There need to be places on this planet where land is untouched and preserved. I want to reiterate a paragraph from a previous blog entry:

I too often hear, But no one’s DOING anything with that land! Like so many other people, I used to look at open land and say, Nothing is there. We are more used to the notion of developing land into something, or using it for something. The notion of wild land has become a radical concept in the last century. Not only is it healthy for the planet to have large untouched and wild areas, wilderness regions are the birthright of all the peoples of this planet. We need places where we can experience the pure power and majesty of nature doing its thing. While some lands might be available for visitors to explore and experience directly, we also need untouched areas that preserve the biodiversity of the planet.

Among many other reasons, we need mature and large stands of trees to absorb carbon dioxide, store the carbon and release oxygen into the atmosphere. This is how our planet works—how our atmosphere stays breathable for living things like humans! Trees help buffer the adverse climate changes we face.

We also need natural areas to recharge our groundwater supply. Have you heard that there is virtually no place on this planet where you can find pure water: water containing no human-created chemicals or elements that have adverse effects on living organisms? From analysis of arctic ice core borings to samples of fresh water springs in the middle of a remote Pacific island rainforest, there remains no evidence of pure—non-polluted—water remaining on this planet. Potable water is becoming a scarce commodity. Don’t believe me? Have you noticed that major corporations are buying up water resources like springs, aquifers and reservoirs? They know that water may well be worth more than oil in the near future. Search the internet for “water privatization” and you’ll see what I mean.

Trees and plants that flourish in natural areas help condition and clean the air as well. Don’t get me started on fresh air! (Well…if you insist: watch for an upcoming blog on the subject!)

In addition to creating a healthy atmosphere to support life on this planet, it is important for people to have access to natural areas to recharge psychologically. There has been sound research conducted in recent years showing the link between emotional and physical health, and time spent in nature. Take a look at Richard Louv’s forward thinking book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. Search the internet for research on the field of ecopsychology.

The physiological changes that accompany the stress response (a natural response to change that protects us), if not allowed to resolve to a relaxed state, will deplete our immune and endocrinal systems and damage our cardiovascular system. Research has found that living in unnatural (non-green) environments, both urban and suburban keeps a constant stress on our bodies. Spending time in natural environments is a restorative.

The beauty of wild and natural lands might seem trivial compared to some of the reasons for conserving land that I’ve mentioned. Would you want to live in a land without access to landscape vistas, forests, rocky coasts, colorful rock formations and the myriad other beautiful and humbling ways that nature expresses?

I hope that I’ve inspired you to join our community and add your voice about reasons to conserve. And that you will take a moment to Conserve Land Now.
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