In all fairness if one is not emotionally attached to a thing, then it will not be cared for. No amount of scientific data will convince an unemotionally attached person to care. If we operated on rational, a lot of world problems including wildlife and environment would not be an issue. Heck, nations use emotions to start and justify wars. So this may sound negative "emotionally manipulative" but is essential.

Why do this? Because damage to the environment takes time. Typically in the decades before the magnitude of the damage is realized. e.g The Butterfly effect.