Earth Day 2019

Earth Day: April 22, 2019

Earth day is celebrated each year on April 22 to inspire appreciation for the earth's environment and awareness of various issues that threaten it; and efforts to keep the environment healthy and sustainable. The first earth day was organized in 1970 to highlight growing concern over pollution of the soil, air, and water.

The theme for Earth Day, 2019 is: “Protect Our Species”

Mother nature has provided us numerous beautiful species. However, the interference of humans with the nature is causing extinction of some species like dinosaurs got lost 60 million years ago. Human has been slimming down forests and wildlife for own good causing climate change, habitat loss, deforestation etc.

As all living things play a vital role to maintain the balance, hence, in order to save the lives of vulnerable species such as bees, coral reefs, elephants, giraffes, insects, whales etc. humans need to work together.

The theme focuses on educating and raising awareness about the unguarded species and the consequences afterwards their extinction. This is possible by having policies, limiting use of insecticides and having an environment that embraces nature and its species.

Facts:

• We are among the largest period of species extinction in the last 60 million years.
• Many species might disappear before we may know about them and their benefits.
• 80% of wild plants depend on bees and insects for pollination & 60% of bird species are dependent on those insects for food.
• In the past 20 years, around 75% of all toothed whale species, such as dolphins, porpoises, and 65% of baleen whale species (humpback, blue), and 65% of pinniped species (sea lions) have been affected through bycatch in fishing operations globally.
• 40% of bird’s species are on decline and 1 in 8 are endangered, globally.
• According to a study, 40% of lizards’ species will be lost by 2080.
• The number of land animals has fallen by 40% since 1970 along with marine population.

Click on the link for complete Toolkit of Earth Day 2019 : https://www.earthday.org/earthdayinabox/

 Earth Day 2018 

References-

https://www.earthday.org/campaigns/endangered-species/earthday2019/

https://www.earthday.org/2018/05/18/fact-sheet-global-species-decline/#_ftn6