Give back to nature on Giving Tuesday
It’s in people’s nature to give at this time of year and a pair of land conservation organizations are encouraging people to give back to nature.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada has announced a one-day-only match program for Tuesday, giving people and businesses an opportunity to stretch their contributions even more.
Every dollar donated to NCC on Giving Tuesday will be matched by corporate supporters Telus, Canadian Pacific and anonymous donors.
Meanwhile, the Nova Scotia Nature Trust is encouraging Nova Scotians to adopt a turtle or an acre of forest as a meaningful gift to help the troubled planet and as a unique way to honour family, friends and loved ones with a lasting gift, the gift of nature.
“Gifts of Nature are a great way to share your passion and concern for nature with the people you care about,” Bonnie Sutherland, executive director of the Nova Scotia Nature Trust, said in a news release. “And a perfect way to get kids thinking about nature and giving back to their community.”
Giving Tuesday (givingtuesday.ca) is a growing movement that arose as a counter-movement and a step back from the consumerismheavy Black Friday and Cyber Monday, instead encouraging people to think about how they can give back and make the world a better place, the Nature Trust release said.
People are realizing more than ever during the COVID pandemic just how much nature matters, the Nature Trust said. What better time to reach out to isolated friends and family with the Gift of Nature?
The Nature Trust’s ecofriendly gifts can provide a welcome refuge from holiday shopping stress, the devastating impacts of relentless
consumerism on the environment and the need for contactless, Covid-friendly gift-giving.
Gift options include adopting an acre of forest or coastline for a friend, colleague or family member or helping to save critical habitat for wildlife by adopting a bird or a turtle or a whole wildlife family.
This year the entire gift of nature is electronic. Gifts can be ordered online and the donor receives an emailed link with a beautiful adoption certificate to personalize and send to their friends, family or colleagues, along with a letter highlighting the wonderful conservation work made possible by the gift.
The gift-giver receives a charitable tax receipt for the full value of the gift, and the knowledge that they have given a meaningful, lasting gift both to their friend or loved one, and also a gift to nature.
All funds raised go directly towards protecting Nova Scotia’s unique and treasured wild places.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada says natural spaces have helped many Canadians cope with the pandemic. The nature reserves, trails, rivers, streams, parks and green spaces have been vital to people’s mental and physical well-being and spending time outdoors have provided positive feelings and an emotional boost from the uncertainty, isolation, stress and anxiety of 2020.
“There is no doubt the pandemic has had a huge impact on people, but nature has been a powerful ally, helping us keep balance in our lives,” Catherine Grenier, president and chief executive officer of the Nature Conservancy of Canada, said in a release. “Just spending time in nature, a brisk walk and fresh air, can improve our immune systems, our concentration and our moods. We’ve never needed nature more!”
All donations to NCC help to conserve nature, from conserving land and fresh water, to restoring ecosystems. NCC’S conservation lands provide habitat for many of the country’s most endangered species. These places also provide benefits to local communities, such as flood control and recreational opportunities for people to get outdoors and connect with nature.
“With the help of companies and individual donors, the Nature Conservancy of Canada can work across this province in places where our conservation work can have the biggest impact on protecting native species and habitats,” Andrew Holland, media relations director for NCC, said in the release. “On Giving Tuesday, people can double their impact in protecting natural areas that will benefit us today and our future generations.”