You want to save the rainforest and are looking for effective everyday tips? Then you simply have a great attitude! Because tropical rainforests are, among other things, CO2 and water reservoirs, suppliers of medicines and, last but not least, the most species-rich habitat for countless animal and plant species on our planet. And the Deforestation for human purposes is one of the greatest ecological challenges of our time.
On closer inspection, it is bizarre that we have to protect the rainforest at all. From whom, actually? From ourselves, in fact. The only positive thing about it is that the solution to the problem is logically in our own hands.
In this article, I would like to introduce you to the most valuable tips that you can use to protect the rainforest in your everyday life - both actively and passively. Let's go!
Here is another brief overview of the tips from this post:
- Reduce palm oil consumption
- Do without furniture from tropical wood
- Stop meat consumption
- Prefer alternatives for barbecue charcoal from tropical wood
- Print only the most necessary
- Do not fill up with biofuel
- Vegan lifestyle
- Making purchasing more sustainable
- Valuing precious metals in the smartphone
- Reduce petroleum consumption
- Use green search engine
- Reduce CO2 emissions
- Start and share petitions
- Support rainforest projects
- Share attitude with others
15 tips: How can I protect the rainforest in my everyday life?
The rainforest is the green lung of our planet. The more it is burned or cleared and the more we cut down for our "needs", the more we restrict the rainforest in its function. Climate change, Species extinction and rising sea levels are just some of the ecological consequences.
Here I would like to show you now the everyday things with which you can protect the rainforest.
1. stop the consumption of palm oil
Nowadays, palm oil is in every second supermarket product. In cosmetics, cleaning agents and above all in food! For corporations, they mean big profits - for many small farmers, unfortunately, existential fears. The diverse rainforest must Palm oil plantations and thus contributes significantly to the Species extinction with. These monotonous plantations have spread worldwide to the size of the area of New Zealand and are costing the orangutan its habitat, for example.
It is best to scan products briefly with the App CodeCheckto find out at a glance whether it contains substances of concern such as palm oil or even Microplastics are included.
2. do not buy garden furniture made of tropical wood
Why does a wooden garden chair have to be from the tropical rainforest? In my opinion, there is no obvious reason. Our domestic wood species are absolutely great and come without long transport routes, illegal logging and the endangerment of species-rich rainforests. When buying also pay attention to the FSC seal for sustainable forestry.
Tip: Look times in the Furniture DIY Blog over. For example, you can also get a Build dining table yourself from old oak planks.
3. stop your meat consumption
Yes we have always eaten meat and also needed it for survival in early human history. But today we chew it only out of tradition, habit, convenience and taste. But it has long since ceased to be essential to life. On the contrary: the regular consumption of meat is one of the main reasons for today's Diseases of civilization such as heart disease, high blood pressure or obesity. And the rainforest? The main reason for its deforestation are other Livestock pastures and the Cultivation of animal feed. Nearly three quarters of the world's soybean harvest ends up as crushed animal feed in industrial Factory farming.₁
Last but not least, of course, one's own values also play a role. Dogs or cats taking their lives for non-essential reasonsis something that we would all certainly call immoral. Why then should it be any different with cows, pigs, cats or sheep? (more under Speciesism)
Tip: If giving up meat is hard for you, be sure to check out the Dominion film on. If you have a heart for animals, it will motivate you no end.
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Cookbook Vegan cliché goodbye!20 € -
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4. do without barbecue charcoal from tropical wood
According to a 2016 study, 64 percent of the barbecue charcoal sold in Germany contained tropical wood. And 98 percent of German charcoal consumption is imported.₂ So you have virtually set fire to the rainforest itself - just in your own backyard. If you want to save the rainforest, it makes sense to simply find a forest-friendly alternative.
For a long time I didn't know myself that tropical wood is processed into barbecue charcoal - it was just too absurd to think about. But since I know it, I just use Barbecue charcoal from corn on the coba waste product of the corn industry. Either way, you should always look for the FSC seal for sustainable forestry.
5. print out only what is necessary
A rather crucial reason for the deforestation of trees is our high Paper consumption. Just be more conscious with the resource wood/paper and only print something when it really makes sense. Save files digitally insteadThis saves paper and a lot of time searching for the right folder.
At Paperless office and Tips for saving paper you will get many more ideas.
6. do not fill up with biofuel
Biofuel often contains plant-based raw materials, such as Sugar cane or Palm oilfor which rainforest is cleared. The price of a liter of gasoline is then actually much more expensive than the one on the display at the gas station. It is only paid by the environment, animals and other people.
Therefore, if you have the opportunity, you should try to get along without a car. At Live car free you get more tips and info about it.
7. learn to live vegan
Veganism is about, Put an end to the exploitation of animalsThe aim is to achieve this by completely eliminating the consumption and use of animal products such as meat, eggs, milk, fur and leather. Due to the decreasing or lack of demand must then also be no rainforest cleared for animal feed cultivation become. The positive, environmental, health and ethical impacts are key in the fight against almost all Environmental problems of our time.
I know. Meat, milk, cheese, eggs... these are all things that you've basically eaten or bought all your life. And now it's just supposed to end? I, too, have consumed animal products for 30 years of my life. But then I learned why I should stop. In the article "Why vegan? The reasons for veganism"I will explain to you what exactly motivated me to do this.
8. make your food shopping more sustainable
Try your Make purchasing more regional and especially in the case of rainforest products such as coffee, cocoa or tropical fruits, to the Fairtrade- and Organic seal to pay attention! Think also of palm oil as an additive in many foods and cosmetics.
Here again the tip: Use the App CodeCheckto scan a product and find out in seconds whether it contains palm oil for which the rainforest has to be cleared.
9. value the precious metals in smartphones & co.
Where would we be today without a smartphone? It helps to realize how good we have it. We don't need a new cell phone every year, of course. Rare precious metals like Cobalt or Palladium are usually only found in tropical forests. If you want to protect the rainforest, you should therefore try to take good care of your smartphone and other technical devices so that you can use them for as long as possible.
At Rare earth in smartphones you can learn more about it.
10. reduce your petroleum consumption
Not only biofuel destroys the rainforest. The untouched soils of the rainforests are usually rich in petroleum. In order to protect the deposits and thus also the forest, you should therefore consciously Save gasoline. In Article about sustainable driving you will find out how it works.
In the same way you should Reduce plastic consumption. Because Plastic consists of petroleum or raw gasoline. For example, avoid disposable products and use petroleum as a raw material, as well as your own fuel. to save your own wallet. At plastic free livingyou'll learn about a lot of other potential for making less waste.
Tip: Can you use some more inspiration? Then be sure to check out these Forest Conservation Quotes an.
11. use Ecosia as search engine
Just use the Ecosia search engine for your regular questions in the future. The quality of the search results is extremely high. The difference between Ecosia and traditional search engines is that Ecosia 80 percent of the surplus revenue to charitable organizations which primarily counteract the deforestation of forests. According to its own information, the company also plants a tree for every 45th search query.
Learn more at sustainable search engines.
12. reduce your personal CO2 emissions
Climate change is also affecting global ecosystems, such as rainforests. By reducing your personal carbon footprint, you are also helping to protect them. Drink for example Tap water instead of the water from the plastic bottleThe production and transport of which releases huge amounts of CO2. Also renounce the consumption of animal products. Because about 15 percent of all greenhouse gases caused by humans worldwide, can be traced back to livestock farming alone.₃ And of course try to get on a plane as little as possible. At sustainable travel you can learn more about it.
Tip: Have you ever thought about changing your Offset CO2 emissions. For example, you can offset the climate impact of your flights and car trips by donating to climate protection projects.
13. start and sign petitions
A really effective way to get a rainforest-specific grievance out of the world offers you the Start an online petition. You must use such digital Signature collections not even start it yourself. You may find here at Adventure rainforest.com already have a petition that appeals to you. You can then of course not only sign it, but also share with friends or your followers.
If we want to save the rainforest, we have to follow the Lobbying of the companies profiting from the clearing definitely work against it collectively. Petitions are a useful tool here.
14. support rainforest projects
If you want to protect the rainforest, the animals and plants that live there, and the indigenous peoples, making a financial donation to organizations that work every day to protect the rainforest will also help. Here are some examples:
- Amazon Watch
- Rainforest Action Network
- Rainforest Trust
- WWF
Through your donation, you are primarily helping the Species extinction against. The projects are dedicated, for example, to the protection of birds or gorillas, but of course also to the protection against land grabbing.
Tip: How about dedicating your professional life to the protection of rainforests? Take a look at the sustainable job portal after. Maybe you will find a suitable job there!
15. share your attitude
At the latest now you know how you can save the rainforest in your everyday life. And now that you know better, you can also act better - and make a Be a role model for other people. Recognize and take advantage of appropriate opportunities to show them how they themselves can help protect the rainforest. Drive positive change in our society. You know why this is a valuable contribution.
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You can even save the rainforest by doing nothing. For example, by avoiding unnecessary car trips and pointless printouts at the office. Even giving up meat and cow's milk is super easy these days, since there are so many plant-based alternatives like meat-like soy and pea patties or oat, almond and soy milk. And then if you want to do even more for the rainforest. raise your voice, support petitions and organizations that fight daily to protect tropical forests.
I hope I could give you some tips for rainforest protection. Do you have any questions or ideas? Then just write me a comment.
Stay sustainable,
PS.: For example, you count the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest as one of the major Climate tipping points. In the linked article, you can find out which other tipping points further accelerate climate change.
References:
₁ Albert Schweitzer Foundation for Our Environment: Why soy sausage does not harm the rainforest (as at: 01.06.2018). https://t1p.de/jzvz. [09.09.2020].
₂ Maister GmbH: Maister and the environment. https://t1p.de/rfmx. [09.09.2020].
₃ Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): livestock's long shadow environmental issues and options, available at https://t1p.de/2044 [07.05.2020].
