Gaia's
Garden
Even those of us on an
Earth centered path can use a little help now and then in caring for our
Mother. This column is dedicated to making us more aware of the "footprints"
we leave on Her and how to live more harmoniously with Her even if we're
urban pagans.
On January 6, 2000, the last living
Spanish ibex or burcado, was found dead of a crushed skull
under a fallen tree. The 13
year old female was the last of a subspecies of Pyrenees mountain goat
whose range once extended from the
Sierra de los Nieves to the French Pyrenees. Although the
burcado became a protected species
in 1973, advertisements for ibex hunts were common until last
year. The poaching, along
with habitat loss eroded the ibex population until only the lone female
remained. It can be of some, though little, consolation that she
died of natural causes.
It is up to each of us, no matter
where we live, to do what we can to prevent habitat loss. We may
not be able to plant our own trees in the city, but we can support groups
who do this elsewhere. We can make sure our cities, towns, and villages
leave enough green areas to help offset the impact caused by human habitation
and use. Even in Anchorage, Alaska, a city known for its' greenbelts
and parks, homeowners have gotten together to buy and preserve vacant lots
as open, wild space. So, even if all you can do is plant a window
box for the butterflies or clean up an existing park, every little bit
counts. And, perhaps, the Spanish ibex will not be joined by any
more irreplaceable species.
Mother Bless,
Kara Shima