World biodiversity day would have been the time to post this biodiversity illustration I did for @pepperwoodpreserveca however, we should be thinking about #biodiversity every day. The bright side: We can still see amazing biodiversity today. Also exposure to biodiversity makes us happier and healthier. It is also necessary for our survival and the resilience of our way of life. Awareness around biodiversity is increasing which is cool. On the bleak side: Many species that you have known all your life will go extinct before your grand kids can see them in the wild. Snow leopards, rhinos, polar bears, bluefin tuna, orangutans and countless others are at risk. Did I even mention all the plants? We are living during the greatest extinction event since the dinosaurs but the dust. According to the world wildlife fund between 200 and 2000 species go extinct every year. 23 species in the US were declared extinct during the course of 2021! On the bright side: I think nature journaling can help! I’m on a mission to use nature journaling to bring awareness and connection to biodiversity and help us protect it for future generations. I’m going to the Galapagos in 2 weeks to teach nature journaling curriculum to all the teachers on the Galapagos island so they can incorporate it into their classrooms. That is just the first step in my plans for this year. I have sacrificed a lot to pursue this mission because I’m committed to doing my part to help slow the loss of biodiversity. And if extinction is inevitable for some of these species then at least we can learn from and honor them as much as possible while they are here and have some nature journal pages documenting them for future generations. All we have for the extinct Dodo are some lame written accounts about how they tasted in stews and a few very imaginative, plagiarized and inaccurate drawings and taxidermy. If you think nature journaling can make the world a better place then become a member on my patreon. Patreon.com/marleypeifer or click the link in my bio. #biodiversityday #nature #illustration #sixthgreatextinction #extinction #endangeredspecies #pepperwoodpreserve #savebiodiversity #conservation https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd6Ll2mpma6/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=