It took many thousands of years to create the Earth we have now. At the current rates of pollution and destruction, it will take just a tiny fraction of that time to destroy it. Education is the first step to preventing this destruction.
Isn't it too late?
NO!! History has proven that conservation and breeding programs can save species that are on the brink of destruction. Several species of wolves and elephants, rhinos, tigers, bald eagles, and pandas are just a few of the animals that protection programs have rescued from impending extinction. Many of these needed to be repopulated in zoos, while their natural habitats were rebuilt so that they could once again thrive in the wild.
I've spent my life living close to animals, and enjoying the natural wilderness. I couldn't imagine my life without these beautiful spaces. As a kid I loved watching deer grazing in the field below my house on a misty fall morning and was overwhelmed with excitement at seeing fresh coyote tracks in a muddy pond bank. These unspoiled moments in nature are the things I want to preserve for my own daughter to enjoy. I want her to watch river otters or beavers play by the shore and watch the magnificent bald eagles soaring in the sky. I want her to be able to enjoy the beauty found deep within Earth's caves, and experience the breathless pleasure of watching water cascade over rocks into pools below. She deserves this inheritance. You, and your childen, deserve it too.
Taking Action
Education alone is not enough to effectively maintain our natural resources. Every resident of this planet has a duty to conserve and protect what we still have, as well as rebuild and repair what has been damaged.
What can you do?
**Even some kinds of flowers are on the endangered list. You can purchase wildflower seeds and plant them in your yard. Not only will they provide a beautiful setting for you to enjoy during the spring and summer for years to come, but the wind will carry the seeds to other places, giving Mother Nature the opportunity to step back in and resume the cycle of life.
**Contact your local conservation department and ask for information on endangered species of animals and plants, and ask what you can do to help them in your area. They may also be able so assist you in ordering trees or seeds for your property.
**Ask you local conservation office about creating ponds and landscaping in your yard to make it more wildlife-friendly.
Remeber, every little bit helps...
Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day he was walking along the shore, and as he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up. As he got closer, he saw that it was a young boy and the boy wasn't dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean. As he got closer he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?"
The boy paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish in the ocean."
The man said, "I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?"
"The sun is up and the tide is going out." the boy replied calmly, "And if I don't throw them in they'll die."
"But, child, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can't possibly make a difference!"
The boy listened politely, then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said, "It made a difference for that one."
Are you the boy or the man? It may not seem like you're doing much, but everyone makes a difference.