Nature Station: Relics of Earth : Official Guidebook

"The animals that remain, both those in captivity and those without, are henceforth to be treated as the most precious of relics. Just as we treasure and preserve ancient masterpieces of art in our museums, so must we take all caution to protect and extend all effort to preserve these lives. Their future depends on us. Our future depends on them.They are the relics of this Earth."- A Curator's Guide to Effective Species PreservationIn the distant future, scientists, activists, and politicians from all over the world met at what came to be called the Critical Protection Summit. Catastrophic climate change, world war, civil war, and nuclear detonation had wreaked havoc, not only on the human population, but on every environment on the planet. Animal and plant populations declined rapidly, resulting in food shortage. The pollution was so great and so few plants remained that for a time, breathing air was rationed—factories were established to extract oxygen from water. Man had finally come to realize the importance of the natural world.To avert further catastrophe, the Council on the Protection of Species was established. Their mission was to preserve and restore what was left of planet Earth's ecology. Nature Stations were inaugurated with brilliant ribbon-cutting ceremonies in key locations around the world. Representatives of as many species as possible were captured and brought to these facilities—huge, sprawling zoos where the animals would be cared for and taught to do amazing things. The goal? To increase animal and plant populations and reintroduce them into the wild.For a time, these operations were successful. Each Station employed keepers, who cared for the animal's daily needs; docents, who trained new keepers and guided the public on tours of the facilities; and a curator, who managed each Nature Station under the direction of the Council. People flocked to the Stations to get a glimpse of creatures they could no longer see in their own backyards. Saplings were grown in enormous greenhouses to replant forests. People could breath easily again—literally. Young animals were released each year at festive Send-Off Ceremonies.In time, however, appreciation for the Nature Stations dwindled. Funding all but ceased, and the Council was disbanded. Political unrest made communication with far away Stations impossible. Rumors from other places say some Nature Stations have been abandoned; some sell their animals illegally to collectors on the black market; and a few may even be training their animals for dangerous purposes.Despite these fears, you love the Nature Station. You learn just how important your job is—yours may be the only Nature Station still working to preserve the endangered plants and animals. Only you can save the world in this imaginative and informative card game.