World Nature Conservation Day
World Nature Conservation Day is an international observance day celebrated annually on July 28. The day stems from the work of the birth of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 1948 and its work on examining how human activities affect nature, nature-based solutions, and the protection of species and their habitats.
The date of July 28 was chosen because it is the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) anniversary, signed in 1992. The CBD is an international agreement that aims to conserve biological diversity, promote sustainable use of its components, and ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from using genetic resources.
World Nature Conservation Day is an opportunity to celebrate the diversity of life on Earth and to learn about the threats facing natural resources. It is also a time to take action to protect nature. There are many things that individuals can do to help, such as reducing their consumption of natural resources, supporting conservation organizations, and getting involved in local conservation efforts.
The theme for World Nature Conservation Day 2023 is “Reimagine, Recreate, Restore.” This theme highlights the importance of taking action to protect nature. By working together, we can reimagine our relationship with nature, recreate our communities in a more sustainable way, and restore the natural world.
See also: Environmental News: 5 Tech Innovations That Offer Hope for Polar Bear Conservation.
World Nature Conservation Day is an important day to raise awareness of the need to protect the world’s natural resources. By taking action, we can help to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy the beauty and diversity of life on Earth.
How to celebrate:
- Read about famous nature conservationists like John Muir, Theodore Roosevelt, Rachel Carson, Sir David Attenborough, and Jane Goodall.
- Plant trees to reduce soil erosion.
- Volunteer for community clean-ups.
- Reduce, reuse and recycle.
- Cut down on plastic use.
- Plant native, non-invasive species.
- Support conservation organizations.
Fun Facts:
- Conservation can be divided into in-situ conservation (conservation of habitats, species and ecosystems where they naturally occur) and ex-situ conservation (conservation in the context of natural habitats through zoos or botanical gardens).
- Captive breeding is a form of conservation carried out under protected areas to improve the population of threatened or next-to-extinct species that are no longer safe to be left in the wild.
- Major conservation benefits include improved air quality, a healthier ocean, a safe water supply, lowering greenhouse gases, and protecting land and habitat.
#WorldNatureConservationDay
