Bushwalk Australia

If children lose contact with nature they won't fight for it

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... are_btn_tw

A new report shows that the UK has lost 20% of its breeding birds since 1966: once common species such as willow tits, lesser spotted woodpeckers and turtle doves have all but collapsed; even house sparrows have fallen by two thirds. Ash dieback is just one of many terrifying plant diseases, mostly spread by trade. They now threaten our oaks, pines and chestnuts.

So where are the marches, the occupations, the urgent demands for change? While the surveys show that the great majority would like to see the living planet protected, few are prepared to take action. This, I think, reflects a second environmental crisis: the removal of children from the natural world. The young people we might have expected to lead the defence of nature have less and less to do with it.

It's the boiling frog scenario, gradual change is not alarming enough to cause dramatic reactions.
I agree urgent action is needed but the issue can perhaps sound a bit like 'in my day things were better' to young folk...
Then there's nature deficit disorder:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_deficit_disorder
Steve

@wayno, that article is quite depressing...

We went to visit Mud Islands (Victoria) with our youngest a few weeks ago. We had a lovely walk along the sandy beach and across the lagoon, constantly stopping for bird watching through a telescope that other walkers had brought with them. I learnt a lot about the birds that live or visit our 'bay', Port Phillip, that I hadn't known before. But the best part was watching our 9yo always walking at the front of the group asking questions from the bird experts. There was not one mention of being tired or needing to rest. She was absolutely fascinated with everything. Honestly, it was one of the most enjoyable walks we have had with her.

It doesn't matter whether it is birds or other animals and plants, enjoying nature and caring about nature is really important but not necessarily easy to inspire in young people. I stand up for our environment now with many hours of volunteer work and hope that she will become a strong advocate for nature as well.

Yeh I'm not so sure it's going to matter, well on a global scale. If kids can find the joy of nature and the peace it can give than 10 out of 10 to them. They will prosper deep within. And find it a treasured relief from the noise of life as they mature. But for the cash cows and earth destroyers. The political sluts and power trippers it's just a game. A game of fame and ego pampering. Until the sky fails, the seas go murky, the forests die, humans will pay little attention. Fixing your latest Apple product with endless self help reading wrapped up as customer care has societies attention. Chasing "likes" from supposed friends of Facebook is the current way of the future. Games where kids escape their young realities already has almost put the kiss of death on the Flora and Fauna of this great planet. Just look at what Australians have done to Australia in the last 227 years. The last great natural island on earth with huge diversity, and we have one of the best extinction rates. Feral weeds and animals choking and eating their way across the country at alarming rates; but yet we still dig up the joint for coal, an behave like it is all endless. And that's not the kids fault.

newhue wrote: The last great natural island on earth with huge diversity, and we have one of the best extinction rates.

I had to wince at the use of the word 'best', although I know what you meant. But really, it's the worst. Or the highest. 'Best' just grates.

Sorry about nitpicking.

try NZ, without major pest eradication programmes, a lot of our native bird species would be extinct and it still may not be enough. often its only the places where there is pest control going on that you will come across birds

NNW, if it grates than possibly that is a good thing. But you are right, I should have used worst.

Us humans like to do things like cut down the trees for houses and furniture, then try and save the trees after we realise there are few left. I think being concerned for nature fills the "I care" part of our soles, and if we donate a little money, or cast a vote somewhere we have done our bit. It's really someone else's job to save nature, but I am concerned. Well that is how I saw it once upon a time.
I spent a lot of time walking through the bush, and because I did it regularly I felt there was a fair bit left. But if you stop, look around, and just take five to really see how humans want to control and manipulate everything, it really starts to become scary, if not depressing. It's all geared to humans, human survival, human dominance, human happiness, human profits, human expansion. Flora and fauna, our habitat; the one that creates the biodiversity for creation on earth, the umbilical cord to which humans can have life on this planet is a hugely underrated, taken for granted, and treated like rubbish for most part.
I fear educating my kids about our natural world. I have concerns about giving them the same frustration, depression, disillusionment and helplessness that I have when because I love nature. To stand and watch the world around you turn 100 to 150 year old trees into mulch in 5 minutes. Bulldozers that clear acres and acres of land within an hour. Turn this complete living system full of so much to give, yet we are aware of perhaps only half of it, all turned to what causes me great distress.
In 2015 I have watched at least 3.5 to 4 square kilometres of good quality bush with 25km of Brisbane CBD be flattened in 4 different sites. That's just in my little 5km radius part of town. Industrial estates and and McMansion housing is the order. Where air conditioners rain supreme, 99% of the plants are exotic, and the 6ft fences are as popular as a hills hoist used to be.

In the last 12 months my life has changed form one of happily observing nature, to happily contributing to nature. I make nesting boxes for anything when ever I can, from microbats to king fishers to Boobook owls, I don't care. I ripped out every exotic plant in my yard, did some homework and planted local native trees. Being local to my area it's like high speed housing for the insects, birds, bees and so on. Local natives outstrip natives in growth by almost 2/3 from what I have seen. I got kicked in the guts by my local council, saying no to revegetating my local creek. But a kick in the guts can only keep you down for so long. I will go higher next time and go over the head of the small minded lad I talked to. Been working on getting some Australian stingless bees to pollinate the plants, and for the kids to ponder on. My son wanted a fish in a bowl, I said how about a frog in a pond. We made a pond and planted frog habitat, put some Australian pacific blue eye fish in there to keep him occupied and the mosquito larvae down while it all grows.
But in the back of my mind, I do wonder what I am doing to him. I wonder if he would be happier playing xbox and shopping for some useless crap on sale at Westfileds. That's where his friends will be, thats where he will feel like he is normal and like everyone else, and if he stands and observes long enough, that's were he can find the end of the earth as well.

I will leave feral animals for another day.

newhue wrote:
But in the back of my mind, I do wonder what I am doing to him. I wonder if he would be happier playing xbox and shopping for some useless crap on sale at Westfileds. That's where his friends will be, thats where he will feel like he is normal and like everyone else, and if he stands and observes long enough, that's were he can find the end of the earth as well.

Keep up the good work Newhue, he will be more than fine. My kids are the only 3 and 5 year olds that I see smell the cut flowers, every time, whilst we are waiting in line at Woolworths. My kids are why it takes me about 3 hours to walk back from the post office, whilst they stop and investigate any interesting plant they come across. I don't see many other 3 and 5 year olds who get so excited they have to come and tell me that someone has a bearded Iris in their garden. Some of their friends I am sure will think they are odd one day, but its a good odd.