Image credit: World Bank.

Each year on June 5th, the United Nations Environment Program celebrates World Environment Day, the biggest, most celebrated day for positive environmental action. This year the focus is biodiversity. Take a moment to learn how all living things on Earth are connected in the web of life and how we can act #ForNature.

Biodiversity is the foundation that supports all life below water and on land (including humans!). The enormous variety and complex interactions between species, no matter how small or insignificant they might seem, keep our ecosystems functional, keep our economies productive, and make all life on Earth possible. We are inextricably linked to nature for our existence and quality of life.

We are currently experiencing huge declines in biodiversity – in the next 10 years, around 1 in every four known species may disappear from the planet. Much of this is due to our unsustainable use of nature. We need to commit to protect nature and use nature’s resources sustainably. Learn more from UN World Environment Day.

What can you do? Here’s just a few tips

• Provide habitat for pollinators by planting native plants in your garden.
• Advocate for nature – support protection and restoration of green spaces and nature preserves in your community.
• Reconsider your lawn – a turf grass lawn is a desert for biodiversity. Consider a meadow or native plant gardens instead.
• Choose sustainable seafood
• Buy sustainably – Before you purchase a product, especially bigger ticket items, do a little research so you can buy the most sustainable option you can afford (buying used is a great option).
• Buy less – being more thoughtful about the things you purchase is good. Buying less is even better. Humans have far more material stuff than they ever have in history and it all has to come from somewhere and eventually end up somewhere adding to landfills or hazardous waste.
• Be good to our climate – conserve energy at home; carpool, walk or bike as much as possible; go meatless one (or more) day a week.

For kids:

Explore games, stories, hands-on activities and more on Biodiversity Everything Counts from the American Museum of Natural History.

National Geographic Kids explains declining biodiversity.

Ready to take action? NatGeo Kids shares steps that anyone can take.