Happy biodiversity day, planet Earth
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Today is the International Day of Biological Diversity. We think it’s a day that matters a lot ‒ but do you?
If your answer is “no”, “why does this matter to me?” or even “what does biological diversity mean?” then please read on. If the answer is yes, then we’re delighted to hear it (but please keep reading too).
Biological diversity (fortunately, you can shorten it slightly to biodiversity) is a technical way of describing all the amazing natural places and species on our one planet.
And today is about encouraging all of us to appreciate biodiversity’s incredible amazingness and discover how we can help to keep it thriving, not just for the wildlife we love but for people too.
Yes, it’s not just about ‘beauty’. Biodiversity does lots of important things to keep us alive ‒ things like provide clean water, food, air and stable climate.
Discover fantastic biodiversity
Our friends at the UN, who came up with the idea of having a Biodiversity day every year, decided to focus 2017 on the importance of sustainable tourism in maintaining biodiversity. So here’s a virtual tourist trip to help you discover some of the world’s most incredible biodiversity hotspots, also recognized as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
WWF is campaigning to protect World Heritage sites around the world. And it’s not only because we love the nature that’s there, but, just as important, we’re looking out for the 11 million or more people who rely on these sites for their well-being and happiness.
Nepal
First we travel to the Himalayas and visit Chitwan National Park, the first to be established in Nepal. Best known for its majestic inhabitants like the Bengal tiger, the greater one horned rhino and the Asian elephant, the park also has lots of other species such as the rusty spotted cat, jungle cat, leopard and leopard cat, sloths, bears, as well as antelopes and deer. Chitwan recently marked 1,000 days of zero rhino poaching (hurray!). And income raised through tourism has been invested in public projects, including schools, roads, sustainable dams and health facilities (another big hurray!).
Selous, Tanzania © Michael Poliza / WWF
Tanzania
From Asia, we travel to Selous, one of Africa’s oldest reserves and Tanzania’s largest protected area. Selous is home to wildlife including African elephant, black rhinoceros, hippopotamus, giraffe, cheetah and 12 per cent of all endangered African wild dogs. Sadly, it was placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2014 due to rampant poaching (we’re working hard to turn this around).
Belize
From the jungles we head to the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System where sea turtles glide through the water and colourful corals dot the ocean floor. The reef’s beauty is breathtaking but unfortunately, there is talk to develop oil offshore. We believe protecting the reef can be good for nature and people too. Currently, coastal and marine activities are responsible for 60 per cent of Belize’s tourism revenues — imagine the impact sustainable tourism could have on lives and marine life!
Philippines
And finally, let’s head back to Asia for some good news. Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in the Philippines is often considered to be the best dive spot in the country. It’s home to around 600 species of tropical fish, 360 species of corals, several species of sharks, whales and dolphins and a nesting population of endangered hawksbill and green sea turtles. Sustainable management of the Tubbataha Reefs has not only led to increased fish stocks but also a five-fold increase in incomes among the local Cagayancillo community.
Help save our biodiversity
When sustainably managed, World Heritage sites can support both conservation and community-wide development ‒ maintaining biodiversity not only helps preserve life but changes lives too. We hope this quick read gives you a good idea about the progress we’re making and the challenges we still face.
So please join us at WWF in fighting to protect our biodiversity.
Visit https://makeyourmark.panda.org/ to take action and spread the word.
