Global warming, climate change, human encroachment, industrial waste, and environmental pollution is front and center in the news on a daily basis. Although there is debate on causes and concerns, there is a call for businesses worldwide and the global community to take steps to protect the natural habitats of the world’s wildlife.
Whether animal or plant, there is a collective loss of approximately 150 species every day. Unfortunately, there is often a domino effect with the loss of one species leading to the loss of another. The natural world is highly interconnected and dependent upon one another for survival.
Natural Beauty
Many of the world’s protected areas have been established to protect facets of nature that people find beautiful. The aesthetics of some landscapes have led to the creation of a national park or nature reserve. Dr. Phillip Imler, President of the Global Alliance of National Parks shared, “While protecting the serene and beautiful is important, it is imperative that are global governments establish more protected areas that invest in habitats and ecosystems that protect the vulnerable species at risk for extinction.”
Pursuing and protecting the striking landscapes is an appropriate course of action, but the global community must do more. Identifying the facets of nature that are appealing is easy, but that can only be a starting place.
Elevating the Effort Politically
Governments around the world do recognize the need for action and they must be acknowledged for the advancement that has been accomplished to protect much of the world’s vulnerable ecosystems. Today, there are over 6,500 national parks and nature preserves. Countries with large concentrations of large mammalian species have established additional game reserves. This investment has primarily occurred in countries in Africa with intention of protecting their natural wonders..
Along with the world’s national parks, UNESCO (United National Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has established a number of areas as biospheres of significant importance. Ideally, the science and research efforts of UNESCO and conservation groups can come alongside the world’s governments to help identify the habitats and ecosystems that are most vulnerable.
Accordingly, the corresponding governments can take the appropriate action to establish national parks or nature reserves. The quicker these entities work together the quicker the world can reduce the number of species we are losing on a daily basis.
Elevating the Effort as Communities
The global community includes both the businesses of the world and the individual people. Together, a significant difference can be made. For both parties, an immediate investment in biodegradble and recyclable materials can begin to alter the amount of rubbish and pollution that impedes upon the different habitats where our wildlife lives.
One of the world’s greatest atrocities is the collective polluting of the world’s waterways. The polluting of the waterways often has a domino effect as well. The damage and vulnerability can be seen in some of the world’s most precious natural wonders.
Pollution occurring inland in Queensland and neighboring regions is ruining the rivers. These pollutants travel downstream and are now destroying the great barrier reef. One of the world’s natural wonders is now at threat for extinction in the coming years.
Businesses have the greatest potential for affecting change. If businesses will leverage recycled materials, discard recyclables and rubbish appropriately, and create the pathways for their constituents to follow, they will. The global community is ready to follow.
Take Action
It doesn’t matter what role you have; it is time to take action. If every person did their part, the global community would make an immediate impact. However, it takes us all and not a choice few. “Although they are for profit, businesses like 4Ocean are taking care for our planet to new heights,” Imler added. Business around the world do not have to go that extreme, but if they will do their part, it will add up and then whole world wins.
Please visit https://national-parks.org/ to learn about the world’s national parks and the natural resources and ecosystems they are protecting.
