The term 'sustainability' is usually used to analyse the interraction between the actions of mankind and the natural world, all being interlinked. For example, taking honeybees to America would have introduced competitors to the indigenous pollinators to their disadvantage. On the other hand, they would have provided prey to birds and beasts (do you have swallows or other hirundines?) to their advantage and thus further up the food chain.

The burning of fossil fuels is, in the short term, unsustainable, as it (we are told) is causing climate change. In the long term, however, by returning the CO2 to the atmosphere, it will return conditions to a similar situation to when the CO2 was extracted by the plants and fossilised.  The wheel may then go round again. We, of course, might not be around in our present form to appreciate it but it is to be expected that some animals will survive to thrive in the new plant-dominated world.  Among them are likely to be honeybees. They have been around for millions of years before we were created and, unless we destroy them by our unsustainable actions, are likely to continue after we're gone.

To quote the famous actress Mona Lott: "It's being so cheerful as keeps me going."  TTFN.

Chris



 

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