Conservation is Good for Your Health

Posted on 12th June 2024 at 16:59

How often do we hear about the need to look after the planet, help nature, how we are spoiling the planet?

You may not be convinced yet that there is a need to do more to change our lifestyle to help the planet, in which case why not consider this reason.

It’s good for your health.

Yeah sure, well let’s have a look into why doing conservation work is good for your health. We rely on the environment around us just as any species does, the forests, water and land provide us with food, oxygen and so much more.

What would happen if they were to disappear?

Once they are gone, they are gone!

When I talk about conservation many people think I mean wild animals in far off countries, however conservation starts on your doorstep. How we all live our lives is killing our environment. Did you know that in the last 50 years we humans have been responsible for wiping out 68% of wildlife populations.

To put that in perspective it is expected to see a 10% loss of species in every 10 million years, with 1 million on the brink of extinction. To add to that since the 1970 we have cleared 20% of the Amazon rain forest to provide farming land which has had a devastating effect on the remaining forest.

These are just a few of the statistics on the effect we are having on the planet in the way we live our lives. Our constant taking from nature to suit our needs includes things like;

How we farm

Habitat loss

How we build

Pollution we generate

Climate breakdown

Exploitation

These figures may sound bad, and they are, we are the only species to muck up our own environment and if we carry on at this rate, we will cause the 6th mass extinction and the only one not a natural cause, like the meteor that killed off the dinosaurs.

However as bad as all this sounds, we have not reached the point of no return. There are many good reasons to change how we live our lives, but today I want to focus on why we should volunteer.

So apart from the obvious reason it is good for the planet, which should be reason enough. However, if you are not yet convinced, here are some more reasons that will help you, and whereas not all of these may be needed I am sure there will be some.

If you volunteer in nature, you can improve yourself by: -

Improve self-confidence and self-esteem

Feel better about yourself

Deal with loneliness and social isolation

Improve feelings of stress, anxiety and depression

Feel more connected to people

Create a better work-life balance

Learn new skills and share knowledge

Meet new people and make friends

Be more active

Connect to your community and feel like you belong and are valued

A myriad of skills suited to the workplace like, leadership skills, problem solving and so much more.

There are so many different ways to help nature some very simple like litter picking, by contacting the Wildlife Trust or Woodland Trust to see what projects in your area are in need of help.