Most of you might have forgotten that, June 5th is World Environment Day. Surely, not worth forgetting it, when we are observing a disastrous change in our environment. Isn’t? However, the good news is that, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has named India, for the first time, as the global host of World Environment Day this year 2011 for 'Embracing the process of a transition to a Green Economy.' India is among a growing number of countries working to address the pressures of ecological change.
What is World Environment Day?
World Environment Day, in existence since 1973, is a day that is supposed to stimulate awareness of the environment and enhance political attention and public action. This day is hosted every year by a different nation with a different theme and is commemorated with an international exposition. Thousands of activities are usually organized worldwide, with beach clean-ups, concerts, exhibits, film festivals, community events and much more. Each year there is a different host city. This year the theme is 'Forests – Nature at Your Service'.
World Environment Day, in existence since 1973, is a day that is supposed to stimulate awareness of the environment and enhance political attention and public action. This day is hosted every year by a different nation with a different theme and is commemorated with an international exposition. Thousands of activities are usually organized worldwide, with beach clean-ups, concerts, exhibits, film festivals, community events and much more. Each year there is a different host city. This year the theme is 'Forests – Nature at Your Service'.
Why saving our forests so critical?
India is a country of 1.2 billion people who continue to put pressure on forests especially in densely populated areas where people are cultivating on marginal lands and where overgrazing is contributing to desertification. That was one of the reasons for them to be selected as the host city this year. Forests cover one third of the earth’s land mass, performing vital functions and services around the world, which make our planet alive with possibilities. In fact, 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihoods. They play a key role in the world ecology, releasing oxygen into the atmosphere while storing carbon dioxide.
India is a country of 1.2 billion people who continue to put pressure on forests especially in densely populated areas where people are cultivating on marginal lands and where overgrazing is contributing to desertification. That was one of the reasons for them to be selected as the host city this year. Forests cover one third of the earth’s land mass, performing vital functions and services around the world, which make our planet alive with possibilities. In fact, 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihoods. They play a key role in the world ecology, releasing oxygen into the atmosphere while storing carbon dioxide.
Forests cover 31% of total land area while at the same time supporting 80% of terrestrial biodiversity that live in them. Many of the worlds’ most threatened and endangered animals live in these forests, making them crucial to sustaining ecosystems. Not only animals live in the forests, as they also provide a home to more than 300 million people worldwide. Beyond supporting the natural habitat, forests sustain economic growth. In 2004, trade in forest products was estimated at $327 billion. Continued and uncontrolled deforestation therefore not only has devastating consequences for the environment, the wildlife, and communities, but for economies around the world. Rather shockingly, 36 million acres of natural forest are lost each year.
What can our Government do?
Governments should develop and implement policies that encourage sustainable use of forests. They should consider cordoning off areas inhabited by endangered species and promote forest restoration where they have been depleted. Private companies also have an opportunity to invest wisely into the new Green Economy whilst developing a socially responsible status with its consumers from this year.
Governments should develop and implement policies that encourage sustainable use of forests. They should consider cordoning off areas inhabited by endangered species and promote forest restoration where they have been depleted. Private companies also have an opportunity to invest wisely into the new Green Economy whilst developing a socially responsible status with its consumers from this year.
What can you do?
Civil society can play a significant role by independently monitoring all parties involved, raising awareness on forests and supporting grassroots initiatives. Like private companies, individuals can make wise premeditated choices over what products they will buy and only purchasing forest products that originate from sustainable sources. This means checking that furniture, wood, paper and other products you buy are verified as coming from legal sources. Most importantly, taking action on forests requires an ongoing commitment to changing lifestyle and therefore is not a one-off action. Your new lifestyle demands that you are forest-conscious in all your choices, consumption, and actions.
Civil society can play a significant role by independently monitoring all parties involved, raising awareness on forests and supporting grassroots initiatives. Like private companies, individuals can make wise premeditated choices over what products they will buy and only purchasing forest products that originate from sustainable sources. This means checking that furniture, wood, paper and other products you buy are verified as coming from legal sources. Most importantly, taking action on forests requires an ongoing commitment to changing lifestyle and therefore is not a one-off action. Your new lifestyle demands that you are forest-conscious in all your choices, consumption, and actions.
Where to begin?
The World Environment Day 2011 website will inspire, inform and involve people through unprecedented interactivity, offering daily tips, information and statistics on forest conservation, a platform where people around the world can register their activities, social networking campaigns and competitions to get people on every continent involved. Log on to http://www.unep.org/WED
How celebrate this day?
Celebrate World Environment Day, by organizing simple activities like planting trees, community clean up, organizing environmental campaigns, taking active interest in bird watching. People should also ensure that these activities are just not limited to World Environment Day, but make it a point that they follow these simple yet effective measures everyday in order to protect our environment.
Lists of day-to-day activities, which can help in conserving our planet and avoid long-term damage, are:
- Choose public transport.
- Bring a cloth bag for shopping and avoid using plastic bags.
- Plant a tree in your neighborhood.
- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
- Use lights with LED’s or Light Emitting Diode’s over incandescent light bulbs.
- Install rainwater harvesting in your house.
- Use eco-friendly products to construct homes and commercial space.
- Reduce your carbon footprint – walk or cycle rather than drive to work
Conclusion
World Environment Day is a day for people from all walks of life to come together and ensure a cleaner, better place to be for themselves and for the future generation. All we can do is contributing effectively towards making this planet a greener and healthier place to live in. Remember, it is all about being environmentally conscious, and small changes make a big impact.
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