Scientists estimate over 1 million species of plants and animals are likely to go extinct in the next few decades.

This extinction is driven, in part, by the loss of ecosystems upon which they depend for survival.

It may not be in our power to make decisions that determine the fate of elephants, for example, or of the rainforests.

But we, in central Pennsylvania, are fortunate to host a number of smaller habitats, such as wetlands, ponds and forest patches, which contain their own myriad species, each of which DOES depend upon our action or inaction for its long term survival.

The Old Crow Wetlands Area in Huntingdon County is one such important habitat.

It is a relatively small area consisting of a fragile balance of water, tree cover, bushes and meadow.

In addition to the year-round residents, it plays host to hundreds of migratory birds.

These birds, whose journeys sometimes cover over 1,000 miles, depend upon vegetation and insects found in fewer and fewer places on their migratory routes.

Small but vital wetland areas are disappearing at a rapid pace as we humans continue to look for land upon which to build our own habitats.

The Old Crow Wetlands Area is no exception, it is located near the site (and downhill) of a proposed Rutters gas station/truck stop.

Conservationists cite the permanent damage such a structure would do to the Old Crow ecosystem as well as the damage to migrating species, something that is much harder to calculate.

My question to Rutters is why not publicly support the Wetlands, move the truck stop to a site identified with input from naturalists and conservationists? I, for one, would gladly switch my allegiance from my current gas station to one that supports conservation, both in word and deed. I would encourage my friends and family to do the same.

If we want our children to grow up in a world with a rich, diversity of life, all of us will need to do our part.

Some of us, like Rutters, will be tasked with making important decisions that directly impact hundreds of species. Others of us do not have this power.

But we will watch quietly as decisions are made, then we will vote with our wallets.

Ann Mingyar, Altoona