidence.
We don't realize how much good the natural world does for us--other than literally providing the oxygen we need to stay alive--scientists are now revealing how deeply we are all connected with nature, and yet we continue to ignore the evidence.
Nature is depreciating at an alarming rate, and mother earth must be concerned. The temperature of the earth has increased by 0.9°C over the last 114 years, and it is continuing to increase exponentially. We are already seeing the effects of this with the melting of massive glaciers, drought, bush fires, bleaching coral, animal extinction, etc. Global sea levels are rising by 0.13 inches a year, and animals have already started to migrate to cooler areas to beat the heat.
Humans are using more of the earth's resources than we can afford to. We are causing the ruin of ecosystems and habitats on a large scale. We burn fossil fuels constantly, releasing unimaginable amounts of carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) into the air, trapping heat in the earth's atmosphere and increasing its temperature.
If the temperate of the earth increases by 1.5°C the effects could be catastrophic, and scientists agree this is the point of no return. We are currently on course for a world that is 3.2°C warmer by 2100.
The time to change is now, before it's too late.
