The Importance of Biodiversity Cannot Be Overstated. Here are 7 ways You Can Protect It!
You may have heard us speak on the importance of conserving biodiversity in the natural world, and perhaps you asked yourself, “what exactly is biodiversity, anyways?”. Biodiversity or biological diversity is a term that’s used to describe the variation of life at the genetic, species, and ecosystem levels. The interconnectedness of ecosystems and their living organisms means that millions of species of plants, animals, and fungi all depend on each other for survival. The more biodiversity there is, the more resilient the environment is. When ecosystems are out of balance, disasters can follow for life on Earth.
If you guessed that humans are behind most of the planet’s biodiversity loss, you are correct! Top threats to biodiversity include natural habitat destruction, land and water use change (from deforestation and other activities), species overexploitation, climate change, pollution and the spread of invasive species. Biodiversity loss can affect humans by causing a decline in natural resources, economic and food insecurity, and the spread of invasive species and diseases.
Want to do your part to protect biodiversity but don’t know where to start? We’ve put together a quick list of simple things that you can do this week to protect biodiversity.
Here Are 7 Ways you can Protect biodiversity this week:
Monday: Plant a tree
Whether you’re planting a tree at a community event or donating towards our biodiversity projects, planting a tree helps clean the air and water, improves soil stability, protects endangered species, and restores holistic ecosystems with unique flora and fauna.
Tuesday: Shop sustainably
Shopping sustainably is as easy as opting for a sustainable brand the next time you’re on the hunt for household goods like toilet paper or soap. Pro tip: Googling sustainable products in your area before you leave can help you recognize eco-friendly brands.
Wednesday: Eat (or drink) more plants
Believe it or not, clearing forests for livestock is one of the main causes of global deforestation, which in turn causes biodiversity loss. Swapping out your whole milk for oat milk or opting for a veggie burger at dinner time is a simple way to help protect biodiversity.
Thursday: Stop the spread of invasive species
Do your part to protect the environment by reporting sightings of invasive species to the appropriate database, planting native species in your garden or yard and volunteering to help with the removal of invasive plants in your community.
Friday: Reduce overall pollution
Pollution seeps into the air, water and soil and releases toxins into the natural environment, posing a risk to the health of living organisms that depend on that environment to survive. Help decrease pollution by participating in beach or community clean-ups.
Saturday: Advocate for green alternatives
Advocating for green alternatives can be as simple as emailing your favorite brand and asking about their sustainable initiatives. When enough people voice their concerns, brands will shift to greener alternatives to keep customers happy. And if you are a brand that’s looking to green up their business, check out our sustainability for businesses program!
Sunday: Research local biodiversity
Understanding how humans interact with local biodiversity is an important step to take in order to protect it. Do your research on the biodiversity in your area and the ways that you can help maintain it. Sometimes it’s as simple as requesting animal crossing signs for local wildlife or planting bee-friendly flowers in your garden!
So there you have it. We hope we’ve inspired you to take one action for biodiversity every day this week. Ready to get started? Plant a tree for biodiversity today!