Our Earth is changing at an alarming rate. Climate change, habitat loss, pollution, and more threaten our way of life every day. With each loss of a habitat or species, the situation grows more dire.
If we don’t act now, we may no longer recognize the planet will call home...
And protecting our planet begins with protecting biodiversity: the essential diversity of life on Earth.
Humans depend on the resources our diverse ecosystems provide, such as water, food, and medicine. These ecosystems rely on a variety of plants and animals that complete a healthy life cycle. However, a decrease in biodiversity can have a negative domino effect, limiting these resources until they become extinct.
As more natural habitats are lost, we also see a decrease in animals that are important to pollination and wildlife control. This eventually leads to harder-to-find resources and an increase in pest issues.
In recent years, climate change has made itself apparent through bigger storms, extreme temperatures, and rising sea levels. The good news? Biodiversity can help slow down soaring global temperatures.
Human-led deforestation is responsible for almost 11 percent of all global greenhouse gas emissions. Stopping the destruction of these habitats and conserving carbon-storing plants can keep greenhouse gases out of our atmosphere.
In addition, forests and wetland ecosystems act as safeguards during extreme storms and floods. By protecting them, we’re protecting countless people and animals from natural disaster displacement.
The loss of biodiversity is a threat to the global economy as more and more of Earth’s resources are drained.
The food, commercial forestry, and ecotourism industries could all lose an estimated $338 billion per year if the loss of biodiversity continues at its current pace. Meanwhile, there are estimates that investing in natural resources could be worth up to $6 trillion by 2050.
Climate change is a threat to life—and life as we know it. Our environment has shaped our culture and daily life, from religious practices to recreational activities to the ingredients we use in our favorite family recipes.
Nature is a fundamental aspect of many cultural and national identities. The loss of the natural world is already changing and upending lives. To preserve the things we love, we must also preserve our natural environment.
Millions of people depend on nature for their day-to-day livelihoods, often relying on high-biodiversity ecosystems as their source of food, fuel, and medicine.
Greater Good Charities is dedicated to protecting endangered species through holistic and experienced conservation efforts. Our program identifies priority species for conservation and works side by side with wildlife organizations around the globe to save them.
These include keystone species like the Jaguar, which play an essential role in the functioning of an ecosystem; umbrella species like the Tiger, whose protection indirectly ensures the protection of other species in the habitat; evolutionarily distinct species like the Pangolin, which have few close relatives left on the planet; and flagship species like the Elephant, charismatic species that encourage conservation at large.
To this day, the program has provided support in 43 countries, protected 1.3 million acres of habitat, and helped safeguard the future of over 30 endangered species.