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forwardseat t1_iy8unxz wrote

Reply to comment by xylem-and-flow in US bat species devastated by fungus now listed as endangered by zsreport

Lord this just brought me to tears. I can't imagine dealing with it on that kind of scale.

I'm not a scientist. Just a random person that has been trying to clear my land of invasives and plant useful native species to help the bugs. It all looks a mess but I rejoice almost every day over some critter or bird or delightful little bit of life that I have here. And every time I feel I'm making progress I start hearing leaf blowers and the neighbors treat their lawns for "pests" and I struggle to explain to people how much more magical it is to have lightning bugs in the summer than it is to have a tennis court lawn.

I can't imagine having studied this stuff for a whole lifetime, investing every fiber of myself in it, to have it reduced to corporate profit flow. My heart just breaks for all of you doing that work.

Life on this planet is so goddamned beautiful and special.

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xylem-and-flow t1_iy8wptv wrote

Good on you. It all has its emotional ups and downs, but not all is lost. People planting out their spaces as you have are doing good that is only just beginning to be studied. With the compounded impact of climate change and habit loss, a native garden is a critical space for rest, food, and often a launch pad for further movement. A lot of species, both plant an animal, are experiencing sudden range shifts, so every little stepping stone is unimaginably important. It’s not hyperbole to think of those gardens as a sort of link in an ecological Underground Railroad.

Some days I plant in a full blown rage, like each root in earth is a rebellion against loss and extinction. Other days there is a somber hopefulness. As Audrey Hepburn put it “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” We really can’t comprehend the challenges that lie ahead of us. My hope is that we continue to reach greater public understanding of the biosphere. We don’t know who will pick up the torch next, but it may well be that the inches we fight for today will help the next generation to run miles.

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