Hugh Mankind was in a tight spot.  A whopping 68% of the vast array of living creatures Mother had provided on the ark had gone missing in just the last 50 years!  Hugh took a long look in the mirror and knew the loss didn’t just happen on its own accord.  Embarrassed and a bit ashamed, Hugh declared, “I’ve consumed, burned, and wasted way too much.  Time to change my ways.  Let’s turn this ship around!”

        Hugh needed a plan, and he found just the thing - the Bending the Curve Initiative.*  It’s a method that uses multiple state-of-the-art models and scenarios to find the best way to reverse biodiversity declines.  “Whew! It’s not too late to steer this ark toward a more life-supporting direction,” Hugh cried with relief.

        He called in his top three lieutenants.  “Let’s tackle this problem with a three-pronged approach,” he began.  “Ima, I want you to work in the area of increasing our CONSERVATION efforts.  We’ve gotta protect the natural landscape and resources that we still have.”  “Aye, aye Captain,” Ima Onnit saluted. 

        “Les, next let’s find innovative, more efficient means of PRODUCTION.  For example, we need to grow more food on fewer acres.  Energy-wise, we can’t continue to rely on carbon-based fossil fuels.  Phase them out and transition to clean, renewable energy sources as quickly as possible,” instructed Hugh.  “Got it!” Les Gitterdun grinned.

        “And Leta,” Hugh continued.  “You’re in charge of CONSUMPTION.  We need to reduce food and energy waste.  The ‘throw-away and buy-more’ mind set has gotten us into this pickle.  Can you find ways to instill a better appreciation of every resource?” “I can Sir.  Follow me!”  Leta DuWhay nodded.

        Ima, Les and Leta set to work crafting major policies designed to assist the ark in “bending the curve” to set it on a new course.  But besides policies, each of the almost 8 billion individual units in the ark were instructed on how each of them could do its part.  Less use of pesticides, harsh chemicals, plastics and Styrofoam, and more backyard natural areas, plant-centered diets, and high-efficiency lighting, appliances and vehicles.

        The ark proved to be quite resilient, and before long it charted a more life-sustaining trajectory.  Lost inventory slowly began re-populating the vessel.  Hugh smiled with relief because this ark is the only one he’ll ever pilot.  On it he’s forever… Earthbound.  
*https://livingplanet.panda.org/en-us/ 

Dateline 1970
        Hugh Mankind stepped back and admired the amazing ark his mother had set up for his use.  The ark held every imaginable animal and plant on the land, in the sea and in the soil itself.  This enormous vessel was brimming with a complex web of life - a paradise.  What more could he possibly need or want?

        Hugh had been traveling on the ark for what seemed like generations, but he’d never really taken stock of the ark’s inventory.  Mother had hinted that doing so would be a good idea. “Then periodically update your inventory, say every 10 years,” Mother requested.  So in 1970, Hugh created an enormous spreadsheet to inventory the contents of the ark.

        Before he knew it, ten years had flown by and it was 1980.  Hugh got out his clipboard and methodically reviewed the inventory.  “Hmm… we’re missing some stuff,”  Hugh said scratching his head. “Well, I suppose some of this stuff sort of goes in cycles,” he speculated.

        Then just as quickly another ten years had flown by, time for the 1990 inventory.  Hugh hoped the depleted inventory he’d noticed earlier had somehow miraculously rebounded.  He found just the opposite.  Fully 1/3 of the 1970 inventory was gone, vanished, kaput!  “What’s going on?” Hugh wondered.  “Surely it’s not something I’m doing,” Hugh wanted to believe.  But deep down he knew the truth about who was being irresponsible.

        The decades slipped by.  In 2000 another 15% had disappeared.  By 2010 an additional 12% was missing.  Hugh had a comfortable life filled with conveniences, so he tried not to think about the losses.  But he worried that Mother might stop in to inspect the inventory.  Then one day in 2016, there she was, and she was NOT happy.

        “Hugh, what have you done?!  The water and air are tainted with contaminants.  And look at all this plastic trash - yuck!  Where’s all the missing inventory?  And have you turned up the heat?  It’s way too warm in here.”

        Hugh handed Mother Nature the 2016 inventory.  Red with embarrassment, Hugh confessed that the ark had lost fully 68% of that complex eco-system since the 1970 baseline.  “Too much consumption, burning, and wasting.  I’m changing my ways.  Let’s turn this ship around!” he declared. 

        Next time - Hugh’s rescue plan for the only ark he’ll ever inhabit where he’s forever… Earthbound.