Liked to death? The social media race for nature photos can trash ecosystems—or trigger rapid extinction
Liked to death? The social media race for nature photos can trash ecosystems—or trigger rapid extinction
Have you ever liked or shared a social media post about nature? It could have been a photo of a rare orchid or an unusual bird. Or you might share a stunning photo of an "undiscovered" natural place.
These are good things to be aware of, and many popular programs such as iNaturalist and ebird do obscure some vulnerable species, but let's not forgot that habitat loss and climate change are driving these species to the point where they're nearly extinct in the first place. The take away shouldn't be "stay home to protect nature", it should be "take your government to task to protect these and enjoy them responsibly when you do decide to see them".