The current mass extinction, the sixth that humans have been able to track via geological records, is well underway at a rate that is exponentially faster than the previous five. Lifeforms that are going or have become extinct range from very small to very large creatures, tiny bacteria and fungi to all manner of flora and fauna, even megafauna. Factors that lead to extinction are habitat destruction, climate change, overexploitation, and disease, all of which can now be directly linked to human activity. Deforestation, agriculture, overfishing/overhunting, pollution of the land, air, sea, and the introduction of invasive species are causes of the factors listed above. This is a global condition, happening today across all regions of the planet in different ways.

One of the most experiential ways to experience and connect with what is being lost and what we can still do is through Maya Lin’s incredible interactive website “What Is Missing.” On this website, you can see the wide range of species in detail, explore conservation/restoration/energy solutions, share a memory yourself directly, and envision “what if” for a future that utilized those smart solutions.