Advent of Complex Life

The evidence for the evolution of early complex life and the first animals is found in fossils.  The right conditions must exist for fossils to be formed, and the rocks containing the fossils must be exposed to the surface for humans to find them.  By examining the fossils and the surrounding rocks, we can learn more about the organisms and what the world was like hundreds of millions of years ago.  All of this information can help us understand where we came from and why, and help us understand how complex life may evolve on other planets.

Since the Ediacaran fossils are only found in a few places on Earth, we must protect them if we want to continue to study them.  Natural processes on Earth (such as rain and wind) will eventually wear down the rocks. People may collect and destroy the fossils in order to sell them as private objects. However, we must also take into account the needs and desires of landowners and others whose lives may be affected by living on or near protected lands. Such issues will become increasingly common as human population growth continues - we must find ways to work together to protect our past, our present, and our future.