Three Wildlife Conservation Ideas for Earth Day
Ways to Include Wild Animals and Their Habitats in the Celebration
Mar 9, 2009
Whether celebrating on March 20, as some do, or on April 22, which is the most common date for Earth Day celebrations in the United States, use this holiday as a starting point for ongoing actions that will improve the health of the planet and the animals on it.
Learn to Use Marine Stewardship Council Certification Information and FishPhone on Earth Day
Earth Day can be the starting point for using more sustainable food sources. Shopping locally lowers food miles and purchasing organic products reduces pesticide and chemical fertilizer impact on the planet.
But not everyone is aware that supporting sustainable fisheries will help the ocean to recover from overfishing. Both the Marine Stewardship Council and Blue Ocean Institute’s FishPhone provide ways for consumers to make choices about which fish and other seafood to purchase. On Earth Day it is important to remember that this is an ocean planet. The health of ocean wildlife is critical to the survival of the planet as a whole.
Make a Certified Wildlife Habitat for Earth Day
This is another way to ensure that Earth Day activities continue to help after the celebration. It is not necessary to have a large piece of property to make a Certified Wildlife Habitat. As long as the habitat provides food, water, places to shelter or hide and places to raise young in a sustainable garden, it qualifies.
For example, an apartment with a balcony that has room for a few native food plants for birds, a birdhouse, small birdbath or even a shallow dish with water can qualify. If several people in the apartment complex do the same it will be even more effective.
In the suburbs, neighborhoods can collaborate to make wildlife corridors on Earth Day, as well as providing suitable habitat at each individual property.
Stop Using Plastic Bags Starting on Earth Day
Earth Day has become known as a day for beach cleanups and community trash pick-up activities. But reducing the amount of trash that makes it way into the environment is even more effective.
Use Earth Day as a starting point for new environmentally friendly habits by pledging to stop using plastic bags. These bags are responsible for the deaths of endangered sea turtles and other marine creatures who mistake them for jellyfish. On land, it is not unusual for wildlife to become entangled or trapped in plastic bags especially ones that have food smells to attract young, curious animals.
Many households already have suitable cloth bags that are not used on a regular basis.They can start using them on Earth Day. Those that don’t can look for environmentally friendly cloth bag sources as part of their celebration of Earth Day. It is important to remember that paper bags are not a sustainable option. To take this idea one step further, people can work toward a plastic bag ban in their town.
These are just three of many ways to make Earth Day the start of a more eco-friendly lifestyle.
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