Over the past centuries, mankind has made an unprecedented technological breakthrough. There are technologies that can significantly change the world. If earlier the impact of man on nature could not upset the fragile ecological balance, then new ingenious inventions enabled him to achieve this regrettable result. As a result, many animal species were destroyed, many living creatures are on the verge of extinction, large-scale climate changes begin on Earth.
The results of human activity cause such enormous damage to the environment that more and more people begin to worry about the future of our planet. The growing concern has led to numerous public conservation organizations. Today they conduct their activities everywhere, monitor the preservation of their unique natural heritage, uniting millions of enthusiasts across the globe. But this was not always the case, a long way was made by the pioneers of the eco-movement in order to achieve the current state of affairs.
The emergence of conservation organizations
The beginning of the creation of an international environmental community can be considered 1913, when the first International Conference on Nature Conservation was held in Switzerland. It was attended by 18 countries, but the meeting was purely scientific in nature, without suggesting any action to protect the environment. After 10 years, the first International Congress for the Protection of Nature is held in Paris. Then, the International Bureau for the Protection of Nature was opened in Belgium. However, it did not try to somehow influence the environmental situation in the world, but simply collected statistics on nature reserves and environmental legislation.
Then, in 1945, the United Nations was created , which took environmental cooperation between states to a whole new level. In 1948, a special department was created at the UN - the international council for the protection of nature. It was he who was responsible for the international partnership in protecting the environment. Scientists suddenly began to realize that it was impossible to solve environmental problems at the level of one country, because the ecosystem is a subtle mechanism full of unobvious, intricate relationships. A change in the natural balance in one place of the planet can have a catastrophic effect on other seemingly very distant places. The need for a joint solution to environmental problems has become apparent.
Further development
In the future, international conservation of nature became one of the most important topics for discussion at major scientific and cultural events. In 1972, the United Nations Conference on the Environment was held in Sweden, which was attended by 113 countries. It was at this event that the foundations of the modern movement for the protection of nature were laid. This day has become an international holiday - World Environment Day.
Then, the years of stagnation began in the environmental movement, when public organizations for the protection of nature began to receive less and less funding, and the popularity of their ideas waned. But in the early 1980s, the situation began to change for the better, resulting in the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Brazil. This event was held in Rio de Janeiro and continued the work begun in Sweden. The conference adopted the basic concepts affecting the topic of further harmonious development of mankind. The sustainable development model considered in Rio offers a completely new perspective on the further development of human civilization. It assumes controlled development within a certain framework so as not to harm the environment. The conference in Brazil outlined the activities of nature conservation organizations to this day.
Our days
Today, society is greatly alarmed by environmental changes caused by human activities. Many countries have enacted laws to control pollution, and organizations such as Greenpeace or WWF have gained millions of supporters around the world. In almost any more or less large country there are representative offices of international organizations for the protection of nature. Online communities and thematic sites provide quick and convenient access to environmental information. Also, the Internet allows you to coordinate the efforts of people across the planet - here everyone can make a contribution to protecting the environment.
Science also does not stand still, new inventions are constantly appearing, bringing the era of clean energy closer. Many countries have begun the active use of natural energy: wind, water, geothermal sources, the sun, etc. Of course, man-made emissions have not decreased, and corporations are still mercilessly exploiting nature for profit. But the general interest in the problem of ecology allows us to hope for a brighter future. Let's look at the largest public organizations for the protection of nature.
"Greenpeace"
The Greenpeace organization is by far the most popular environmental company on Earth. It appeared thanks to enthusiasts opposing the uncontrolled testing of nuclear weapons. The first members of Greenpeace, they are also its founders, were able to achieve the cessation of nuclear tests by the Americans in the region of the island of Amchitka. Further protests led to the fact that France also stopped testing nuclear weapons, and later other countries joined it.
Despite the fact that Greenpeace was created to protest against nuclear tests, this is not limited to its activities. Members of the organization hold protest rallies around the world to protect the nature of our planet from suicidal and stupid human activities. Thus, Greenpeace activists were able to stop the fierce whale hunt, which was carried out on an industrial scale in the last century.
Modern protests by this unusual organization are aimed at combating air pollution. Despite the fact that the damage caused by atmospheric emissions from factories and factories has been proven, corporations and their unprincipled owners do not give a damn about everything living on this planet, they only care about profit. Therefore, Greenpeace activists hold their actions to stop the barbaric attitude to the environment. Sadly, it is likely that their protests will never be heard.
World Wildlife Fund
There are a wide variety of environmental organizations. The list of non-governmental organizations will be incomplete if not to mention the World Wide Fund for Nature. This organization operates in more than 40 countries. In terms of the number of supporters, the Wildlife Fund outperforms even Greenpeace. Millions of people support their ideas, many of them are fighting to preserve all forms of life on earth, not only in word but in deed, and more than 1000 environmental projects around the world are an excellent confirmation of this.
Like many other public organizations for the protection of nature, the World Wide Fund for Nature sets as its main task the conservation of biological diversity on Earth. Members of this conservation organization are trying to protect animals from the harmful effects of humans.
United Nations Environment Program
Of course, he leads the United Nations public and state organizations for the protection of nature. It is her environmental protection measures that are of the largest scale. Almost every UN meeting addresses environmental issues and international cooperation in improving the environmental situation on the planet. The environmental office is called UNEP. His tasks include controlling pollution of the atmosphere and the oceans, preserving species diversity.
This system of nature conservation is doing its job not only in words, many important international laws designed to protect the environment, it was adopted precisely thanks to the UN. UNEP has been able to better monitor the transport of hazardous substances, and a commission has been set up to monitor acid rain in an attempt to stop this scourge.
Russian nature conservation organizations
Some international environmental movements have been described above. Now let's look at what organizations are involved in nature conservation in Russia. Despite the fact that the popularity of domestic environmental organizations is significantly lower than that of their international colleagues, nevertheless, these societies fulfill their function and attract new enthusiasts.
The All-Russian Society for the Conservation of Nature is a large and influential organization that deals with environmental problems in the Russian Federation. It performs many different tasks, one of the main ones is the promotion of environmental knowledge to the masses, educating people, drawing attention to environmental problems. VOOP is also engaged in scientific activities and monitors compliance with environmental laws.
The All-Russian Society for the Conservation of Nature was created back in 1924. The fact that this organization was able to survive to this day, while increasing its number to three million people, shows a genuine interest in environmental issues. There are other Russian associations of environmentalists, but VOOP is, of course, the largest all-Russian organization for the protection of nature.
Nature conservation team
The nature conservation team was created in 1960 at the Faculty of Biology of Moscow State University and continues to this day. Moreover, some of the major Russian universities have joined this organization and created their own squads. Today, DOP is engaged in the same activities as other nature conservation organizations in Russia. They conduct outreach efforts, trying to increase the education of citizens in the environmental sphere. In addition, the conservation team is conducting protests against the destruction of the wild corners of Russia, helps in the fight against forest fires and makes its contribution to science.
The future of environmental organizations
There are a variety of organizations for the protection of nature, a list of some of their non-governmental representatives is as follows:
- World Wildlife Fund.
- "Greenpeace".
- United Nations Program (UNEP).
- World Society for the Protection of Animals.
- Global Nest
The number of such associations is growing every year, they are gaining more and more popularity. This is not surprising, since the consequences of the barbaric expansion carried out by man are becoming more visible. Scientists and public figures, like most people on Earth, have long realized that something needs to be changed before we turn our planet into a lifeless dump. Of course, today people's opinions are not significant in any of the existing states, which allows industrial tycoons to continue their dirty business, taking advantage of impunity and their own short-sightedness.
However, there is still hope for a brighter future. With the advent of the Internet, environmental non-governmental organizations have been given the opportunity to conduct their outreach activities with millions of people. Now everyone who cares about ecology can communicate with like-minded people and get any necessary information about the environment, it has become much easier to unite supporters and coordinate protests. Of course, most people still remain victims of many years of propaganda, exposing the movement of "green" in an unattractive light. However, the situation can change at any moment, because environmental organizations have become a force to be reckoned with.
What can be done to protect nature?
Loud speeches on the protection of the environment and the preservation of species diversity can excite the minds of young enthusiasts. But, unfortunately, this is all that words are capable of, real benefits to nature can be brought only by actions. Of course, you can find out what organizations are involved in nature conservation in your city and plunge into their useful activities. This path is by no means suitable for everyone, so it’s best to start saving nature by stopping destroying and polluting it with your own hands.
Everyone at least once saw beautiful forest glades littered with piles of garbage after someone’s hectic rest. So, before you start to benefit nature, you must first stop harming it. How can others be encouraged to take care of the environment if you yourself pollute the environment? Garbage collected after rest, an extinguished fire in time, trees that you did not kill for firewood - all this is very simple, but brings a wonderful result.
If everyone will remember that the Earth is our home, and the fate of all mankind depends on its condition, then the world will be transformed. For those who want to participate more actively in protecting the environment, numerous Russian environmental organizations are ready to provide such an opportunity. The era of change has come, it is today decided that we will leave our descendants - a radioactive dump or a beautiful green garden. The choice is ours!