Why Care About Wildlife Conservation?

Have you ever wondered why some people are so passionate about wildlife? Or how your actions could make a difference in saving nature? Understanding the importance of wildlife and taking tangible steps can have a profound impact. Let’s explore three actionable ways to create meaningful change for nature and wildlife.

1. Evaluate Your Values and Align Your Actions

The first step to making a difference is understanding your values. Values guide our actions, often unconsciously, and influence the decisions we make every day. There are ten basic human values as outlined in Schwartz’s Theory of Basic Values:

• Benevolence: Preserving the welfare of close personal contacts

• Universalism: Protecting the welfare of all people and nature

• Self-direction: Independent thought and exploration

• Stimulation: Seeking novelty and challenge

• Hedonism: Pursuing personal pleasure

• Achievement: Demonstrating competence by social standards

• Power: Exercising control over people and resources

• Security: Ensuring societal and personal safety and stability

• Conformity: Restraining actions that might harm others or violate norms

• Tradition: Respecting cultural and religious customs

Understanding your core values can be eye-opening. For instance, during graduate school, I took a values assessment that revealed surprising results. Initially, I thought the test was wrong because I misunderstood the meanings of some terms. However, after reading through the descriptions, it all made sense, explaining many of my past decisions.

Action Step: Take a values assessment (linked here). Once you’ve identified your values, audit your daily habits. Ask yourself:

• Do my actions reflect my values?

• How sustainable are my choices?

For example, if your values include universalism or security, are you making choices that protect the environment and secure resources for the future? Even small adjustments, like reducing waste or conserving water, can align your actions with your values. I created a sustainability audit to help identify areas where small changes could make a big impact—and it’s designed to be practical for busy households.

2. Plant Something Native

Urban expansion often leads to the destruction of native habitats. Cleared land is frequently replanted with ornamental or invasive species that offer little ecological value. By planting native plants, you help restore food and shelter for local wildlife while conserving resources like water and fertilizer.

Why Native Plants Matter:

• Native plants support local wildlife by providing essential food and shelter.

• They’re adapted to regional climates and require fewer resources to thrive.

• Even small actions, like planting a single pot of native flowers, can make a difference.

Did You Know?

• Over 96% of North American land birds feed their young insects, making native plants critical for bird populations.

• Lawns cover 40 million acres in the U.S., consuming vast amounts of water, fertilizer, and pesticides. Replacing just a portion of your lawn with native plants creates much-needed habitat.

Action Step: Whether you have a yard or just a balcony, consider planting native species. Even a small native garden bed or potted plant can support pollinators like bees and butterflies, which in turn help other plants thrive and enrich the ecosystem.

3. Support Local Businesses

Buying locally reduces the environmental impact of transporting goods, improves air and water quality, and strengthens local economies.

Why It Matters:

• The global shipping industry significantly impacts marine wildlife. Ships often traverse whale habitats, leading to dangerous collisions and disrupting communication due to noise pollution. Imagine trying to have a conversation next to a ten-lane highway—that’s the reality for many marine animals.

• Local goods have a smaller carbon footprint and often involve less packaging.

Action Step: Shop locally whenever possible. Look for farmers' markets, package-free shops, and local second-hand stores. Supporting small businesses not only reduces your environmental impact but also keeps money in your community.

Small Actions, Big Impact

When it comes to conservation, small, consistent efforts add up. It’s essential to focus on sustainable changes that you can maintain over time. For example, as a parent of young children, I know that going completely zero-waste isn’t feasible for my family right now. Instead, I focus on smart, effective consumption that aligns with our current capabilities.

Individual choices create a ripple effect. Planting native species in your yard attracts pollinators, which help other plants thrive, enriching the entire ecosystem. Reducing plastic waste at home prevents microplastics from harming marine life thousands of miles away. These small acts accumulate into waves of systemic change, inspiring others to care about nature too.

The Power of Collective Effort

It’s easy to feel like one person’s actions are just a drop in the ocean. But together, those drops create waves. By making thoughtful, sustainable choices, we contribute to a legacy of lasting change for the planet. Start with one small action today—whether it’s planting native flowers, supporting a local business, or auditing your daily habits—and watch the impact grow.

Together, we can create a brighter, greener future for ourselves and for wildlife.