Category: SDG15: Life on Land

What I Like the Most About Life on Land

By: Chama Ntabeni Chilubanama, 8, Zambia

As an 8-year-old boy in sunny Lusaka, Zambia, I like the fact that we normally have the perfect weather and we can take care of plants and animals. We can do more to make our environment clean and beautiful, and so we can remain healthy. They say, cleanliness is next to godliness and health!

I do not like it when I see litter thrown on the ground instead of the bins. It makes the surroundings dirty and unhealthy for all living things. I have a compost bin in the kitchen which I empty into the garden every morning. This is one way I want to help life on land. People should change and learn the benefits of recycling.

Right now, there is a drought in Zambia. What I mean by drought is there isn’t enough water because there isn’t enough rain, and people are suffering. People have been cutting down trees which are useful for making rain. We need to do something about the drought.

I like how we discover new places and how there are all sorts of animals and insects especially during the rainy season. I also like going to school and learning new things. I love animals, especially kittens and puppies. I also love to walk around in our garden to admire the different plants in all their shapes, sizes, colours and unique outlooks.

The plant I like the most is the Areca palm tree, because it is not too tall, it is just right and majestic along the swimming pool at home. I also like the Areca palm because it attracts beautiful bright coloured birds every now and again. I like the overhead view of the Areca palms when I go upstairs and I get a beautiful glimpse of all the bright and beautiful living creatures in my yard. I only muse to myself how awesome life on land is from a bird’s eye view. I wish I was a bird to see every living thing on earth. I love life on land!

Protecting our Fenlands: A Short History of East Anglia Biodiversity Ravages, Resistance and Rewilding

Artwork by: Nico Cordonier-Gehring

By: Nico Cordonier-Gehring, Canada/Germany/Switzerland/UK

Introduction

The cultural, economic, and political history of the Fenlands, including my Cambridgeshire home in East Anglia, offer an inspiring tale of biodiversity ravages, resistance and rewildings. Across nearly 1,500 square miles of southeastern Lincolnshire, most of Cambridgeshire including parts of historic Huntingdonshire, and the westernmost parts of Norfolk and Suffolk, the Fens lie inland of the Wash. I was raised in this region where my grandfather and ancestors made their homes, and it is beautiful with wide open skies, vast misty wetlands, unique and wonderful wildlife, and distinct local communities. Local communities here hold a rich history, interwoven with indigenous religious practices and a spirit of resistance against external forces and exploitation, dating back to the days of the Gyrwas (the Fenlanders, or Fennish commoners) under King Canute. The history of Fenlands peoples and nature is a story of resistance to the destruction of biodiversity lands and livelihoods, which continues to this day through the conservation, carbon sink, and rewilding projects of local communities, youth, historians and scientists, including from the University of Cambridge. 

Cultural history of environmental stewardship

The independence and cultural identity of local fenlands Peoples has always been specially connected to the stewardship of the land and waterways. As archaeological and anthropological evidence reveals, the beliefs of the original fenland peoples were marked by a profound respect for nature. A pantheon of spirits and deities were associated with the natural features of their environment. Water, in particular, held sacred significance due to its abundance and vital role in daily lives. The Fenlanders worshipped various water spirits, believed to inhabit the rivers, lakes, and marshes. These spirits were seen as both protectors and potential threats, necessitating rituals to appease them and ensure safe passage and bountiful fishing. 

Sacred sites include springs, wells, and groves, and many of these survive to this day, albeit overwritten or repurposed by Christian monasteries or churches. For example, the cathedral and monastery at Ely were built on historic pagan ritual sites. Over time, the imposition of Christianity transformed the religious landscape of the Fenlands. Many local practices were either absorbed into Christian rituals or suppressed, although traces of indigenous beliefs persisted within a Christian framework. For instance, sacred wells became associated with saints, like our Lady of Walsingham or the wells at Walsingham Abbey, and seasonal festivals with processions were adapted into Christian celebrations.

The distinct cultural identity and local knowledge of the Fenland peoples has played a crucial role in resistance against external forces, especially during periods of conquest. The encroachment of Roman, Saxon, and later Norman influences brought attempts to impose new government, laws, practices and administrative controls. However, the fenlanders fought back. Control and invasion was fiercely resisted by the locals, including Hereward the Wake, a local hero who led a rebellion against Norman rule in the 11th Century. His legacy symbolises the enduring spirit of resistance and the defence of local traditions, and inspires local youth, even to this day.

Political history of the Fenlands

The Fenland’s unique ecology and geography, with isolated island homes, floating reeds and shifting lakes and riverbeds, provided areas of retreat from enemies and allowed considerable independence in terms of religion and beliefs. And it is through the draining and destruction of these unique wetlands, threatening the wildlife and rich natural systems with destruction, that very nearly destroyed the Fenlands identity, culture and local livelihoods from the 1600s onwards. For centuries, lords and aristocrats advanced proposals to enclose the commons, then drain the Fens to access the naturally rich soil for farming. 

As one historical example, the Isle of Axholme wetlands commons were guaranteed by ancient treaties such as the 1359 Axholme Deed of John de Mowbray, which was kept a locked iron-bound chest in the parish church of Haxey under a stained-glass window of Sir John holding the accord. When Cornelius Vermuyden, a Dutch entrepreneur, sought to violate these rights with a company of ‘Adventurers’ (investors), over two thousand commoners resisted. In 1629, local women verbally distracted drainage workers, while men ambushed them, filling in the ditches, smashing tools, and even constructing mock gallows to loom over the diggers, making clear the consequences of continuing to break the Treaty of Axholme. According to government records of 1629, rather than justice, fen people faced penalties and harsh punishments for making their views heard, and refusing to support their own dispossession, including being beaten and jailed. However, they continued to resist, driving cattle through enclosures. 

Economic history of the Fenlands

Although local resistance was fierce, the adventurers and investors finally embarked on large-scale enclosure and drainage of the fens in the 1800s, using foreign workers, windmills and then steam pumps to pull the water away from the majority of the fens, filling in the common wetlands with private holdings and farms. A group of wealthy and powerful investors under the Earl of Bedford near Lincoln came together to canalise the fenlands rivers, undertaking massive earthworks, levelling and installing embankments and relief channels, and dredging operations to drain and privatise the collective wetlands areas. Unfortunately, their ‘Bedford Corporation’ also destroyed the local habitat of wildlife and ecosystems, taking away the natural resources and livelihoods of many local fishing and wildcrafting communities. Employing constables and guards, and hiring labourers from outside the area, they built pumps and small channels to disrupt and eliminate the water so that just the fertile mud was left. 

These exploitative projects faced heavy opposition from the local villages and fenlands peoples, who worried about their access to eels, fish, waterfowl and game. Local groups organised to burn down pumping stations and refill ditches overnight, they even hosted cultural events and festivals to disguise attempts to disrupt the dredging operations. The fenlands Peoples resisted on all levels, even taking petitions to the Privy Council and to the King in their defence. While the draining eventually succeeded, and vast farmlands were planted, East Anglia is already facing the results of that folly, as the rivers and canals silt up, and the flooding, with only scattered remnants of peat bogs and washes to absorb the rains, becomes worse every year, drowning villages and towns. 

Fenlands today: Taking action for conservation 

Still, the history of our fens is not over. Local peoples, joined by nature advocates. In the 2000s, local and national governments are working to re-wild areas of the Fenlands, reclaiming, and restoring them in order to prevent flooding and natural disasters in response to climate change and biodiversity loss. The Wicken Fen Vision 2030 plans to nearly quadruple the protected wetlands as a carbon sink and a local biodiversity haven. At the Great Fen, a vast fenland landscape between Peterborough and Huntingdon, as part of two National Nature Reserves, they are undertaking one of largest restoration projects ever for Europe, as landscapes are being restored and transformed for the benefit of both wildlife and people. With the addition of 120 hectares by rewilding Speechly’s Farm in 2023, completes a massive fenland jigsaw, reversing the harmful effects of those drainages from the 1600s to the 1850s, and creating a continuous corridor of natural wetlands between Woodwalton Fen and Holme. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the story of biodiversity resistance and rewilding in the Fenlands highlights the deep connection between a People and the environment. Our Fenland Peoples’ ability to maintain cultural identity and resist external pressures underscores the powerful role of belief systems in shaping and preserving community cohesion. As we explore the history of the Fenlands, we can all learn a deeper appreciation for the resilience and creativity of these communities, and their continued attempts to find a balance between nature and livelihoods, one that respects and restores the local environment and its unique culture.

Bibliography 

Ash, Eric H. The Draining of the Fens: Projectors, Popular Politics, and State Building in Early 

Modern England. Johns Hopkins Studies in the History of Technology. Baltimore (Maryland): Johns Hopkins university press, 2017.

Boyce, James. Imperial Mud: The Fight for the Fens. London: Icon, 2020.

Pryor, Francis. The Fens: Discovering England’s Ancient Depths. London: Apollo, 2020.

Sly, Rex. From Punt to Plough: A History of the Fens. Reprinted. Stroud: Sutton Publ, 2003.

Other Resources Used:

JISC Archives Hub (online: www.archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk, last accessed 21 June 2024)

The Ouse Washes (online: www.ousewashes.info, last accessed 21 June 2024)

Literary Norfolk (online: www.literarynorfolk.co.uk, last accessed 21 June 2024)

Wicken Fen (online: www.nationaltrust.org.uk, last accessed 21 June 2024)

The Great Fen (online: www.greatfen.org.uk, last accessed 21 June 2024) 

Maasai are the Guardians of Life on Earth

By Naipanoi Onesmo Olengurumwa, 11, Tanzania

My father and my grandfather grew up in the middle of an ecological system living with animals and nature. Yes, we coexist with animals and nature. Let’s use this indigenous knowledge to protect the Serengeti/Loliondo and Ngorongoro ecosystem and all the lives on it. Yes, we are the best implementers of SDGs goal 15 and tribe of the soil.  

We have a rich cultural heritage that is deeply intertwined with the environment. Traditionally we have developed a sustainable way of life that respects the balance of nature. This relationship positions us as crucial stakeholders in global efforts towards sustainable development, climate change adaptation strategies and guardians of life on earth. Yes, animals are part of our clans. For instance my father and grandfather are from the Irmakeseni Masai clan which also belongs to the community of zebras. Yes, we share common things, and they often come close to our homes and graze together with our cows. They run to our homes for refuge against predators. Please, for our survival as indigenous community attached to nature and for protection of ecology and ecosystem in Ngorongoro and Seregent/Loliondo Plains, don’t separate us.  

Our indigenous knowledge includes understanding seasonal migrations of wildlife and water  resources which protect the Serengeti ecosystem. We use our traditional rotational grazing styles to prevent overgrazing in any one area while promoting biodiversity by allowing  various plants to thrive and breeding of wildebeest. For instance, we have been using part of our village lands called osero with 1500 sqkm in Loliondo to conduct traditional rotational grazing. Sadly, due to on going landgrabing in our home, this land is nolonger part of our land villages. This practice supports not only livestock health but also wildlife conservation as it creates a balanced ecosystem where both domestic animals and wildlife species can coexist. Kindly, make use of our indigenous knowledge of nature management to save the Serengeti/Loliondo and Ngorongoro ecosystem, and avoid fortress conservation laws that evict us from our traditional land. We are attached to nature as indigenous conservators of nature and life on earth. Please respect this and use this knowledge to manage climate challenges in Ngorongoro.

Drawing for Wildlife

Drawing by Ayan Kamath Mehra

By: Ayan Kamath Mehra, India/Singapore

Qualia – coined by philosopher C. I. Lewis – refers to ‘instances of subjective, conscious experience’. For example, running your fingers through cold water, the experience of seeing the colour purple, and the struggle of lifting a new PR (personal record in lifting). These moments cannot be shared. Human language fails to transfer experiences from one person to another. No matter how many words are used in just the right way, it is impossible to explain the colour purple to a person born blind. Qualia cannot be shared.

However, I think art comes very close. While it may not transmit the exact experience, art can move an audience to feel the same way about said experience. This is why, I think, it is one of the most powerful tools for wildlife conservation. Art can make people care about the cause, appreciate the sentience of animals, and instil a passion to fight cruelty.

Incensed by the plight of rhinos brutally slaughtered for their horns; at the age of eleven, I decided to combine my passions for art and wildlife to raise awareness and funding for endangered species. I created savewildlife.art: a platform that celebrates animals through art and storytelling. In five years, savewildlife.art has raised funds to adopt 24 endangered animals around the globe, but perhaps more importantly has created awareness and ambassadors for wildlife conservation among the many people who have engaged with the art and stories on the platform.

Most recently, savewildlife.art partnered with Drawing for the Planet to create The Tiger’s Forest – an art workshop that goes to schools across India, Singapore, the UK, and the US, educating and inspiring children about our shared natural wealth in tigers and the animals that live in their ecosystems. By reaching thousands of children with art workshops we hope to evoke feeling and action, creating the next generation of wildlife warriors to nurture our planet.

Can the New BNG Policy Improve ‘Life on Land’ in the UK?

By: Rowena Shivam, 18, UK

‘Halt biodiversity loss’ is a crucial part of Sustainable Development Goal 15. Globally, over 1 million animal and plant species are facing extinction (United Nations, 2019). The United Kingdom has the lowest level of biodiversity in the G7 but also one of the worst housing crises (House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, 2021). House-building, along with associated infrastructure development like roads, transport and waste disposal, leads to habitat destruction and biodiversity loss. This creates issues for sustaining life on land.

Over the last year, I have been following the development of a new UK law that could significantly improve our progress towards SDG 15: Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). BNG is a novel approach to land management that leaves biodiversity in a measurably better state than before any development. This policy could create or enhance up to half a million hectares of biodiverse habitat in the UK by 2030 (National Audit Office, 2024). Whether this level of success is achieved or not will be determined by the BNG Metric which analyses the size, condition, importance and location of new habitats. All new developments must generate at least 10% more habitat than previously existed in the area, helping wildlife to thrive (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, 2024).


BNG isn’t just for animals and plants; it can sustainably improve life on land for people too. It has increased the amount of land approved for new housing. Better access to nature will improve our physical and mental health. Increased vegetation will help reduce pollution and flash flooding. Even the economy is being boosted through BNG with new jobs in research, planning and legislation (The Environmental Agency, 2024).

However, there were some challenges that delayed BNG’s implementation. To better understand these issues I surveyed a group of 21 policymakers, homeowners, lawyers and conservationists. Only 38% believed BNG could significantly improve the UK’s biodiversity and 50% felt it might instead worsen our housing crisis by increasing prices. Nonetheless, BNG has now been mandatory since February 2024 and we are already seeing some early successes. I believe that with continued monitoring, evaluation and data collection over the next few years, this policy could help improve wildlife and human life on land in the UK.

References

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. (2024, February 12).
Understanding biodiversity net gain. GOV.UK.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/understanding-biodiversity-net-gain


House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee. (2021). House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee. Biodiversity in the UK: bloom or bust? First Report of Session 2021-22 HC 136.
https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/6498/documents/70656/default/


United Nations. (2019, May 6). UN report: Nature’s dangerous decline “unprecedented”; species extinction rates “accelerating” – United Nations Sustainable Development. United Nations. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2019/05/nature-decline-unprecedented-report/ 


National Audit Office. (2024). Implementing statutory biodiversity net gain.
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Natural England.
National Audit Office.
https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/implementing-statutory-biodiversity-net-gain.pdf


The Environmental Agency. (2024, April 2). The Environment Agency’s role in
Biodiversity Net Gain – Creating a better place.
https://environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2024/04/02/the-environment-agencys-role-in-biodiversity-net-gain/

Acknowledging Land and Life

By: Acacia Leonor Greenidge, 11, Canada/Trinidad&Tobago

I have a question for you. And I have an idea too.


I love the lake. It’s stunningly beautiful here at Sauble Beach, and the water shimmers in the sunlight. The waves amaze, and the sunsets seem unreal, just like when you stop using the computer and it changes to those breathtaking photos. The black silhouettes at sunset are so cool that you don’t have to be a professional photographer to take awesome photos. The trees and forests on the way to Carson’s Camp are as stunning as the stars and constellations, which you can see very well here.

I love the lake. I love the sunsets, the trees, and the stars. My question is: why can’t we see stars like this in the city?


And can we make good decisions about our future when we can’t see the stars at night? Here you can even see the satellites in the sky. Why can’t I see stars in the city every night? How can we make good decisions about nature from cities where we stay inside all day? At Carson’s Camp, the total minutes we spend inside must add up to about one hour. No one stays inside too long on purpose, except to sleep, rest or avoid the rain.


And my idea? Well, the breeze and the trees here are so inviting that people barely use their cars. Could the way to save and share life on land be to spend more time around lakes, sunsets, stars and trees, and not be so busy that we ignore their beauty?

The Buzzes Behind Biodiversity: The Often Overlooked Role of Insects

Artwork by Varvara Tretiakova

By: Raiyan Bakshi, 17, US

Insects… Pesky rashes, annoying buzz, disease vectors, overall nuisance. We usually don’t think of their tireless pollination, waste decomposition, and many other natural processes they facilitate.

The truth is insects, as pesky as they may be, are crucial for life on earth. We see them in everyday products from honey to silk. The health of our soil and food is heavily influenced by insects. They decompose organic matter and recycle these nutrients back into our soil, stimulating the nutrient rich crops we end up eating. While many think of insects as the pest, many of them like ladybugs, spiders and dragonflies, control pest populations, which also reduce the need for chemical pesticides. Furthermore, our ecosystems rely on them as a means of seed dispersal, pollination, or promoting biodiversity by being the primary food source for smaller animals.

Unfortunately, their survival, along with the benefits the Earth enjoys, are in danger. Intensive pesticide use in modern agriculture often stimulates too strong of a reaction for the natural balance of the ecosystem, not only wiping insect populations, but hurting the food web. Habit loss from excess urbanization and deforestation generally causes losses of biodiversity, but with insects it often has a compounding effect with many of their dependent species also hurt. Changes in climates and extreme weather patterns disrupts usual insect life cycle behaviours with crop flowering, diminishing their pollination rates.

These problems have no easy fix, but addressing them is necessary in our fight to protect our planet. Policies for sustainable agriculture and pesticide use, controlled land development, and dependency away from fossil fuels contributing to global warming are all steps in the right direction.

As we commit ourselves to saving our life on earth’s land, let’s not forget about our tiny allies promoting nature in our land, air and seas.

Description of Santiago

By: Valentina Isabel Fernandez Weissmann, 14, Chile

The large city of Santiago de Chile lies beneath the translucent, pale gray and brown breath of pollution, suffocating to all; important to none, as the coal continues burning in people’s homes. This city was nurtured by mother nature, who, with a smile, brought an eternal sunlight in, keeping the flowers, with petals soft as silk, warm, as she swept her mighty hand across the vast mountain range, shaping the Andes. The summits accepted her will, creating a valley, meant to hold life for the people, the ones that now walk through the historical streets. 

They do not pause to give back to what Nature has provided. For now that she lays sick, from the fault of whom she empowered, the citizens of this marvelous country do not hand her the medicine that they could possess, through an effort sounding simple as being moral and principled. A physical effort is easily overcome, if the mind is strong; yet the effort of changing oneself, for good, to do  good, is one task that mankind continuously fails to fulfill, and it remains a task that humanity is obliged to do, if it wishes not its own destruction. 

And so the people of the city walk through the polluted streets, bottles and plastic thrown carelessly around, the choking of animals on glass and fabrics continuing,  ignored. The weeping ground continues shaking,  the humans uncaring of the damage they have caused, unaware of the valley in which they find life, and unaware of the mountains that surround them, protecting and sheltering. The pure,  enchanting giants that are mountains go unappreciated. It is a privilege to walk outside and behold the unreachable, and endless. Covered in snow, or in grass. Full of life, full of death. So gracefully created, so painfully destroyed.

And then, in the distance, a glimmer of hope. A stubborn little tree of thorns, thriving. A little girl, of five or four, pouring water on the growing desert plant, the action a small way towards healing the sick. The lights of the city like artificial fireflies, dancing through the night, replace the stars that would be seen if not for the very thing that is substituting them. There are flowers of all colors, of sizes big and small, interlacing or alone, but fewer and fewer species with each passing day. There are clouds white as jasmine, the swans of the sky; mountains striking and strong; snow puffy, soft, numbing cold; grasslands some dry, some thriving.  Standing atop them are cows with brown and black spots and horses prideful of their shining coats. All things that will soon pass, the ignorance of humanity detrimental to these small beacons of hope that stand in the forgotten, and imprudent city of Santiago de Chile.  

Wayanad Landslides 2024: A Tragedy Rooted in Environmental Neglect

By: Sanvika Sandeep, 15, UAE

The 2024 landslides in Wayanad serve as a stark reminder of nature’s devastating capabilities, exacerbated by human influence. Wayanad, a mountainous district nestled in the Western Ghats, bore the brunt of the disaster, with over 300 lives lost and entire communities devastated. The heavy rainfall that triggered the landslides also caused widespread flooding across northern Kerala, washing away bridges, inundating homes and roads, and leading to power outages, plunging the region into turmoil.


In the days leading up to the disaster, Wayanad experienced persistent monsoon rainfall, which led to the destabilization of its already fragile hillsides. The severe downpours, exacerbated by a changing climate, played a significant role in the disaster that unfolded in Wayanad. The soils in Wayanad, already highly saturated from the ongoing monsoon season, were unable to absorb the deluge that fell on the day before the landslides. This saturation, a common phenomenon in the region during the rainy season, left the land vulnerable to collapse.


Entire towns were engulfed by mud and debris following the landslides, complicating rescue operations due to perilous conditions. Homes were overtaken by the earth, tearing apart families, leaving survivors to struggle with the loss of their jobs, security, and loved ones. The rivers and streams, once lifelines for these neighbourhoods, transformed into channels of destruction, carrying away not only soil but also the dreams and aspirations of the local populace.


In the context of Wayanad, SDG 15, which is focused on protecting life on land, is strikingly important. The landslides served as a startling example of what happens when terrestrial ecosystem health is neglected. Landslides were more likely because of the exposed and susceptible soil caused by the removal of tree cover. The tremendous biodiversity of the area was put in even greater jeopardy when the soil gave way, burying human dwellings along with wildlife habitats.


As Wayanad works to recover from this tragedy, the lessons learned from the landslides must not be forgotten. Human activity, environmental fragility, and climate change have combined to create a volatile situation that demands immediate attention. Preserving the region’s ecosystems, improving infrastructure resilience, and tackling the underlying causes of climate change are imperative in preventing future disasters and safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of those who call Wayanad home.

From Soil to Sky: The Rich Tapestry of Life on Land

Artwork by Aida Mugutdinova

By: Mahesh Mandavelli, 15, India/Poland

Did you know that the Earth experienced its warmest day in recorded history on July 22, 2024 with a global average temperature of 17.16°C (Copernicus Climate Change, 2024, July 25)? Annually, around one-third of the Earth’s geographical area is at risk of desertification (“The World Counts”, 2023). Furthermore, the populations of several species have experienced a significant decrease, with an average reduction of 69% since 1970 (Pullen, 2022, October 13). These concerning figures highlight the immediate necessity for taking action.

Forests, which occupy 30% of the Earth’s surface (Ritchie, 2021), have a vital function in mitigating climate change, offering sustenance and refuge, and  sustaining a wide range of ecosystems and indigenous communities. Approximately 1.6 billion individuals depend on forests for their means of subsistence (Chao, 2012). Although there is growing global recognition of land degradation, invasive species, poaching, and wildlife trafficking, these dangers persist and pose ongoing risks to the conservation of  biodiversity and the habitats of indigenous groups. If we do not take fast and coordinated action, there is a high probability that one million plant and animal species will become extinct. 

Land encompasses several elements such as trees, houses, humans, animals, climate, and more. In general, humans bring about alterations. Regardless of the circumstances,  global warming will persist until humans take action to alter the climate. In order to initiate a transformation, it is imperative that we address the issue of desertification and deforestation, starting with the soil. The second factor to consider is the climate. Upon cultivating the plants, we can observe the alteration in temperature. Once soil and climate conditions are established, human existence becomes intricately linked to the availability and quality of air and water. By refraining from polluting nature with substances such as plastic and petroleum gas, we can have tranquil lives. It is important to acknowledge that we are all interconnected in the intricate network of life, and our activities have an impact on every individual and element on Earth. The fact that everything is connected emphasizes our shared duty to safeguard our world. 

Each individual has the ability to contribute towards its accomplishment. Conduct  research on companies that implement sustainable packaging and other  environmentally conscious activities. Request the cooperation of your acquaintances  and relatives to initiate the practice of recycling and motivate all individuals within your  social circle to bring their personal bags when shopping at grocery stores. Utilize a  collection of durable utensils, drinking tubes, and a container for liquids such as a water  bottle or canteen. You have the ability to express your endorsement to both your local  and federal authorities. You can also educate others in your community on the ways in  which deforestation and land degradation contribute to climate change and the loss of  plant and wildlife diversity. Coordinate the establishment of a communal horticultural space or an arboreal planting occasion and emphasize the significance of engaging in  planting activities. It is important to bear in mind that each of us possesses the ability to  have a significant impact. The choices you make have significance and have the  potential to bring about change.

References

Chao, S. (2012). Forest peoples: numbers across the world(Vol. 10, p. 2017). Moreton-in-Marsh, UK: Forest Peoples Programme.

Copernicus Climate Change. (2024, July 25). New record daily global average temperature reached in July 2024 . Climate.copernicus.eu. https://climate.copernicus.eu/new-record-daily-global-average-temperature-reached-july-2024

Pullen, A. (2022, October 13). WWF Living Planet Report: Devastating 69% drop in wildlife populations since 1970. Www.wwf.eu. https://www.wwf.eu/?7780966/WWF-Living-Planet-Report-Devastating-69-drop-in-wildlife-populations-since-1970

Ritchie, H. (2021). Forest area. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/forest-area

‌The World Counts. (2023). Www.theworldcounts.com. https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/planet-earth/forests-and-deserts/global-land-degradation