The Earth, or ecosphere, is like a spaceship. It contains a complete life-support system for our long journey through time - oxygen, water, food, and shelter. It supplies the resources we use, such as trees, wildlife, minerals, and fuels, and supports our major economic activities like forestry, agriculture, mining, and fishing. It provides the energy we harness - water, solar heat, wind, and tide. Unfortunately, we haven't been using the resources on this fragile spaceship wisely, and now the passengers' lives are at risk.
All living things thrive in clean, balanced ecosystems. Polluted or degraded ecosystems weaken our society and economy and eventually threaten the survival of life as we know it.
For generations, we behaved as if the Earth's resources were limitless. We chopped down forests and exploited wildlife with no thought for the future. We used our water, land, and air as dumping grounds for toxic chemicals and other hazardous wastes. In today's bustling world, every time a new building goes up or a parking lot or subdivision appears, another animal or plant is driven out of its habitat. Many species are literally squeezed out of existence as their territories are altered or destroyed. Our world population is growing so fast, and we're gobbling up resources at such a speed, that we can't possibly keep up with global demands for housing, food, fuel, and everything else we need to survive. Distressing signals like acid precipitation, global warming, and a damaged ozone layer warn us that our activities are ravaging the very Earth that gave us life.
Out of this same grim reality, however, the hope for a sustainable society is emerging. We want our resources to last indefinitely so that generations of people, and the five million life-forms with whom we share the ecosphere, can continue enjoying them. It's becoming clear that our problems of society, economy, and ecosystems go hand in hand. We realize that healthy wildlife is an excellent sign of healthy ecosystems, which are indispensable to our social and economic vitality. By promoting a sustainable society, we can enjoy the best of modern civilization without squeezing wildlife out of its habitat. This colossal challenge requires not only technical knowledge but new values that will help all people and nations come to grips with our rapidly changing world. In short, achieving sustainability is the greatest challenge we have ever faced.
Your everyday efforts to conserve the Earth's resources are your contribution towards sustainability. By now, you're fully aware that your backyard is more than just a place to barbecue burgers or splash in a pool. It's an ecosystem, and it's a perfect place to put sustainability into practice. When you create hedgerows, toad homes, butterfly gardens, bat roosts, rock piles, and thickets, you provide food and shelter for an abundance of wildlife for years to come. Through careful planning and management, you take important steps towards a healthier future for our planet. You can actually prove to your community that sustainability works, that it must be practiced by everyone, and that it begins in your own backyard.