Throughout the beginning of the year a number of important environmental events were on headlines, which reminded us the importance of that matter for life. Recent events from forest fires to the global COVID-19 pandemic should be able to make us aware that the carried-out activities so far have not been much in favour of environmental sustainability.
The World Food Agency (FAO) together with the UN Environment Program released the current situation of forests in the world that are still experiencing deforestation while the World Conservation Agency (IUCN) has determined that more than one million plant and animal species are now under the extinction threat. It seems the urge to return to nature is inevitable. It's time for nature is the call that marks the commemoration of World Environment Day which is celebrated every 5 June. The call should move people from all over the world and from various backgrounds to review what has been done to the environment. The year is time for all of us to go back to nature.
A recent study of biodiversity in the mountainous forests of western Java conducted by Burung Indonesia uncovered the threats faced by the animals inhabiting the area. Endemic animals in the area, such as the Javan Hawk-eagle (Nisaetus bartelsi), Javan Scops-owl (Otus angelinae), Javan Trogon (Apalharpactes reindwadtii), and Javan Gibbon (Hylobates moloch), according to the survey team were subjects to animal capture. The threat was the fact that wildlife hunting was still occurring and it could disrupt the balance of the ecosystem if not prevented.
Meanwhile, people of Sangihe used pesticides to repel sexava, a type of locust which is considered a pest of coconut plantations. However, the impact was also menacing to the existence of the Red-and-blue Lory (Eos histrio), an endemic and globally threatened bird. Ironically, Sangihe, also known as Sahendaruman, is designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International. From an environmental perspective, this means that this area is rich in biodiversity, especially birds, but has a very high risk. The UN Environment Program recently reported that the use of pesticides or chemicals risks the animals that act as pollinators, which are very important to help produce food and medicines.
Considering those two things, it is just unfair if we continue to let it happen. In line with the mission of conserving birds and their habitats, Burung Indonesia is campaigning for new activities that are environmentally friendly. In Sangihe, for example, local people are encouraged to control sexava naturally so that the Red-and-blue Lory can return to the Sahendaruman forest. Meanwhile in Java, awareness activities on the importance of birds as environmental health indicators and food crops pollinators are kept going. Bird watching activities are routinely carried out, for example during the migration season, water bird census, and observing birds around our homes.
Aside from field conservation activities which are more technical, anyone can contribute in saving the environment from worse damage. Let's start by conserving biodiversity in nature, reducing carbon emissions, disposing waste wisely, and keeping the surrounding environment healthy and of good quality.