SALVATION OF MOTHER NATURE: WORLD NATURE CONSERVATION DAY

World Nature Conservation Day is marked on the global annual calendar on the 28th of July. Although opinions vary and the exact history of the day and details regarding its inception are not exactly known or clarified, it is accepted worldwide, the marked importance of World Nature Conservation Day. It is considered to be a global event that raises awareness of what conservation is all about, the urgent and critical need for conservation of nature, and also highlights the key responsibilities of an individual towards conservation of nature. It is a day set apart to bring to the attention of the community, the importance of sustainable use and management, as well as the preservation of natural resources, including biotic resources such as trees, forests, and wildlife, and abiotic resources such as soil, air, water bodies like oceans, rivers, and minerals. This internationally commemorated day focuses on the preservation of natural habitats, biodiversity and ecosystems.

In the simplest of terms, nature is everything that we naturally see around us. This includes the fauna, flora, and diversity of habitats seen all over the world, biological processes such as animal behavioural patterns and weathering of rocks, as well as natural cycles such as the water cycle and biological systems. All of these, broadly called natural resources, may be classified into different categories based on different criteria, such as biotic-abiotic and renewable-non-renewable. It is first and foremost very important that we recognize what belongs to nature, and have a clear idea about the various aspects of it, so as to determine the best possible way of sustainable use and preservation of the particular resource.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), conservation can be defined as, “the management of human use of the biosphere so that it may yield the greatest sustainable benefit to present generations while maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of future generations”. In the above symbol given in their World Conservation Strategy, the circle symbolizes the biosphere, which is the thin covering of the planet that contains and sustains life. The three interlocking, overlapping arrows symbolize the three objectives of conservation: maintenance of essential ecological processes and life-support systems; preservation of genetic diversity; and sustainable utilization of species and ecosystems.
Gifford Pinchot, a well-known pioneer in nature conservation, and also considered the father of conservation due to his emphasis on the controlled yet successful use of natural resources in a way that’d be of maximum use to humans, stated that,
“Conservation means the wise use of the earth & its resources for the lasting good of mankind”.

Then we must answer the question, What is the purpose of conservation of nature?

At the very basic stage, the conservation of nature is essential to ensuring that mankind can continue to benefit from the available resources for a long period of time. However, in the modern fast paced world, with the destruction of natural resources for commercial purposes, at an alarming rate, it is essential to pay attention to nature conservation, to ensure the mere survival of humans. This can be explained by the fact that all organisms on Earth are connected with each other, resulting in the destruction or damage to a particular resource affecting all organisms on Earth. For example, pollution of water through the addition of commercial wastes and chemicals leads to the destruction of that natural resource, which in turn will have detrimental effects on aquatic flora, and aquatic wildlife, which will, in turn, affect humans consuming these fish or those consuming polluted and contaminated water.
Another aspect of this that we must consider, is the misuse of the wildlife resource. Long-term neglect of proper conservation methods and excessive destruction of natural habitats without proper organization of substitute solutions, lead to particular species getting extinct, resulting in changes in the food chain, and thus affecting all interconnected organisms as well as environmental conditions.

Also, with regard to present-day industrial malpractices such as the emission of harmful gases such as CO2 and CO will result in atmospheric pollution, leading to global warming and climate change, which will in turn affect the balanced environmental states of the earth and lead to diseases. The use of fossil fuels will also affect the environmental conditions of the earth, and uncontrolled use of these will lead to running out of these natural resources as they are non-renewable, leaving future generations unable to make use of these resources. Mining for minerals and deep-sea mining could also lead to changes in habitats, severely affecting the occupied organisms. These are a few reasons why we must be taking action towards the conservation of nature. It is also one of the reasons that this day is commemorated by many, all over the world.

To officially commemorate this day dedicated to the conservation of nature, and to ensure a safe and sustainable life for future generations, various programmes and events take place all over the world. These various events focus on the conservation of nature in various aspects, such as wildlife conservation, flora conservation, forest conservation, soil conservation, water conservation, and many more. Some events that take place include tree-planting campaigns, international policy advocacy, workshops, conservation education programmes, conservation projects, and many more.

However, there are certain ways in which this international day can be commemorated on an individual level as well. These include the use of the 3R system by yourself: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Reading and understanding the importance of nature conservation, educating others, organizing or participating in cleanups and various types of conservation projects, and showing support to conservation organizations. It is very important that we integrate these little things into our daily lives, and practice them at all times, in order to conserve nature, and natural resources and to ensure that we use the natural resources in a sustainable manner, thereby protecting the ability of future generations to make use of these natural resources and ensuring the safe survival of all species of organisms.

Written by:

Mokshavi Gunasekera

1^st Year Undergraduate

Faculty of Science

University of Colombo.

References:

• Business Standard. (n.d.). When is World Nature Conservation Day, Meaning, Theme, Importance. www.business-standard.com. https://www.business-standard.com/about/when-is-world-nature-conservation-day
• Conservation. (n.d.). Young People’s Trust for the Environment. https://ypte.org.uk/factsheets/conservation/why-is-conservation-important-for-the-environment
• Das, T. (2023b, July 26). World Nature Conservation Day 2023: Date, history, significance of the day. Hindustan Times. https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/festivals/world-nature-conservation-day-2023-date-history-significance-of-the-day-101690349146399.html
• Governance and management. (2024). In Elsevier eBooks (pp. 301–364). https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-443-13752-5.00011-9
• Krahel, O. (2023, July 20). World Nature Conservation Day. European Wilderness Society. https://wilderness-society.org/world-nature-conservation-day/
• Sharma, N. (2024b, July 23). World Nature Conservation Day 2024, History, Importance. PHYSICS WALLAH. https://www.pw.live/exams/current-affairs/world-nature-conservation-day-2024/

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