World Nature Conservation Day: Theme, Quotes, History, Significance

28 July is celebrated internationally as World Nature Conservation Day. The day is a reminder to us that our planet has limited resources.  All the surrounding natural resources around us are no less than a precious gift of Mother Earth. It is our responsibility to utilize it in a sustainable way.

Unfortunately, the pace of our acquisitiveness is only increasing with time. There is no limit to human ingenuity. The only irony is our wish to grow at the cost of over-exploitation of finite resources. We have gone ahead with industrial growth and development at the cost of over-exploitation. Mother nature has started showing us warnings in the form of climate change, increased natural disasters, etc. But we are blatantly ignoring all these signs. Scientists have also warned about the mass extinction of our species in the near future, but we hardly pay any heed to it.

Thus, in order to make people acknowledge the importance of natural resources, World Nature Conservation Day is celebrated on 28 July every year. The day reiterates that a healthy environment is not just a foundation for an efficient and productive community but also the key to a sustainable future.

Objective of World Nature Conservation Day

It aims to sensitize people about the significance of natural resources ways to protect these resources. It further encourages people to recognize the importance of sustainable use and the effective conservation of natural resources.

History of World Nature Conservation Day

It has been difficult to trace the exact origin of World Nature Conservation Day. While some sites/blogs claim that it has been established on 28 July by the United Nations General Assembly through a resolution, the day has not even been mentioned on the official UN observance list. So, the claim is likely to be untrue. It is nevertheless quite evident, that the day gained significance in the current decade itself, more particularly in the last 6-7 years.

Theme of World Nature Conservation Day

The day is not being celebrated around any theme this year. The celebration of this day remains open to all the aspects of nature conservation

How to Observe the Day

The best way to observe this day is to take a plea to do every bit possible in order to ensure nature conservation around you. The very first act of nature conservation begins right at your home. From using water judiciously to planting trees, and from restrained use of plastics to clean surroundings- everything falls under nature conservation. This one commitment is extremely important and it serves as the foundational step.

On a community level, you can support an organization working for the cause. You can also form a group and plant trees, start a cleaning drive, adopt or regularly stray animals, etc. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have largely been restricted to our homes. In these times, turning towards social media for sensitizing people is also a good idea. You can use hashtags like #natureconservation #worldnatureconservationday2020 #worldnatureconservationday #natureconservationday

About Nature Conservation

Let’s now learn some basic facts about nature conservation.

What is nature conservation?

It is the act of protecting the natural resources of our planet for the present as well as future generations.

What are the methods of nature conservation?

There are many ways or methods to conserve nature and live sustainably. Some of the prominent and effective methods are mentioned below:

• By providing legal protection to plants, animals, and habitats of a particular area.  This is usually done after the identification of threat or danger prevailing in a particular area. Special legal protection is provided towards the conservation of rare species.
• By educating people and raising awareness about the significance of nature and the immediate necessity to protect it.
• By reprocessing or recycling the products to the maximum extent possible.
• By promoting renewable resources among people. Many countries have now replaced the use of finite resources with renewable energy resources.
• By allowing areas to naturally restore themselves without any human interference.

World Nature Conservation Day Quotes

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

“The Earth is what we all have in common.” — Wendell Berry

“Wildness is the preservation of the World.” ― Henry David Thoreau

“A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt

“The environment is where we all meet; where we all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.” — Lady Bird Johnson

“The proper use of science is not to conquer nature but to live in it.” — Barry Commoner

“Destroying rainforest for economic gain is like burning a Renaissance painting to cook a meal.” ― E.O. Wilson

“The ultimate test of man’s conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.” — Gaylord Nelson

“What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.” ― Chris Maser

“I think it is far more important to save one square mile of wilderness, anywhere, by any means, than to produce another book on the subject.” ― Edward Abbey