The contemporary era is defined by the immense capacity of humanity’s power for creation and destruction. Increasing demands have often led to short-sighted exploitation of natural resources, resulting in soil erosion, desertification, loss of cropland, pollution, deforestation, ecosystem degradation, and species extinction. Therefore, human beings in their quest for economic development and the enjoyment of nature's riches, must acknowledge the limitations of resources and ecosystems, and consider the needs of future generations. This is the essence of conservation: while development aims to enhance social and economic welfare, conservation ensures Earth's capacity to sustain this development and support all life. Consequently, to highlight the importance of conserving natural resources and protecting the environment for future generations, every year on July 28^th, people around the world come together to observe World Nature Conservation Day. It is a call to action for environmental stewardship.

What is Environmental Stewardship?

The term Environmental stewardship refers to actions such as establishing protected areas, replanting trees, limiting resource extraction, reducing pollution, creating community gardens, restoring degraded lands, and purchasing sustainable products. These efforts range from strict conservation measures to active restoration and sustainable resource management. Stewardship can be practised at different scales, from local to global, and in both rural and urban settings. Despite the global nature of many environmental issues, local actions remain equally crucial.

History and Significance of World Nature Conservation Day

The history of World Nature Conservation Day is intricately tied to various environmental movements and initiatives. While the formal designation of this day took place in 1972 at the Un Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, the roots of environmental awareness and conservation movements extend much further back. During the 19^th and early 20^th centuries, pioneering figures like John Muir in the US and John Evelyn in England advocated for the protection of natural spaces and the preservation of biodiversity. Their efforts led to the establishment of national parks and protected areas around the globe. In 1972, the UN General Assembly officially designated July 28^th as World Nature Conservation Day, coinciding with the 10^th anniversary of the adoption of the World Heritage Convention. In the following decades, World Nature Conservation Day gained momentum, with various environmental organisations and governments organising awareness campaigns and events. The focus gradually shifted from general conservation to highlighting specific themes and challenges each year, such as climate change, deforestation, endangered species, and pollution. The specific theme for this year was, “Connecting People and Plants, Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation”.

Why does World Nature Conservation Day Matter?

Human impact has now affected three-quarters of the land and two-thirds of the oceans, leading to a decline in nature’s benefits. Simultaneously, many people’s basic needs remain unmet: approximately 720 to 811 million experienced hunger in 2020, and 2.3 billion faced water stress in 2021. With increasing demands for resources like water and food by 2030, while nature continues to deteriorate, the only path to a resilient future is through effective conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of natural resources. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework sets out four main global goals and 23 targets for 2030. These targets aim to protect nature, curb biodiversity loss, restore ecosystems, and safeguard indigenous rights.

Key goals include:

1. Reduce Biodiversity Threats: To reduce biodiversity threats, manage areas effectively, restore 30% of degraded ecosystems, conserve 30% of land and seas, halt species extinction, ensure sustainable use of wild species, control invasive species, and reduce pollution.
2. Sustainable Use and Benefit-Sharing: To ensure sustainability, manage wild species sustainably, enhance biodiversity in agriculture and forestry, restore nature’s benefits to people, increase urban green spaces, and ensure fair sharing of benefits from genetic resources.
3. Implementation Tools: Tools and solutions for implementation of sustainability efforts, integrate biodiversity into decision-making, require businesses to assess and disclose impacts, encourage sustainable consumption, strengthen biosafety, reduce harmful incentives, mobilise $200 billion annually for biodiversity, build capacity, ensure accessible knowledge, and promote equitable participation and gender equality.

There have been significant efforts towards conservation recently. From December 7-19, 2022, during the Convention on Biological Diversity COP 15 in Montreal, Canada, global governments including India gathered to set new goals for halting and reversing nature loss by 2030. Recognizing the crucial role of nature in meeting Sustainable Development Goals and limiting global warming to 1.5°C, they adopted a bolder comprehensive biodiversity framework. This framework includes clear targets to address overexploitation, pollution, habitat fragmentation, and unsustainable agricultural practices. It also emphasises protecting indigenous peoples' rights and their role as nature stewards, while ensuring that financial flows are directed toward sustainable investments and away from environmentally harmful activities.

In addition, the European Union has also made a strong commitment to environmental conservation by implementing strategies designed to protect its diverse biodiversity. For instance, the Natura 2000 network is a flagship EU conservation initiative that aims to safeguard significant habitats and species across all 27 member states. With over 27,000 sites, Natura 2000 covers more than 18% of the EU's land area and approximately 9% of its surrounding seas, making it the world's largest coordinated network of protected areas. In addition to Natura 2000, the EU has also introduced initiatives such as the European Green Deal and the 2030 Biodiversity Strategy. These programs focus on transitioning to a sustainable, carbon-neutral economy while ensuring the protection and restoration of ecosystems.

Locally, last year the National Zoological Park in New Delhi marked World Nature Conservation Day by aligning its efforts with Mission LiFE. The initiative was introduced by India’s Prime Minister at the UNFCCC COP26. Mission LiFE aims to emphasise individual behaviours in global climate action. The initiative seeks to move away from a 'use-and-dispose' economy toward a sustainable circular economy to promote environmental sustainability.

There are also various ways to make efforts towards conservation, locally. Here are some ways to get involved:

• Educate Yourself and Others: Learn about local ecosystems and environmental issues, and share this knowledge with others to raise awareness.
• Reduce Your Ecological Footprint: Conserve water and energy, practice recycling and composting, and choose eco-friendly products.
• Support Conservation Organisations: Donate to or volunteer with groups focused on environmental conservation and wildlife protection.
• Advocate for Policy Change: Support and advocate for policies that promote sustainability and environmental protection at all levels.
• Engage in Conservation Activities: Join community events like tree planting, beach cleanups, and wildlife monitoring to make a direct impact.

Conclusion

As we observe World Nature Conservation Day, it’s crucial to understand that our actions today will shape the world we leave for future generations. By embracing conservation and sustainability, we can foster a healthier planet for everyone to enjoy. Every small effort contributes to the larger goal of preserving Earth’s natural heritage and ensuring a sustainable future.

References:

• https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/ecosystems-and-biodiversity/about-nature-action
• https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00267-017-0993-2.pdf
• https://www.cbd.int/gbf/targets
• https://blog.mygov.in/world-nature-conservation-day-preserving-our-planet-for-future-generations/#:~:text=Reduce%20Your%20Ecological%20Footprint%3A%20Conserve,environmental%20conservation%20and%20wildlife%20protection.