World Wildlife Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2013 as the day on which the world celebrates and raises awareness of the endangered fauna and flora around the world.
Celebrated every year on 3 March, the day is this time around being celebrated under the theme “Sustaining all Life on Earth”.
In Namibia, the fight for the survival of endangered species is a high priority with the Government being the first African country to incorporate environmental protection into its constitution.
The success of these conservancies, which put the responsibility of safeguarding natural resources as well as the financial benefits of tourism in the hands of local communities, is one that has received global praise.
The World Wildlife Day theme perfectly aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, 12, 14 and 15 and puts a spotlight on wild animals and plant species making up the world’s biodiversity.
To do your part in saving the environment, follow these 5 easy tips:
- Reduce, reuse, recycle
By reducing the amount of disposable plastics you consume, you reduce the waste stream and ultimately reduce the risk that the waste ends up contaminating the marine environment.
- Sustainable food sources
Before ordering that sushi or seafood platter, ask yourself where it came from. Many species are overfished, with some facing ecological extinction. Being an informed seafood consumer can help to reduce the demand for overfished species
- Boycott products that endanger wildlife
Shop conscientiously to protect endangered wildlife. Look out for products made from sustainable materials and dine at restaurants that refuse to serve endangered species.
- Be water-wise
Conserve water with these simple things; Shorter showers, fixing leaky toilets and using low-flow and low-water appliance options.
- Drive less
Reduce your carbon footprint by changing your driving habits. Take a walk, ride a bike, carpool or use public transportation whenever possible.
– Additional information sourced from livescience.com; Biologicaldiversity.org and wildlifeday.org.