The environmental health of planet Earth is getting worse day by day, and it seems that no action can stop climate change and the loss of biodiversity. If I were guaranteed not to fail, I would raise awareness and inspire individuals to act to help preserve our planet Earth.

On Earth Day 2025, Chris Morgen shared a story he had written for The Wild a few years ago, hoping it could offer his audience a different perspective on Earth, which he calls a tiny blue marble.

I’d love to share his story with you, hoping it inspires you to do your part.

Seeing Earth’s History in Human Time

Planet Earth, which we call our home, is 4.6 billion years old. Using an analogy that compresses 4.6 billion years into 46 years, Chris shares beautifully how Earth has evolved. In fact, he first saw this analogy on a poster in London about 20 years earlier.

“Think of Earth as 46 years old. Nothing is known about the first seven years of her life. We know something of the next 35 years, but not in any detail.

At the age of 42, the Earth began to flower: algae, mosses, ferns, then forests. North and South America, Africa, and Europe were joined together as one continent, called Pangaea.

Then, about a year ago, when the planet was 45, dinosaurs and the great reptiles emerged. Mammals arrived eight months ago. In the middle of last week, human-like apes evolved into ape-like humans. And at the weekend, the last ice age enveloped the Earth.

Modern humans have been around for four hours. During the last hour, we discovered agriculture. The Industrial Revolution began one minute ago. Our devastating impact began just a minute ago, in that 46 years.”

Chris Morgen

Planet Earth Belongs to All

We humans share planet Earth with 9 million other species, and only 1.2 million of them have been identified. Sadly, humans are causing species to go extinct faster than the natural extinction rate.

In memory of Dr. Jane Goodall, conservationist and animal advocate, who passed away on Oct. 1, I want to remind you of the impact of wildlife preservation.

Protecting the Planet’s Lungs

Protecting wild places and species can have a huge impact on mitigating climate change and biodiversity loss. In simple terms, protecting key species can lead to the protection of large ecosystems.

Forests play a crucial role in absorbing one quarter of carbon dioxide every year. The trees breathe out the oxygen that we need to breathe in. The ocean absorbs another quarter of the carbon we release into the atmosphere.

The Cost of Losing Wildlife

Lions, tigers, bears, and other wild animals call forests home, and they need a healthy ecosystem, clean air, and water, just like humans do.

I want to share another shocking story about the Black Rock brothers, five lions in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve: Olobor, Oloshipa, Oloimina, Olosiado, and Lorkulup. In the last few years, four of these brothers were killed by hunters and local people. Sadly, the fourth one died just a few days ago, and investigations have not yet determined the actual cause.

Why Saving Animals Saves Us

When we protect wild animals, we are protecting the forests, the oceans, and the ecosystems that make life on Earth possible. Saving lions, tigers, and other species is not just about them, it is about us too. These animals, the places they live, and the balance of nature all help keep our planet healthy, provide clean air and water, and even give us a sense of wonder and awe.

It can feel overwhelming at times, but Earth has 4.6 billion years of experience behind it, showing us that recovery is possible if we act. Protecting wildlife and wild spaces could turn out to be one of the most important and inspiring things we ever do. By caring for the creatures we share this planet with, we are also caring for ourselves.

So if I couldn’t fail, I’d ask everyone to protect our tiny blue marble, Earth. As Dr. Jane Goodall said, human intelligence is one of the differences we have from chimpanzees, and with this gift comes responsibility. It is our responsibility to protect the other creatures that share our planet with us.