We are bound by our ecosystem.   The environment where we live is also home for us and we share the space, time, resources with a number of other living beings.   Humans are an advanced intelligent species in the evolution process and perhaps this is the reason for a number of environmental issues that we see around us.   The basic premise on which environment works is that all living beings are responsible for playing their role in this ecosystem.   Man has a distinct role to play as much as other living beings.  During the ancient times, the world has been dominated by certain species, for example, during Jurrasic age, the dinosaurs dominated but with the progression of time, man evolved as the dominant species.  The scene has always been a predator – prey problem since the beginning. 

Though the predators need preys, the ecological balance was maintained in ancient times.  With the modern developments in science and technology, the balance seems to have been lost and since the last decade or so, the issues are totally out of control.   The effect is fast disappearing animal species (e.g., the Tasmanian tiger), forest lands (e.g., Amazon rain forests) and we are left with an unbalanced ecology mainly dominated by predators.  But the truth is humans have become the main predators with almost no prey left.  So, what are the causes for this imbalance in ecology?  There are several causes.  The main ones include (1) Demand for animal parts in traditional medicines (2) Use of animal parts in artworks (3) encouragement of hunting as a sport (4) no ban on animal products (5) no control on the use of endangered plant and animal species (6) pollution and improper waste disposal that is causing a number of deaths of marine species.

We as members of the same ecological system are responsible to act and we should act fast before it is too late.  Countless number of initiatives have been launched, however, many of these initiatives though started with a good objective lacks the drive and left to die halfway.  The result is overwhelming resistance from the society to take such ecofriendly initiatives forward without adequate support from society and fellow citizens.  Every citizen is required to contribute to the well-being of our ecosystem.  If this contribution is not pro-active, then the organizations such as United Nations should enforce some basic changes in the society that would trigger more responsible behavior among humans.  For example, this should start with a complete ban on all plastic products and disposal of wastes across all cities in the world.   Now we witness some initiatives such as ?zero-plastic? drives in some cities, however, the practice should cover the entire planet. 

Pollution is another factor that adversely affect our environment.  Polluting substances from fossil fuels cloud the entire cities causing many problems including deaths of both humans, animals and birds.  This fact is often underplayed and actual statistics of deaths never gets to see the light of the day.   Switching to solar or wind energy should lead the next big revolution in energy business and this would mean zero pollution.   Though environmental initiatives receive an applause from the governments, these drives should start from the nations leadership.  Time is ticking and as we witness more and more chaos with our environment, humans are likely to lose their own identity if we cannot work synchronously with our nature.

Image credit: https://www.epa.gov/enviroatlas/ecosystem-services-enviroatlas