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Ecosystem Awareness

Whether out of ignorance, apathy, or greed, humans are destroying ecosystems. In order to prevent this destruction, it is necessary to understand what we do to hurt ecosystems and how we can prevent--and better yet--reverse the damage.

Importance of Ecosystems
- Plants, present in most ecosystems, are the world's primary producers of oxygen.
  
  Every inch of the world belongs to an ecosystem, and ecosystems are vitally important to the survival of all organisms. Forests, mountains, rivers, and even cities all constitute ecosystems. In order for ecosystems to thrive, animals and plants must live in balance. Humans, however, have thrown most of the world's ecosystems out of balance, and unless we begin to stabilize them, we pose a danger not just to the plants and animals in the environment, but to ourselves.
Introduction of New Species
- Transporting a boat from one body of water to another often introduces new species into an ecosystem.
  
  Humans often accidentally introduce new species of plants or animals into an ecosystem when they release pets into the wild or simply carry spores from one ecosystem into another on shoes, car tires, ships, or clothing. The introduction of a new species may force an existing species out of existence or pose a danger to humans. For example, in the 1980s a species of algae was introduced into Australia that Australian shellfish used as a food source. The algae was toxic, and the shellfish became poisonous to humans.
Urban Development
- Although urban areas are also ecosystems, their presence indicates a previous ecosystem was destroyed.
  
  The development of industry and urban areas has greatly impacted ecosystems. In addition to habitats being replaced by housing developments and commercial lots, the collection of raw materials also hurts ecosystems by depleting resources and shrinking habitats. Pollution is also a serious concern. For example, the delta smelt, a once-plentiful fish living almost exclusively in the San Fransisco Bay area, has been driven to near extinction by the pollution present in the bay.
Conservation
- When visiting a nature reserve or park, stay on paths and pay attention to signs that advise you about the habitat.
  
  In order to prevent the continued destruction of ecosystems, many governments have charged specific agencies with the protection of ecosystems. In Australian, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) works to prevent foreign species from entering the country. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforces environmental regulations, such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which requires all U.S. government offices to consider the environmental impact of their decisions.

Nature