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Ocean Protection
We have to protect our oceans! Jenny Desmond requested that we take a day to talk about ocean protection. 6 Threats to Ocean Life Plastic pollution: Animals are killed by ingesting or by being tangled in plastic. Overfishing: Taking too many fish out of the ocean threatens the ecosystem. Whaling: There are just over 100 West Pacific grey whales left in the wild. Climate change: Coral bleaching, habitat loss, and rising sea levels are all caused by climate change. Oil and gas: A lot of oil and gas reserves are under the sea floor. Shipping: Ships create a lot of damage, including oil spills and anchor damage. 8 Ways to Help 1. Reduce your carbon footprint - take these P5B challenges 2. Reduce plastic use - these challenges can help: 3. Participate in beach cleanups (if you live on the coast) 4. Choose sustainable seafood (or don’t eat it at all) 5. Buy sustainable products from sustainable companies 6. Avoid using pesticides and other toxic chemicals 7. Be aware of your impact while on vacation 8. Cut down on all waste - take this challenge: Upcycle Sources “Oceans Issues & Threats.” Greenpeace USA, www.greenpeace.org/usa/oceans/issues/. “Threats to Oceans and Coasts.” WWF, wwf.panda.org/our_work/oceans/problems/. “10 Things You Can Do to Save the Ocean.” National Geographic, 29 May 2019, www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/oceans/take-action/10-things-you-can-do-to-save-the-ocean/. Smithsonian Ocean Team. How You Can Help the Ocean, 14 May 2018, ocean.si.edu/conservation/climate-change/how-you-can-help-ocean.
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 Flower gardens do more than just look and smell pretty. They provide a safe haven for bees and other pollinators. Pollinators are the animals that spread pollen between flowers, allowing them to create seeds. These animals include bees, butterflies, beetles, flies, moths, birds, and bats. Pollinators are essential parts of our ecosystem. In fact, “three-fourths of the world’s flowering plants and about 35 percent of the world’s food crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce” (NRCS).
Many pollinators are endangered species, especially bees. One of the easiest ways to help pollinators is to plant gardens full of flowering plants that attract pollinators and provide food for them. Bees and other pollinators eat pollen and nectar, so planting a garden will help both the pollinators and the plants. The Challenge During the next two weeks, try planting some flowers that attract pollinators. Some of these flowers are peony, milkweed, lavender, and marigold. In the coming weeks, we’ll post more information about each species of pollinator, instructions for how to plant a garden, and links to other projects that are working to protect pollinators. Sources “Natural Resources Conservation Service.” Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA, www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/plantsanimals/pollinate/. “Saving the Bees through Outreach and Education.” The Honeybee Conservancy, thehoneybeeconservancy.org/. |