Protecting the environment is a passion for many who can't join this effort directly. For all those unable to leave home, family, and job to be activists to save the planet, contributing to one of the worthy environmental conservation charities may be the answer. Following the different organizations that seek to save resources, protect the air and water, or save endangered species can be very exciting.
You may have spent years hiking your local mountains or along nearby rivers without knowing that rare mussels live in the riffles or endangered woodpeckers flit among the trees. This kind of knowledge makes the sight of dark shell fragments left by a raccoon a clue that the mussel population is still going strong. It makes the sound of a woodpecker's call or its drumming on a dead tree like a victorious trumpet blast.
Whatever you may feel about militant animal rights zealots, it's still kind of neat to think of stalwart naturalists braving remote oceans to protect giant whales or declining fish populations from illegal fishing boats. It's neat to think that a whole mountain can be bought and managed for the welfare of an endangered species. After all, if the country has gotten along this long without that timber, or coal, or whatever, it can probably continue to do so.
If you're worried about the welfare of those who live in protected areas and can't make a living by cutting trees, there's good news. You can find a group that seeks to teach local farmers or forest dwellers about sustainable farming, soil improvement and conservation, and other methods to improve their lot without damaging pristine natural areas. These groups also work to open markets for indigenous people and their products; the 'fair trade' movement is an example.
You can find local programs to support or you can contribute to an international non-profit. Fight mountain-top removal or clear cutting in the rainforest. Give to educational foundations that work to educate people on water conservation, recycling, or protecting their personal watershed.
Children have started action groups that are now international non-profits. Organizations can have a local focus, serve a state or nation, work in an entire continent, cover a region, or have a global impact. You might want to support educational efforts, restore native grasses to the prairie, plant trees on old strip mines, or improve the lot of domestic cows, pigs, and chickens. There are many ways to make sure you are part of the solution rather than the problem.
It's a good idea to check the rating for any cause you're considering. There are non-profits that exist to monitor charities to make sure the administrative costs are not out of line and that collected funds are not mismanaged. They make sure that the goals of the organization are being met, so that donors aren't wasting their money. You will find different lists of 'the top ten' charities, and there may be some political bias in the judging, but you can also find out about organizations of all kinds.
Preserving the environment can mean purchasing especially sensitive areas and leaving them alone. It can mean teaching ways to save water or reduce our carbon footprint. It might involve supporting a native grass project or planting a butterfly garden. All of the efforts require direct and indirect support.
You may have spent years hiking your local mountains or along nearby rivers without knowing that rare mussels live in the riffles or endangered woodpeckers flit among the trees. This kind of knowledge makes the sight of dark shell fragments left by a raccoon a clue that the mussel population is still going strong. It makes the sound of a woodpecker's call or its drumming on a dead tree like a victorious trumpet blast.
Whatever you may feel about militant animal rights zealots, it's still kind of neat to think of stalwart naturalists braving remote oceans to protect giant whales or declining fish populations from illegal fishing boats. It's neat to think that a whole mountain can be bought and managed for the welfare of an endangered species. After all, if the country has gotten along this long without that timber, or coal, or whatever, it can probably continue to do so.
If you're worried about the welfare of those who live in protected areas and can't make a living by cutting trees, there's good news. You can find a group that seeks to teach local farmers or forest dwellers about sustainable farming, soil improvement and conservation, and other methods to improve their lot without damaging pristine natural areas. These groups also work to open markets for indigenous people and their products; the 'fair trade' movement is an example.
You can find local programs to support or you can contribute to an international non-profit. Fight mountain-top removal or clear cutting in the rainforest. Give to educational foundations that work to educate people on water conservation, recycling, or protecting their personal watershed.
Children have started action groups that are now international non-profits. Organizations can have a local focus, serve a state or nation, work in an entire continent, cover a region, or have a global impact. You might want to support educational efforts, restore native grasses to the prairie, plant trees on old strip mines, or improve the lot of domestic cows, pigs, and chickens. There are many ways to make sure you are part of the solution rather than the problem.
It's a good idea to check the rating for any cause you're considering. There are non-profits that exist to monitor charities to make sure the administrative costs are not out of line and that collected funds are not mismanaged. They make sure that the goals of the organization are being met, so that donors aren't wasting their money. You will find different lists of 'the top ten' charities, and there may be some political bias in the judging, but you can also find out about organizations of all kinds.
Preserving the environment can mean purchasing especially sensitive areas and leaving them alone. It can mean teaching ways to save water or reduce our carbon footprint. It might involve supporting a native grass project or planting a butterfly garden. All of the efforts require direct and indirect support.
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Find a summary of the reasons why you should support environmental conservation charities and more info about a great charity at http://saverthefoundation.org right now.
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