ANSWERING THE CALL OF THE WILD
World Wildlife Day aims to raise awareness, spur action to save endangered species
Atiny possum lives in the hollowedout trees of the Central Highland forests in the state of Victoria, Australia. Nicknamed the fairy possum, the Leadbeater’s possum is around 16 centimeters in length full grown.
But the small marsupial may die out as a species as it faces threats from logging, fires and climate change.
As any environmentally aware person knows, this possum is not the only creature in the world facing extinction. According to World Wildlife Fund’s 2016 “Living Planet Report,” populations of vertebrates around the world declined by 58 percent between 1970 and 2012. Many species have already dropped in numbers below 100, including the Yangtze giant softshell turtle, a species of tortoise native to China and East Asia that only has three remaining in the wild.
“The planet is losing plant and animal species at an alarming rate,” said Jan Vertefeuille, the senior director for advocacy and wildlife conservation at World Wildlife Fund, in an email to Generation Next. And, for the most part, humans are to blame. As a result, experts and advocates say that it’s more important than ever for teens and young adults to participate in efforts to prevent global extinction. As communities around the world celebrate the fourth annual World Wildlife Day on Friday, March 3, the focus is on young voices. The United Nations designated March 3 as World Wildlife Day in honor of the signing of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES.
“This is the fourth year World Wildlife Day has been formally celebrated and it is currently the largest global, annual event dealing with issues of wildlife conservation,” said Amy Reid, the communications assistant for the CITES secretariat from the U.N. in Switzerland, by email. This year the day is being celebrated under the theme “Listen to Young Voices.”
“With this theme we’re hoping to encourage young people around the world to get educated about wildlife conservation, spread messages about the issues and hopefully get actively involved in helping to protect species around the world,” Reid said.
Preventing the extinction of species begins with awareness of a human-caused crisis.
“There are a lot of reasons species are going extinct,” said Casey Skeens, communications manager for the National Wildlife Federation, “including fragmentation of wildlife habitat corridors due to highways and other human development, climate change and rising sea levels, as well as ocean acidification.
“Lots of human activities, like unsustainable agriculture, residential and commercial construction, and energy production, can damage land that is critical habitat for species.”
Michael Dax, the New Mexico outreach representative for Defenders of Wildlife, said that building corridors for wildlife may help reduce habitat fragmentation, but habitats are increasingly threatened through plans such as President Donald Trump’s border wall between the United States and Mexico, which would impede species migration. Animals such as jaguars need large territory to roam in and often travel north into the United States.
Climate change also is a major factor in species decline. “Plants and animals need to adapt as the planet warms, and many may not be able to,” Vertefeuille said.
Dax said that climate change is causing droughts and changing seasonal rhythms. Many species are struggling to adapt to these changes, he said, such as the pika — a small mammal that lives in mountainous regions and stays warm in the winter under a layer of snow. “With less snow at those altitudes, the pika are more susceptible and more exposed,” Dax said.
Poaching is a global threat to many species. “Poaching has become an increasingly detrimental industry. The illegal wildlife trafficking trade is worth an estimated $23 billion annually,” Dax said. For elephants and rhinos, he said, poaching is just as much a cause for their decline as habitat loss.
Vertefeuille agreed that overexploitation of species, such as unsustainable trade and illegal poaching, are a major cause of decline. “Elephants, rhinos and tigers are being decimated for the illegal wildlife trade. Across Africa, three rhinos are poached each day. Reptiles and fish are also harvested from the wild at unsustainable rates, often to become pets.”
In order to increase awareness about the
causes of global decline in species, the U.N. and other organizations are hosting events celebrating World Wildlife Day. These efforts include a photo competition called “Through Young Eyes,” aimed at encouraging teens to be creative and get involved with wildlife conservation. The winner of the competition, along with other teenage delegates, will participate in the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
The U.N. has a global map on its website to keep track of the activities, which include social media events, movie marathons and even a community bake sale in Arolafarm, Finland.
Other organizations, such as Defenders of Wildlife, are working to engage youth in events for World Wildlife Day and Earth Day in April. Defenders of Wildlife works with youth to plant trees and do presentations with schools. This year, they are also including a writing competition centered on wildlife. And yes, teens can become activists and help make a difference, even if not by Friday.
“It’s really important to get young people involved,” Dax said. He said that young people are the world’s future leaders and need to understand that, “We are far more dependent on wildlife than we realize.” He points to bumblebees, which are vital to the health of agriculture. As they continue to decrease, humans may face a major crisis.
Dax and the Defenders of Wildlife are working to get legislation passed that would protect species, including the “Arctic Refuge Act,” which would protect around 45 species of mammals, 42 species of fish and more than 200 species of migratory birds. Another bill, the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act, would protect habitats and prevent fragmentation of species.
World Wildlife Fund directs research in the field, organizing anti-poaching patrols and monitoring wildlife populations. Much of its work also includes developing conservation technologies. But they can always use help, Vertefeuille said: “Not one person, organization, or government can successfully solve these challenges. Working inclusively allows us to have a more powerful impact.”
Still, Vertefeuille said there is a lot to be hopeful about as the world observes World Wildlife Day.
“New species are still being discovered in rain forests and in the ocean, and scientists continue to unlock mysteries of animal behavior, migration and language that help us better conserve them. So World Wildlife Day is about celebrating the diversity around us and mobilizing to better protect it.”