With Hawaii being the extinction capital of the world - more species are becoming endangered or extinct here than anywhere else on the globe - it’s especially important for us to be aware of the impact we have on the environment.In order to be aware of our impact, we have to be aware of what our environment is. When you look around you, what do you see? I see a beautiful yet imperiled ecosystem, filled with life that must be protected. I see animals, big and small - especially the small - the habitats in which they live, and the interactions between living creatures and the forces of nature.
The best thing we can do for the environment is learn. Check out the fun facts about chickens (page 12) to learn more about the birds you’ve seen around campus, or my own creature feature about whales (page 24), the largest animals on Earth.Learn about the impact that humans are having on our world. This month we have an important story about plastics in our oceans (page 26). After you read that, you can learn how you personally can help keep plastics out of the ocean by switching to reusable products (page 10).
Saving nature may seem daunting but remember you don’t have to do it all on your own. Preventing extinction is as simple as taking one small step - because when a lot of people take small steps together, it all adds up to some very big steps. I hope you enjoy this issue and learn something important from it.