A Web of Ourselves

Biodiversity: the variety of all life on Earth. One may think that this life diversity is infinite; however, the

rates are declining every single day, every single second. Crucially, it’s us causing this loss: we destroy

forests and habitats for personal gain. Let’s say we ruin the conditions for tall grass, we then lose many

insects that consume that grass, then lose the buffaloes that consume those insects, then the lions that feast

upon buffaloes. This is a chain effect that is unavoidable if we are not careful, a chain that spans millions

of creatures.

We are part of this chain of lives, whether we recognize it or not. Often enough, it is our lack of

recognition that places us here. We seem not to care until it affects us directly, but loss of biodiversity

already affects us. Not only would the health of our ecosystem plummet with this loss, but so will our

access to healthcare. We will lose important plants and animals crucial for medicines. As our current

medicines run out, so too will the possibility of making new, advanced ones. This scenario is already

playing out. In Madagascar, modern healthcare is limited, but people have had an abundance of unique

plants to use for traditional cures. However, over the past few years, deforestation and habitat destruction

has led to a significant reduction in this diverse greenery, causing the healthcare available in Madagascar

to decline.

We must grasp our connection to the world to maintain it. Part of that means grasping the loss to

ourselves. A selfish motive, but at least an effective, necessary one. Via education in biodiversity and its

copious effects, we can learn our place in this world’s vast web of life and perhaps begin to rebuild it

rather than continue to break it down.