‘’The only way forward, if we are going to improve the quality of the environment, is to get everybody involved’’: Richard Rogers.

Natural systems support our prosperity and well-being. Billions of people depend upon nature, which provides their livelihoods. Those people are among the first to suffer when ecosystems are threatened, whether by pollution, climate change or over-exploitation.

On 5 June, we celebrate the World Environment Day (WED) under the theme « Connecting People to Nature» which implores us to get outdoors and into nature, to appreciate its beauty and its importance, and to take forward the call to protect the Earth that we share.

This year’s theme invites you to think about how we are part of nature and how intimately we depend on it. It challenges us to find fun and exciting ways to experience and cherish this vital relationship.

In this day, let’s go outside and show that we’re ‘’with nature’’. Let’s breathe in the beauty and remember that by keeping our planet healthy, we keep ourselves healthy too.

Wetlands and People: A Vital Connection

Wetlands are some of the world’s most productive environments, and they are important natural ecosystems for human survival. Millions of people depend for their livelihoods on intact and functioning wetlands. Wetlands provide them with the main resource base for their existence, like water, fishing, rice farming, travel, tourism and materials. In addition they act as transport corridors and provide protection against extreme weather events like floods, drought and storms.

Net fishing in Bangweulu Wetlands, Zambia. Photo from safaribookings.com

Income generated from healthy wetlands not only helps communities to escape poverty, it also ensures that by taking care of their wetlands, people help to build a sustainable future for themselves. But despite the ecosystem services that wetlands provide, these ecosystems are being degraded and threatened by human activities and climate change. To continue providing for human livelihoods, we must recognize and integrate these environmental values and services into development plans and activities.

In support of the 2017 celebrations, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the #NatureForAll campaign have come on board to help inspire people to get out into nature and record what they see.

#NatureForAll partners are collaborating with UN Environment on a variety of activities and resources to help people explore, celebrate, and share their love of nature.

For more information about the campaign, visit the website of #NatureForAll. You can also download the #NatureForAll Social Media Guideline.

More information

If you are interested in organizing an event to mark WED, upload it on the link below:

http://worldenvironmentday.global/subscribe/

Download WED Materials

http://worldenvironmentday.global/en/toolkits

The Graphic charter of the WWD