World Nature Conservation Day recognizes the need for preserving a healthy environment as the foundation for the wellness of all beings.

The International Panel on Climate Change recently named colonialism as a major driving force of climate change. Colonial human activities, which include land theft for development, the overexploitation of resources, and the continual dumping of waste continue to have devastating impacts on the world around us, giving rise to adverse weather patterns, rapid extinction of species, and loss of biodiversity from the destruction of habitats.

Conservationist as a scientific practice has its roots in the early days of so-called America where the lands that had been stolen from Indigenous communities for the use of settlers. Much of it was turned into National State Parks, actively displacing and disconnecting the communities who were and are in deep relationship to that land. Photographers such as Ansel Adams popularized the image of nature as pristine on his stunning black and white works, unaware of the adverse affect this may have.

While we recognize the importance of protecting the land and water we have, intact, we also want to recognize the harm caused by conservation groups and practices over time and to this day. We also recognize that while Indigenous peoples make up only 5% of Earth’s population, they are responsible for having protected 80% of the biodiversity on the planet, and are thereby the most practical stewards of these lands.

Conservation as a practice is rooted in colonialism, and must be decolonized so as not to continue harming the people who have protected the land effectively for thousands of years.

What can you do as a storyteller to change the story?

Understand the colonial roots of conservation and the stories you are working on
Did you know that early settlers in so-called America killed so many Indigenous people and buffalo in their conquest for land that the earth cooled significantly? The invitation here is that as you work on your stories, do your part in learning the colonial history of the project. Ask questions and talk to Indigenous people of the region. Use a translator if necessary to obtain accurate facts. You would be surprised at how much is left out in conservation initiatives around who has been displaced or who is being displaced in the name of conservation.
Include indigenous people
If you are documenting a story about conservation and Indigenous communities are not at the centre of the project, it may be time to ask questions around why that’s the case. Keep asking why…it could be possible your whole narrative changes as a result of what you discover.
Examine your language and narratives
Just as Ansel Adams played a part in crystallizing the idea of nature as pristine and devoid of humans unintentionally, so do each of us have that same power. Therefore it is important for us to be mindful of the language we are using and the narratives we are promoting. For example, it is not uncommon to frame Indigenous people protecting their land as “protestors,” which carries certain connotations that are not always positive. Instead, we can call them “protectors,” which is much more accurate and paints a very different picture.
Find peers in the space who are DECOLONIZING their practices
Once awareness starts building of the problematic nature of conservation practices, it’s great to have others to share the journey with. It’s also important to keep learning! We offer a powerful course on Environmental Storytelling that will offer you insights and tools to continue on this path.
Celebrating this day can be an opportunity to put things into perspective, move away from denial or lack of ownership, and take steps toward making tangible positive changes.
Bringing awareness and thought to how we use nature’s resources in our everyday actions is no longer a choice. This day reminds us that we need to take action now!

This episode explores the work of the Orangutan Information Centre in Sumatra, a local grassroots NGO that is fighting habitat destruction caused by palm oil companies, creating new livelihoods for local people, rescuing orangutans, reforesting reclaimed palm plantations or illegally-logged areas, and the list goes on.

Tips for Personal efforts to conserve:

Email a local politician about ways to make conservation and preservation accessible.
Join a plastic-free challenge.
Reduce the usage of electricity.
Plant trees to prevent soil erosion, grow vegetables if you can, and to avoid litter, compost organic waste.
Use the water resources in a proper way and reuse the kitchen water for other activities like watering the gardens.
Use rechargeable batteries.
Bin your butts! Smoking is harmful to health, but If you do smoke, make sure to throw your butts in the dustbin instead of littering them on the ground.
Use alternative sources of energy such as solar and wind energy.
Use paper bags or cloth bags instead of plastic bags.
Install water treatment plants and rainwater harvesting.