We cannot survive without the environment. In the past decade there has been a lot of talk about the global warming. There are many forms of environment destruction all around the world. Political, socio and economic reasons up behind the lack of focus on environment preservation. Even though many projects do environment feasibility studies they fall well short of substantial effort required to keep the environment safe and sound for the humankind.
This is our moment.
We cannot turn back time. But we can grow trees, green our cities, rewild our gardens, change our diets and clean up rivers and coasts. We are the generation that can make peace with nature.
Let’s get active, not anxious. Let’s be bold, not timid.
(source: https://www.worldenvironmentday.global/)
The solution to build a better environment would be not to keep blaming the issues leading to environmental pollution or destruction. It is much more important for us to focus on what we can do. The current generation can start focusing on restoration, recreation and reimagine what we could do.
We can grow trees, green our cities, rewild our gardens, change our diets and clean up rivers and coasts. We can make peace with nature. The good news is that most of these projects are simple and easy to implement. We can educate our young generation on the beauty of the love of nature. Many love to listen or watch the rain. The sound of water stream heals your worries. Many of us love the beach. We all love clean water, ground, and air.
We live in ecosystems. We humans are part of these ecosystems on earth. Sometimes we do not think about the value and the impact the ecosystems have on our lives. Even though we might be ignorant on the benefits that we enjoy from these ecosystems they are real, and we do enjoy these benefits every day. Reefs, forests, mountains, seas, savannas, peatlands and even deserts are examples of that we all benefit from. On the world environment day website, you can Journey Through Ecosystems, explore forests, reefs, deserts and more to find out why they matter to us.
REIMAGINE. RECREATE. RESTORE.
What can we restore?
There is a long list of types of ecosystems we can focus on. When we talk about the environment, we mostly think of forests. However, as you can see from the following list, there are many wonders of the nature that we need to think when we consider restoring.
- Grasslands, Shrublands and Savannahs - From Eurasia and Patagonia to Africa and Australia, shrublands, grasslands, and savannahs are among the most diverse ecosystems on Earth.
- Peatlands - Present in more than 180 countries, peatlands are vital, super-powered ecosystems
- Urban areas - Urban areas occupy less than 1 per cent of the Earth’s land surface but house more than half of its people.
- Mountains - Mountains occupy about a quarter of the Earth’s land, harbour most of its biodiversity hotspots and supply fresh water to an estimated half of humanity.
- Farmlands - Farmlands now cover more than one-third of the Earth's land surface and are perhaps our most vital ecosystems to sustain human-kind.
- Oceans and coasts - We live on a blue planet, with oceans and seas covering more than 70 per cent of the Earth. Oceans feed us, regulate our climate, and generate most of the oxygen we breathe.
- Freshwaters - Freshwater ecosystems supply food, water and energy to billions of people, protect us from droughts and floods, and provide unique habitat for many plants and animals, including one third of all vertebrate species.
- Forests - Forests and trees make Earth liveable. They provide us with clean air and water.
You can learn more on how you can participate on restoration. The proposed actions are focused on preventing, halting and reversing the degradation of ecosystems worldwide.
Note that it could take 10 years to restore the planet.
The good news is, we can all do it. It is simple to play our part. And it would help all of us have a better future all around the world.
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