75% of the world’s land-based habitats, 85% of the world’s wetlands, and 66% of marine environments have been severely altered. By us. Us humans are having severe and transformative effects on the world around us, and devastating our ecosystems and biodiversity. As many as one million plant and animal species are now at risk of extinction.
Farming, logging, poaching, fishing and mining are changing our lands at a rate “unprecedented in human history” (UN) and climate change is now a major new driver of these changes. So many of us are disconnected from nature. We don’t understand how biodiversity is linked to our own food security or clean water. We largely don’t appreciate that we are but one species, in a world of about 8 million. And species are dying before we even discover them.
One of the best things you can do is to get you and your friends back into nature regularly. To grow your own food (one of the biggest rebellions these days). To learn about all of our fascinating animals and plants (Adam will happily tell you all about carnivorous plants!). And to get involved in your local community groups that preserve our environments and create action against the implementation of activities that harm them more. Our own lives, and the lives of millions of other species depend upon it.
