Wild Spaces - Wild Species
Giving light to the remarkable biodiversity on Earth.
Fossil records indicate that modern birds originated more that 60 million years ago after the end of the Cretaceous period but recent molecular studies show that birds were inhabiting Earth millions of years earlier.
Birds play a critical role in the world’s ecosystems by pollinating plants, spreading seeds, controlling pests,
and scavenging on carrion.
They are among the most remarkable creatures on Earth and essential to the web of life.
Approximately 200 million years ago, long before dinosaurs became extinct, mammals appeared on Earth. They are critical in ecosystem food webs as both predator and prey. Mammals, such as bats, are important for pollination, spreading seeds, and pest control. Whales are crucial in recycling nutrients and supporting plankton growth. For centuries mammals have provided humans with sustenance as well as transport. They are essential to our life on Earth.
Where would we be without insects?Â
They make up approximately 80 percent of
all species and are essential to ecosystems for pollination, soil aeration, scavenging, and pest control. It is said that out of a million insect
species, less than one percent are considered
to be pests. Without insects most of the life on Earth would not exist. Animals, such as birds, that consume insects would die and then those further up the food chain would face extinction. Flowering plants couldn’t exist without pollinators and all plants would lack the
nutrients to grow. Without insects aerating soil and decomposing dead animals to provide nutrients to plant life, our world would be barren.
Our Roots
Earth, our Home, has existed for over 4.5 billion years and it is the fifth largest planet in our solar system. At the center of our solar system is a yellow dwarf star, known as the Sun, that is the source of Life on Earth.
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Our ancestors first appeared between five and seven million years ago and we are, essentially, ancient sunlight. Everything that you see alive is here because a plant was able to capture sunlight and store it. Pockets of ancient sunlight, captured over millions of years in millions of plants is our coal, oil, and gas. Over centuries we have evolved to harness the natural resources of Earth in every way imaginable. Human ingenuity has changed and continues to change our world in incredible ways.
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Today however, our busy and modern lifestyle makes it incredibly easy to disconnect from nature. Many of us have lost touch with our natural world and the remarkable biodiversity that inhabits our planet. We have forgotten how fascinating life actually is.
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Now more than ever, education, appreciation, and empathy are integral to the survival of all that is wild. Take a moment to experience the amazing wild spaces and wild species that exist on Earth.
