I want to help wildlife,but I don't know how.What should I do?

Answer 1

There are many levels to your question...
If you're interested in helping your local or native wildlife, and you own property, replace your ornamental landscaping with native plants and flowers. This will encourage all manner of insects (like butterflies) birds, and mammals to take advantage of a place where they can find their natural foods and dens or nests.

If you are interested on a community level, join or start a club that helps restore parks, lakes, beaches, or streams to their natural states. Some fun projects associated with this type of activity are releasing 'farmed' fish or tadpoles back into the wild, planting flowers or shrubs, bird-watching to gather data on local populations, and water testing for purity. This also makes a great school project.

On a national level, be careful which orginizations you support, particularly those you wish to give money to. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been registered regarding misappropriations of funds or donations. "Not-for-profit" status is often abused. Having said that, I can vouch for several orginizations that I researched before I contributed, and was satisfied with their high standards:

The Sierra Club
The World Wildlife Federation
The Audubon Society
NRDC (National Resources Defense Council) This great group sues government and corporations who abuse public lands and break laws designed to protect the environment
Defenders of Wildlife- Currently pays farmers who lose animals to protected predators a FAIR market value for their livestock
The National Parks Conservation Society
The Nature Conservancy- Buys land to protect it

I really hope this helps you. You are on a wonderful spiritual journey...

Answer 2

If you are from the states then each state has its own Wildlife and Fisheries Department. And some counties have what is called Extension Offices. You can contact them and find out how you can contribute. There are volunteer status on most of the National Wildlife Refuge sites. Was just looking that up this a.m. Contact them and go from there. But I would stay away from large organizations such as PETA and Sierra Club. I think those organizations started out with good intentions but you can be drawn into things now that really are politically a mess. Just work with your local organizations is my suggestion.

Answer 3

The best place to start IS with one of the big organisations, like the Sierra Club, Earth First! or PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). Then you can see what is at stake. They may be a little extreme in their activities sometimes, but it's absolutely necessary I'm afraid to say! The most radical organisations are the ones who force change. Without them the issues get buried in meaningless dross and drivel. With them, those who can change things, do - often just to shut the radical organisations up!

And the only way to change things is through the political process! The person above that warned you off because of political agendas is, in my humble opinion, wide of the mark. The agencies which are in control of the situation have political masters and are bound by laws which are generated through the parliamentary process. This is a sad fact but it's true.

Another way is to get involved with a grassroots environment group. "Grassroots" is a term used to describe the small, local groups which usually work on their localised regional issues.

Two more things: "Think local, act global". If you can affect change in your local environment, the change will be noticed by others in the wider community and they may adopt your strategy. "Never underestimate the power of the individual to effect change". If you're of voting age, make it count! Go and see your local politician and ask them what they are doing about the situation that you're concerned about. Tell them why you're concerned (this will mean you have to do some research) andf that their answer will shape the way that you vote at the next election...

I've been a "greenie" for 20 years now and I am constantly amazed by the power I have as an individual!!! I've been actively involved in many campaigns which have resulted in the protection of a lot of habitat which in turn is protecting the wildlife which call such places home.

Good luck and I hope this helps!

Love and Light,


Jarrah

Answer 4

You can find organizations that do this, and join or support them. Be careful though, a lot of these are run by people who's agendas include more than wildlife conservation. You could also consider a career with the park service (you need a biology or history degree to get a good job with them).

Answer 5

A good place to start may be the World Wildlife Fund...

http://www.wwf.org/

Answer 6

stop using cosmetics