10 Eye-Opening Facts About Conservation
The importance of conservation
Conservation is often viewed as something that doesn’t directly impact our lives as humans. However, the truth is that conservation is a critical part of protecting and preserving our environment for ourselves and for future generations. Here are ten facts about conservation that may surprise you:
The reality of deforestation
1. Every year, around 18 million acres of forest are lost due to deforestation. That’s the equivalent of 27 football fields every minute!
The shocking impact of plastic pollution
2. More than 8 million tons of plastic are dumped into our oceans every year. This has a major impact on wildlife and can even make its way into our food sources over time.
The problem with poaching
3. Around 100 elephants are killed by poaching every single day. This means that if we don’t intervene, elephants could become extinct in our lifetime!
Conservation of marine ecosystems
4. Overfishing has resulted in a 90% decrease in the number of large fish populations in the ocean. A healthy ocean ecosystem relies on these larger fish to support the food chain for other marine life.
The impact of climate change
5. Climate change is causing glaciers to melt and sea levels to rise. If we don’t act now to mitigate its effects, millions of people could be displaced from their homes due to flooding or freak storms.
The benefits of biodiversity
6. Our planet’s biodiversity affects its general health and quality. An ecosystem with many kinds of species will be able to adapt better and continues to provide valuable environmental services and goods.
The important role of pollinators
7. Bees, butterflies, and moths are responsible for pollinating more than a third of the world’s food crops. Ensuring their survival and protection is essential in preventing major food shortages worldwide.
The importance of conservation education
8. Education is key in encouraging conservation efforts in our communities. The younger the person is when they adopt natural values, the more chance of having a positive interest in environmentalism and builds a sustainable world and lifestyle in when grown.
The impact on climate of farming meat
9. A vegetarian or plant-based diet, if taken up more broadly, could prevent up to 20% of global human-related greenhouse gas emissions that come from livestock farming. Halting meat consumption will be a positive change towards creating sustainable biodiversity and saving the environment.
Deforestation-free products makes impacts-
10. Encouraging the production of deforestation-free products, food brands who source products from deforestation-free supply chains can support small-scale farming, which creates natural diversity systems and forests intact, generating both social and environmental benefits.
Conservation may be a challenging issue, but there are plenty of ways we can work together as citizens to make a positive impact on the environment. The best way to approach this work is to educate ourselves and others about its importance, and it becomes an unstoppable force to help other communities save the planet for our future generations.