| Species We Can't Eat Without |
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| Written by Kiki Hubbard | |
| Thursday, 20 November 2008 | |
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A debate is taking place in London today called "Irreplaceable -- The World's Most Invaluable Species." Five experts will present their case for five of the world's most important animals and plants: primates, bats, bees, fungi and plankton. (The list is quite short, if you ask me.) The International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List has 869 species classed as extinct or extinct in the wild. About 17,000 species are now labeled as threatened by extinction. What do these species have to do with food? Everything. Because all species are connected (hence my comment about the length of the list). Take bats and bees. These are two of the most important pollinators on the planet. We've told you about the looming threats to both, including white-nosed fungus in bats and Colony Collapse Disorder in bees. Bats not only pollinate food crops, they manage pests as well. Many crops would fail without the services of these two organisms. Then there are plankton, which feed species large and small, from almost all fish larvae to the Blue Whale. Believe it or not, half of the world's oxygen is produced by these tiny organisms. It's easy to understand why fungi are on the list. These are among the most abundant organisms on the planet. Sure, some fungi cause illness in crops and even on our feet. But some kinds of fungi allow plants to obtain nutrients and water from the soil. And they're called "nature's recyclers" because they decompose dead plants and animals and turn them into soil nutrients. Of course, we also eat fungi in the form of mushrooms, and rely on them for processes that bring us beer and cheese. This is an important discussion, to be sure. But I have a beef with the Telegraph's coverage of this debate because at the end of its article it lists species that "we may be happy to do without." For example, they list wasps, which, like bats, are a good agricultural pest control; and stinging nettles, which are still widely used in teas and supplements because of nutritional (calcium and iron) and medicinal properties (relieves respiratory symptoms, among other ailments). Yes, some species may provide more obvious services that impact humankind. But let us not be ignorant to believe that snipping one strand of our ecological web will not cause the unraveling of many others. Source: Telegraph
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It's true what our moms said...we are what we eat. In fact, it's truer than they thought. What I eat doesn't just affect me anymore, it affects all of us.
Unfortunately, the story of food can sometimes be complicated. But envirovores help each other out...which is why this blog will be bringing you news, tips, and information about food and the environment every step of the way.
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