I can’t wait to talk about how nature may be our secret weapon for making the world a better place—not just our playground, but also an amazing source of inspiration!
I grew up watching dinosaur movies, immersing myself in some wow stories of prehistoric creatures that once ruled the Earth. Those endless series on Animal Planet (my favourite Irwin & Jeff Corwin) Discovery (planet earth), and other channels, became the foundation for my deep appreciation of nature’s wonders and its evolution.
As the years unfolded, my family and I embarked on unforgettable journeys, exploring the amazing beauty of mountains, rivers, and rainforests. These experiences were simply amazing, filled with encounters with magnificent animals and moments that made me feel amazed by how incredibly beautiful and detailed everything was.
But then, while having so much fun exploring nature, I started to notice something not-so-good. The Earth, which I thought was super awesome, was having some big problems because of what people are doing. Like, there were lots of big forest fires in the Amazon rainforest, Spain & Turkey in the last few years, the ice in Antarctica was melting really fast, rising sea levels in many countries, and places like the Himalayan region facing frequent flooding and earthquakes. It made me feel kind of sad because I realized the Earth is in deep trouble, and it wasn’t as happy as I thought.
Yet, should we just give up? Definitely not! Remembering a line from one of my parents’ beloved movies, “The Shawshank Redemption,” they always say, “Hope is like the best thing ever, and the best thing never gives up.” So, let’s keep our hopes high because countless little acts of kindness toward nature can lead to incredible results for a planet that can thrive sustainably. Along this journey, nature itself might guide us on the path to a brighter future.
Reflecting on my visit to Kaziranga National Park in Assam, India, with my parents in 2022, our guide shared a story about an organization called El rhino. In these lush jungles, Rhinoceroses are sadly being poached for their horns. However, initiatives like El rhino are changing attitudes in forest communities. They’re making paper and other products from rhino and elephant dung, turning what was once seen as a nuisance into a solution.
While elephants have been known to destroy entire farms, rhinos not only eat crops but also turn fields into a personal latrine. Rhinos often return to a single location to poop, for up to 10 days. That can result in as much as 400 kilograms of rhino dung piling up in a hapless farmer’s field. Initiatives such as these are helping local communities to earn money without cutting down trees and sensitizing them towards animals. This creative approach helps preserve these magnificent animals and shows that even small actions can make a big difference in protecting our planet’s biodiversity.
Wow! We have achieved two SDG’s here – No Poverty and Responsible Recycling – just by turning poop into paper!
Pretty genius, right?
Sure, there are some tough things we need to work on, like making sure everyone has clean water, good food & shelter, protecting animals in danger, and stopping pollution. But, you know, even the biggest trees started as tiny seeds. It’s like those small things we do to help the environment—they’re like seeds of change. Every little action, every time we speak up for nature, and every time we join together to take care of the Earth, it’s like planting these special seeds. These small things make us feel hopeful, and nature always has clever solutions to help us out.
During COVID-19, something really cool happened. In the jungles of central India, there are special flowers called Mahua, and they are a big help for the tribal people who live there. When COVID-19 started in 2020, the tribal people in some parts of Central and Eastern India had a tough time because the usual people who buy the flowers couldn’t do that anymore due to the lockdown. But then, a lot of people needed hand sanitizers, and that gave a great idea to some tribes.
In a place called Jashpur in Chhattisgarh, there is a young person who started a business with help from women-owned groups. They make hand sanitizers using something special from the Mahua flowers. This not only helps with keeping people healthy but also makes sure the tribes don’t have to depend on local alcohol, which sometimes causes problems. Now, these groups make money in a good way, and it’s like being fair to everyone. It’s like taking care of each other and making things better for everyone.
They call this Responsible Consumption and Production, and Gender Equality. Cool, right?
When I see these small things people do, it makes me feel hopeful. Hope is like Hulk – really strong!
For me, nature isn’t just a place we go; it’s like a teacher, a doctor, and a buddy. If we enjoy how cool it is, tackle problems as a team, and think of clever ideas, we can make the Earth even better. Let’s keep going on this journey, where every little thing we do makes the world a healthier and happier place.
By: Ronin Singh
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