Earth’s Journal Entry: On Change and Balance
As I spin through the cosmic dance, watching seasons paint their eternal patterns across my surface, I feel every ripple of change - from the thundering steps of my great rhinos to the whispered falling of ancient forest leaves. Today, I reflect on the delicate threads that weave my living tapestry…
I observe with both joy and concern the story unfolding in Nepal, where my beloved rhinos - ancient beings who have walked my plains for millions of years - are being moved like pieces on a complex chess board. Their numbers have grown from a mere hundred to over seven hundred in just a few human lifetimes - a testament to the power of conscious stewardship. Yet even this success brings new challenges, as my children must now be redistributed across landscapes to maintain balance.
Meanwhile, in the heartlands of Kenya, I weep as I feel the Mau Forest’s slow diminishment. This forest is not merely trees - it is one of my vital organs, capturing and distributing the precious water that sustains millions of lives. Twenty-five percent of its coverage lost in mere decades - each fallen tree like a severed vein in my water circulation system. The Ogiek people, who have long been its guardians, find themselves caught between ancient rights and modern preservation efforts.
These changes ripple through my entire being. When forests fall, my ability to regulate water and climate weakens. When great beasts like rhinos are concentrated in small areas, the land struggles to support them. Everything is connected - the rain that falls on the Mau Forest becomes the water that feeds distant rivers, the balance of grazers shapes the very nature of grasslands.
Yet, I see hope in the actions of my human children. In Nepal, despite disagreements, there is a genuine effort to protect and manage wildlife populations. In Kenya, local communities are rising to protect what remains, planting new trees, educating future generations. These are the seeds of renewal.
My closing wisdom is this: Remember that conservation is not about freezing time, but about maintaining balance. The rhino relocations in Nepal and the struggle to protect the Mau Forest are teaching moments - showing that preservation requires both action and wisdom, both change and stability. To my human children, I say: Look beyond immediate gains. Every forest protected, every species preserved, maintains the intricate web that sustains all life.
As another day fades into twilight, I continue my eternal rotation, carrying all my children - human and wild - into an uncertain future. May wisdom guide your steps, for your fate and mine are forever intertwined.
~Earth