4 Ways to Support Forest Protection for World Wildlife Day 2021
Wednesday, March 3rd is #WorldWildlifeDay 🌲 This year’s World Wildlife Day theme is “Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet” with a focus on human’s reliance on and interconnectivity with forests and forest ecosystems.
Forests are magical places. Although we might typically think of our reliance on forests in relation to the amount of forest based resources we consume, many of us also rely on forests for mental, spiritual and cultural purposes.
Forests are also one of our greatest allies in the fight against climate change, as they act as carbon sinks. One third of the CO2 released from the burning of fossil fuels is absorbed by forests each year.
To celebrate forests this World Wildlife Day, here are 4 ideas to help support forest conservation:
Be a forest friendly shopper! Look for certifications like the Rainforest Alliance and the Forest Stewardship Council when purchasing new products, and if you’re buying wood, look for second hand and reclaimed when possible. Here’s a great guide on forest friendly certifications.
Reduce your meat and dairy intake - approximately 3.4% of global carbon emissions are caused by deforestation for livestock.
Visit forests safely. Participating in forest-safe ecotourism activities is a great way to learn about forests and get inspired to protect them. Check out Leave No Trace for some great tips on being a more conscious outdoor adventurer.
Get involved with a local conservation organization working to protect the forest ecosystems near you. Whether it’s physical work like tree planting, or advocacy and education work, there are many different skills that conservation orgs can benefit from!
