198_Fourteen Things You Can Do to Help Protect Our Biodiversity

Adventures in Sustainable Living Podcast

E198

Fourteen Things You Can Do to Help Protect Our Biodiversity

Considering all that is going on in our world it is not surprising that the average person feels as if what they do makes no difference. Yet it is the cumulative affect of our individual choices that has produced dramatic changes on our planet. And it is the cumulative affect of our choices that will decide whether humans continue to thrive.

Of all the things we have altered, the loss of biodiversity is the most concerning. It is the one thing that maintains healthily ecosystems and it is these ecosystems that keeps things in balance. Everyone of us is dependent on the natural world to provide us with what we need yet we are slowly destroying the very foundation that guarantees our survival.

So join me for E198 Fourteen Things You Can Do to Help Protect Biodiversity.

Welcome back everyone to the Adventures in Sustainable Living Podcast. This is your host Patrick and this is E198 Fourteen Things You Can Do to Help Protect Our Biodiversity.

One of the most important things that keeps our planetary ecosystems in balance is biodiversity. What we see on our planet is the product of 4.5 billion years of evolution. But for various reasons human activity is destroying the very foundation of what we need to survive. In this episode I want to discuss 14 things each of us can do to play our part in protecting our natural world and to keep things in balance.

But before we get started, lets get a couple of things out of the way.

Sustainability question of the week

And I like this question because it goes right along with the good news story of the week.

How much plastic waste do we produce?

Good news story of the week

As you likely know by now plastic pollution has become the bane of our existence. Plastics are now found in every place on the planet. We even have microplastics in our bloodstream. But I am happy to say, there are some very smart people coming up with some creative solutions to our plastic dilemma. And one such company is called Bio Reform.

One of the plastic products that is a significant environmental problem is plastic bags. The world uses close to one trillion plastic bags annually. Most of these are single use. They are difficult to recycle if they can be recycled. And plastic bags take hundreds of years to degrade and this of course contributes to micro-plastic pollution. Bio Reform has found a unique solution to this. 

This is a start up company in India that is using sugar, cellulose, and corn fiber waste to produce shopping bags that degrade in 180 days. The company has now replaced 6 million plastic bags at the checkout counters all over India.

After overcoming several challenges Bio Reform is now turning a profit. And the company is dedicated to helping to make India plastic free. 

So, this weeks round of applause goes to the ingenuity of Bio Reform.

To get us stated here I think it is important to explain why biodiversity is so important to our planet. But to show the value here I want to quickly review the concept of a keystone species. This concept was first introduced in 1969 by a zoologist named Robert T Paine. A keystone species is one that has a disproportionately large affect on the natural environment relative to its abundance. What this means is that other species in the ecosystem depend heavily on the presence and activity of the keystone species.

So, look at it this way. Every ecosystem has certain species that are critical to the survival of the other species in the system. The keystone species could be a predator or an unassuming plant, but without them the ecosystem may not survive.

Coral reefs around the world are one good example. Coral reefs are often referred to as being the “rain forests of the sea”. Coral actually covers less than 1% of the ocean floor yet coral reefs support approximately 25 percent of all known marine species. Reefs provide homes for more than 4,000 species of fish and protect thousands and thousands of species of plants. The loss of global coral reefs would have a devastating affect on our marine ecosystems.

Bees are another good example. Approximately 70 out of the top 100 agricultural plants used to feed the worlds population depends on pollinators such as bees. Without bees there would be a significant decline in our food production.  Yet, long-term studies have revealed there has been an 85% decline in bee populations mostly due to the use of pesticides and loss of habitat.

Beavers are another great example. The result of all their environmental engineering provides ponds, marshes and wetlands that provide habitat for fish, insects, turtles, plants, birds, and even moose and elk. Without them that entire ecosystem would never even exist.

At any rate it is these keystone species that are vital to biodiversity. And if changes in our planet continue at the present rate we are facing the extinction of nearly one million species in the decades to come. That would result in a significant loss in biodiversity and far reaching affects on our planetary ecosystems most of which we can never predict at this point.

And just for a little prospective on this subject:

-Three billion birds have disappeared from North America since 1970.

-Beetles have declined by 83% over the last 40 years.

-Global bee populations have declined by 85%

-In the U.S. nearly 41% of ecosystems are already at risk of collapse.

-We lose two football fields worth of habit every single minute.

-In 2020 the World Economic Forum declared that biodiversity loss was one of the top threats to the global economy.

And just to be clear, this is not a problem that appeared unexpectedly. There are a number of reasons this has happened. The challenge for us as individuals is that we only see what is in front of us and consequently only have a perspective on our local community. But this is why it is so important, especially today,  that we continuously educate ourselves.

According to the United Nations Environment Program, there are five primary factors that drive the loss of biodiversity. And these 5 factors are no big surprise. 

Climate change

Climate change continues to be one of the most important causes of biodiversity degradation. Since 1980 greenhouse gas emissions have doubled and resulted in a 0.7 ℃ increase in global temperature. This of course has dramatic effects on local ecosystems.

Pollution

Pollution is another factor that has devastating and far reaching effects on local, freshwater and marine water habitats.

Direct exploitation of natural resources

The exploitation of our natural resources is threatening nearly one million species around the planet as well as the livelihoods of nearly one billion people.

Changes in land use as well as water

Conversion of land for agriculture and urbanization is yet another major factor threatening biodiversity.

Invasive species

Humans has introduced 37,000 invasive alien species into ecosystems around the world. This has

been a major factor in 60 per cent of all extinctions and costs the global economy more than US$423 billion annually.

Now to be clear, this is a global issue. To solve this global issue is going to require cooperative and significant effort on the part of everyone, from the individual right up to the highest level of government.

But since this is a global issue, you may think and feel as if your individual action means nothing. But just imagine for a moment what would happen if every single person committed to any one of the following.

-Never use a disposable plastic bottle again. That would save almost 482 billion plastic bottles per year.

-Never use a plastic bag again. That would save up to 5 trillion plastic bags annually.

-Walk or ride a bike for trips under a mile. That would be the same as taking 400,000 vehicles off the road if we did this only half the time.

As you can see, individual choices do make a difference. So, what can each of us do to have a positive impact on biodiversity?

How to Protect Biodiversity

Respect the natural habitats in your area

Nature preserves and parks play a vital role in protecting the local ecosystem. If you take advantage of these resources then stay on the path or hiking trail. Keep pets on leashes. Encourage your children to do the same. Better yet, teach your children the value in protecting the environment.

Save the bees

As mentioned before, bees play a vital role in our global ecosystem. Put up some bee boxes and planet flowers that attract bees. When making landscaping improvements be mindful that the products you use are not toxic. Since the pesticides we use is one of the primary reasons for decreases in bee populations, find natural alternatives to pest control. And most of all, stop putting toxic chemicals on your yard.

Turn your yard into a wildlife habitat

Instead of landscaping your entire yard, leave part of it completely natural. If you are going to plant things, make sure they are things that are native to your area. Your local nursery is a great source of native species as well as being a great source of education.

Support local farms

Support those local farmers is a great way to keep your dollar local, eat organic, and greatly reduce the impact of transporting food from farm to table. This is also a great way to eat in-season local produce.

Conserve water as much as possible

Plant a zero-scape yard that requires little or no maintenance.  Take shorter showers. Turn the water off while washing your hands and brushing your teeth. Limit the number of times you flush the toilet. Never use the dishwasher or clothes washer without it having a full load.

Know the source of your products

Evaluate the sources for the most common products you buy. Make sure your buying habits are not contributing to environmental destruction somewhere else.

For example, the production of palm oil is one of the greatest drivers of deforestation in Asia. Certain products, such as cotton, have a disproportionate affect on biodiversity.

Know the Eco-label Index

The Ecolabel Index has a list of a couple of hundred eco-labels and what they mean. This can be a great way to find environmentally friendly companies.

Change your consumption patterns

Consumption patterns is something each of us can change. From the food we eat to the products we buy to the services we use, everything we do has an impact.  We are truly at the point where we have to consider every single choice we make so choose carefully.

We should rethink our purchasing decisions, reduce how much we buy, buy second hand, rent equipment instead of buying brand new. Considering reducing your meat consumption.

Recycling and reducing waste

Recycling and reducing waste is another powerful way we can reduce our environmental impact. Reducing what we waste and throw away means we reduce pollution and reduce the use of natural resources needed to produce yet another product.

Reduce your food waste

The amount of food we waste on a global basis is astounding. It is enough to feed all the hungry people in the world three times over. Since it is our food production that has the greatest environmental impact, we are wasting resources for absolutely no good reason. We keep destroying more and more habitat to produce more food. If we stopped wasting food, we would not need any more land for food production.

It is possible to reduce your personal food waste to ZERO. If there is any one thing we can all do to have a positive impact on biodiversity it is reducing our own food waste. 

Unplug devices and appliances when not in use

One easy thing we can all do is to leave our devices unplugged when we are not using them.  Leaving everything plugged in all the time and in ready mode adds as much as 10% to your utility bill every month. And this habit costs us billions of dollars a year.

Because new appliances are mostly electronic, they are always drawing electricity. If we all left everything unplugged the amount of electricity we would save would be the equivalent of taking 40 coal fired power plants off line for a year.

Spend Time in Nature

Believe it or not one of the best things you can do to protect biodiversity is to spend time in nature. On a global basis about 60% of us now live in urban areas. In the United States that is as much as 80%. What this means is that we are becoming completely disconnected from the natural world.

Spending time in nature makes you appreciate the intrinsic value of the natural world. People will always work to protect what they love. So, go outside.

Plant a Tree

Planting a tree provides numerous benefits. Trees absorb CO2 and release oxygen into the atmosphere. Believe it or not, one large tree can provide enough oxygen for four people.

But trees also provide natural habitat for local wildlife. They also shade your home and will reduce your electricity bill. And believe it nor not, a single tree in your yard can increase your home value by as much as 2%.

Support organizations that work to save, restore and protect the environment

There are many conservation organizations that need your support. These are the people that do research and publish educational articles on pertinent issues. They do on the ground work to push conservation effects. And they often provide the political force to pressure our politicians to pass appropriate legislation. If you are involved in one of these organization you can also support political action that targets environmental conservation and saving biodiversity.

Educate Your Children

 By far one of the most impactful things we can do is to teach our children about the value of the natural world. They will carry those values into the next generation. This is what will preserve our world for those that come after us.

Confucius once said, “If your plan is for one year, plant rice. If your plan is for 10 years, plant a tree. If your plan is for 100 years, educate children.

Summary

Hopefully by now you can see just how critical  it is that we protect the biodiversity of this planet. The enormous variety of species we have is the result of 4.5 billion years of evolution. Humanity has managed to destroy a significant portion of that in only a few thousand years. Those changes have greatly accelerated over the past 200 years. It is time to put the brakes on before we reach a point of no return.

It is true that tackling this crises will take significant cooperation at all levels of society. It also means that governments around the world are going to have to cooperate with one another. However, there is a tremendous amount that we can do as individuals to contribute to the solution.

Things such as protecting local habitats, changing our patterns of consumption, reducing our waste, eliminating food waste all make a significant difference. But we also have to create institutions and elect leaders who are willing to protect biodiversity. I know it sounds like a lot but our individual decisions and actions do make a difference. 

Now let’s talk for a minute about the sustainability question of the week.

How much plastic waste do we produce?

In 1950 the world only produced 2 million tons of plastic per year. Between 1950 and 2019 the cumulative plastic production is 9.5 billion tons of plastic. That is more than one ton of plastic for every person alive today. 

Without changes to current policies, global plastic waste generation if projected to triple by 2060 to one billion metric tons.

Well folks, I think one of the most valuable things we can do in protecting our planet is to spend time in nature to reconnect. After all, we will protect the things we come to love. Beyond that, we need to teach others to do the same, especially our children. It is truly not difficult to make a difference. Sometimes it is just a matter of evaluation our personal values and changing our prospective.

Well, that is it for this week. Please take the time to visit the home page for the podcast which can be found at adventuresinsustainableliving.com

Until next week, this is your host Patrick signing off. Always remember to live sustainably because this is how we build a better future.