The world is NOT our oyster, and it’s crackpot mentality like this that is seeing so many species face extinction, as habitats are destroyed across the world.
In my current project writing these Africa country guides, one thing keeps popping up time and time again… almost every single country in our beautiful continent (and in fact the entire world) faces at least some level of deforestation, desertification, pollution, land abuse or similar environmental hazard.
Slowly but surely, the human race has managed to plow through some of the world’s riches habitats, for our own selfish needs. Huge rainforests that were once impenetrable are being taken out by the logging industry, which often operates illegally, and also paves the way for poachers. Massive areas of rainforests are also being cleared, often for huge industries like oil palm plantations, which are killing off key species such as orangutan at insane rates.
Mining is destroying not only the surrounding land, but also the fragile communities living within mineral rich areas. And it’s always the countries who have the least to start with who are being raped of their land and resources.
If plundering the rainforests and earth wasn’t enough, we are also slowly ruining our oceans too – with a staggering 90% of sharks being killed to extinction in the space of a few years. Not to mention the destruction of precious coral reefs, and the continued oil dumps happening year after year.
Amur leopard – 135 in the wild and counting
There are only 135 or less Amur leopards in Russia, less than 250 species of Ethiopian wolf, less than 500 North Pacific right whales, less than 60 Javan rhino, Mako sharks are being finned out of existence and there have been no sightings of South China tiger in the wild for 20 years.
The sad truth is that our grandkids are not going to ever see much of our amazing wildlife. Whether it’s here in Africa or in the far reaches of Russia, or the rainforests of Asia… our planet is slowly but surely being emptied of all remotely usable resources. And when the rainforests and oceans die, we won’t have to worry about global cooling because all life-forms are going to die too.
Think I’m over-reacting? Take a look at this list of 10 Animals on the Brink of Extinction and take a good long look at your lifestyle and shopping habits.
Palm oil, Asian paper, Congo exports, conflict diamonds, fur, bushmeat, pretty coral jewelry, shark meat… every time you use any of these, you are bring our planet one step closer to breaking point.
It’s not a nice thought, especially not on a chilled Thursday after a long and tiring week. But it needs to be said, and it needs to be thought.
Recycling and ‘eco hip’ stuff isn’t just for kicks, there’s a very big point to all of this!
