As modern consumers passionate about conscious living we hear a plethora of words being cast around; sustainability, conservational, decomposable, the list is endless. But, all too often these words lose their impact and meaning when not fully understood by the consumer at large. This in itself is a detriment to the entire premise of the eco-conscious movement. However, certain terms are more vital to this movement than others, as is the case with Biodiversity.
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What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the term typically used to account for the variety of plant and animal life in the world or a particular habitat, a high level of which is usually considered to be important and desirable.
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Why is Biodiversity important?
A rich Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, allĀ hasĀ an important role to play. An ecosystem is typically used to describe a large community of living organisms (plants, animals and microbes) in a particular area.
Examples to support the value of Biodiversity
- A larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops.
- Greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms.
- Humans depend on the services ecosystems provide, such as fresh water, pollination, soil fertility and stability, food and medicine. Ecosystems weakened by the loss of biodiversity are less likely to deliver those services, especially given the needs of an ever-growing human population.
Degraded forests or deforestation sites are particularly vulnerable to forest fires which lead toĀ large-scale drops in biodiversity | Image by Matt Howard
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3 ways we protect Biodiversity
Maintaining biodiverse ecosystems is vital to human health. As numerous scientists have pointed out that disease typically spreads from the encroachment of humans upon animal territory and their exposure and consumption as a result of population growth. This is most evident in the case of the wild animal and fish market of Wuhan, ChinaĀ which served as the epicentre of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Ensuring our health is directly linked with ensuring theĀ well-being of biodiverse ecosystems therefore simple choices can have a monumental impact on our planet.
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Say No to Plastic
By saying no to plastic and creating conscious alternatives we choose to make an active effort to save ecosystems rich in biodiversity. No more plastic pollution in water, air or soil means a return to the natural flow of individual ecosystems.
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Making Mindful Choices
Palm oil is directly linked to heightened deforestation rates, which eliminates ecosystems with a higher biodiversity rate. If human consumption of products containing this environmentally damaging ingredient continues, so will its demand. As an eco-conscious business, we refuse to profit from this toxic industry, thereby minimizing our carbon footprint.
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Being Vigilant
Animal farming typically involves the destruction of the surrounding land to grow animal feed meaning the removal of native plant and animal species. While many of us monitor our diets more closely and become aware of the negative impacts of consuming animals that are farmed with the use of artificial growth hormones, it is important to explore a healthier approach to modern living which is why we work with natural ingredients and sustainable materials.
Livestock farming contributes to land and water degradation, biodiversity loss, acid rain, coral reef degeneration and deforestation | Image by Alfred Kenneally
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5 ways you can protect Biodiversity
Hereās what you can do to help in the conservation of the earthās rich biodiversity.
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Eliminate Single-use Plastics
Our expertly craftedĀ Conscious WareĀ helps to eliminate pollution caused by single-use plastics that are destroying theĀ ocean's naturally rich biodiversity.
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Shopping Ethically
Being mindful of what you purchase is vital. Knowing the source of a product, country of origin and materials used should contribute significantly to your purchase decision. OurĀ Copper CollectiveĀ range is moulded in Northern India and supports the local artisanal community while copper is a sustainable and recyclable material.
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Plant-based Nutrition
In recent times the benefits of plant-based diets have been widely recognized by nutritionists and doctors alike. While going vegan or solely plant-based may not be for everyone it certainly minimizes the negative impacts that animal agriculture has on the landās natural biodiversity and the environment.Ā TGC Chocolatier is made using only the most natural ingredients.
The production of plant-based foods is a more efficient use of our resources, as it requires less energy from fossil fuels as well as less land and water | Image by Lachlan Gowen
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Examining Labels
There are several ingredients present in modern-day foods that contribute to the slow decay of the earthās rich biodiversity. Ingredients such as palm oil for example actively aid in deforestation.Ā Clean eatingĀ isnāt just better for you,Ā it's better for the planet.
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Make a Difference
There is a common misconception that charitable contributions require excessive capital. This is not the case, organizations such asĀ One Tree PlantedĀ take as little as $1 to plant trees while non-profits such asĀ The Orangutan FoundationĀ helps to conserve wildlife displaced due to deforestation, both aidingĀ inĀ conserving andĀ protecting the planets dwindling biodiversity rate.
However, the bottom line is that consumer power is the greatest tool in the fight to preserve the earthās rich biodiversity and natural resources. Donāt make the easy choice, make the conscious one.
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