Nature is everywhere. It is the wind, the rain, the oxygen we breathe, the ground we walk on, the wood that makes our homes, the food we eat, the water we drink, the clothes we wear, the battery in our cell phones, and the rubber tires on our cars. It surrounds us and supports every aspect of our lives. It is essential for our existence. This is why nature is relevant to us.
Overall, our relationship with nature is reciprocal. We receive everything we need from nature to live each day. However, the reciprocity we extend to nature is equally important. If we continue to deplete nature and all its resources without giving back, it will have consequences for us. According to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment published in 2005, by the time the 20th century transitioned to the 21st century, we had already destroyed 60% of the earth’s ability to support us (1).
Giving back to nature is not as difficult as one might think. The reciprocity can be as simple as:
*Use a reusable water bottle instead of purchasing water in plastic bottles. There are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic in our oceans, affecting marine life and the overall health of our seas (2).
* Planting native plants in our yards can restore habitats that provide pollinators with more food sources, enabling them to pollinate additional plants that produce oxygen and sequester carbon. In the U.S. alone, 20 million acres of natural habitat have been converted into lawns (1).
* Choosing more plant-based foods imposes less strain on the environment—resulting in less deforestation and reduced wildlife habitat loss, conserves water resources and saves the lives of farm animals. Animal agriculture is a leading driver of species extinction and habitat destruction (3).
*Choosing recycled or bamboo paper towels and toilet paper prevents the cutting down of virgin forests like the Boreal Forest for single-use paper products. Boreal forests make up 77% of Canada’s forests. They emerged approximately 12,000 years ago and are one of the most ecologically important forests in the world. The Boreal forests lock away nearly twice as much carbon as is contained in the world’s recoverable oil reserves. These woodlands are home to threatened and endangered species such as caribou and grizzly bears. Additionally, nearly three million birds migrate to this area every year. However, nearly one million acres of Canadian boreal are cut away each year for logging, which means the size of a small city block is roughly clearcut from this area every MINUTE (4).
*Choosing more clothes from second-hand stores, in-person or online, reduces the strain on natural resources to create more textiles. Globally, nearly 92 million tons of textiles end up in landfills yearly (5).
We are and always will be a part of nature, not apart from nature.
References:
1. Tallamy, Douglas W. Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard. Timber Press, 2019.
2. “Ocean Trash: 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic and counting, but big questions remain.” National Geographic. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/ocean-trash-525-trillion-pieces-and-counting-big-questions-remain/
3. “Animal Agriculture Causing Extinctions.” Earth and Animals. 2024, November 24th. https://www.earthandanimals.com/advocate/farm-animals/params/post/1280000/animal-agriculture-causing-extinctions
4. “Toilet Paper and Climate Change: NRDC’s Updated “Issue With Tissue” Ranks Brands on Sustainability.” NRDC. 2020, June 24th. https://www.nrdc.org/press-releases/toilet-paper-and-climate-change-nrdcs-updated-issue-tissue-ranks-brands
5. Maceka, Maya. “Fast Fashion’s Environmental Impact.” Website Planet. https://www.websiteplanet.com/blog/fast-fashions-environmental-impact/?geo=us&device=desktop
