No Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My

The view from the top looks rather grim.

Environment News Service (ENS) recently reported on an international study, which was led by researchers from Oregon State University, that showed major declines of large carnivores around the world. The population decreases go hand in hand with habitat losses.

Thinking about the possible extinction of these species, many of which are charismatic in their ability to capture human interest in the environment, is disheartening enough on its own. However, the bigger picture tells an even bleaker story. As the ENS article notes, these top predators are critical to the ecosystems they inhabit. Losing them would have wide impacts.

A large carnivore may be a formidable sight, but not seeing them at all would be infinitely more frightening.

You're Getting Warmer

Yesterday, NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies released data showing that 2010 tied 2005 for the hottest recorded year with regard to worldwide surface temperature. What is more, with last year now in the books, six of the seven hottest years on record occurred between 2002-2010 (see the story from Environment News Service).

So if winter has you bundled up with your head down against a biting wind, chances are you'll be warming up soon. (Most of the planet is.)

I think one of the challenges presented by the issue of global warming is that it requires us to move back and forth between a large scope and a small scope so often. First, as NASA's information shows, we've got to look beyond our particular place and time and contemplate complex global trends over hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Then, once we see the warming patterns, we need to look inward and investigate our own contribution to them. Finally, we've got to figure out the dynamic relationship between our own little place in the world and the workings of the planet. All these things must come together before we can address the issue.

Without doubt, taking on global warming is hard work, but we can move a little closer to meeting that challenge by getting used to these various levels on which the issue operates; so take a look at the article in the link above. It contains a great map that lets you see different climate patterns in relation to each other.

News to Me

For most of my posts, I try to focus on things that connect to a broad range of interests. While I realize that environmental news sites like Environment News Service (http://www.ens-newswire.com/) might appeal most to a narrower range of perspectives (for example, environmental super-geeks like myself), I feel like they contain information that almost everyone can use. The trick is becoming aware that sites like these exist, so that is what I am trying to help happen.

If you have a chance, check out ENS. It focuses on and collects news about environmental topics from around the world. You might find information about an environmental issue you were wondering about, and eventually, the site might become part of your usual news collection.