wisdom
Humans have a different relationship with death to the rest of the natural world. Whereas we tend to resist it, as something to be feared or avoided, the wilderness recognises that it’s part of the necessary process. And that, in fact, death gives way to renewal, and further life. Even something as impermanent as a baobab flower, which lasts for only one day, makes exponential life possible in its demise – encapusulating both the logic and magic in nature’s design. While it takes months to form, the bloom will eventually burst open around dusk but wither and die by morning. During this short moment in time, nocturnal creatures like bats, moths, bush babies, and beetles will pollinate it. A one-night lifespan securing the future of trees, and food for animals and people. When an animal dies, it also provides sustenance for others, from the predators who benefit first to scavengers like vultures, and eventually the insects and microorganisms who make the most of the nutrients in the soil. Nothing is wasted. Decomposers and scavengers not only feed on the decaying organisms, but in doing so, also help prevent the spread of diseases – a crucial part of maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Everything, no matter how small, has its role.
In a more indirect path to nourishment, these nutrients break down and decompose slowly over time, absorbing into the ground. This creates humus, a nutrient-rich organic matter that enriches soil. Renewed with vital life force, it then calls forth more prolific plant growth, and further down the line creates abundant food sources for grazers and herbivores, shelter for birds, and oxygen for us all to breathe. When they die, fallen trees offer shelter too: homes for small animals, nesting sites for birds, and even a safe and healthy habitat for organisms like fungi to flourish. This initial loss of life makes way for habitat creation, and in turn, for the ecosystem’s complexity to thrive. There’s a bigger picture at play here, too. Death not only serves the purpose of facilitating life, but also of strengthening species. The death of weaker or less adaptable individuals, while sad when viewed through a sentimental lens, allows for the survival and reproduction of stronger, more resilient organisms, driving natural selection and evolution. Showing us once again that nature’s plan is perfect, and that there is purpose behind everything. Even death.
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