The nature of Earth, for Humans, is home. We evolved from nature. We need nature for our physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. Throughout our entire existence we have been reliant on nature for our survival.
Over time, though, whilst being reliant on nature, we have also learned how to shape the world around us. A ‘cognitive revolution’ occurred 70,000 years ago whereby elaborate cultures and systems of cooperation developed in human society. The ‘agricultural revolution’ 12,000 years ago accelerated this process, with humans learning how to domesticate plants and animals in farming practices which enabled our population to grow and for us to increasingly shape our surroundings.
The ‘scientific revolution’ of 500 years ago then paved the way for the industrial revolution of 250 years ago, which over the subsequent years has fuelled a dramatic growth in human population, economic activity and resource use across our planet. The digital revolution of the past half century has led to a dizzying pace and scale of changes to human society and economies and how we interact with the world around us. Humanity has grown to become a dominant force shaping the future of our planet.
But these stunning developments have disrupted our relationship with nature and now also bring immense challenges for humanity in the coming century.
The challenge for humanity this century is to re-connect with our natural world. To protect and restore the natural world upon which we all rely. To stabilise human population, to decouple economic growth from growth in resource use, and to re-imagine the way we organise our society and economy so that humans and nature can thrive together.
“It’s surely our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on Earth.” – Sir David Attenborough.
Life on planet Earth
Life has existed on planet earth for at least 3.5 billion years. Over this time, an intricate web of life has evolved, and more than 2 million different types of plants and animals now call Earth home.
The nature of Earth, for Humans, is home. We evolved from nature. We need nature for our physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. Throughout our entire existence we have been reliant on nature for our survival.
Over time, though, whilst being reliant on nature, we have also learned how to shape the world around us. A ‘cognitive revolution’ occurred 70,000 years ago whereby elaborate cultures and systems of cooperation developed in human society. The ‘agricultural revolution’ 12,000 years ago accelerated this process, with humans learning how to domesticate plants and animals in farming practices which enabled our population to grow and for us to increasingly shape our surroundings.
The ‘scientific revolution’ of 500 years ago then paved the way for the industrial revolution of 250 years ago, which over the subsequent years has fuelled a dramatic growth in human population, economic activity and resource use across our planet. The digital revolution of the past half century has led to a dizzying pace and scale of changes to human society and economies and how we interact with the world around us. Humanity has grown to become a dominant force shaping the future of our planet.
But these stunning developments have disrupted our relationship with nature and now also bring immense challenges for humanity in the coming century.
The challenge for humanity this century is to re-connect with our natural world. To protect and restore the natural world upon which we all rely. To stabilise human population, to decouple economic growth from growth in resource use, and to re-imagine the way we organise our society and economy so that humans and nature can thrive together.
“It’s surely our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on Earth.” – Sir David Attenborough.
Life on planet Earth
Life has existed on planet earth for at least 3.5 billion years. Over this time, an intricate web of life has evolved, and more than 2 million different types of plants and animals now call Earth home.
An extraordinary conservation project on Bruny Island is building nest boxes tailored to help one of the world's rarest birds. The project is figuring out how to let Forty-Spotted pardalotes in but keeps others out.
The real fascination with this place, Bruny, is, it’s an island, with this incredibly varied coastal environment. With wild ocean facing beaches, to stable Channel facing beaches, shell beaches, rocky beaches and everything in between.
The hooded plover and pied oystercatcher can only live, breed and feed successfully on the beach, writes Dr Eric Woehler (OAM). And that, he says, makes them extremely vulnerable as human activities increase and destroy their habitat. They must be looked after, including here in Tasmania.
Dr Eric Woehler says he doesn’t need to exaggerate what these tiny migratory bird species can do - “I can simply tell people the bird that sits in the cup of your hand will fly farther than the distance between the earth and the moon over its lifetime."
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