Scientists hoping US U-turn

In this photo provided by James Balog/Extreme Ice Survey, the Mendenhall glacier outside of Juneau, Alaska in 2007. Over the past decade or so scientists and photographers keep returning to the world’s glaciers, watching them shrink with each visit. Now they want other people to see what haunts them in a series of before and after photos. (James Balog/Extreme Ice Survey via AP)

I STILL remember those days in school when we were taught a subject called “Nature Study”. We were told how “nature” plays an important role in making the world go round. We were made aware that “nature” is made up of many living organisms which depend on each other for their survival. They are all interconnected like in some kind of systems. We also learned that the planet is inhabited by a wide diversity of living organisms. Now studies have shown that the diversity in living organisms is important for the continued survival of the planet.

This is what is now referred to as “biodiversity”. And the systems which connect the living organisms with the other parts of nature in an intricate web of interdependence, now called the “ecosytems”, must not be broken. We must make sure the systems remain healthy. This is because many people agree now that healthy ecosystems and vibrant biodiversity are crucial to life. Even slight shifts in temperature can have unwelcome effects on the ecosystems.