USA, October 1969: John McConnel, peace activist and environmentalist, calls on the UN Secretary-general to sign a proclamation spreading awareness about the need of creating a movement for our planet's preservation and protection.
April 1970: 20 million Americans respond to this call, by demonstrating and officially establishing the first Earth Day. Every year since then, around 200 countries celebrate this day.
April 2021: it is celebrated the 51st anniversary of this day. Each year, April 22 becomes a symbolic day to demonstrate and raise awareness against pollution, climate change, biodiversity protection. This year, the theme is ecosystem restoration.
The UN has drawn up a 10-year program, from 2021 to 2030, in favor of the preservation of biodiversity on the planet. The plan is based on two actions: avoid the destruction of ecosystems, but also regenerate environmental degradation. This is the main mission, which is included among the goals of the 2030 Agenda. In fact, according to the UN, about 20% of the earth's surface has suffered a decrease in productivity due to soil erosion and pollution, and this will lead to a decline in resources. This number will grow, causing by 2050 a decrease in harvests. This will have negative repercussions, both social and economic.
In this scenario, ecosystem restoration comes into play. Especially during the pandemic, we have seen how nature strongly depends on human actions, and how when human work is stopped, it can reborn and breathe again. Perhaps then, if we hurry, it will not be so late to save the planet that hosts us. And so here are some of the projects that are realized:
- The Danube delta: the elimination of dams gave space back to nature and animals that inhabit this area, the largest wetland in Europe and home to great biodiversity;
- Pleistocene Park in Siberia: regenerating the northern steppes and making them fertile again;
- Reforestation of Iceland, once rich in forests;
- The United States and the return of the sea eagle: after the abolition of DDT, a very poisonous pesticide, the presence of sea eagles has increased again;
- Save the tigers: 13 countries want to save this endangered animal species;
- The underwater prairies of Venice: among the projects, there is also an Italian one. The prairies of the Venetian lagoon, that during pandemic has already given us crystal clear waters that have not been seen for a long time;
- Coral restoration: the goal is to rebuild the coral reefs in the Maldives, also thanks to the participation in the research of the University of Milano-Bicocca.
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