People have spoken of and debated ecological conservation for decades, deciding whether protecting the ecosystem should be a moral and aesthetic idea, or a survival instinct. Some have even claimed to a need for monetary values to be placed on protected or improving/recovering ecosystems. Wildlife protection agencies across the world are now seeking global assistance. With our modern awareness of ecology, I believe that humans, as a species, are able to make sufficient progress in ecological restoration. However, the dire question burning in every naturalists’, conservationists’, biologists’, and other ecologically-optimistic leaders’ minds is, but are we likely to?

If humanity is to “claim its destiny as the superior species of planet Earth”, then it must somehow change its current downhill decline to disaster and begin plans for the next quarter-century. What too many fail to realize is that no diamond is worth the price of earth. Although it is difficult to imagine, the following decade will decide the fate of an entire race of beings, its fellow beings, and their home.

As this condensed sphere of molten rock and magma slowly losses its fragile ecosystem, one can only look forward to extinction. It has taken “the superior race of beings” almost a century to recognize that we are poisoning ourselves while the other species have been paying our debts with their existence. Then again, all men were created equal. Who ever said that plants and inferior animal species should be allowed a right to cast their votes in the planetary survival election? Just as Americans, the people of whom god has assigned “protectors of justice and freedom”, once discriminated an entire race(and gender for that matter) from placing votes and obtaining rights, Humanity has ceased to amaze us by following its own pitiful mistakes.

But enough with the pessimistic view of ecology; There is a place where the grass is greener, the birds and the bees are dancing in silhouette, the air is healthy to breathe, and the sun(our most precious of all natural resources) is no longer killing. This fantasy world is a dream to many people, and there are those who are willing to try everything they are able to in order to further progress the idea of ecological conservation. Without a doubt I believe that we are able to make progress, however, I ask, will we..?