World Wildlife Day Guide! Themes, How Ecosystems are Being Impacted, Links, and More

Welcome back, and a big happy world wildlife day!

Whether you're new to this holiday or have some background, I've prepared a quick guide for you to make the most out of this wildlife day. From 2021's theme to donation links and places to learn more, here's your World Wildlife Guide for 2021!

Let's jump right in!

Starting Things Off: An Introduction

What is World Wildlife Day?

Great question! World Wildlife Day is the most esteemed holiday to celebrate wildlife. Denoted a holiday after the day the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) treaty was signed, this holiday celebrates spreading awareness for animals and other wildlife.

What is the theme for 2021?

The theme for the year 2021 focuses on forests, specifically "Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet". Today we will cherish the methods we have in place for protecting our forests and guarding these lands while also looking at the ecosystem services they provide and trying to protect them to ensure a better future for our planet. After all, forests are key hotspots to biodiversity, and should definitely not be ignored.

What is the Global World Wildlife Event?

Usually located in New York, the Global World Wildlife event will take place online with UN members to discuss the theme for 2021, the youth art contest winners, a panel, and a film showcase. To find out more about their agenda, click here. Other events from the World Wildlife Day organization can be found here, in case you'd like to join!

What are Threats to Current Forests?

Let's take a look at three types of forests in today's world and their threats:

Ecosystem #1: Tropical Rainforests

These tropical ecosystems are hotspots to some of the most diverse organisms on Earth. With bright colors and magestic coats of fur, there's a lot to love! Here are some threats tropical rainforests are currently facing:

1. Slash-and-burn techniques that clear out the land and make it hard for the ecosystem to bounce back.

2. General logging and cutting down trees can have devastating effects for all the organisms that rely on these trees both indirectly and directly for survival

3. Trying to plant palm oil plants by clearing out whole forests

You can read more about threats here, and sign petitions for rainforest protection here.

Ecosystem #2: Temperate Forests

1. Logging - similar to tropical rainforests, logging plays a big part in why this ecosystem is becoming threatened.

2. Climate Change and coal burning has serious effects, especially as the buildup can cause acid rain to fall to our grounds, reaching these forests and harming life

3. Off-road vehicles can directly kill off many animals and ruin habitats by entering places they shouldn't be

Read more about threats to temperate forests here, and help Canada's forests by signing a petition here.

Ecosystem #3: Boreal Forests/Taiga

1. Hunting animals - not only do the animals that get hunted decrease in numbers in terms of the overall population of their species, but also all the animals that rely on these animals either as predators or prey are disturbed as well. If the animal is a keystone species it is tough to recover.

2. Clearcutting - all forests are experiencing some form of logging or cutting, and the taiga is no exception. While destroying habitats and hurting animal life, these can also cause separation of species and mates from each other, creating devastating impacts.

3. Climate Change - believe it or not, climate change affects many types of forests, and taigas are probably one of the top ones affected. Climate change includes global warming, meaning the permafrost (think of it as frozen soil) melts turning the area into something more like muskeg. Additionally, other species that have adaptations to this kind of weather are better "fit" for the environment and cause native species to compete.

Read more about threats to the taiga here, and help support Siberian Taiga forests by signing a petition here.

Calling You to Action - Important Links to Get YOU Started!

1. The World Wildlife Day Event Page: https://www.wildlifeday.org/

2. World Wildlife Fund's Website: https://www.worldwildlife.org/

3. My Personal Fundraiser (Thanks in advance!): wwf.worldwildlife.org/goto/thebookishelephantfundraiser

4. Save the Elephants: https://www.savetheelephants.org/

5. Jane Goodall Foundation: https://www.janegoodall.org/

6. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN): https://www.iucn.org/

7. Defenders of Wildlife: https://defenders.org/

I'd like to wish you once again a Happy World Wildlife Day! Make sure to spread this year's theme, and if you're free try to catch the Global World Wildlife Event! It will be a blast and it's for an amazing cause :)

Stay tuned, and S.P.A.T!

- The Bookish Elephant