World Environment Day 2020 is on 5th June

Posted on 8:00pm Monday 1st Jun 2020

The 5^th June is World Environment Day It’s time #ForNature

Colombia is the host nation

This year, the global host is Colombia. The country is home to 51,000 species with the largest variety of birds and orchids in the world. It ranks second in diversity of plants, butterflies, freshwater fish and amphibians and they flourish in over 300 types of ecosystems, some of which are in protected areas. Find out more about Colombia here.

We need nature

As the website points out, our food, air and water all come from nature. And clearly we are living in times when nature is sending us a very strong message:

To care for ourselves, we must care for nature. Or, as I like to put it, look after earth, and she will look after us.

We need to build back better for People and Planet.

Visit the website – there’s a lot to get involved with including a biodiversity quiz,

There’s a practical guide for individuals, faith groups, businesses, cities, governments, schools, universities, youth groups and civil society. You can access it here.

Download the guide

Please at the very least, take time to read this tool kit. Amongst other things, it explains that the five main drivers for biodiversity loss are:

Land-use change – our demand for food and resoruces are driving deforestation and destroying natural habitats world-wide.

Over-explotation of plants and animals, from the large to the tiny, with fishing, logging and poaching threatening many speicies from the pangolin to the beluga sturgeon

Climate Emergency – our warming seas are melting sea ice, so affecting polar bears, seals and fishing birds. Our coral reefs are in trouble. One in six speices could be threatened with extinction by 2050 if warming trends continue.

How to help World Environment Day

Learn – this is a great chance to find out about the wild species nad habitats we share the planet with.
Share – why is it time #ForNature? Share why you love our natural world.
Act – Act on what you’ve learn to help end biodiversity loss and th climate crisis. Then we can give nature the chance to heal and ensure a better and healthier future for everyone.

There are plenty of ways we can all act as indivdiuals to save nature, from chainging our diet to travelling less, from leaving wild green spaces in our gardens so that pollinators and ground dwelling insects can thrive. We can stop using single-use plastics, and recycle as much as we can. Grow your own (herbs on a window sill for instance, fruit bushes on a patio) and buy locally produced products and foods.

This report has steps groups can take to make a difference and they are worth exploring to see what you can do as a group.

There’s lots of help for schools as well.

Let's all stand up for nature

Some people will may drag their feet and complain. Let them. We cannot afford passengers now on this drive to look after nature. We need to have the courage of our convictions and really start making a difference #ForNature.

Petition to help the koalas of Queensland, Australia

Posted on 8:00pm Sunday 24th May 2020

Koalas Will Go Extinct If We Don't Stop Rampant Deforestation -

Please sign this petition to help them

This petition is to the Government of Queensland, and Care2.com's The Petition Site is running it.

The koala could go extinct within our lifetime, according to researchers. This is mainly because state governments have been much too lenient when it comes to clear-cutting in the koala's last remaining habitats.

For instance, between 2012 and 2016, five thousand koalas died becuase of habitat lost, and 94% of them died because of rural deforetation. Koalas in Queensland are losing ground to huge stores and skyscapers thanks to the threat of new developments.

Unfortunately, the previous premier rolled back tree-clearing laws.

The new premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk is thinking about introducing new measures which would put an end to endless destruction of the koalas habitat.

This petition is about speaking up for koalas, being their voice, and asking the Palaszcuk government to pass new tree-clearing restrictions today. The koalas can't speak up for themeslves - they have no voice. We need to be their voice instead.

Please sign here to help koalas.

International Day of Biological Diversity is on 22 May 2020

Posted on 5:00pm Thursday 21st May 2020

The 22^nd May 2020 is International Day for Biological Diversity and this year, the theme is “our solutions are in nature”.

The UN proclaimed such a day to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.

Here’s the incredible Sir David Attenborough explaining what biodiversity is:

#ShareOurPlanet

Watch Our Planet on Netflix

The Council of the EU has produced a good video, too, called Help Protect Biodiversity and it will protect us

The theme “Our solutions are in nature” emphasises the importance of working together at all levels to build a future of life in harmony with nature.

2020 is a year to reflect, grab the moment and come up with creative and innovative solutions. We all need to work to stop biodiversity loss, for all people and all life on Earth.

Message from BirdLife International on Biodiversity Day 2020

Calling all bird lovers! It's World Migratory Bird Day on 9 May 2020

Posted on 9:00pm Wednesday 6th May 2020

On the 9^th May 2020 (and 10 October 2020), it’s World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD for short).

It’s a global campaign and it’s dedicated to raising awareness of migratory birds and the need for countries around the world to co-operate in their efforts to save them.

This year, the theme is “Birds Connect Our World”.

It was picked to highlight how important it is to conserve and restore the ecological connectivity and integrity of ecosystems which support the natural cycles that are essential for migratory birds to survive and thrive.

The day gives us all an opportunity to discover more about migratory birds and be in awe at their amazing feats.

Migratory birds need networks with stops

Migratory birds travel far. They need to be able to stop to rest and feed and breed. If you like, you could liken it as a journey along a motorway system and every so often, they need to stop for a break to fill their tummies and have a break.

Birds need networks of sites

They need a network of sites along these routes to breed, to feed, to rest and spend the winter. They need different sites and habitats, irrelevant of which country they are in. They can cross incredible distances and over impossible terrains such as deserts and open seas. They cross national borders and soar above any national agenda. What they do need is for countries to co-operate to ensure their routes are kept open and safe for them.

Examples of migratory birds’ routes

The East Asian – Australasian Flyway goes from the Russian Far East and Alaska through East Asia and South-East Asia, down to Australia and New Zealand – 22 countries in all. The Flyway is home to over 50 million migratory waterbirds from over 250 different populations. They need a system of wetlands to rest, feed and build up the energy they need for the next part of their journey.

Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust has an example of swan’s migrating from Slimbridge up to their tundra breeding grounds in the Russian Arctic.

RSPB has information about the Arctic tern who travels a rather amazing 22,000 miles a year – the longest migration of all – as they move continually between the Arctic summer and the Antarctic summer.

Swifts breed throughout Europe as far north as Lapland and the Arctic Circle, reaching east across Asia to China.

So you can see how important it is that countries work together to give these birds the flight paths they need, with all the facilities along the way.

What can be done at a national/international level:

Increase action globally via environment treaties such as the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the Africa-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA). These are vital to protect migratory birds on their international flight paths.
Creating habitat corridors which are protected and which go across boundaries would really help animals who migrate and fly over national boundaries.
Networks of crucial sites which are imperative to migration needs must be safeguarded and managed properly. Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas as described by BirdLife International give migratory birds all they need during their long flights - necessary feeding, breeding, nesting and sheltering grounds.

What individuals like you & me can do:

Have a bird-friendly garden with safe shelters and a bird bath. Give them bird food. Put feeders out of reach of cats.
Spread the word about how important it is to protect migratory birds.
Download and use birding apps – it’s a great way to connect to like-minded bird lovers.
Find out more about migratory birds. There are resources on the WMBD website so fly off and nest and rest there a while and peck at all the information you can.

This day is held twice a year , on 9 May and 10 October so you could prepare an event or attend an October event.

Visit BirdLife International and the WMBD’s site here

Wild Koala Day is on 3rd May 2020 - please add your voice to help koalas

Posted on 8:00am Sunday 3rd May 2020

It's the 3rd May and that means one thing - it's Wild Koala Day :-)

Please visit Koala Corner to see how you can help these adorable animals and meantime, here's a delightful clip from You Tube to enjoy:

Here is the petition mentioned in the clip - if koalas don't have trees, there won't be any koalas, so please sign it and spread the word! Thank you!#

And here are others. Please, please add your voice.