"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead, American anthropologist, 1901-1978
Back in March 2020, IFAW recommended that the New South Wales (NSW) Government move the conservation status of koalas from Vulnerable to Endangered on an emergency basis. This recommendation was made on the basis of a scientific report, commissioned by IFAW, which showed that koalas are facing an immediate and significant threat of extinction in NSW.
The change in the koala's conservation status would mean that:
There would be greater protection for the forests where koalas live
Politicians would have greater powers to stop trees and critical habitat from being cleared.
This would mean that in the short term, koalas would get some breathing space to recover after the terrible bushfires which killed thousands of koalas and destroyed key koala habitat.
The IFAW report showed that:
Over 6,000 koalas died in the fires alone
In three generations, 65% of the koala population has been lost
The fires “all but destroyed” many koala populations that were significant in their regions
The bushfires burned over 12.6 million acres across NSW. This land was vital to koalas. The land left is depleted because of the long drought.
Many koalas were left starving and injured. Things had been bad enough before, because of enormous habitat destruction and a prolonged drought.
Please act to help koalas!
Unfortunately, IFAW is still waiting for an answer. Please, wherever you are in the world, join IFAW and the 190,000 people who have already signed the petition and ACT to save koalas.
They need every single one of us to help put the pressure on. It does not matter where we live. What matters is that we all act for koalas and do what we can to help them.
Please sign here today, and give the koalas a voice and your support. And when you’ve done that, please share and spread the word.
There are a couple of petitions you may want to sign – or at least look at – which are aiming to move the planet in the direction of having cleaner air and stopping toxic air.
Asthma UK: We want clean air!
Asthma UK is asking us all to take action on toxic air and tell our leaders that we want CLEAN air. It has a petition for new, life-saving clean air plans.
The charity says that over 6 million people who are older than 65 are at a greater risk of breathing problems and experiencing asthma attics or flare-ups of COPD because of living in areas that are heavily polluted.
You may remember a land-mark case last year; air pollution was cited for the first time anywhere on a death certificate. An inquest heard of the role toxic air had played in the death of nine year old London girl Ella Kissi-Debrah as her asthma got worse.
Avaaz says that just as many countries are at last taking action to protect the planet, fossil fuel giants are suing governments for billions.
You see, the Energy Charter Treaty was designed to encourage energy companies to invest in developing economies. Unfortunately, it’s being weaponised, as Avaaz calls it, to sue countries which try to shut down toxic coal plants and oil rigs. Avaaz further say that companies have already won over $50 billion from taxpayer funds.
However, there is hope.
There’s a plan to stray this treaty. Italy has withdrawn. France and Spain and others are calling on the treaty to go.
World Wildlife Day takes place on 3rd March and this year the theme is “Forests and livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet.”
#Doonethingtoday to help forest communities and conserve our forest wildlife.
The day in 2021 will highlight the essential role played by forests, the species living in forests and ecosystems play in sustaining the lives of millions of people around the world. It particularly focuses on indigenous and local communities who have long held ties to forest areas and areas next to forests.
Representatives from the UN member States, UN system organisations, the private sector and others come together to discuss the theme of “Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet".
One is – of course – to spread the word. Use the hashtags
#ForestPeoplePlanet; #WorldWildlifeDay; #WWD2021.
#DoOneThingToday
Other ways you can help are to just #DoOneThingToday to make a difference and help wildlife conservation.
The website has a number of different ways you can do this and they include:
1. Set a goal
Try to have the smallest possible negative impact on the environment, wildlife habitats and the planet’s biodiversity. This is really important. Examples are to eat less meat or no meat, reduce food wastage, buy local, look for products with palm oil in them (check Ethical Consumer for lists), reduce your use of everything especially plastic, and really think before you buy: do I absolutely NEED this? Why do I need it? Making one change can quickly lead to another. If you fall by the wayside, just get up again and get back on the road to change.
You could also try to have the largest positive impact on the environment, habitats and the planet’s biodiversity. Actions could include things such as making choices which boost this goal, such as choosing wildlife friendly flowers for a garden pot or border, doing a monthly donation to a Buy an Acre scheme such as the World Land Trust, supporting a campaign such as Plantlife’s Road Verges campaign.
2. Donate something
What can you give?
Time: volunteer for a conservation charity – there are all sorts of ways to do this, from short volunteer holidays to regular volunteering and supporting one off events such as a beach clean. This may not be easy due to covid-19 restrictions but keep checking because things are liable to change fast. Some may need help from people stuck at home with essential admin tasks.
Money: support an appeal, buy an acre, buy something for a charity off a wish list or support them on Amazon Smile or any fundraiser
Your voice: speak out, write to companies who need to change their ways, support petitions,tell politicians that the environment and wildlife are important to you. Speak out against companies that want to bulldoze habitat.
3. Encourage others to get involved
Hedgehog Street is a great example of this – there are 70,000 hedgehog champions in the UK now, all championing the role of hedgehogs. Toad Patrol is another example where people go out at night and ensure toads cross the road safely. Beach cleans is another example – you can literally adopt a beach to clean up.
4. Offset your carbon emissions
For example if you fly, instead of donating to an airline’s carbon emission offset scheme, donate to a charity which knows where to plant trees. There are a lot of tree planting schemes going on and you need to be sure you donate to one which knows which trees to plant where so that the most appropriate trees are planted for the area. One option is to donate to an appeal of a conservation charity.
5. Understand the illegal wildlife trade
Be informed on the illegal wildlife trade. Visit CITES, and TRAFFIC to find out more. Tell the authorities if you have information on illegal wildlife activities such as poaching, wildlife trafficking and illegal logging. Education for Nature Vietnam has a video which encourages people to report those engaged in such illegal activities to the authorities.
6. Connect with the natural world.
One thing I found particularly useful when I really got involved in conservation (and I’m not a scientist or professional, I’m just someone who cares and makes a difference) is to try to develop a relationship with an animals so that you feel you’re caring for “your” animal. For instance, a few years ago my husband adopted a polar bear for me as a birthday present. I am still “looking after” Nanuk by turning all the lights off as I leave a room, turning my thermostat down and wearing a jumper, looking for ways to cut carbon emissions etc. It’s my way of looking after her. And her cubs. Knowing she is out there trying to survive always does the trick in helping me to make the decision that’s best for her.
Explorers Against Extinction have a remarkable way to mark 2021.
They are championing the work of 21 conservation projects around the world, many of which are small projects that have been badly hit by Covid-19 in 2020. They are calling this initiative 21 for 21 and all the fundraising and donations this year are going towards it.
Firstly, a bit about Explorers Against Extinction:
It is a registered working name of The Real World Conservation Trust, a UK registered charity. There’s another working name called Sketch for Survival. Their mission is to promote the conservation of rare and endangered species and the protection of their environments; to advance the education of the public in the conservation issues around rare and endangered species and the threats to their environment; and to help local communities impacted by proximity to rare species benefit from their protection.
About 21 For 21
There are 21 projects and you can nominate a specific project from the 21 For 21 Directory to fundraise for or split your fundraising across several or all of the projects. There are some UK projects but equally there are projects overseas – and this will help raise awareness of the work they are doing.
In each case, human activity is the biggest driver of destruction so this amazing initiative gives us all the chance to really and truly contribute to worldwide conservation from our homes – just £21 will support the 21 projects, unless you prefer to focus on one or a couple, for example. So this is a very exciting chance to really make a difference while sitting at home!
The 21 For 21 Projects are:
Seagrass Restoration UK
Saving the last West African Giraffe, Niger
Kit for Conservation K9s
Protecting Pangolins, South Africa
Big Cat Conservation, Tanzania
Protecting Ol Pejeta, Kenya
Sowing Seeds to Save Gorillas, Uganda
Whale Shark Conservation, Indian Ocean
Turtle Watch, Sri Lanka
Manta Ray Research, Indian Ocean
Big Cats of Bandipur, India
Elephant Sanctuary Support, Cambodia
Saving the World’s Smallest Bear
Trees for Koalas, Australia
Saving New Zealand’s Dophins
Wild Water Whales, Southern Ocean
Spotlight on Alabratrosses, South Georgia
Rewilding in the Pantanal, Brazil
Floating Classroom, Galapagos
Safeguarding the Maya Mountain Marine Corridor, Belize
To simply donate – you could donate £21, with one pound going to each project, or £2.10
To get involved in Challenge yourself for Charity
To get creative for conservation – submissions are invited until 30 June 2021; there are three categories, namely Stories for Survival, Sketch for Survival and Focus for Survival
One of the things I LOVE about the 21 For 21 initiative is that if, like me, you find it really difficult to choose between all the conservation projects, you can choose to support them all in one go with £21 or whatever you choose to donate! I always feel bad for choosing one project over another so this makes it easy for me to support the lot!
WCS Argentina has a new initiative! And it involves dogs, sheep and pumas.
WCS is working to reduce conflict between herders and the wild carnivores who stalk their sheep flocks.
The dogs are a mix of Anatolian shepherd and Great Pyrenees. They watch over the domestic goats and sheep herds, protecting them from pumas, foxes, condors and other predators.
And because the dogs are protecting their flocks, the herds have stopped resorting to shooting, poisoning or trapping wildlife. And there are a couple of wins here:
Wild carnivores have a better future – many are endangered, such as the Andean cat
Herds don’t need so many animals in a herd – and that means there’s less overgrazing and desertification is reduced.
