Learn First
Why do we need nature? What does it matter to us? It may not be obvious but we humans are merely a small part of a very complex ecosystem, that involves every single creature, plant and animal and habitat on earth. We are all co-dependent upon the ecosystems of the earth for clean air, clean water, food, minerals and all of the stuff of our lives. Should any of these links in the overall scheme of creation fail, life as we know it may be inalterably changed. Already, the amount of climate change that the earth has experienced due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases has caused changes in ocean temperatures, the rate of melting of polar and mountain glaciers, the geographic ranges of insects, cyclical changes in life-cycle events within species and ecosystems and a host of other things. These changes are already having a detrimental impact on certain habitats and species. Take the time to learn about these impacts from scientists (not industrialists), as in nature, though the immediate victims are voiceless—their silent demise will eventually result in human deprivation and suffering.

Spend Time Outdoors
Human beings are social creatures and most of us are more comfortable at a mall than out in the great outdoors. Yet there was a time that humans lives comfortably in the great outdoors and were in synch with nature. We may not recover that level of familiarity but spending time outdoors helps us all to develop an appreciation for the powers and forces that shape nature. Parents should plan ways for their children to get outdoor experiences, so that they build their awareness and respect for nature, weather and ways of interacting in the world that do not involve buying and consuming things. In the bay area, there are miles and miles of wonderful hiking trails accessible to all schedules and levels of ability. See this list of books and maps about hiking. Check out these online resources to help you navigate your way into the local outdoors:

• Bay Area Hiker: with hikes sorted by location, by difficulty, by whether the hike is good for kids/dogs, live cams, hiking clubs and more
• San Francisco Recreation & Park Department: with information about many programs and activities to do with kids and families
• Mid-Peninsular Regional Open Space District: with a full range of maps and hike descriptions, as well as many docent-led outdoor activities
• Pacific Trail Society: for more experienced hikers looking for inspiration
• Bay Area Weather Pages: if you are going out, don't forget to check the weather!
• National Weather Service, Western Regional Headquarters
• Weather.com: if you know the town or zip code you are going to

Help Preserve Open Space
Not enough can be said to emphasize the importance of preserving our open space. Imagine how easy it would be for people to populate every square inch of land, cutting down trees, and ruining the natural beauty and wonder of our great land. Fortunately, there are people and organizations dedicated to helping to protect some of our remaining natural space from the destruction of private ownership. Support these efforts! Groups that are working to preserve open space in our area by purchasing and placing private land into public trusts include:

• Mid-Peninsular Regional Open Space District
• The Trust for Public Land
• California Coastal Conservancy Bay Area Conservancy Program
• Land and Water Conservation Fund (a federal program)
• CREA: works in Panama and aspires to protect the fragile ecosystem bridge between north and south america, to prevent clear cutting by impoverished farmers

Defend Vulnerable Species
They may not seem that important but the vulnerable creatures need to be defended, so that the lowest tiers of the ecosystem can remain in tact, enabling the upper tiers to do the same. When the lower tiers begin to suffer, so will the upper tiers, as their habitats and ecosystems are intertwined. What is a newt compared to a new housing development? What is a bird or a rare flower to a new transportation route? Perhaps the question could be phrased, what is the importance of our little toe or our pinkie?

• Wildlife Conservation Network: a Los Altos-based group that works to conserve endangered mammals
• Elephant Family: dedicated to saving the Asian Elephant
• World Wildlife Fund: Founded in 1961 to protect endangered species

Experience Wilderness
"Healthy forest ecosystems are ecological life-support systems. Forests provide a full suite of goods and services that are vital to human health and livelihood – natural assets we call ecosystem services. Many of these goods and services are traditionally viewed as free benefits to society, or "public goods" - wildlife habitat and diversity, watershed services, carbon storage, and scenic landscapes, for example. Lacking a formal market, these natural assets are traditionally absent from society’s balance sheet; their critical contributions are often overlooked in public, corporate, and individual decision-making. When our forests are undervalued they are increasingly susceptible to development pressures and conversion. Recognizing forest ecosystems as natural assets with economic and social value can help promote conservation and more responsible decision-making." (National Forest Service)

Appreciate the Importance of Wetlands
We live on land and the oceans surround us. Wetlands such as marshes, bogs, swamps, baylands and riparian areas, are the buffer between us and the oceans. As water levels rise (as they predicted to do), healthy and functioning wetlands are one of the primary ways that we will have to protect ourselves. Read more about the importance of wetlands at:

• California Resources Agency: California Wetlands Information System
• CERES: California's Wetlands
• Wildlife Forever

Protect the Oceans
We don't think that what we do on land has much impact on the oceans that surround us but, as it turns out, that's not true. Mankind is having a profound impact on the oceans and there is increasing numbers of alarms being heard about the collapse of ocean ecosystems. Perhaps most fragile, are coral reefs, that have been under attack for decades. In addition, hundreds of species of fish, birds and mammals are also being affected by the amount of garbage—especially plastic—that is floating in the oceans and trapping animals or being eaten by these animals. The albatross carcass on the right has a stomach filled with plastic. Here are some sites and some resources to check out about these issues:

• Ocean Garbage Patch: A swarm of garbage collected in the ocean that is twice to three-times the size of the State of Texas, that is a collection of garbage from transport and cruise ships, inland garbage dumping and wind-blown plastics. Also see this paper by ocean researcher, Charles Moore and this SF Gate article on the topic.
• Coral Reef Destruction: Coral Reefs are a critical ocean habitat that are greatly threatened by man. It has been estimated that one quarter of the world's coral reefs have already been lost due to man-made forces (including bottom fishing, energy exploration and global warming) and another one third may be lost in the next 25 years (USAID Report). Is 2008 the Year of the Reef? See this comprehensive report on the State of Deep Coral Ecosystems of the US - 2007 to learn more.