Posted Apr 21, 2018 7:14 pm PDT
(iStock)
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – As the world marks Earth Day 2018 this weekend, a local group is sharing some tips on what you can do to help the environment every day.
With the Sun Run scheduled for Sunday, the Stanley Park Ecology Society decided to hold its event–and 30th anniversary–a day early this year, but the message was all the same.
“For 30 years we’ve been helping steward the wildlife and ecosystems of the park through conversation initiatives and environmental education,” explains Communications Specialist Kathleen Stormont.
The society’s Earth Day event featured a number of activities, including the planting of native species, removal of some invasive ones, tours and more.
“Earth Day is more relevant than ever as worldwide we’re seeing declines in species’ populations, so in their numbers, but also in their diversity,” she says. “And biodiversity is really important for the planet. It helps our ecology be more resilient to any negative impacts like pollution and habitat destruction, so if you lose that diversity you open up our natural systems to damage and decline.”
She says Earth Day is all about acknowledging the environment, and talking about how you can support it. However, Stormont says there’s a lot you can do any time of the year, not just on the one day.
“It’s all about the choices you’re making and your daily life. Whether you’re going to reuse items, the choices that you make when you’re in the grocery store — if you’re buying organic, or choosing less packaging. If you choose to walk or ride to work, or use public transit. I mean everybody knows this, there’s lots of choices you can make. It’s just making an effort to do those things that do help our planet.”
Stormont says another way you can help is by volunteering with organizations like the Stanley Park Ecology Society. “There’s a lot of opportunities out there, not just with us, but other environmental organizations can always use volunteer help.”
For more information about the Stanley Park Ecology Society, you can check their website or contact Stormont at 604.718.6523.