Doing our part for a healthier planet in Janesville, Wisconsin
Did you know?
Species extinction is occurring right now at a rate of one species every 20 minutes. That pace is a thousand times quicker than the average extinction rate throughout the history of our Earth. So every 20 minutes, an entire species of plant or animal is wiped out, gone, forever. Extinction of our plants and animals is caused by two factors: 1) habitat destruction, and 2) climate change.
What moms can do:
IDEA #1: Give your kids the gift of nature. Explore local wildlife and natural places with your little ones. Kids who are directly exposed to nature are more likely to care about saving it now and in the future. Make unstructured outdoor activities, like hiking, camping, boating, gardening, and fishing a part of your family’s recreation. Visit nature preserves, botanical gardens, and forests and learn about the species that make their home there. For older children, bring along a local field guide to make your outing an educational boon. Teach your kids to “take only photographs and leave only footprints” when you explore.
IDEA #2: Support AZA-accredited Zoos and Aquariums. Zoos are great places to discuss wild animals and the importance of conservation. Institutions belonging to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), such as the Henry Vilas Zoo and the Milwaukee County Zoo, participate in about two thousand conservation projects in about 100 countries each year to protect wildlife. By supporting them monetarily, you give your child a rich experience and help worldwide conservation efforts at the same time. You can also participate in the “Befriend-An-Animal” program at the Henry Vilas Zoo: you receive a certificate, an animal photograph, information about your chosen animal, a window cling, and a stuffed plush animal. A thoughtful and meaningful gift for a preschool or school-aged child! Or adopt an animal through the World Wildlife Fund, who offers symbolic adoptions of 80 animals, like manatees, orangutans, clownfish, and meerkats.
IDEA #3: Reduce your carbon footprint to decrease your family’s impact on climate change. Test your habits with an online quiz to “measure your eco-footprint” at http://www.conservation.org/act/live_green/Pages/ecofootprint.aspx. All the small steps you take to live a little greener will have a positive impact on species conservation. Buy energy efficient technology when you need a new car or appliances; shut down appliances and computers when not in use; switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs; use public transportation, walk, or bike when you can; recycle and use recycled products; plant trees; buy locally-grown food.
Why it’s important:
• Not only does exposure to nature when young result in increased environmental awareness as an adult, but it appears to improve cognition and well-being in children. Research at the University of Illinois found that children with attention-deficit disorder are able to focus more effectively after outdoor activities such as camping and fishing. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia revealed through their research that young children with regular chances for unstructured play outdoors have improved well-being in three areas: attention, affiliation, and affect. They learn and behave better in the classroom, get along more easily with others, and are happier.
• Biodiversity- short for biological diversity- describes the variety of living things on Earth. All species serve specific roles in the ecosystem of which they are a part. Plants give off oxygen that makes our atmosphere livable, while removing carbon dioxide. Insect pollination is vital for the production of over 40 crops produced in the United States. More than 25% of the medicines we use today are either derived from or modeled on substances in the natural world.
• Some people believe that we have a moral or spiritual obligation to be careful stewards of our planet. Others believe that in trashing our planet, we endanger ourselves. Consider this quote by Chief Seattle: “Whatever befalls the earth befalls the son of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand of it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.”
This EcoMOMs tip was brought to you by Dana Petersen Murphy, mom to Sabriel. You can contact me at dpmurphy@photokiva.com.
