leave nothing but footprints

Perhaps you’re interested in the environment, conservation and what future generations will inherit from us? You probably already contribute resources to improve/protect the environment and endangered species. Here are a few ideas  – peaceful protest, petition and rally are some ways to be heard and bring issues to attention of communities. You can write a well-researched and logical letter to government or your local newspaper outlining ideas about issues and how individuals can make a difference. Raise awareness amongst friends and acquaintances – discuss strategies for involvement over coffee or at Friday night cocktails. Preserve wildlife habitats – to ensure threatened plants and animals survive, we can lobby to protect their habitats permanently in national parks, nature reserves or wilderness areas.  It is also important to protect habitats outside reserves such as on farms and along roadsides. Visit a nearby national park or nature reserve. Some national parks have special guided tours/walks for families. Talk with rangers to find out about threatened species in the area and how they are protected. When visiting a national park, honour the wildlife code – follow fire regulations – leave pets at home, leave flowers, birds’ eggs, logs and bush rocks where you find them. Trash rubbish in bins provided. Better still, take all your rubbish home. As a farmer or landowner, where possible, keep patches of bush as wildlife habitats – leave old trees standing, especially those with hollows suitable for nesting animals.  Some areas have groups that tend local lands and nature reserves, removing weeds and planting local native species. Maybe join one of these groups. Better yet, form a new group yourself. Ask your local parks authority or councils for information.  Volunteer, if able, to work for the environment. Respect earth’s oceans and marine life – Plastic bags and domestic rubbish end up in the sea through various means – bags blown off a street onto beaches, into harbours, bushland then rivers and lakes from the mainland, or through the sewage system. Garbage (sweet wrappers, plastic/glass bottles, plastic diapers, condoms, balloons bits, beer/coke cans, styrofoam cups, cigarette butts and garbage bags stuffed with on board rubbish) tossed nonchalantly off boats adds to the ‘plastic soup’ rubbish dump stretching from Hawaii to Japan. This is choking the oceans, killing marine life, destroying food sources for all life, including humans. Governments could ban plastic bait bags. Retailers can ensure secure trashing of plastic and foam packaging from waterfront food outlets. Fishermen – what about using more of the biodegradable fishing lines and lures that are for sale out there? The Center for Marine Conservation advise that it helps to shop for alternative materials. Avoid products with excessive packaging. Recycle and re-use. Choose paper bags, milk, juices in cardboard cartons, not plastic containers. Use cloth diapers, at least some of the time. When cruising, sailing or simply enjoying the harbour, lakes, rivers, oceans – bin trash on board for disposal on return to land. Educate others about the problem of marine debris, enhancing ‘voluntary compliance through awareness’. Make a little room for your wild neighbours. Maybe build a bird house and feed local birds. Plant a tree or join your local annual “Clean-up Day!” Donate money for trees to different non-profit organizations which work to protect the wildlife. You can donate resources (time or money) to Greenpeace, World Wildlife Fund etc. You can gift trees from Arbor Day Foundation. There’s always something, no matter how small, each of us can contribute.