The rational human = Homo sapiens, is probably the most successful species in the history of the world, the species that influences the world the most and changes its course. At the same time, humans have the heavy burden of being aware of this and reacting emotionally to their actions and the effects of their actions. The disappearance of bees, blackbirds and butterflies from the garden is perceived as painful. But they don't have to disappear, we can do something about it! That is why Sustainability. Rethink. is dedicating this issue to biodiversity.
Scientists affectionately christen the last individual of a species "endling", using this emotive term, which is somewhat reminiscent of fantasy or science fiction concepts, to make the general public more aware of the loss that accompanies the extinction of a species. Far too often, ecosystems, species or breeds disappear without any registration by the media or population.
The World Biodiversity Council (IPBES) report published in May 2019 was a different story. It brought biodiversity to the forefront of people's minds, as the scientists' findings are shocking. One million plant and animal species could be driven into extinction by humans, a scale that would endanger civilized human coexistence.(Interesting facts about biodiversity and the IPBES report)
It is indeed hard to imagine that 700 different bee species are needed in Europe, wouldn't one species be enough? No, because ecosystems are a complicated network of animals, plants, fungi, microorganisms and their habitat, each species has its place and function in the system. Just like a machine, where every screw, every cable, every cogwheel is important. If you remove a screw, the machine still stands, but if someone bumps into it, it could collapse. It's the same with natural habitats, they continue to thrive for a long time even though some species have died out, but a storm or drought can throw everything out of control.
"One can easily assume that life on this planet as we know it would no longer be possible with a massive reduction or even the extinction of insects alone," emphasizes the lateral thinker Lars Jaeger in his article "Another eco-crisis - And nobody notices".
Humans will always survive
The killer argument of people who are too comfortable to change their behavior is always: "Humans will survive it all!"
That is absolutely right, the human species, Homo sapiens, will survive any impending catastrophe simply because of its large number of individuals (8 billion). But what about our civilization? Will there still be room for beauty and peace in an overheated world with food shortages?
"Are human creations such as music, literature, film and photography not worth saving?" asks ecologist Dr. Isabell Riedl.
People's reaction is getting stronger
The majority of people understand that things cannot go on as before, but now the number of people taking and demanding action is also growing noticeably. The "Fridays for Future" climate protection movement is enjoying ever greater participation. Time and again, slogans such as "There is no future on a dead planet" resound through the streets. Research by Dr. Alice Vadrot shows that movements like this can really get the ball rolling. She investigated why politicians are so slow to react to scientific reports and findings:
"The problem lies particularly in the fact that the population does not sufficiently demand environmental protection and nature conservation, which can also be seen in voting behavior. We must therefore first and foremost appeal to people's 'hearts and minds' so that nature conservation measures are implemented more effectively."(To the interview)
And indeed, the pressure on politicians has increased significantly in recent months and something finally seems to be moving. Ursula von der Leyen recently assured us after her election as the new EU Commission President: "In my first 100 days, I will present the first European climate law that makes the 2050 target binding." Austrian politician Rudi Anschober has been collecting votes for the protection of soils and biodiversity since this year; 16,000 people have already signed the petition.
Don't bury your head in the sand, plant plants instead
The call for action is supported by science, which provides us with the tools and knowledge to take the right measures. Researchers at the University of Göttingen recently published how biodiversity in agriculture can be kept high while ensuring a good food supply. On the one hand, real nature conservation areas must be preserved, while on the other, biodiversity on agricultural land can be increased through targeted landscape planning. Agriculture can become the most important conservator of biodiversity, which also pays off economically, explains environmental consultant Dr. Daniel Bogner:
But you as a private individual should also not give up because of the disaster reports, never underestimate your sphere of influence. Start where it is easiest for you, perhaps in your garden, on your balcony or within your own four walls.
"I evaluated each plant in terms of the food it offered for insects, the hymenoptera, and if it wasn't suitable, I replaced it with another plant, no matter how much I liked it," suggests organic pioneer Werner Lampert.(Read the whole interview)
The next step is to go outside. It is a much more difficult step, because suddenly your actions are being observed. But this step in particular, where you interact with others, is a fulfilling one. Suddenly you meet like-minded people, doors open for you that you didn't even realize existed before. Meeting with others creates a dynamic full of hope and the power for positive change grows by leaps and bounds. Suddenly, trust in humanity and yourself grows again. And suddenly we are saving the world.
Will you take the first step with us?
Steps to preserve biodiversity:
- Buy organic and authentically regional food (biodiversity is demonstrably higher in organic farming, authentic regionality is important to prevent feed and food imports)
- Switch to a plant-based diet - firstly, it is healthy and secondly, it requires significantly less land in agriculture than animal-based food - thus reducing the pressure on natural areas
- Design your open spaces with a focus on natural diversity (bee-friendly plants, diverse structures, leaving dead wood...), produce your own compost
- Take part in petitions and movements
- Demand measures for more biodiversity in your community, school, kindergarten, workplace, etc. Take measures for more biodiversity. School classes can, for example, take part in the Alpine School competition organized by Zurück zum Ursprung.
- Inform your surroundings, tell your neighbors about your positive actions
- Support nature conservation organizations
- Vote for parties that take nature conservation seriously
- Do you have any more ideas? Feel free to share them with us in the comments.
About the author
Dr. Isabell Riedl has been working as a sustainability officer and in communications at Werner Lampert GmbH since 2012. She studied ecology with a focus on nature and landscape conservation and tropical ecology at the University of Vienna. She wrote her dissertation on the importance of tree rows in agricultural areas for forest birds in Costa Rica. Throughout her life, she has been particularly committed to ecological sustainability. She is part of the editorial team of the online magazine "Nachhaltigkeit. Neu denken." (Rethinking Sustainability).
Congratulations on these sentences and texts
Thank you very much for your praise