“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” – Robert Swan
Today on World Nature Conservation Day, this quote rings especially true. This day, celebrated annually worldwide on the 28th of July continues to increase in importance as the years go by. We cannot sugarcoat the problems facing our natural world. We can however try our very best to combat them by using the tools in our arsenal such as education, awareness and action.
This is exactly what a day like today is all about. A goal of World Nature Conservation Day is to shine the spotlight on the intricate elements which make up our natural systems, and the complex, fragile interactions between these elements. The list is endless, but today we celebrate all that nature continues to provide to us through healthy soils, clean water and biodiversity. We also champion all the creatures which call our planet home and renew our call to action in protecting all of these plants, animals, bacteria and fungi.
What conservation needs
In the lead up to World Nature Conservation Day, I started to think about this question a lot. What does conservation need in 2026? Different answers immediately came to mind, but the one that I kept going back to is collective action. This ties in perfectly with the quote from Robert Swan at the start of this blog post. He warns here that complacency and a lack of action will have catastrophic impacts on our natural world. Isn’t this so true!
I am thus strongly of the opinion that what conservation needs is to harness the power of collective action in all aspects of conservation. This ranges from education through to physical conservation work on conservation properties and everything in between such as conservation financing and community projects. In order to combat the massive threats and problems we face, we need massive amounts of impactful action. This is in the form of a worldwide community of people who are inspired and equipped to make a change for the better.
In a world where different groups, governments or civil organisations sometimes get so caught up in meaningless fighting, an opportunity arises. This is the opportunity for the changemakers to step up and harness the collective power they have, as a community for action and change.
The power of collective action
A saying which I have heard countless times in my life actually relates to plastic pollution. It says: “It is only a plastic bag, said eight billion people.” Now although this shows the negative effects which can arise from certain actions, what if we swapped this around into something positive. It is here where we see collective action in power.
What if we said: “It is only one candy wrapper that I picked up, said eight billion people” or “It is only one stream where we removed a bag full of waste, said two thousand people”. I think we then start to see the cumulative effect of positive actions, and how these simple actions done by many people can exponentially change a situation for the better.
Practical ways to get involved
I think this is one of those situations where the more you look, the more you will find. The opportunities for us to get involved in conservation action are endless and will look different for everyone based on their environments and lifestyles. I have however identified four aspects where we can easily get involved to see conservation work for good.
Cleanups and habitat restorations
Ecosystems are constantly under threat from pollution and an increase in invasive species. Community groups and nature reserves regularly hold various sessions to combat these threats. Even if there are no formal sessions in your area, identify a spot where waste pollution is present and start cleaning up. The results will soon begin to show.
Finances
Conservation work is not cheap. Unfortunately, many conservation projects are severely underfunded. Even small contributions towards conservation organisations can quickly add up through collective action. Many Non-Profit Organisations also sell products as a form of fundraising. How about supporting them the next time you need a birthday present for someone. This way you get the present and they get funds to continue with their wildlife missions.
Habits
Possibly the easiest way to effect change is through awareness of our daily habits and curiosity of how we can change them for the better. The aspects which immediately spring to mind are wise water usage and making better consumer choices. Examples include buying sustainable seafood, reducing food waste and avoiding fast fashion products.
Education
If we are serious about effecting change through collective action, we will have to learn how. Reading this blog post will certainly help😋, however we will have to go deeper. Educating ourselves on the consequences of our actions will form the cornerstone of our mission for positive change and will lead to an increase in collective action.
May we use today to appreciate the nature that surrounds us, realise the challenges that face us and build hope for the change which awaits us. How privileged we are to enjoy nature’s gifts. Let us work together to conserve and protect our natural heritage!
Happy World Nature Conservation Day!
Be filled with nature.
Willem🦈
Comments
One response
Well said Willem!