Yashika Goel
Every year on July 28, World Nature Conservation Day is observed. It is crucial to protect the environment and natural resources in order to maintain global health. The goal of World Nature Conservation Day is to save endangered species of plants and animals.
The protection of Mother Earth requires resource conservation. Water, air, soil (SAVE SOIL), energy, vegetation, minerals, and flora are just a few of the natural elements that must be protected in order to retain the earth’s inherent beauty.
Not Just a Day: Individual Participation is Essential
However, it only exists to come together on July 28th and work to save the environment. In reality, we are currently dealing with a variety of issues as a result of natural imbalances. Among these are increased temperatures, diseases, natural disasters, and global warming. No one can prevent the destruction of the earth if nature is not safeguarded. Its adverse effects are only now starting to become evident.
Significance of a Healthy Environment:
In order for our society to be stable and productive both now and in the future, it is essential to have a healthy environment. Along with this, it is also hoped that people will realize that, even when using nature for their own benefit, they have a duty to protect it for present and future generations. It’s crucial to understand what we can do to fulfill this obligation.
All humans and their ability to survive on earth depend on preserving the natural world. Since the earth provides all the essentials for life—water, air, trees, animals, food, soil, and minerals—it is up to humanity to keep the environment safe and clean.
Theme for World Nature Conservation Day in 2022
“Cut Down on Plastic Use” is the theme for World Nature Conservation Day in 2022. The fundamental message of World Nature Conservation Day is that the use of plastic should be reduced. It contributes to carbon emissions and global warming because it requires a lot of energy and resources to produce. Only 9% of plastics are recycled after production due to the relatively inefficient recycling process.
However, as of July 1, the usage of “single-use plastic” has been outlawed in India by the national government. A list of the things that will be prohibited has been established by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, which first announced the restriction in a gazette notification last year.
Women Contributing to Nature Conservation:
1. Chipko Movement
The original origins of the Chipko movement may be traced back to 1730 when Amrita Devi spearheaded a movement to stop soldiers from cutting down trees in her home, Khejarli, a tiny village on the Maharaja of Jodhpur’s orders. 363 Bishnoi tribe people were beheaded during the ensuing violence as they gripped the trees to stop them from being cut down. The Maharaja issued an edict prohibiting tree cutting in the area after hearing about the massacre.
2. Narmada Bachao Andolan
Medha Patkar, India’s first environmental conservationist, is the brain behind the Narmada Bachao Andolan campaign. To stop the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada river, Medha Patkar organized the Narmada Bachao Andolan in 1989 on behalf of farmers and tribal people.
She has remained steadfast on the subject and continues to make sure that tribal agitations, whether for their own rights or the environment, have her full support.
In the Tata-Singur dispute, Medha Patkar was crucial in preventing Tata from constructing a Nano plant, which would have left many farmers without land and, consequently, without any source of income.
Some Tips for nature conservation:
- Do not cut down the trees.
- Use groundwater only when necessary.
- Set up a rainwater collection system to help level the groundwater.
- Reduce noise pollution.
- Use cloth bags or recycled paper envelopes instead of plastic ones.
- Turn off the fan and lights in the empty room. Use energy conservatively.
- Do not allow the water to flow excessively.
- Walk and bicycle more often.
