The Earth is a single, holistic bio-sphere, complete and perfect within itself. All life here is interconnected and interdependant.

Bacteria within the soil of an ancient forest create the perfect conditions for the strong and healthy growth of just such a forest, which in turn creates an abundance of leaf mulch and moisture and just the right conditions for bacteria which creates the perfect conditions for just such a forest.

The same is true on every other level of life on this planet. Everything is connected. All life is part of the same huge web, and if one tiny strand is plucked or broken the repercussions are felt throughout.

Modern conservationists and many Pagans have chosen to personify this global web of life as Gaia or Mother Earth. Whether we take this literally or not remains largely a matter of personal belief, but we are fierce in the protection of our Mother.