World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, June 17th

Desertification is the process of land degradation (typically losing its bodies of water as well as vegetation and wildlife) in arid, semi-arid and sub-humid areas due to climatic variations and human activities.

Causes:
Overgrazing is the major cause of desertification worldwide, urbanization, climate change, overdrafting of groundwater, deforestation, natural disasters and farming practices in agriculture are others that cause it.

One third of world’s land surface is threatened by desertification and across the world it affects livelihood of millions of people that needs what the lands used to provide.

Effects:
No farming, hunger, floods, poor water quality, crowding and overpopulation, poverty.

Solutions:
Policies related to how people can farm (how often, how much, what type) that can regulate and diminish desertification.

Educate people on sustainable practices will save more land from becoming desert.

We required technology to be created when it gets so difficult to avoid.

Wildlife, when they are in their real home they can help with the process of reforestation. They are not where they are just for no reason. We must respect their ecosystem. Years ago, some ecologists made a wrong decision in Africa and killed 40.000 thousand elephants as they thought they were triggering desertification and it went worse without them. Later, they realized about this mistake and repopulated lands facing desertification issues with thousands of animals in the correct ecosystem that helped improved the lands much more. You can see this on the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpTHi7O66pI

We can still save our lands, but we must act now.

Deforestation and Drought

Citation:
Rinkesh, ‘‘What is desertification?’’ www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-solutions-of-desertification.php. September 17th, 2015. Website June 16th, 2016

Collaborative Health
How Human-Influenced Animal Diseases Are Bad For All Of Us

Sickness and disease are an undeniable fact of nature. Animals and plants frequently sicken and die, sometimes in greater numbers than others. However, unless there is something seriously wrong with the ecosystem as a whole, sickness should not prove a major problem to biodiversity or population stability. Sickness and disease in wild plants and creatures may seem like one aspect of the environment which is beyond the direct control of humans. However, the alarming number of wildlife epidemics sweeping through the world at the moment has something very serious to say about the state of our planet in general. Unfortunately, humans cannot discount our own environmental impacts from the causes of this sad state of affairs. Nor should we be complacent about this. Humans, too, can be seriously affected by diseases which begin in the wild – and the gathering strength of several animal sicknesses could have major human implications if we do not begin to right the damages we have caused.

Wildlife Epidemics

The world is seeing entire species falling to a range of diseases on an unprecedented scale. Chytridiomycosis – which infects the skin of amphibians – is wiping out millions of the world’s frogs. The floors of American bat roosts are littered with the corpses of bats which have fallen prey to a new fungal disease known as ‘White Nose Syndrome’. A contagious facial cancer (a grouping of words which must strike fear into anyone’s heart) is killing Tasmanian devils. And in the UK, the stately ash trees which populate the decidious woods and ancient folklore of the island are succumbing in their thousands to a fungal infection known as Chalara dieback of ash. And this is only the tip of the iceberg. It would take pages and pages to detail all of the epidemics currently facing the world’s wildlife. Suffice it to say that the state of affairs is not good at all.

Human Implications

For the ecologically minded among us, this rise in wildlife diseases is a tragedy in its own right. But even those who are less inclined to care about the fates of plants and animals should be concerned. For not only are humans deeply implicated within the emergence of these diseases (more on that later), we are also threatened by them. Anyone who works with wild animals will be aware of the health precautions which must be taken in order to reduce the risk of cross-infection between human and animal. Humans are not immune to animal diseases – and, as animal pathogens and diseases proliferate and multiply, more and more of them are mutating in ways which allows them to infect humans. Indeed, it should be noted that some of our most fearsome epidemics have originated within the animal kingdom. The recent outbreak of Ebola in West Africa has been linked to the hunting of great apes (who also suffer from Ebola) and fruit bats. HIV/AIDS is believed to have passed to humans from chimpanzees. And let us not forget the bubonic plague, which killed an entire third of the human population in the fourteenth century. The ‘Black Death’ still lurks within rodent and flea populations. Given the right conditions, it could rise again.

Why Is This Happening?

Disease may appear to be something which is largely uncontrollable and un-influencable in wild situations. And it’s certainly true that once a virus or pathogen gains enough momentum to begin mutating and spreading exponentially then there is not a lot which can be done. However, humans could do with taking a closer look at the conditions which are allowing these illnesses to get out of control in the first place. Scientists are extremely concerned about the growing potential for animal illnesses to spread to human populations, and have made no bones about pointing the finger of blame firmly at human activity. It is humans who have forced alien species into close proximity with each other, resulting in the dangerous mixing and breeding of viruses and bacteria. It is humans who have warmed, deforested, and acidified the planet – creating fertile conditions in which pathogens find it easy to flourish and spread. It is humans who have destroyed wild habitats, bringing weakened and infected animals closer to human habitations. And it is humans who will ultimately suffer, unless something is done to halt the spread of pestilence in the wild.

Sally James
Travel writer

One of the most wonderful aspects of experiencing nature and becoming immersed in the wilderness is its incredible healing capacity and ability to reconnect us with the natural world. For many of us, the pressures of our modern day society place us in an environment which is distanced from that essential time in nature we so badly need. Though urban development is helping our cities to become more “green” and “pedestrian”, we still lack that crucial time where all cell phones, tablets, and cars no longer await us around each corner – and we feel completely involved with the fauna and flora around us. Spending time in that coveted natural space is something that all of us need, whether it’s an afternoon in a national park, or an adventure in some of Costa Rica’s most magnificent, naturally diverse regions.

Ecotherapy

Costa Rica is designated as one of the planet’s most precious ecological treasures, with some of the world’s finest and most varied biodiversity. Passionate endeavors from the government, organizations, businesses and communities have seen that much of Costa Rica’s fragile wildlife remains untouched, while encouraging a friendly, conscientious tourism industry to flourish which offers visitors a once in a lifetime experience. Visiting such a wondrous environment is a dream many aspire to achieve, and it’s not just about seeing star attractions. It’s about experiencing the surrounding environment in ways which are fulfilling and memorable to the soul.
Costa Rica provides the perfect setting for this, and in a variety of ways. One of them is its potential as an ecotherapy escape. Ecotherapy is defined as “healing and growth nurtured by healthy interaction with the earth.” Recent years of studies have revealed that people who spend time in nature not only experience physical benefits (which subsequently have a positive impact on mental health as well) but also experience a greater peace of mind. This can occur on a small scale such as taking a ride through a park every day, or on a greater scale such as taking an environmentally-focused trip. “Green therapy” as it is also known has been proven to stimulate cognitive brain activity as well as help individuals who face mental health challenges.

The Greater Good

Certainly, Costa Rica provides a wealth of opportunities for people from all backgrounds to receive a healthy dose of ecotherapy. But it also enables – and empowers – individuals and groups to achieve something even more than that. By volunteering for a good cause, people not only spend time in a positive environment, but are also rewarded with a sense of fulfillment from working towards a conscientious project which has a positive impact on the ecosystem and the communities which flourish within it. For many people, it is projects such as this which can be a major turning point in their lives. People who have suffered from various struggles ranging from PTSD to substance abuse addiction have found purpose through helping others in a variety of ways, not only giving them responsibility but the knowledge that they are having a positive impact on someone else’s life. It is this very sense of purpose – as well as the support of the community – which makes volunteering such a poignant and powerful action. And ultimately, it is a step closer to finding an identity.
The learning experience which people undergo while volunteering on any project is immensely beneficial, not only for the technical skills learned but the personal journey. Meeting people who are like-minded but whose interests are diverse and finding support within that network can restore the sense of belonging that we all need, as well as the knowledge that every little contribution towards helping communities can accumulate to make a substantial difference.

Ecotherapy is more than simply a relaxing exercise in nature, but something which helps to fill an essential core part of our soul. Nature has always been a great muse on our personal journeys, and in turn, spending time in nature and working towards its protection and conservation is one way to give back. And there are myriad ways to do this, from volunteering at an ecotourist center, to campaigning online, raising funds for conservation efforts, planting trees, and helping wildlife recovery programs. Whatever the cause, one thing is clear – that being in nature and caring for its wellbeing is one of the best ways we can care for our ourselves.

Sally James
London, England
Travel writer

February 2015