“At some point climate change will find its way to your backyard. It will affect everybody,” says Nikhil Advani, director of climate, communities and wildlife for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Here are some ways to make a difference today.
Go Native: A garden with native plants (plants that grew in the U.S. before the settlers came and have evolved to survive) conserves water and electricity, says the WWF’s Advani, and it’s likely to attract pollinators. A native oak tree can support the caterpillars of 500 species of moths and butterflies, providing food for songbirds, says Collin O’Mara, CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. A non-native honey locust, in contrast, supports just three or four caterpillar species. Encourage your local schools, governments and parks to plant more native species. Plug your zip code in the NWF’s database for a list of native plants in your area.
Eat Local: For example: Most of the oysters harvested in the U.S. are farmed in coastal waters by small businesses; buying those aquacultured oysters “supports small businesses and is a surprisingly direct way to help,” says Sarah Cooley, climate science director for the Ocean Conservancy. Because aquafarms hatch and produce their own oysters, wild oysters and oyster reefs are left intact. “Aquacultured oysters help clean the water and improve the area while not asking a whole lot of the environment in return,” Cooley says. “That, plus the overall strong environmental stewardship philosophy of U.S. shellfish growers, make oyster aquaculture in the U.S. a real win-win for the environment.”
Cut Down on Plastic: Every year, 8 million metric tons of plastic pours into the world’s oceans—that’s a garbage truck of plastic waste every minute, says the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Three kinds of plastic—fishing debris, filmlike plastic (like on your store-bought veggies) and latex (such as balloons)—are responsible for the majority of deaths among 80 “marine megafauna” species, including dolphins, whales, seals, seabirds and sea turtles. Say no to plastic bags, swap out plastic wrap for reusable food storage bags and don’t release balloons. (Instead of party balloons—which can take years to break down—try nontoxic bubbles. Visit Bubble Tree online to find an eco-friendly refillable bubble system.) Check out rePurpose to calculate your own annual plastic footprint.
Eat More Fish: Consuming protein that leaves a small carbon footprint can make a big difference. Swapping beef out for fish even twice a week is “a good move in the right direction,” says Katie Matthews, chief scientist with Oceana. “Fish is one of the most climate-smart and nutrient rich sources of protein on the planet. And it requires no fresh water or grazing space.”
Use Your Buying Power: Contact manufacturers and retailers whenever you buy something with excess plastic packaging to suggest they make changes; social media is a good way to bring attention to the issue too. Ask your area stores to carry more local goods, which cuts down on environment-unfriendly shipping.
Support Monarchs: Adult monarchs need your help: They feed on hundreds of different flowers and need nectar from spring through fall. Make your garden monarch-friendly by planting several kinds of pesticide-free native milkweed that flower at different times, says Tierra Curry, a senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD). Avoid tropical milkweed, which is invasive, or milkweed that’s been treated with insecticides to be aphid resistant. Go to Save Our Monarchs to request free seeds.
Vote for the Next Generation: “Talk to your friends and neighbors about climate change. Make climate a key voting issue,” says Shaye Wolf, climate science director for the CBD. “Action right now is critical to what kind of planet we leave to our children.”
Speak Up: Contact your local and federal politicians to express your support for legislation that will help protect species, from clean energy bills to the the Big Cat Public Safety Act to protect tigers. “Biodiversity conservation is a bipartisan issue. Wildlife conservation is a bipartisan issue,” Advani says.
Be Aware: Since the pandemic began, illegal trafficking of items like tiger furs, rhino horns and elephant ivory has moved from brick-and-mortar stores to online, says Colby Loucks, vice president of wildlife conservation for the WWF. The WWF and other organizations are pushing social media companies to remove ads for items like these. You can familiarize yourselves with commonly trafficked endangered species (“A lot of people might not know what a pangolin is or that it’s one of the most trafficked species in the world,” Loucks says), and how to report it if you see endangered species and their parts/products for sale online. Every platform (e.g. Facebook, eBay, Etsy) typically has its own reporting mechanism, but you can go to Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online to file a report.
--- Parade, April 12, 2022, Kathleen McCleary (edited)
