To preserve species’ diversity
For 10 days in early April, the weather was so chilly that I needed to wear thick clothes. Then, two days were quite hot. Even in this situation, six peach trees in front of my house blossomed, but the honeybees seldom visited them.
In recent years, the number of honeybees has decreased dramatically here and around the world. Experts have said that there are many reasons bees have disappeared: climate anomalies, farmers’ overuse of pesticides and ecocide. Einstein is often attributed to have said, “If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live.”
Recently I read a book called “Symbiosen,” written by Josef H. Reichholf. The author said, “When human beings live, they are inextricably linked to the network of life and depend on a comprehensive symbiotic structure.”
Example 1. Root nodule bacteria and legumes: The former gives the latter nitrogen-containing compounds that are essential for growth. Legumes give the former photosynthetic sugar and carbohydrates.
Example 2. Flowers and honeybees: Flowers help bees supplement the nutrition they need for survival. The bees collect sap from flowers and help flowers to reproduce by receiving and spreading their pollen.
Example 3: The crow and the wolf: Crows have excellent vision and fly low to find prey. The crows tell the wolves where they can find prey to catch. Wolves leave enough food for the crows. As if to prove this, the habitats of wolves and crows are distributed in the same areas in the world. Humans also regard both crows and wolves as objects of totem faith.
As in the examples above, from microbes to higher animals, all lives maintain a symbiotic relationship. Such relationships not only benefit both sides, but also greatly benefit the common life of different organisms. Experts insist that there are more than 10 million forms of life on Earth. These lifeforms can exist anywhere — on the ground, in the water or in the air. Different species maintain symbiotic relationships. Such systems lead to species diversity.
The United Nations has recognized the importance of conserving biodiversity and, in 1992, designated May 22 as the International Day for Biological Diversity. Every year, May 22 celebrations have been held in many countries.
However, in reality, farmers have mercilessly killed lifeforms that are not seen as beneficial to humans by using herbicides and pesticides. Humans and factories have raised the global temperature by increasing the use of fossil fuels and consumption levels. Moreover, jungles are being destroyed in the Amazon, in Indonesia and in other areas. The reckless capture of animals has forced the destruction of the ecosystem and the food chain system more severely.
As a result, melting of glacier ice in Antarctica and the Arctic, frequent outbreaks of infectious diseases and abnormal climate are bringing serious warnings about our global ecosystem.