Want to Change the World? Change the World!

Changing the world is a great strategy, says a report by The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB), a project launched by Germany and the European Commission. That's because Mother Earth herself is far better able than we are to repair damaged ecosystems -- if we just give her the tools to work with.

EurekaAlerts cites the report as saying that "the planet's biological diversity and 'ecological infrastructure' are increasingly being put at risk from the impact of climbing greenhouse gases. Yet natural systems represent one of the biggest untapped allies against the greatest challenge of this generation."

Which natural systems is TEEB pointing to?

Specifically, they're strongly in support of maintaining and building up forests. They describe the Earth's trees as a "mitigation engine" which, even now, is sopping up 15 percent of worldwide carbon emissions each year. And trees can do much more. They attract ecotourists, keep fresh water cool and aquatic life healthy, provide building materials and fuel, and even stabilize the soil. According to EurekaAlert, "an investment of $45 billion in protected areas alone could secure nature-based services worth some $5 trillion a year."

The TEEB report also points to the highly endangered coral reefs as a natural resource that can protect us from our own mistakes. For example, healthy reefs will help to protect us as seawaters rise; they can provide us with a sustainable harvest of seafood; and they can help to ensure the planet's biodiversity.

TEEB's bottom line: the climate, biodiversity, economic strength and human well-being can all be protected at the same time, in one fell swoop, if we attend to the large-scale habitats that provide for all our needs. By saving the forests and the seas, we save ourselves.

Photo courtesy of stock.xchng