Sustainability is an important topic that is close to our hearts. We recently asked three Connect Moderators in our community, @ErmesT , @IlankovanT , and @EmekaUlor , to share their thoughts on this and tell us about the efforts they’re making towards a more sustainableenvironment. See how Local Guides like you can have a positive impact on the natural world.
1. What does nature mean to you?
Emeka: Any ecosystem where plants, animals, and humans can thrive side by side, that’s nature for me. When we protect our natural habitat, it will also provide for and protect us.
Ermes: We are part of nature, so nature is everything around me. I love to explore natural areas around the world, and I like places where humans have integrated into the environment instead of changing it.
Ilankovan: Nature has become part and parcel of my life; living without harming it has become my lifestyle.
2. In your opinion, how can Local Guides make time for nature in their daily lives? What are some of your easy tips for a more eco-friendly lifestyle?
Emeka: I have seen Local Guides doing some significant work around environmental topics, hosting garden tours, pet-friendly meet-ups, and underwater events. Keeping the environment free from waste is key to an eco-friendly lifestyle. We should also manage our waste properly by reducing, reusing, and recycling unwanted items.
Ermes: Apart from keeping our planet clean, I think that we need to dedicate more time to nature in a more respectful way. Some suggestions are:
- Visit parks and natural areas close to home, especially [if you have] children. Teach them the importance of nature. Some parks have volunteering opportunities for cleaning, or taking care of the plants. This will increase our involvement and awareness, and we can socialize with our neighbors in a greener way.
- Plant flowers and trees at home or in public areas. This way, we can help the planet to breathe, and we will make our place more beautiful.
- Buy local veggies and fruits. There are at least three reasons for that: 1. The food is fresh, because it’s not transported from far away; 2. We reduce our “carbon footprint”; and 3. The plants that grow in our area are usually the ones that keep us healthy, giving us the necessary nutrients and vitamins.
Ilankovan: We need to think about the greens around us. We need to create more greenery to provide shelters for birds. I started planting fruit trees in 2020; in my backyard, there are some Muntingia calabura trees, and now every morning, I hear birds in the trees. These kinds of small initiatives bring double benefits to mother nature.
When you say a more eco-friendly lifestyle, I think of my garden and cooking my own vegetables. Everyone can grow vegetables at home by utilizing the space [they have]. I also have a solar cooker, which cooks with solar energy. This technique does not produce carbon dioxide, and you get more vitamin D from your food.
3. What is your advice for Local Guides who wish to celebrate or share their sustainability efforts at home?
Emeka: Local Guides could host virtual events to show their gardens, farms, and rescued animals. Share photos of your favorite parks, create lists of beautiful beaches and pet-friendly places. Take a Street View tour of the Amazon Rainforest, the Grand Canyon, and more. Street View is such a beautiful tool to see the wonders of nature. Local Guides can also take free online courses on biodiversity and the environment.
Ermes: I would suggest they use this time to explore or create content. I was deeply touched by Megan’s application video. Building content is easy, with Google Earth and lists. One of my lists was even featured by Google Earth on Twitter. I’m now working on a new one about Monti Sibillini National Park. I know the area very well because of the activities [I took part in] after the 2016 earthquake in Italy. [Editor’s note: For World Environment Day this year, Ermes shared a thematic post.]
Ilankovan: This year, those who are staying at home can plant vegetables in pots. Happiness is picking your home-grown vegetables and tasting them. Also, we can reduce the use of plastic at home and plan the use of non-plastic materials.
4. What are some of your favorite initiatives that you’ve taken part in or organized as a Local Guide to focus on sustainability?
Emeka: I have hosted a few meet-ups to create awareness on environmental sustainability under the initiative, like World Environment Day 2019: #BeatAirPollution, World Environment Day 2018: #BeatPlasticPollution, a beach clean-up, and a geo walk with university students.
Ermes: [Apart from the “Local Guides Clean the World” initiative,] one of my projects is to create a map of “accessible nature paths,” to help people with disabilities enjoy nature as well.
I’m also part of a non-profit association, Progetto Re-cycle. Last year, we co-organized, “All you need is a flower – 100 hours for the environment.” The 5-day event was included in the ASVIS (Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development) Festival program. Here you can find a short recap with a video where I tried to condense 100 hours in five minutes. I didn’t write a post in Connect about this because I try to keep the association separate from my Local Guide role. We wrote a small book instead. On the website of our association, I published an article of my views for the future, “The sixth R.”
Ilankovan: I initiated one billion tree planting with fellow Local Guides in 2018, and I named this campaign “Let’s Map Green.” I have also hosted a few beach cleanups [and shared] some posts on Connect, like “Join us for Free Rain,” “Garbage challenge at Kallady,” “Let’s Map Green - 200 Trees,” “Photo Walk & Tree Planting,” and “Photo Walk with 20 Greens.”
5. Which is your favorite natural location and why?
Emeka: My favorite natural location is the Lekki Conservation Center. This is a sanctuary for plants and animals in the heart of Lagos. The ecosystem is untouched, and the air is cleaner. I love the place because you get to see some animals in their natural habitat and climb one of the longest canopy walks in the world.
Ermes: I have several favorite locations. To mention a few:
- Artesella, an open air museum, where art is integrated into nature. I wrote a couple of posts about the place: “A visit to Artesella” and ““The Invisible Woman” of Artesella.”
- Several parks along my river, which are on one of my lists. I wrote a lot about the river; water is extremely important, and in the area where I live, it was the base of the economy till the 1960s.
The Venetian Lagoon, the subject of my application video. It is interesting for its biodiversity, [just like] this botanical garden, which I love.
Ilankovan: My favorite location is the Sinharaja Rainforest. This place is awesome. You will experience a peace of mind by hearing the different birds’ tweets, [seeing the] animals’ behaviors, different green landscapes, insects, and more. I did a Street View coverage of this rainforest and wrote a post about it.
6. Do you include environment-related information in your Local Guides contributions?
Emeka: I have a list of parks and gardens in Lagos.
Ermes: I like to highlight, especially with photos, waste signs and containers, electric charging stations, or environment-related signs.
Ilankovan: I do review [natural] places with some good photographs. You can check out one of my reviews here.
7. How would you encourage a Local Guide who wishes to join an environmental initiative but is still a little hesitant about it?
Emeka: Firstly, I suggest they attend meet-ups that are environment-focused, then get onboard Ermes’s “Clean the World” project, and from there, they could become a lead in their community or start a new initiative if they are inspired. There’s no need to hesitate. They can reach out to experienced Local Guides for ideas, too.
Ermes: A lot of people are hesitant because they know that this is something important, but think, “it’s too big for me.” To answer, I would like to quote myself from a post about one of the most important clean-ups I did in my area: “Home is where we live, and I want my place to be clean and beautiful. […] Local Guides is a global program, so, if all of us care about our Homes, we can say for sure that Local Guides Clean The World.”
Joining an environmental initiative is easy, and the best thing is that, at the end of the day, you feel good. “How do you feel?” is what I ask everyone who joins a clean-up. The answer is always the same: a big smile and the words “Tired but happy; I feel good.”
Ilankovan: I advise those who are a little hesitant about [joining] environmental initiatives to think about their next generation. A small action can give shade and more oxygen to their daughter or their granddaughter.
How do you incorporate nature into your daily life? Do you have any sustainability tips? Tell us in the comments below.
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