Who and how started World Nature Conservation Day?
There are different accounts on how this day, celebrating the protection of nature, was introduced and by whom. Few sources associate the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with the creation of this celebratory day. This seems to make sense because protecting biodiversity is central to the work of the IUCN. Other sources, however, point to a different origin, namely the UN as the driving force behind the World Nature Conservation Day. In 1972, the UN held the first major international conference focused on environmental issues in Stockholm. The official report of the conference mentions the introduction of the World Environment Day (5th of June, commemorating the establishment of the UNEP), but not Nature Conservation Day, and in the UN calendar for international days, the 28th of July is stated to be World Hepatitis Day.
Thus, there seems to be no anchoring of the World Nature Conservation Day within a bigger, influential organization. This is a pity, as it would give the day more international recognition and awareness, as well as guidance and resources to help take action. On a positive note, there are multiple international days, officially declared by the UN, that concern environmental issues where nature conservation plays a central role,
for instance World Wetlands Day (2nd of February), World Wildlife Day (3rd of March), and the aforementioned World Environment Day (5th of June). Additionally, there are international days dedicated to particular ecosystems or species, like glaciers (21st of March), bees (20th of May) and soil (5th of December). There is even a World Habitat Day on the 6th of October, which is great as understanding, restoring and protecting habitats is a central theme in nature conservation. Still, it is worth having a day dedicated specifically to the conservation of nature, to pause and reflect on our role in it and celebrate the efforts and achievements of conservationists worldwide who dedicated their life and work to protecting the most precious resource we have: nature.
17 % of the planet’s surface is protected – is this enough to celebrate?
News about the declining state of nature and wildlife, as well as the ongoing devastating rates at which natural resources are being depleted in an unsustainable manner, it does not seem like there are a lot of reasons to celebrate. Currently, around 17 % of the planet’s area (both land and marine) is protected, which falls short of the global goal to protect at least 30 % by 2030. Reports on these numbers, analyses, and projections paint an overall dark picture, suggesting that we are not going to be able to create enough protected areas in the near future. So, what exactly should we celebrate then? Well, what these studies and news coverage often neglect is what is behind these 17 %:
Numerous projects are being undertaken by committed conservationists who are passionate about what they are doing. They often dedicate their life and work to protecting habitats, species and ecosystems and have to fight their way through the funding jungle. Their efforts are definitely worth celebrating.
Hundreds of species were saved from extinction, habitats were protected against destruction or restored after destruction, and ecosystems stabilized. For each one of them, we can be thankful and we should celebrate that we still have them.
All the lessons learned and all the Know-How accumulated through the conservation projects, whether they were successful and made it into the 17 % or they failed and did not. Knowledge and experience is truly powerful when it comes to nature conservation, so with each project, we get better at protecting nature. Yes, there is still a long way to go, but that does not mean we can not celebrate the steps in between.
How to celebrate it?
There is, unfortunately, no one organization taking responsibility for this day. That means there is no program or theme, or website for this day, where one could get access to inspiration or resources. Time to get creative and make World Nature Conservation Day your own! Here are a few ideas to spark some inspiration:
Become active. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to do more for nature – take this day as an opportunity to do so! This could mean reaching out to a local environmental organization to volunteer or creating a petition about an environmental issue you find important.
If this kind of activism is not possible, consider financially contributing to an environmental cause by donating to an organization that is concerned with nature protection. These kinds of organizations are often dependent on private donations, so this will actually help them a lot.
Reflect on your lifestyle and think about how you can incorporate more sustainable behaviors in your daily life. Maybe it is a small step like using a reusable coffee filter, maybe a bigger decision like changing your electricity supplier, but every effort that prioritizes sustainable practices counts.
Go outside. Take a walk in nature and observe all the different animals and plants you encounter. This can help reconnect with nature, appreciating the nature around us and putting things into perspective if a sense of doom overcomes you.
Learn about nature conservation and spread awareness. Read the Ubuntu magazine (or a book, article, or news on environmental issues), watch a nature documentary, or follow a webinar that covers nature conservation topics. Speak with your friends, family and colleagues about the things you learn. These things are way more powerful than one might think, as they create waves, trigger something in the people you talk to and might lead to downstream effects you could not even anticipate.
So today we celebrate this beautiful day, one that aligns with our values, interests and the well-being of every living thing on our planet. A tribute to everything that’s been done so far and the people involved, and a reminder that we are making progress. There are many ways to celebrate this day, so pick yours and let’s go! Happy World Nature Conservation Day!
