January 2023
Nature is every natural thing in the universe, living and non-living. As far as we know, the universe is infinite. One thing is certain, us humans can have no measurable influence on it. Also, space is a very unhealthy place beyond the limits of our atmosphere. We learn more about it daily. Life on earth depends on the sun, moon and planet Earth for physical wellbeing. Other astral bodies provide an impressive sight nightly.
Our planet is our local life support system, there is no planet B, we influence it and it influences us. From it we come, and to it our bodies go. If we wish this to continue, we must have a plan to maintain it. A few centimetres of soil depth and the water bodies yield all our food. Countless species of organisms, that share the planet, process these resources along with the atmosphere to make it sustainable for all.
Ecology comes from the Greek words ‘oikos logos’, which means ‘home study’. Meaning – studying the of homes of all living organisms on the planet. What we do not always remember is that our bodies themselves are ecosystems, supporting c. 10,000 species of micro-organisms. Most of which we need as much as they need us, to help the body digest food, strengthen the immune system, and ward off dangerous pathogens. So, what we consume also supports them and in return they help support us.
The upshot is that nature is multi-dimensional, and keeping it in balance is called homeostasis, meaning the tendency towards a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements. For example, a human and bacteria, or food consumption and space taken to produce it. This definition can be applied to nature at all levels. All life is interdependent.
Our influence on the world around us must be proportionate to the needs of all organisms. This is a difficult balance to achieve as some activities have a greater impact than others. For example, we can reduce our global impact by walking or cycling instead of driving. We can grow some food or buy local produce where possible. We can avoid using aeroplanes, or install solar panels and heat pumps. We can eat less meat. Producing meat requires far more land than cereals, e. g. 1 hectare can produce 40 kg of beef, but c. 8 tonnes of cereals. Also, cereals do not produce harmful (climate changing) methane, but cattle do, mostly from their mouths!