Few things appear more perfect in nature than a
spider’s web glistening with dew in the early morning sun. Stretch a
strand or break the pattern and like a roof without trusses the
engineering skills crumble. And so it is in all of nature. Each
animal/insect species from the multi-legged centipede to the gigantic
bull elephant has a role to play and a duty to perform in a world
where we are all inter-connected.
Minute mushrooms spores spread throughout the forests feeding off
fallen vegetation speeding up the recycling process that will generate
more tall trees.
Flying squirrels seek out buried
truffles and spread their spores, which in turn spawn new growth in
the form of trees while other squirrel species hoard their food
supplies of nuts and seeds. The uneaten cache sprouts forth creating
new forests.
Slimy slugs slip through the forest
recycling animal droppings and other debris while overhead raucous
crows scout the land for carrion and human garbage.
Predator and prey as each struggle to survive
and maintain a natural quality control link nature’s food chain.
Are humans stretching the strands that bind?
It has been said that trees are the lungs of the
earth yet we slash and burn them by the thousands daily leaving behind
nothing but smoke-filled air.
We allow chemicals from fertilizer, animal
waste, and road run-off to enter our waterways while we view the
latest oil spill on the evening news.
We choke on the smog that fills our air then drive to the nearest
corner store for another pack of cigarettes to blacken our lungs and
those of our children.
We hold world-wide conferences on the
environment and shelve the solutions because they aren’t
financially feasible.
We pollute, destroy, and poison our
environment then study the effects on the wildlife we monitor as
environmental indicators.
We submit reports on the domino effects of
our lifestyle. The only thing we don’t do is listen.
