Cleaner Air

Food Security

People often underestimate the impact our environment has on our food system, however climate change and global warming, changes in our water cycle, soil loss, and the ongoing mass extinction of important species, especially insects is already negatively impacting our food security, pushing food prices up and causing seasonal food shortages. You may have already noticed that certain fruits, vegetables, or animal products have gone missing from shelves, and this is increasingly because of flooded fields, intense droughts, or pandemics sweeping through thousands or even millions of factory farm animals.

Water Cycle 

Deforestation, land clearing, over extraction of water from both aquifers and natural bodies of water, in combination with climate change is wrecking our water cycle all over the world. This is why we're seeing longer and more extreme droughts even in places that weren't historically dry, as well as intense floods which impact even the places which are historically supposed to be dry.

Even fairly small local actions can help prevent both flooding and reduce drought impact. These include solutions that focus on saving water for human needs, for wildlife, or simply helping to sequester more water in our landscapes.

Veganism

Our diets have the greatest impact on land use, deforestation, pesticide use, water use, and uses a fairly large chunk of global energy while producing seriously problematic levels of air, water, and soil pollution. 

Switching away from animal products and towards a more plant-based diet not only helps us reduce our ecological impact on many fronts, but can also improve our physical and mental health.

Since crops use less resources, this route may be the fastest way to reduce both environmental destruction, while improving global food security, which will result in less people going hungry each year (currently around 828 million people every day). Despite this, crops that should be fed to humans are wasted on livestock, many of which are culled because of disease or market issues instead of being used as food. Right now, "agriculture is producing more food than ever before, both in total numbers as well as on a per capita basis, despite the fact that the world population is growing. If the harvest was used entirely and as effectively as possible as food, it could already feed 12 to 14 billion people." - Hunger in Times of Plenty 

Rewilding

However some parts of Earth have been so badly depleted or biodiversity, nutrients, and water or overwhelmed by invasive species that we need to step in and take some steps to help the land regenerate. This is where rewilding comes in, and this site offers many pages focusing on specific species and types of biomes.

Tree Planting

Tree planting can't make up for the current rate of deforestation committed by the livestock and lumber industry, however they are important for biodiversity, and absorbing air pollutants including greenhouse gases. They can also reduce energy use when planted strategically around communities and homes.

Mass tree planting in hard-to-reach places are generally unsuccessful, but smaller plantings near to people who are invested in their care, and who can provide routine maintenance are much more likely to survive. Car may include

• Watering during root establishment, as well as during particularly hot or dry weather.

• Weed Removal to prevent unwanted plants from over-shading or strangling new trees.

• Disease or Infestation Treatments - these may be as minimal as some limb removals or require chemical treatments.

Habitat Connectivity

It isn't always practical to plant trees in every location, but fragmentation of forests can be a big problem for wildlife including the trees themselves which rely on small animals like squirrels, monkeys, and birds to spread their seeds. By creating wildlife corridors including hedgerows we can help provide cover, nesting sites, and food for animals as they travel between pockets of forest.

Farm, Urban, & Garden Solutions

No matter where you live or work you can have an impact.

Urban rewilding can be as small as putting a pot of wildflowers on your doorstep or balcony, even bird feeders or bird baths can make a big difference that you'll notice as soon as your wild neighbors start to notice the new resources!wilding can be as small as putting a pot of wildflowers on your doorstep or balcony, even bird feeders or bird baths can make a big difference that you'll notice as soon as your wild neighbors start to notice the new resources!

Science & Conservation

BioBlitz

These are generally one-day events, though they may last for only a short period such as an hour or over several days. They are a great way to get adults and children both out in nature and involved with science.

Organizations

The following green buttons can take you to directory pages or info pages with directories to international and local groups working on specific issues that focus on or involve environmentalism.

Beneath those we have listed organizations by region.

Europe

UK

• Youngwilders "is a non-profit focused on accelerating nature recovery in the UK and involving young people in the process and movement"

Grants & Funding

North America

USA

• Caring for our Coast Gulf Region Grant Program "Restore America’s Estuaries is excited to partner with CITGO to facilitate the Caring for our Coast grants to organizations and groups hosting locally-based volunteer events in the Gulf of Mexico region. These grants are intended to provide coastal groups with funding to host beach clean-ups, estuary restoration, or other educational/outreach events."

Minnesota

• MWMO: Community Grants "are available for short-term or small-scale water quality projects. The grant amount may not exceed $5,000. No matching funds are required."

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