What is World Environment Day 2022?
On June 5th each year, the world celebrates World Environment Day. The theme for 2022 is ‘Only One Earth’, just as it was at the first one some 50 years ago.
As the United Nations says, “2022 is a historic milestone for the global environmental community. It marks 50 years since the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, widely seen as the first international meeting on the environment. The 1972 Stockholm Conference spurred the formation of environment ministries and agencies around the world and kickstarted a host of new global agreements to collectively protect the environment.
“The 2022 World Environment Day campaign #OnlyOneEarth calls for collective, transformative action on a global scale to celebrate, protect and restore our planet.”
Only one Earth
This year, the organisers are hoping to shine a spotlight on action for the planet and are encouraging us all to live more sustainably.
Last year we took a look at the ways your support of FAME projects fed into the 2021 World Environment Day theme of ‘Reimagine. Recreate. Restore.’
This year, it is all about saving the species and habitats that rely on this one, unique planet of ours.
Despite all that has happened in the last year, there is much to celebrate as we work together to protect our species and restore habitats.
Celebrate
Incredible reintroductions in South Australia
The return of the Western Quoll/Idnya to the Ikara-Flinders Ranges some seven years ago continues to defy precedent, with the population not only growing but expanding into new areas.
This success has enabled planning to merge with action further north, and in March your backing of the ‘Native Species Return’ project saw Idnya translocated from the booming population aforementioned to a new site: Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park.
If news of that expansion wasn’t enough, this project also saw a second native predator - long extinct in the State - joining its larger cousin, as the Red-Tailed Phascogale was reintroduced to the region.
Protect
Securing the future of endangered species
With only one Earth to save, every species is important. Protecting those most endangered also helps to ensure the futures of those that share their habitat.
On South Australia’s Kangaroo Island, the endemic KI Dunnart had been feared extinct after the previous year’s fires.
FAME’s long-term partnership with KI Land for Wildlife saw us supporting a variety of aspects of their work, from dunnart monitoring to revegetation of habitat. Slowly but surely, we are seeing more signs of life of the many native species that reside on the island, including dunnarts.
Restore
Returning the Earth's ecosystems to health
To future-proof the planet, we also need functioning, balanced ecosystems. This can be difficult considering the impact of non-native species that are particularly prevalent in Australia.
In September, FAME launched an ambitious campaign to halt the spread of the invasive Cane Toad. Wreaking havoc on ecosystems across Australia’s north, this pest has an outsized impact on top order predators due to its toxin, which further disrupts the areas it breaches.
Your backing of this partnership with Watergum sees the development of a tadpole trap which will have the capability of removing tens of thousands of cane toads at a time.
By removing cane toads, natural ecosystems have a chance to survive.
Working together for Earth
Together, we can set a new stage by revegetating depleted ecosystems, returning lost species to their native home ranges, growing sustainable populations of endangered plants, and much more.
We have #OnlyOneEarth.
Happy World Environment Day 2022!