After They're Gone

We are in the midst of an extinction event: the sixth mass extinction on earth and one entirely caused by mankind. All species become extinct sooner or later, but we have accelerated that natural process several hundredfold and now, it is happening right in front of our eyes. Extinction has a terrifying finality to it. And many species have already been lost to us forever; there is little we can do about that. What we can do, however, is love, reflect, acknowledge and remember. From birds to animals to coral; plants to fungi to invertebrates. We have to celebrate the world as it is, love the world as it was, and avoid despairing of the world as it will one day become. Above all, we must remain hopeful, and what better way to do that than revel in all the natural world has to offer, before we forget how.