Note - Thoreau purposely misquoted, original quote, "In wildness is the preservation of the world."
The following is a guest entry written by Glenn Fay of OakleighVermont.com/blog . Oakleigh's mission is sustainability, renewable energy and social responsibility. They offer a variety of personal green products designed to save you money and shrink your carbon footprint.
Many of us have become accustomed to reclaimed railroad tracks evolving into recreation paths, abandoned land becoming improved for parks and ball fields as well as our expansive state and national parks. I am someone who depends on these types of spaces every day to keep my sanity in check. As I hike, run, bike, swim or float I often find myself contemplating the phenomenal genius of those people who showed leadership and took responsibility to create public lands for the common good. I hold public lands on par with compound interest, which Einstein noted, was "the greatest invention in human history." Think about it: As development and sprawl continue, natural areas become more scarce and they become more and more valuable over time. These places are legacy of preservation that becomes inconceivably essential as nature is crowded out.
Try to imagine what the US would be like without our national park system or New York without Central Park, or California without the Redwoods, or Montana without Glacier National Park. We need these spaces not only for recreation but for education and keeping mother Earth healthy for humans. Often children today are not aware of different species of birds or fish unless they live in a rural neck of the woods. Imagine the Grand Canyon littered with condo developments! Imagine a world where nature's green plants were not pumping oxygen into and carbon dioxide out of, the atmosphere. These spaces are well worth the investment we have made and will continue to make. Another reason public spaces are ingenious is that they provide a quality of life to all, regardless of income or station in life.
As our middle class shrinks and the bulk of our population sees it's standard of living erode, public places ensure that everyone will be able to stay healthier. This is insurance that we can't afford to take for granted. Please support your state and national parks and live green!
Photo Source: indywriter via Creative Commons
April 30th, 2009 at 1:23 am
Every year, there are over thousand of acres of forest being chopped down or being burned by the bushfire. We have to do something with it and stop all the illegal lumbering, or our mother Earth will be soon devastated...
May 1st, 2009 at 7:39 pm
I agree completely. Without greenery, our world becomes a boring place and filled quickly with pollution. We need to begin supporting our forests all the way down to the ones in our community. Let's not let developers continue to tear down our beautiful trees just so they can continue to build homes.
One quick note is that the link to the Oakleigh Vermont blog is not spelled correctly.
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Nice article, Stephanie, and an extremely important topic right now.
We must stay connected with nature every day and preserve our natural world.
May 3rd, 2009 at 8:46 pm
It's difficult to gather everyone to really do something to the environment.I, did do my part in reducing the use of plastic bags.Let's hope that the people will understand that our environment is deteriorating at a high speed.
May 28th, 2009 at 1:51 am
Indeed National Park should be preserved.Slow down at night and breathe in the incredible open expanse of sky with some stargazing. Whether its camping, hiking, sightseeing, helicopter touring or any manner of ways to take in the unprecedented beauty,National Parks are tourist destination not worth missing.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:36 am
I agree with you Stefanie.
The world would be so ugly if we don't see Natural things growing.
Green Living relieves our stress.
Park in a city is a good place for family and friend recreations.
June 11th, 2009 at 2:26 am
I agree and wholeheartedly support this aim. If we don’t act now, what future for our kids await? Is this we can only offer to them? Will they still know and seen endangered species even now are fading little by little.