What do you think of when you hear and see the word “environment”? The environment encompasses many things, the living and the non-living things. Both interact with one another and depend on each other. The non-living things are the abiotic elements, while the living things are the biotic elements. When we refer to abiotic elements we are referring to the air, water, soil, sunlight and so on. When we refer to the biotic elements we are referring to the animals, insects, plants and so on. All of these “things” that make up the environment have intrinsic value.
Biotic & abiotic elements working together at the Edward J. & Dorothy C. Kempf Preserve at Wading River Marsh
The environment depends on us just as we depend on it!
We depend on the environment for our health and the environment depends on us for its health. As the years go on and we move further into the future, the effect we have on the environment becomes more apparent. As a highly-developed country, it becomes difficult to separate ourselves from contributing to the negative impact that we have on the environment. The act of just living in the world today has a negative impact, whether it be driving our cars or as simple as washing our clothes, which is essential for most to live. We undermine what we can do on an individual level to help the environment. The idea is not to think that your individual act won’t mean anything if another’s individual act will have negative impacts. Positive deeds are not cancelled out by a negative act. Just one individual’s positive impact can influence so many others to follow suit.
Take Action!
How you can contribute to a healthier environment and a healthier you!
Big changes no matter what they may be are difficult, but changing for the environment doesn’t have to be. When you make changes to help the environment you are also making healthier changes for yourself too. The reward may not be immediate, and it may not even be visible, but it does make a difference.
- One thing that you can do that is free and empowering is to speak up. Be the voice that the environment does not have. If you have a social media account, speak up. Start a conversation at the dinner table with friends and family and discuss the positive changes that you can all make for the greater good.
- This one is a difficult one, but if you can, ride your bike or walk as a means of transportation, even if it’s just one day a week.
- This next one is something that everyone can definitely do, reduce your waste! The products that we purchase end up back into the environment and are incredibly damaging. Find a store nearby where you can use your own containers to purchase food instead of continuing to buy food that is in plastic containers.
- Support eco-friendly products and shop local. When we purchase products from large companies we might as well be saying that it is okay to hurt our environment.
- Keep yourself informed! Sign-up for our email alerts, for more actions you can take to protect our environment. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
The above are just a few of the ways that you can help and there are so many more! Stay informed by doing your own research, so that you can choose how you want to make a change and help the environment. Every bit counts!
By: Claire J Moran, Long Island Pine Barrens Society
