7 Things You Can Do To Support Conservation

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We all know that our planet is under an ever-increasing threat. When yet another animal is added to the endangered list or we’re confronted with the latest must-watch documentary about the amount of plastic polluting our oceans, conservation becomes a hot topic momentarily. But the reality is, everyone can do more to support conservation. 

Conservation is about protecting natural resources and wildlife for today and the future. Whether that’s eating local produce or simply being a good human and recycling your rubbish, there are ways you can contribute to the conservation of rapidly-dwindling species. 

Here are 7 simple things you can do to support wildlife conservation today.

Make sustainable choices

Every choice we make — from the groceries we buy to the car we drive — is likely to have an impact on the environment somewhere down the line, and therefore it’s important that we make sustainable choices where we can. It’s not about completely shifting your eating or buying habits, but just making a few ‘greener’ switches — using a refillable water bottle rather than buying single-use plastic bottles, for example, taking along reusable shopping bags when you stock up on groceries, or paying more attention to where your food comes from.

Reduce, reuse and recycle 

The three ‘R’s of waste management — Reduce, Reuse and Recycle — are very simple actions that can make a huge difference to our environment: 

• Reduce the number of unnecessary purchases you make and choose environmentally-friendly swaps like switching single-use plastic bags to an eco tote bag (for your sustainable purchases, of course). This will minimise the amount of energy used to produce new products. 
• Reuse as much as possible by finding new uses for old items and materials — turning an old ladder into a bookshelf, for instance, or repurposing used bottle caps as miniature tealights — or alternatively, by donating or selling them to someone willing to give them a new home.
• Recycle as much as possible to save natural resources and protect natural habitats. If you’re unsure what you can and can’t recycle, check out this guide to what makes something recyclable. Just be sure to empty and clean any food containers before adding them to your curbside recycling bin.

Watch your water usage

Fresh water is a precious resource that’s vital for the survival of our population — it’s essential for agriculture, for example, and therefore for growing crops — but it’s one many of us take for granted. However, we can all do our bit to curb our water usage by making a few simple day-to-day changes: something as simple as not keeping the tap running while cleaning your teeth can help, while you can also preserve water by sticking to 5-minute showers, only filling your kettle with as much water as you need, and addressing any persistent leaks in your kitchen or bathroom. 

Open up your garden to local wildlife 

While it’s often the larger, more exotic animals we focus on when discussing endangerment, our somewhat littler, more local critters need our love, too — in fact, insects such as bees that pollinate our crops (we rely on bees and other pollinators for around a third of every mouthful of food we eat), are critical to the survival of our planet. 

Many smaller species are under threat due to factors like pollution, climate change, and habitat loss, but your garden can become a safe haven for these miniature beasties. While neatly-mowed grass admittedly looks great, giving up just a small patch where plants can grow wild will provide a safe haven for butterflies, bees, birds and other local wildlife to thrive. Find out which wildlife-friendly plants you can add to your garden to encourage these winged visitors. 

Support conservation charities and projects

Across the globe, charities and projects are supporting conservation in a number of incredible ways. However, many of these rely on donations and ongoing support to continue their work, and donating to a cause you’re passionate about will ensure that local and global conservation efforts can continue. At Beast Boutique, we donate 50% off all profits to wildlife charities, so you can bag yourself a snazzy new wildlife print t-shirt or even a swish biodegradable phone case while making a small but important contribution to conservation work worldwide.

Volunteer

Whilst financially supporting projects aimed at safeguarding the environment is a great thing to do, you can get even more ‘hands-on’ by volunteering for a local charity or conservation initiative. If you live near the coast, for example, why not see if you can participate in local beach cleans (or even put together your own beach cleaning squad)? There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer further afield, too: from elephant sanctuaries in Thailand to sea turtle conservation projects in Costa Rica, volunteering abroad combines adventure and excitement with the reward of knowing you’re making a difference. 

Educate yourself and share your knowledge

Despite the ever-growing concern around conservation and the state of our planet, few people truly understand the full extent of the situation or understand what they can do to help. Educating yourself on the topic is a great place to start. Then, share your new-found knowledge with others (trying not to come across as too preachy, mind). National Geographic offers free online conservation courses where you can learn about the key issues affecting conservation and discover ways you can help. Knowledge is power, as they say.

It’s down to us to support conservation in every which way we can. Even the slightest changes can make a big difference, and what’s better than that fuzzy feeling of doing something good? Give some of our suggestions a go today and don’t forget to check out our range of ethical swag that helps highlight the plight of some of the world’s most endangered animals.