"Think globally, act locally”.
I remember hearing it often as a child. I think it applies today more than ever.
As a child of the 60’s and 70’s growing up in Southern California, I experienced, first hand, the impact of urbanization and habitat loss. People have to have houses, we need to eat, we need roads, this is not an easy issue to tackle. My neighborhood went from trees and old fields, to warehouses and tract homes. I’m not talking elephants and rhinos, I’m talking about simple things like deer in the yard, racoons, and a host of other animals that I just got used to seeing as a kid. They disappeared, and anyone hardly thought anything about it. We think about vast swaths of the Amazon razed for farming or rivers captured and dammed to create electric energy, but it’s everywhere, and we think it's someone else’s problem, but it’s not, it’s OUR problem. Similarly, I can recall weekend trips catching great fish in the Pacific Ocean each summer, and recall, as years went on, the dwindling catches and species as commercial fishing went unabated or unaccountable for decades. Like one of my favorite animals The Quagga, over harvesting can cost us wonderful species, some never to return. Every time I throw on my old Quagga hoodie, I think- what a shame!
"Every tree cut, every habitat lost, is a page torn from the story of our planet's biodiversity. It's time we rewrite that narrative with conservation and responsible choices." - Dr. Emily Wilson, Conservation Biologist
The loss of animal habitat is a big deal, and there are some serious issues causing it.
Deforestation: People are chopping down forests left and right, especially in places like the Amazon, Southeast Asia, and Central Africa. They need the space for farming, logging, and building stuff, but it's messing up the homes of tons of critters. As I mentioned, it frequently occurs in a local space, and people lose sight of the macro impact of a million small spaces, its not just the big spaces that count.
Urbanization: Again, many of you my age( 60) have seen this. As cities grow, they're swallowing up natural habitats. All those roads and buildings might be great for us, but for wildlife, it's like getting evicted from their homes. Local extinction, death by a thousand tract homes, it adds up.
Climate Change: Human caused or not, its pretty clear that the weather's going bonkers, and it's messing with habitats everywhere. Rising temperatures, weird rain patterns, and rising sea levels are making it tough for animals and plants to survive.
Pollution: Our mess is causing trouble. Pollution in the air, water, and soil is wrecking ecosystems. Animals and plants can't thrive when their homes are filled with junk.
Agricultural Expansion: Farming is essential, but when we clear too much land for crops, it messes up the natural balance. Monoculture and heavy pesticide use aren't doing habitats any favors either. My kindred animal, the Tasmanian Tiger, was crushed by agriculture taking their habitat, among other factors.
Overexploitation: For so long, we’ve seen ourselves as the masters of the planet, as opposed to caretakers, that we take advantage of a good thing. Overfishing, illegal logging, and poaching hurt not only the species we're after but also the entire ecosystem.
Invasive Species: Bringing in outsiders can cause chaos. Non-native species can outcompete or munch on local species, throwing everything out of whack.
As for the worst-hit areas, it's where humans are really doing their thing. The Amazon, Southeast Asia, and parts of Africa are taking a beating from deforestation. Coastal regions and islands are also feeling the heat due to urbanization and rising sea levels. It's a big mess, but if we all pitch in with conservation efforts and smart choices, we might be able to turn things around. Remember, the old saying, “think globally, act locally”, I think it applies today more than ever.
Vote with your wallet!
By donating to groups like the IUCN, World Wildlife federation or buying extinct animal t shirts from companies like Speciologie, who donate to help support organizations fighting to raise awareness, you can show your support and help keep balance to our planet.
#extinctanimalclothing # extinctanimals #quagga #tasmaniantiger #pyreneanibex #speciologie
