This weekend, 5th June, is World Environment Day 2021 and this year it’s focus is on protecting and reviving ecosystems all over the world.
During the pandemic, many of us have enjoyed reconnecting with nature and spending more time outdoors than we used to. It has also been interesting to read that the global restrictions caused by COVID-19 may have resulted in global environmental benefits, such as improvements in air and water quality and the restoration of ecosystems due to fewer tourists. Many of these environmental benefits have been warmly welcomed, but as the world slowly opens up again, how do we make sure we don’t go back to our old ways of doing things?
This World Environment Day challenges us to think about how we can be part of #GenerationRestoration, because from forests to peatlands and coasts, we all depend on healthy ecosystems for our survival. Yet, we are losing and destroying the foundations of our survival at an alarming rate.
Over 4.7 million hectares of forests – an area larger than Denmark – are lost every year. Ecosystem loss is also depriving the world of carbon sinks (like forests and peatlands) at a time we can least afford it. Global greenhouse gas emissions have grown for three consecutive years and the planet is on pace for potentially catastrophic climate change.
So this #WED, I’ll be taking a minute to think about how I could help to grow trees, green our cities, rewild our gardens, change our diets and clean up rivers and coasts. We can all do something to help our planet.
This year at BAM, we challenged our sites to create their own ‘BAM Oasis’, a place for themselves and importantly, a place for nature. We’ve seen sites create planters from recycled wood, work with grounds teams to sow wildflower seeds and create bug hotels.
