Biodiversity is like a fabric. Every species, every small part of the ecosystem is a thread. When we pull on one of the threads, the entire pattern changes, sometimes in ways we never expected. Human impact on nature often creates chain reactions that at first seem insignificant, but which in fact can extend far and affect both ourselves and the planet.
Three chains as an example
The first chain starts on the car windshield.
A few decades ago, you always had to wipe away lots of insects after a long car trip. Now we see significantly fewer. It may seem practical, but in reality it is a gigantic warning sign. Fewer insects mean poorer pollination, which in turn leads to reduced harvests and higher food prices. In the long term, we risk losing the variety in our food. A clean windshield after a car trip is actually a signal that something is wrong in the larger fabric.
The second chain is about the sound of the oceans. When ships, drilling platforms and other human activities make noise below the surface, whales’ communication is disrupted.
Suddenly, it becomes more difficult for them to find each other and reproduce. If whale populations decline, the entire food chain in the ocean is affected. This even has consequences for the climate, since whales help spread nutrients that cause the ocean to bind more carbon dioxide. So the noise of machinery far below the surface of the water can have effects all the way up into the atmosphere.
The third chain begins on our own lawns. When we strive for perfectly green surfaces, we mow dandelions and clover. For us, it is an aesthetic issue, but for insects, it is a matter of life.
Fewer insects mean fewer birds, and fewer birds make our cities quieter. But silence is not just a missing song. Studies show that natural sounds reduce stress and strengthen our well-being. When birdsong disappears, we also lose a natural source of recovery.
The kitchen as a metaphor
Talking about biodiversity may seem abstract, but it is easier to understand with an everyday image.
Imagine a kitchen. If you remove the salt from food, you can still cook, but the taste changes. If you remove all the spices, every meal becomes the same. This is how nature works. When we lose species, variation disappears and everything becomes uniform. Life’s menu becomes shorter and poorer.
A method for thinking creatively about chain reactions
To face these unexpected effects, we need to practice thinking beyond what we see in front of us. A simple method can be built in three steps.
- The first step is to identify the visible effect. Perhaps fewer insects on the windshield or more noisy ships in the oceans.
- The second step is to follow the effect at least three steps ahead. What happens to pollination, food, prices, our health? What happens to the whales, the oceans, the climate? Here it is important to dare to associate and think further, even when the connections are not obvious.
- The third step is to reverse the perspective and ask how a negative chain can be broken or even turned into something positive. If we plant more flowers, we benefit insects, which in turn benefit birds and create an urban environment that reduces stress in people. A problem becomes an opportunity for improvement.
From problem to opportunity
This type of thinking is like exercising a muscle. The more we practice, the easier it becomes to see connections and create new solutions. It is not about having the right answer right away, but about daring to think about the consequences.
A clear example is biochar. There, agricultural waste products are transformed into a carbon sink that at the same time makes the soil more fertile. A problem has been turned into a resource.
Living in the web
Biodiversity is not something we can observe from a distance. We ourselves are part of that web. Our choices affect the whole, and the whole affects us. When we learn to see the unexpected chains, we become better at both understanding and changing. Just as the spices in the kitchen add variety and flavor to food, the diversity in nature adds variety and strength to life itself.
The more we practice seeing the connections, the greater our chance of not only preserving what exists, but also creating a society that thrives together with nature.
An exercise in chains that can be reversed
Step 1 – Choose an everyday situation
Think of something seemingly insignificant in your everyday life. It could be mowing the lawn, buying a plastic bag at the store, or driving to work.
Step 2 – Follow the chain three steps forward
Ask yourself: what does this lead to? And what does it lead to in turn? Do this three times.
Example:
- You drive to work.
- This increases carbon dioxide emissions.
- Climate change affects harvests.
- Food prices are rising.
Now you have an unexpected chain.
Step 3 – Turn the Chain
Ask the question: How can the same situation be turned into something positive?
Example:
- You cycle to work instead of driving.
- You reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
- You contribute to healthier city air.
- You strengthen your own health and save money on healthcare in the long run.
Step 4 – Explore possibilities
Think about how small changes can have big ripples in the water. Maybe you can inspire a colleague to cycle, which in turn affects more people. Here you can also play with creative provocations: What would happen if everyone in the city cycled one day a week? How would that change the city in the long run?
Step 5 – Share the insights
Finish by telling someone else about your chain. When we hear each other’s chains, we become better at discovering unexpected connections and are reminded that we are all parts of the same fabric.
More example chains
Fewer flowers in the garden
- You choose to only have lawn instead of flowers.
- There is less nectar for bees and butterflies.
- Pollination in the surrounding area decreases.
- The harvest of fruit and berries decreases both in your garden and at nearby growers.
Turnaround: Plant a few simple flowering plants or turn a piece of the lawn into a meadow. You get more life in the garden, better harvests and contribute to the survival of pollinators.
Single-use plastic at a picnic
- You bring plastic cutlery and plastic cups.
- Plastic waste ends up in nature.
- Birds and fish ingest plastic particles.
- Ecosystems are weakened and species are reduced in number.
Turnaround: Use reusable cutlery and cups. This reduces plastic waste, protects ecosystems and inspires others to think more sustainably.
Cheap coffee at the grocery store
- You buy the cheapest coffee possible.
- Growers in countries of origin have worse conditions and need to use more intensive cultivation.
- Forests are being cleared to make room for plantations.
- Biodiversity in tropical ecosystems is being depleted.
Turnaround: Choose certified coffee from farms that protect both growers and ecosystems. You contribute to biodiversity, better working conditions and can enjoy a cup with a clear conscience.
