WORLD NATURE CONSERVATION DAY

For a long, foreseeable future, there is no Planet B. In the dark, empty vastness of space, there is only one floating mass that we can call our home. Since the first signs of life erupted on this planet, it has been nothing but a bounteous source of sustenance and safety. It has sheltered, fed, and comforted us throughout the stretch of time. Indeed, it is no less than a beloved abode for billions of living creatures, those that crawl, swim, fly or walk on, above or below its  Image Credit: NASA emerald and sapphire surface.

However, today, humans have let their greed consume our consciousness. We are no longer beings of rationality, or sense because we act as if there is no future to look up to and no past to take lessons from. Mother Nature gives and gives, till it can offer no more yet even with all of our intelligence combined, we have yet to fully reckon what dead-end alley we are leading ourselves and our future generations into by being ignorantly blind.

Initially, as human societies swelled in their numbers, we only made enough impact to influence our local regions. We could destroy local water bodies when we extracted too much, we could erase an entire patch of forest if we wanted to increase our croplands and we could kill or drive off entire species of animals without much care. Why? Well, we stayed naive to the broader picture at hand because we thought that just because there is always another river we could move up to, another land we could cultivate on, why should we stop to check our impacts at all. But, ever since we began to disrupt the blanket of greenhouse gases, most famous of them is Carbon Dioxide, we began to permanently, irrevocably change our Earth as a whole. These greenhouse gases had been existing in controlled, natural limits for the longest time in our upper atmosphere, protecting us from excessive solar energy but also trapping just enough of the reflected heat off from the Earth to maintain a temperature that allowed life to sustain and thrive. It was neither too hot, nor too cold, but just right! Nature had harmony. But, then came the advent of fossil fuels and viscous era blazing engines, chimneys, burners and stoves, emitting thick, black smoke into our once crystal blue skies.

This permanently changed the way our Earth worked. You see, for long as time could tell, Nature had a way of diluting and absorbing shock waves of any change. As a result, no matter what seasonal, yearly or once in every few years anomalies took place, Earth had a way of restoring order and balance. This includes everything, from the fertility of soils to the composition of the atmosphere. But, in the recent years, after the advent of fossil fuels and their excessive use, we have pumped so much of added carbon dioxide and other gases into the air, as if it were no more than an open sewer, that today our atmosphere has shifted, far beyond the state of normalcy.

Have a look at the picture below. The black line shows the level of carbon dioxide maintained up until the years 1900 and before. If you traced a rough outline, you’d discover that the concentration of Carbon Dioxide in the air stayed below 300 ppm on average. But since the 1800s, when we first began by using coal and then moving to oil, the concentrations of gaseous carbon dioxide have only skyrocketed, till it is more than twice its average levels of the past. Yet, we still have fossil fuel oligarchs who deny their impact and the phenomenon of climate change, when the evidence couldn’t have been any more clearer to humans.

https://chemistry.elmhurst.edu/vchembook/globalwarmA3.html

But if it’s difficult for climate deniers to look up towards the sky to take a lesson, let’s talk about another endangered treasure of the Earth, its forests. From the Amazons in South America to the ones in icy Baltic up North, forests provide habitats for wildlife, support and nourishment for soil and natural regulators for the environment. But, ever since our cities began to spill out their rising populations, our unsustainable practices in agriculture, infrastructure and raw materials’ extraction made us cut down and burn down entire woodlands. Today, we lose 200,000 acres of rainforests yearly, and around 11.9 million of forest area was wiped off in 2019 according to data by University of Maryland. After oceans, forests were one of the major sinks of carbon dioxide and thus their loss means we can have accelerated climate change. Apart from this, we notice the vacuum left behind by the absence of trees, as we are beginning to wake up to more aggravated cases of floods, desertification and loss of amenities.

Photo by Ryk Porras on Unsplash

Maybe we could have justified all this by saying we have the right to our own lives, even if we intend on ruining it. But, what justification can we give when we begin to look at the extinction crises upon our hands? In the process of losing ecosystems and shifting of climate, we have snatched away the right to live for other indigenous flora and fauna. 80% of all land species of animals live in these woodlands and call it their home. So, by wiping off trees, we have killed thousands of species and pushed even more towards endangerment. University of Arizona predicted that in the next 50 years, we could see the extinction of ? of all plant and animal species of the Earth. Pause for a minute and think about this. If you’re below 30, you yourself may have to see the ordeal of a whopping one-third of all forms of life dissipate before your eyes. How would you and I live, let alone watch the coming generations being handed over this environment. 

So tell me, even though today is World Nature Conservation Day, should I wish it to you? Yes! Because, we need more people like you, who took the time to read about the environment because you care. Thank you, for showing your concern. I believe your empathy and ambition can promise us a brighter future. And do you know what’s even better? You can take action today, to contribute to the environmental campaign!

• Make A Personal Change and Commit Yourself to It:

Start with baby steps. Maybe you decide on buying recycled paper books or walking more often. Maybe you can invest a little more, so you decide on getting water-saving taps for your home! Know that you may not be perfect every single day, but each time you do something, it matters nevertheless!

• Talk and Spread The Word On Environment:

How often do you have a friendly, insightful conversation on climate with your community? Especially with the ones who may not think on the same line as you! Well, just one meaningful, empathetic and respectful discussion can go a long way, just like the ripples spreading out from a dropped pebble!

• Learn As Much as You Can But With Caution: 

Try starting a new habit. Daily, you’ll reserve 10 minutes at least, to read up on news under the environmental section. Knowledge is power and the more informed you are, the better you can perfect your efforts for climate. But be wary! Research the credibility and authenticity of everything you learn. Choose reputable sources and even then make sure to double-check.

• Raise and Record Your Say on Climate:

You have a voice. You have a mind. Empower yourself by campaigning for the environment. You can use any skill you have, like your flair for writing, presenting, lobbying or networking. Don’t wait for the right opportunity. Just start somewhere,knowing that nobody is perfect their first time around. But it’s important because you must influence public opinion and especially of the ones in the legislature and businesses because they have the most serious role to play in making up for environmental damages. Demand sustainable policies and their implementation. You will be surprised to see how powerful public opinions can be.

Donate and Support Organisations and Petitions:

You don’t have to do everything but you can help others do something you’re passionate about. Donate and spread the word for local charities and NGOs that are acting as environmental activists and stewards, making efforts for conservation and campaigns. 

Because, if you don’t commit on this World Nature Conservation Day to save and heal Nature so it can offer us and the rest of living species a place to live upon and grow, do you really want an abandoned caricature of ruins, with no other animals or plants at home?

Nature doesn’t need people.

People need Nature.

About the Author:

?Adeena Tahir is an Environmental Engineer and a Certified Trainee for the Climate Reality Project and Alliance for Water Stewardship. She is based in Islamabad and is the Co-Founder for Ductus Exemplo, an initiative from where she serves as a Climate Advocacy Trainer and the CIO. You can reach out to her at [email protected].