Goodall- Healing Earth's Scars & Why Save Endangered Species

Healing Earth's Scars

"Tropical and old-growth forests, woodlands and wetlands, prairies and grasslands, moorlands and deserts -- all landscapes -- are disappearing at a terrifying rate" (Goodall, Hudson, Maynard 161).

Natural Florida Landscape Source

Although all of these traits are not aspects of the natural Florida environment, I immediately thought of a Land Remembered. The MacIveys experienced life in many of these ecosystems including woodlands, wetlands, prairies, and grasslands. As Goodall (161) stated, " all landscapes -- are disappearing at a terrifying rate". Just as the MacIvey's relationship with the land changed, so is ours. The land is disappearing because we are exploiting it for commercial use. No one chooses to look into the future to see the long term effects of conservation or sustainability because people want instant gratification and money; in turn our planet suffers.

"My four reasons for hope, about which I have written and spoken extensively, are simple -- naive perhaps, but they work for me: our quite extraordinary intellect, the resilience of nature, the energy and commitment of informed young people who are empowered to act, and the indomitable human spirit"(Goodall, Hudson, Maynard 161).

Young Jane Goodall Source

I found this quote to be touching! Ive always admired Goodall for her primatology work, and reading this excerpt I was really inspired, which is exactly what she wanted to do. I feel like this Colloquium class fulfills the meaning of this statement, " Commitment of informed young people who are empowered to act". Before taking this class I was naive to the condition the environment is in . I did not know what effects my habits had on the environment, and more importantly I didn't care because I wasn't informed.  If you think about that on a large scale, I'm sure there's a lot of people like me in other universities, or even in their carers that are oblivious to the fact that our planet is dying. If more people become informed and empowered to act we can use talents and intelligence from various fields and studies, like Colloquium class, to change the world!

  

Why Save Endangered Species?

“If we allow extinctions to happen through ignorance or greed, then with the loss of each endangered species and unique population, our world becomes less diverse and strikingly less beautiful and mysterious”(Goodall, Hudson, Maynard 181).

Endangered Species Source

Saving an endangered species means protecting biodiversity. Saving these species from becoming extinct and protecting their natural habitats is vital for our health and the health of future generations. When I think of endangered species, I automatically think of animals, however this applies to so much more! Plants and animals are vital  to the health of our environment. As species are lost so is biodiversity. The impacts of biodiversity are huge. Imagine if mangroves were endangered and then later went extinct. In Florida, we would be more vulnerable to natural disasters. Many animals that depend on this tree would start to die out. Loss of biodiversity and extinction of plants and animals would also cause greater effects of global warming.