Okay, so I’m sitting here working on compiling some resources and pictures for an upcoming article about endangered species, and I had to take a bit of a break to write some thoughts that came to mind…

Life, and all of its millions of forms, is so beautiful, so why is it endangered?  Let me further explain this question…

When I speak of “life” in this context, I am referring to the millions of living organisms that inhabit the earth – the plants, animals, and every other living species.

Now, in our human-created society, it is easy to wander through it and be completely distracted from the natural world.  Our daily lives are so filled with responsibilities, that at times, we may forget that we are part of a much larger whole than what we directly experience everyday at home, work, school, etc.

Unfortunately, it is not as easy to truly appreciate the grandeur and wonderment that the natural world possesses when it is not directly experienced on a day-to-day basis.

But when we slow down a bit, stop, and really think about it, the natural world is an absolutely breathtaking place to be appreciated.

To just think that there a literally millions of different species in the world as a whole is just astounding.  There are species ranging from the microscopic to the mammoth in size.  All shapes, colors, abilities, demeanors, personalities, functions, and places in the world are included in the environment.

It is just as amazing too how everything is intended to function so flawlessly.  Just think about how every species plays its part and basically knows how to function and try to survive in its environment!  Through instinct, the quest for survival guides them all!

But to think about the complexity and diversity of the natural world can leave a person speechless.  The bald eagle soaring and imposing its prowess.  The migratory birds that travel thousands of miles every year.  The dolphins that can navigate throughout whole oceans, and can find their way to a specified location after many years.  Zebras whose appearance helps them ward off predators, just by their stripes.  Chameleons who can change their color to blend into their surroundings.  Plants that produce oxygen and food.  The cheetah that can give a fast sports car a run for its money.  The beauty of a native flower.  The fungi that makes a key ingredient to an important medicine.  And the list goes on and on!

But it even goes further.  Within each one of these organisms is a complex system of cells which makes it function.  Just consider the human body, for example.  Without any real consciousness, it processes food, oxygen, water, fights bacteria and viruses, maintains an energy store, replenishes that energy store, circulates nutrients to every organ in the body, heals wounds, and much, much, much more.  And it is all basically done automatically!  This is not-to-mention its senses and consciousness!

So there’s organs that make it able to see the visual world, interpret the auditory realm, feel the sensual, taste the flavorful, and smell the aromatic.  All of these senses help protect it by allowing it to navigate and avoid hazards.

But furthermore, it has the ability to think and be aware.  It can process hundreds of stimuli every second.   It can create, communicate, love, and appreciate.

And in one way or another, so can every other animal, in its own way!

The beauty that lies within this mystery is almost incomprehensible…

But it’s also incomprehensible that a large number of the natural species in the world are threatened or endangered.
So that’s where we, as stewards of the earth, have the opportunity to help conserve, restore, and work toward lessening the threats to these species.

Just stop and think for a second.  Isn’t something so astounding worth preserving?

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Tags: habitat restoration, saving endangered species, the importance of biodiversity, wildlife conservation