1. To consume less, reuse, and recycle.
This is probably the most obvious way to help wildlife. I'll start with water, of which there are some very simple ways to conserve. Take a shorter shower, don't keep the water running while you brush your teeth, and run only full loads in your clothes and dishwashers (for more, visit http://eartheasy.com/live_water_saving.htm). You could save thousands of gallons this year! While you're running your washers less, you're also saving electricity. Other ways to save include unplugging your phone, computer, etc. chargers when you aren't using them, turning lights off during the day and when you leave a room, turning down your thermostat when you are leaving the house for an extended period, line-drying your clothes, and sweeping instead of vacuum when possible (find more at http://urbannaturale.com/21-eco-friendly-ways-to-cut-down-on-electricity-in-your-home/). Turn everything off and go have fun outside!
The average American uses 70 gallons of water a day (Eartheasy). Source: Google Images
Reuse and recycle your plastic; plastic grocery bags and water bottles can take 1,000 years to decompose, and plastic is toxic to wildlife (for some shocking stats on plastic bags, see http://www.reusethisbag.com/25-reasons-to-go-reusable.php). Glass can basically be recycled indefinitely, and there are also plenty of Pinterest crafts to help you find nifty ways to reuse your glass.
Plastic bottles and bags are unfortunately a common sight along many shorelines. Source: Google Images
2. To know where the things you buy come from, and what they are made of.
In today's world we have unlimited access to millions of products from all over. It's important to realize that different countries and companies have different environmental and ethical standards of production. You may be inadvertently contributing to rainforest destruction and the exotic pet trade by buying certain palm oil products, including peanut butter, toothpaste, candy bars, and many other items. The exfoliating Microbeads found in some of the facial cleansers and beauty products many of us use were recently found to clog the gills of fish and aquatic invertebrates and poison their predators. If you're like me, you LOVE your jeans, however, the production of jeans involves heavy pesticide usage, high water consumption, and water and air pollution. Wear your jeans out, try to buy used pairs, and research eco-friendly brands. If you're a crafter like me, be aware that feathers, furs, and other wildlife products, unless otherwise stated, likely come from animals that lived their entire lives in tiny cages without proper nutrition and medical care, rather than sustainably hunted and ethically treated wildlife. If you're buying an exotic pet, do your research and make sure it was captive born, and that the pet trade isn't contributing to its species decline. If you travel abroad, read about wildlife products to avoid before buying them as souvenirs. Seashells, pelts, and other parts may have been taken from threatened species. How do you like them apples? Buy organic when possible, as over 45 pesticides have been found on this fruit. Pesticides have been correlated with the decline of honey-bees, aerial insectivores (those fast-diving birds that you can watch catch insects in flight), and more (for more on fruits, see http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/healthy/news/g168/dirty-dozen-foods/?slide=2).
Source: http://www.ucsusa.org/
3. To eat some more rabbit food!
Also falling under resolution #2, many meats at our supermarkets come from CAFOs (Confined Animal Feeding Operations, also known as Factory Farms), where animals are kept in crowded, tight enclosures. The animals here produce 500 million tons of manure annually, which pollutes water, soil, and air, causing toxic algal blooms, fish kills, and more. Livestock production also involves high water consumption (~1,850 gallons per 1 pound beef), high production of the greenhouse gases Carbon Dioxide, Methane, and Nitrous Oxide, and is heavily dependent on fossil fuel energy. How can we lessen this environmental impact? Try eating vegetarian a few times a week. Although monoculture crops carry some negative environmental impacts, growing vegetables consumes less resources (Ex. ~39 gallons of water per pound vegetables). Think about this: If we fed all of the grain we use to feed livestock to people, we could feed approximately 840 million. Meatless Monday (the website for which is where I am finding these statistics) is a growing movement that is exactly what it sounds like. The Environmental Defense Fund states that if every American ate vegetables instead of chicken for one meal a week, it would be energetically equivalent to taking 500,000 cars off the road. By eating less meat, you can help the environment, animal welfare, and your own health. For more info, check out the video below:
4. To stay up-to-date on wildlife issues.
2016 is a big year for wildlife issues. The US will elect its 45th president this year, and it is important for us to take the candidates' stances on climate change, EPA regulations, protection of water bodies and wetlands, and other environmental concerns into consideration as voters. How will the Greater Sage Grouse do after the US Fish & Wildlife's decision to not list the bird under the Endangered Species Act back in September, and what is the future of the Act itself? What species will be declared endangered this year? What species will go extinct? In 2014 it was Kendall Jones, in 2015 it was Walter Palmer; what trophy hunters will become infamous through social media shaming this year, and is trophy hunting a valid form of conservation? On June 19th, 2015, the USFWS made a bold statement by crushing one ton of seized ivory in Times Square. Illegal wildlife trade cannot be tolerated, yet ports of entry into the US are significantly understaffed. What will this year bring in the arenas of wildlife trafficking and the exotic pet trade? As suburbs continue to sprawl and human-wildlife conflicts inevitably continue, what will be the fate of large predators like Gray Wolves and Mountain Lions? These are just a few of many uncertainties. By reading news articles, following conservation groups like Defenders of Wildlife and Center for Biological Diversity, and sharing and discussing what you read and learn with friends and family, you can help bring attention to these issues and help solve them.
In 2015, the USFWS crushed 1 ton of ivory they seized back, a bold statement declaring that illegal wildlife trafficking will not be tolerated. Source: Google Images
The Amur Leopard is one of the many species that may be extinct by the end of 2016. Source: Google Images
5. To join, or even help organize, a community conservation effort.
A final New Year's Resolution you can make for wildlife and conservation is to take part in community conservation efforts. This can include volunteering for a clean-up of a local park, participating in a tree or native grass planting, participating in a bird count, donating supplies to or volunteering with a local wildlife rehabilitation center, and more. These are rewarding experiences and a way to connect with others. You can grow, learn, encourage others to become involved, and become a conservation leader in your community.
Adopt-A-Park is an annual clean-up event put on by the Five Rivers MetroParks in my hometown of Dayton, Ohio. Source: Google Images
I hope you've found this blog inspiring rather than overwhelming. There are a plethora of issues facing wildlife today, but I remain optimistic in our ability to solve them. We must work together, and the start of a new year is a perfect time to make or strengthen a commitment to help wildlife. Biodiversity is beautiful and must be preserved; if we continue to allow other species to fall, eventually ours will too. Remember, we are all connected.
Wishing everyone growth, inspirations, and adventures in the New Year.
-Jess
