James R. Miller’s article opened my eyes to the fact that I, as well as most of the people I am surrounded by, am part of the problem causing this current erosion of biodiversity and increased extinction. There is a major disconnect between people and nature, and this gap has only been widening. The problem is that many people are ignorant to basic things in nature and how our ecosystem works. In a U.S. high school, students could not identify common mammals! I can relate because we had a similar issue in our first class when a room filled with honors students could not even identify basic fruits and vegetable that we eat. We can probably identify more corporate logos than species of plant, and there are probably a lot more plant species than corporation on this planet. This ignorance causes people to not care about nature.
Part of the reason for this disconnect and ignorance of nature is that more and more people are moving to urban areas, where nature is hidden. 48% of the world population lives in the cities and open spaces and greenway are seen as luxuries as opposed to a necessities. There is also the issue of “shifting baseline” syndrome or environmental generational amnesia. People’s view of nature is narrowed to the areas closest to home and work, not open to the different areas of untouched land that exists. Technology and TV is keeping people indoors instead of being active outside in nature. If nothing is done, these problems are only going to get worse as more cities will be built and more technology is developed.
The public must relate and connect to nature. In order to conserve biodiversity, nature must be relevant and become valued by the general public. However, I agree with Miller that preaching science to people who are uninterested in our ecosystem is not the best solution to this problem. As a teenager, who unfortunately knows little about the ecosystem and our current problem, I do not believe that overwhelming people with scientific facts about the many species in nature will get people to care. Instead, we need to start by simply exposing our youth to nature- not just parks and playgrounds, but areas of untouched or undamaged land. People who are exposed and have more of a connection to nature are more motivated to protect the environment. Miller also suggests that getting children involved in dialogues about nature and restoration efforts can make children more empathetic towards our environment. Another solution is to get government officials and policymakers involved in conservation efforts, since ecological projects are the first things to get cut from municipal budget.
Biodiversity is important not just for the plants, but also for helping humans. According to Miller, contact with the environment can better human conditions and health. One of the most effective ways to get more people connected and interested in nature is to emphasize quality of life and health benefits. Lastly, I suggest that there should be more activities like BioBlitz that is not just exclusively for honors students. At BioBlitz I was able to learn a lot about plants on the side of the road that are hidden in the city. I also think there should be more classes like this in all schools to get more people aware of the problem.
