Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth. The health of our planet includes all ecosystems and the species that live within them. The links between social inequality, racism, disease and extinction are clear and the stakes have never been higher.
The Importance of Biodiversity
With everything there is balance. When diversity is taken away, we destroy the balance of the land. Taking away one species may seem small but this quickly dominoes to an imbalance and large issues such as removing nutrients, energy resources, and symbiotic relationships. For example: Overfishing, or the drastic removal of fish, increases red algae in freshwater which then will cut off the water supply to other animals and humans. In urban societies we see how white supremacy has killed black people and taken indigenous land for industrial development.
Biodiversity protects ecosystems from infectious disease. We have seen through years of deforestation how mosquitoes can travel further and further in and skyrocket the spread of malaria. We also see this with COVID-19, where the spread of disease from animal to human is directly correlated to our environmental changes of removing natural land for urban land, our behavioral changes of demanding more meat and dairy, and how animals have pathogen changes to adjust to the pesticides, clear cutting, and intensive farming.
We see in biodiversity how species create a symbiotic relationship and there is a beautiful understanding of the importance of each species to the balance of nature - but why can’t humans also carry this understanding? In ecosystems, the removal of one species throws off the entire balance of life by removing nutrients, energy resources, and symbiotic relationships. Scientists have studied biomimicry for years to understand how to use sustainable technology. Artists have studied the colors or the environment to inspire their work and advocate for harmony. But why can’t we on a social level study nature to create social justice?
Unfortunately our President is for the destruction of both land and people so what can you do?
We can take back the government through our votes and education
We can restore habitats and protect ecosystems
We can do the work to stand against racism by speaking up to friends, family, and colleagues who make jokes or say anything hate about POC
We can donate to causes that protect the people and the land
We can use our art to inspire change and protection
