How can I help to protect biodiversity ?

When biodiversity is concerned, we often feel powerless and think that our actions will not change the course of events. But “small brooks make big rivers”! You are not alone: today, millions of people around the world take action every day to preserve biodiversity and ecosystems. Each of us can make a difference. So why not join us?

Here are some simple things you can do, whenever you want, to change the way you live and help protect our planet. And remember: every new day is an opportunity to do better than the day before!

SAVE THE WATER !

Water is precious for life. Rich countries benefit both from drinking and tap water. The world production of industrial agriculture - which is mainly intended for rich countries - gobbles up 96,4 % of the fresh water (pumped from lakes, rivers, reservoirs and aquifers) while 2,7 billion people - a third of the world population - live in regions knowing a serious water shortage and have no access to drinking water …The climate change makes us painfully understand that it is time to pay attention to what we consider as a due: the water.

In order to respect and preserve water, we should neither waste nor pollute it.
Here are some simple everyday habits:
➢ I turn off the tap while brushing my teeth: this can save an entire swimming pool’s worth of water per person per year ! The same applies when I shave.
➢ I prefer a short shower to a bath;
➢ I do the dishes without wasting water;
➢ I use homemade cleaning products made from natural, environmental friendly ingredients: white vinegar to remove limescale, baking soda for cleaning, Marseille soap for laundry, lemon for disinfecting… These products are natural and their breakdown does not affect the environment in the same way as conventional cleaning products. And, above all, I use them sparingly to avoid overdosing!
To know more about it : http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/hom...
... Up to you ! But beware of some “fake” natural cleaning products sold as “Green” even though they contain palm oil under numerous namings...
➢ I water my plants with rainwater whenever possible, preferably at the end of the day to reduce evaporation. If you have a garden, you can collect rainwater in a tank, and even recycle greywater (from washing dishes, bathing, showering, etc.) for flushing toilets and cleaning floors, and, after filtration, for watering plants.

CONSUME LESS AND BETTER

Before we are even born, we are considered consumers. It is time to become “consum’actors”!
It seems that we have only recently become aware that our planet has limited resources — yes, indeed!
But there are 8 billion human beings living on Earth. The Western paradigm according to which consumption must be boosted in order to ensure economic growth and full employment lasted for a long time. We can see where it has led us. Each of us must take responsibility and rethink the way we consume.

Food Consumption

Our food: we are what we eat. According to numerous experts, food crises have contributed to the collapse of civilisations… Let us try to find solutions!

➢ I EAT LOCAL means that I choose local food producers and short distribution networks whenever possible;

• I prefer food produced close to where I live, with short transport distances: I reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere. CO₂ is the main greenhouse gas of anthropogenic origin, and its concentration is increasing, contributing to global warming and climate change.
• This means that I eat seasonal fruit and vegetables, which are often of better taste and quality, especially when they come from organic farming, biodynamic agriculture or permaculture, while their imported equivalents may require large quantities of fertilisers and chemical pesticides and involve polluting long-distance transportation.
• In doing so, from an economic point of view, I support producers in my region.
• It involves that I consume seasonal fruits and vegetables, that are very often of better gustative quality, especially if they arise from the organic farming, from the biodynamic, from the permaculture …, while their international equivalents need big quantifies of fertilizers and chemical pesticides and pollution transportation.
• In doing so, from an economic point of view, I support producers in my region.
• I subscribe to an “organic basket” and, more broadly, embrace a philosophy of global ecology, with locally and seasonally produced fruit and vegetables (requiring little storage and little transportation), and reduced packaging.
• And I avoid wasting food! On average, every French person throws away around 20 kg of food per year, i.e. between €100 and €160 per year… or €12 to €20 billion worth of food every year in France! http://www.consoglobe.com/qui-jette...

-➢ I PREFER RESPONSIBLY CAUGHT FISH

• to limit overfishing: during fishing seasons (sometimes coinciding with the peak breeding period), certain fishing methods destroy the seabed and result in numerous by-catches, including juveniles and adults of non-target species. These methods threaten the natural renewal of fish populations. I choose responsibly caught fish, handled with care and traceable back to a sustainable source.
• to preserve the oceans: I choose fish and shellfish that are not vulnerable species, caught by local fisheries or having the Mr. Goodfishlabelling.

➢ I REDUCE MY MEAT CONSUMPTION

• It is good for my health: eating too much meat can provoke hypercholesterolemia, cancer, diabetes... . Several times a week, I replace meat with plant proteins such as lentils and beans.
• to avoid deforestation: cattle farming requires space for the animals as well as vast areas of agricultural land for growing animal feed, often at the expense of forests!
• to avoid pollution and depletion of ground waters: feed crops require large amounts of water and pesticides;
• to limit methane emissions: methane is the second most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas after CO₂, with a warming potential 28 times greater than CO₂. During the digestion, ruminants produce methane, particularly when they are fed protein-rich crops such as soy. Ruminant farming is the third-largest source of methane emissions, after fossil-fuel combustion and landfills. In France, cattle are fed with around 70% soymeal produced coming in Brazil: the Amazon rainforest is being destroyed, threatening a unique habitat for Indigenous peoples and extraordinary fauna and flora… Anyway, is it worth the destroying the Amazon rainforest to grow soy that will travel thousands of kilometres to feed French cattle? Who benefits the most from this? Not the cows or the consumers, but rather the many intermediaries…

➢ I MAKE SURE THAT MEAT AND THE EGGS COME FROM FARMS WHERE ANIMALS ARE PROPERLY TREATED

• Ethically: I buy free-range eggs (in France these eggs are marked with a code 0 or 1) because 90 % of eggs are still produced in battery (code 2 or 3), where the space allocated to each hen is about the size of an A4 sheet of paper, the lighting is artificial and cages are stacked three to six levels high…
• Out of curiosity and to raise awareness: at the restaurant, markets and supermarkets, I ask shopkeepers about the origin of the products they sell. It takes time, and often they do not even know the answer, but it is important to question the consequences of our consumption.

➢ I BOYCOTT PRODUCTS CONTAINING PALM OIL

• To fight against deforestation: in order to plant oil palms, vast areas of forest have been cleared, destroying the habitats of endangered species. The best-known victims include orangutans, gibbons, gorillas, tigers, lions, rhinos, elephants… and many others.
• For my health: we do not know the long-term consequences of consuming palm oil. Those who defend it claim that there is no evidence of harm… Is this a new interpretation of the “precautionary principle”?
• Don’t be fooled ! : Organic palm oil does NOT exist! !! This type of labelling has been created by powerful industrial groups, sometimes with the support of environmental NGOs… but the facts are as follows: forests have been destroyed and continue to be destroyed every day, and it is difficult to believe that oil-palm plantations can now be considered organic after decades of fertiliser and pesticide use, even if less fertiliser is used today…

➢ I PREFER GLASS CONTENTS

• [to fight against plastics] that pollute the oceans, I prefer glass bottles that I can recycle or return for reuse. Glass can be recycled indefinitely.
• to filter tap water, I use one stick of activated coal in a glass bottle.

...And other consumption!

➢ I LIMIT MY USE OF MEDICINES WHOSE RESIDUES END UP DIRECTLY IN NATURE

• We eliminate a large proportion of the active ingredients of the medicines we take through our urine. They pass through wastewater treatment plants and can find their way into rivers and seas, where they affect aquatic and marine flora and fauna. Their effects are still poorly understood, but fish exposed to these active ingredients can undergo changes associated with the presence of endocrine disruptors among the many pollutants generated by our activities: http://www.sciencesetavenir.fr/natu....
• I take medicines only when they are really necessary (antibiotics are of no use against viral infections), and I return unused medicines, or medicines that have passed their expiry date, to the pharmacy. They should not be thrown in the rubbish bin or flushed down the toilet!

➢ I PREFER ORGANIC COSMETICS

• For my heath and for nature: many conventional cosmetics contain chemicals (preservatives, synthetic fragrances, surfactants, endocrine disruptors…), which may not be biodegradable and can therefore be harmful to biodiversity, particularly aquatic ecosystems, into which they are discharged through wastewater. To learn more:
  synthesis of endocrine disruptors
• For the pleasure of making things myself and the pleasure of giving: I choose organic cosmetics!
  I wash myself with Marseille soap (beware: many brands make it using palm-oil by-products); I nourish my skin with vegetable oil scented with drops of essential oil (lavender, ylang-ylang, vetiver…); I “cook” my own skin and hair masks; I cleanse my skin with a decoction of chamomile or cornflower; I make an exfoliating scrub with wheat bran, oats or used coffee grounds, scented with essential oil; I even make my own toothpaste: it’s child’s play!

➢ I USE MINERAL SUNSCREENS

• To avoid hormonal imbalance in fauna and flora: many sunscreens contain allergenic chemical UV filters. When they enter seas, lakes and rivers, they can cause hormonal disruption in animals — including humans — and are partly responsible for coral bleaching.
• Because they are less toxic: some tourist destinations, such as the Xel-Há water park in Mexico, have taken this threat seriously: only mineral sunscreens are now permitted there. They spread a little less easily and sometimes leave white marks because of their mineral filters, but they are effective and, above all, less toxic, both for you and for nature. Here is a selection of sunscreens.
• Another solution: I wear a T-shirt or a thin swimsuit when I swim.

➢ I FAVOR ORGANIC COTTON

• To avoid the use of powerful insecticides : intensive conventional cotton farming uses 25% of the insecticides sold worldwide! Soil depletion, deforestation, massive irrigation, groundwater pollution, exposure of agricultural workers and local species to toxic substances: it is particularly harmful to the environment and to people.
• For softer cotton fibres that do not damage the soil : organic cotton is grown using natural fertilisers and pesticides, requires less water, protects soil fertility (because it is rotated with other crops), and produces softer and more resistant fibres.
• For my health: because it is not chemically treated from production through processing into garments, organic cotton is hypoallergenic.
• Before buying I ask myself: do I really need a new pair of fashionable jeans or another cotton garment?

➢ I DON’T BUY CLOTHES THAT NEED TO BE DRY-CLEANED

• To protect the environment and aquatic ecosystems in particular: most dry-cleaning processes use perchloroethylene (or tetrachloroethylene). This solvent is toxic to people who handle it; it can irritate the skin and mucous membranes, cause nausea, headaches and loss of consciousness, accumulate in the body and is probably carcinogenic. It is normally used in a closed circuit, but it can nevertheless find its way into groundwater and rivers.
• To avoid chlorinated compounds that have been used since the 1950s: they destroy the ozone layer and contribute to global warming. The Copenhagen Protocol banned them in 1992; however, these products can still be found in the environment today. Ecological dry cleaning uses only biodegradable products (water in particular) and is still relatively rare.
• The solution: I do not buy clothes or household linen that require dry cleaning!

➢ I WALK, CYCLE AND USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

• To limit CO₂emissions: our activities are putting life on Earth at risk. Deserts are expanding, glaciers are shrinking, sea levels are rising… CO₂ produced by vehicles is the main greenhouse gas responsible for global warming and climate change. Entire ecosystems are being disrupted. In Copenhagen, 67% of the population walks, cycles or uses public transportation: we should be able to do the same, shouldn’t we?
• For a healthier city: walking, cycling and using public transportation create connections between citizens and make cities healthier for everyone. And for you too!

➢ I DIY / GARDEN WITH ECOLOGICAL, NATURAL, SUSTAINABLE OR RECYCLED PRODUCTS, PREFERABLY OF LOCAL ORIGIN.

• To change the decoration of my apartment I visit recycling shops (Emmaüs, flea markets…);
• I repaire my appliances rather than throwing them away;
• I choose paints without heavy metals;
• My apartment is equipped with low-energy appliances;
• I choose ecological insulation materials such as wood wool, hemp, linen, cork, cellulose fibre… They come from plants whose production does not cause pollution to the environment. They are manufactured using processes requiring little energy and receive non-toxic mineral additives such as silicates, intended to protect them from insects, fungi, rodents and fire. For example, manufacturing cellulose fibre insulation uses three times less energy than manufacturing polystyrene!

In the garden and/or countryside:

• I create wildlife corridors and crossing points for animals, and I let flora and fauna colonise rainwater ponds.
• I protect earthworms, which are an essential link in the food chain. They constantly recycle organic matter such as dead leaves and other decomposing plant material. In doing so, they contribute to the production of good humus and help maintain the fertility of the soil in which the fruit and vegetables we eat grow. Their burrows also loosen the soil, allowing roots to develop properly and water to infiltrate quickly and deeply, where plants can absorb it. This also limits runoff and erosion during heavy rain. To protect them, I use no chemical fertilisers or pesticides.

WASTE

➢ I THROW NO WASTE ON THE GROUND

• I pick up at least one piece of litter a day that does not belong to me: everything thrown into the street or onto the ground, in towns or in nature, is disastrous for the environment, and the consequences are devastating: 90% of what is thrown on the ground ends up in the sea and is responsible for the deaths of millions of marine animals.
• Certain types of waste have an immediate impact: cigarette butts and chewing gum, for example, can poison or suffocate animals that ingest them ; small mammals and amphibians can become trapped in bottles and soft-drink cans ; pieces of broken glass can injure larger animals and, through the magnifying-glass effect, cause fires.
• Others have a longer-term impact, such as plastics, which take hundreds of years to degrade while releasing toxic substances, or batteries, which contain heavy metals.

➢ I DO NOT FEED «CONTINENTS OF WASTE» IN THE OPEN SEA

• Under the influence of ocean currents, floating waste converges and accumulates, forming “continents of waste”. («The Great Pacific Garbage Patch) covers 3.5 million km², an area the size of India or six times the size of France. These “new continents” are mainly made of plastic. Plastic does not biodegrade, but under the action of waves it breaks down into microparticles and releases numerous toxic substances.
• The ingestion of larger pieces of plastic can suffocate fish, turtles, birds and marine mammals that mistake them for prey.
• Scientific research has shown that ingesting microplastics can cause changes in male and female reproductive organs within just a few generations.
• What can I do? I no longer use plastic bags, I throw nothing into nature, even far from the sea. I talk to people around me about these continents of waste, which are still often little known.

➢ I AVOID UNNECESSARY PACKAGING

• I do my shopping with my own bags.
• I ask shopkeepers to use my own containers whenever possible.
• I sort my waste and prefer products sold in returnable containers.

RECYCLING

➢ I RECYCLE WHAT CAN BE RECYCLED

• My old clothes, household linen and fibres that can be reused.http://www.lafibredutri.fr
• Appliances that I no longer use, which can be repaired or used for spare parts
• Batteries, light bulbs, ink cartridges… in the appropriate collection bins.
  Conclusion : A GOOD WASTE IS THE ONE THAT DOES NOT EXIST!!!!

➢ I COMPOST!

• There are composting systems that can be installed on a balcony, or even inside an apartment: a way to recycle fruit and vegetable peelings and obtain compost for my plants! Remember that compost is alive; if I am often away, I can suggest that people in my building set up a communal composting system. I can also suggest that my local authority organise regular collection of compostable waste.

REDUCTION

➢ I LIMIT LIGHT POLLUTION OUTSIDE
In the countryside as well as in cities, lighting roads, streets and gardens allows some people to extend their activities into the night. But artificial light disturbs numerous species: nocturnal animals such as owls, bats, toads and others have difficulty seeing obstacles, prey or predators.

• > Migratory birds become disoriented: young birds making their first flights are particularly sensitive to bright points of light. Misled by urban lighting, they may crash to the ground. Unable to take off again, they can die from dehydration or predation, and sometimes simply from being crushed.
• > Moths fly around street lamps until they are exhausted.
• > Male fireflies can no longer perceive the light signals emitted by females and are therefore unable to reproduce.
• Therefore, when lighting my garden, terrace or front door, I prefer low-intensity lamps and point them downwards. I switch them off as soon as I no longer need outdoor lighting.

➢ I REDUCE MY CONSUMPTION OF PAPER, CARDBOARD AND ENERGY

• I use less paper and cardboard to protect forests; I also reduce the energy and water consumption required to produce them… and therefore automatically produce less paper waste.
• I print my documents on both sides; I use the blank backs of sheets as scrap paper; I reuse envelopes for shopping lists and notes.
  -*When available, I choose recycled or certified FSC or PEFC paper for exercise books, wallpaper, tissues, towels, bags, toilet paper, etc.
• I choose to receive my administrative documents online.
• Once I have read them, I lend my books and newspapers to other potential readers. I recycle waste paper, newspapers, magazines and cardboard.
• I avoid disposable cardboard plates, cutlery and cups when I am at the office, on holiday or having a picnic outdoors.
• I pay attention to the energy consumption of the equipment in my home.

➢ I USE MY MOBILE PHONE FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE

• The manufacture of game consoles, computers and mobile phones requires various ores (copper, cobalt, lead, coltan, etc.) whose demand continues to grow. The mines from which they are extracted are found in many parts of the world, and their exploitation has a huge impact on the environment.
• Rare earth elements are a group of 17 chemical elements with exceptional properties. Thanks to these rare earth elements, the colours on our computer screens are so vivid, mobile phones can have touch-sensitive screens and wind turbines can generate electricity. The other side of the coin is that their extraction and processing cause pollution, produce radioactive waste and alter landscapes.
  For instance, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where coltan is extracted, the extraordinary biodiversity of Kivu is endangered by illegal hunting of bushmeat to feed miners (including gorillas, okapis and even elephants), massive deforestation to provide timber and firewood and expand mines, soil erosion, and water and air pollution caused by extraction itself… not to mention armed conflicts! So, before buying a new phone or laptop, think about it!

➢ I CONNECT ONLY ONE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AT THE SAME TIME AND I LEARN TO LIVE WITHOUT BEING CONNECTED !!!
A study published in July 2014 showed that browsing the Web consumes a great deal of energy, not only because of data centres but also because of the design of websites and the habits of Internet users. About 25 years after the birth of the Web, its growth is such that it is expected to create major energy challenges, to the point that some people were already predicting its collapse within just a few years.

• As an Internet user, I can nevertheless reduce the energy consumption of the Web by switching off Internet-connected devices when they are not being used (especially at night);
• By reducing my use of “the cloud”, which is so popular and allows us to store photos and videos online;
• By regularly cleaning my email inboxes to avoid keeping unnecessary archives;
• By avoiding watching television through websites;
• By choosing my search engine (they are not all equivalent in terms of energy consumption) and the websites I visit.
  Source : notre-planete.info, http://www.notre-planete.info/actua...

MY MONEY

➢ WHAT DOES MY BANK DO WITH MY SAVINGS ?

• By moving my money to an ethical bank, I can be sure that my savings are used to create a positive social or environmental impact while also generating a healthy return in a safe place for my money.
• I financially support sustainable micro-projects through dedicated crowdfunding platforms.

➢ I GIVE MY FRIENDS, RELATIVES AND COLLEAGUES… GIFTS LINKED TO BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

• I choose gifts connected with biodiversity and the need to protect it. For instance, I give a nature guide to a handyman, an eco-tourism guide to a globe-trotter, or a pair of binoculars to a naturalist; with a bar of Aleppo soap, I highlight the benefits of using natural cleaning products; with a box of organic chocolates, I raise awareness of the problem of palm-oil production in Indonesia and Malaysia (and the threat it poses to great apes)…
• Finally, I can also give a membership to an environmental NGO!

LOCAL BIODIVERSITY

➢ I DISCOVER AND PROTECT NATURE IN THE CITY.

• Contrary to what we might think, urban biotopes can be highly diverse: public gardens, private gardens, ponds, parks, forests, streets and tree-lined avenues, wastelands, railway verges, riverbanks… not to mention green roofs and terraces, façades and flower-covered balconies. Even the smallest cracks along pavements, at the foot of buildings or in walls are colonised by a multitude of wild plants! But this biodiversity is vulnerable: it carries little weight when faced with cement mixers and steamrollers…
• I plant flowers (or vegetables!) at the foot of the trees in my street!

➢ I WELCOME BIODIVERSITY AT HOME

• During construction or renovation work, I think about incorporating shelters for local wildlife, with nesting places, a small pond, a wildflower meadow…
• I find out which species may nest near my home and which species I can welcome, and how. I make the necessary arrangements for solitary bees, bats, birds…
• I feed birds and provide them with water during winter.
• I plant flowers to attract bees.

➢ I RESPECT NATURE OUTDOORS

• When I walk in nature, I remain as discreet as possible and make as little noise as possible: this allows me to have surprising encounters with local wildlife.
• I collect or pick only what can be collected or picked sustainably.
• I participate in citizen-science programmes: observing ecosystems or specific species to help scientific research.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: ACTING TOGETHER

➢ I ORGANIZE A SPRING CLEAN-UP IN MY NEIGHBOURHOOD

• With my neighbours and the support of local authorities, I organise a clean-up of my street or a nearby public garden, collecting litter such as plastic bags caught in trees, soft-drink cans, bottles and cigarette butts…
• In the countryside, the clean-up also includes roadsides, riverbanks and undergrowth, which are often turned into illegal dumping grounds for old television sets, tyres and paint cans… I sort the waste and take it to the appropriate waste collection centre.
• In this way, I help limit pollution of ecosystems such as streams and wastelands. I also help prevent animals from being injured by broken glass or suffocating on pieces of plastic that they mistake for food.

➢ I ENCOURAGE MY LOCAL AUTHORITY TO PROMOTE ORGANIC GARDENING, COMPOSTING AND THE SWITCHING OFF OF STREET LIGHTS!

• Some local authorities are making efforts to plant and manage roadsides and flowerbeds in ways that promote biodiversity. If this is not yet the case in your area, suggest a few simple principles to the relevant department: planting only native species; replacing pesticides and synthetic fertilisers with biological alternatives; using mulch and ground-cover plants to limit unwanted vegetation; reducing watering; composting green waste and using the resulting compost to nourish the soil…
• By switching off street lighting, we can avoid disturbing migratory birds and other nocturnal animals.

➢ I CREATE A NATURAL REFUGE FOR BIODIVERSITY

• I transform a garden — my own, my children’s school garden or my company’s grounds — into a natural refuge for biodiversity, starting by banning the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilisers.
• I let spontaneous vegetation grow in a corner of the garden: it is excellent for insects and therefore for birds!
• I adopt late mowing: it allows botanical species to reproduce and diversify while providing shelter for many animals.
• I create a small pond and keep a dead tree, with cavities to welcome wildlife, as well as piles of logs and stones for small mammals, amphibians and various invertebrates.
• I diversify the hedge with native species.

➢ I AM WARY OF GREENWASHING
Certain companies, car manufacturers in particular, do not hesitate to praise the “ecological” virtues of products that are anything but “green”. Others need to “green” their image because their activities are highly polluting or harmful to biodiversity (greenhouse-gas emissions, clearing land to build an extension, using river water to cool machinery).
Don’t let yourself be fooled by their too-good-to-be-true green advertising campaigns! Sign petitions to denounce greenwashing!

➢ I JOIN A NATURE CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION

• It is a civic-minded and personal commitment. I make sure that my membership fee is used for concrete projects. Environmental protection projects take place over the long term: I try not to forget to renew my support every year.
• I put my skills and/or my availability at the service of the NGO(s) I have chosen.
• I meet new people with whom I share a number of values.

Finally, perhaps you have already incorporated some of these actions into your daily habits? Bravo! Otherwise, it is never too late to get started!

Protecting biodiversity means reducing our environmental impact. Yet reducing consumption is often experienced as a loss, a deprivation. We suggest that you see it instead as an adventure: the adventure of building a New World! Come and join us for a more responsible world!