This Wednesday March 3 2021 marks the eighth annual World Wildlife Day, as declared by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). This year’s theme ‘Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet’ highlights the vital role that forests, forest species and ecosystems play in sustaining the lives and livelihoods of the global population.
This is particularly true for Indigenous communities who have historic ties to forested areas, and whose traditional practices are being lost as a result of deforestation, as well as local communities adjacent to these forests, who rely on these areas to provide basic resources such as food, shelter, and medicine.
Read ahead to discover ways you can do your part for the environment to preserve our delicate ecosystem, as well as how Pikcha is implementing and supporting greener practices within its organisation and beyond.
Forests and Livelihoods
Forested areas continue to face challenges such as: loss of biodiversity, climate change, and deforestation, as well as the repercussions of the ongoing global pandemic. It is important, now more than ever, that we preserve and replenish forested land across the world and increase awareness around these issues.
You can do this by:
- Switching to sustainable providers
- Reducing waste
- Buying FSC-certified wood products
- Supporting reforestation and afforestation initiatives
- Protecting existing forests
- Raising awareness through social media
Art and Sustainability
Art plays an important role in championing sustainability by actioning us to alter our relationship with, or the way we perceive the environment. It calls us to enact change and develop empathy with the natural world. The Pikcha team acknowledge that there is a symbiosis between art and sustainability and endorse the practices of artists who employ sustainable techniques in the creation of their art, particularly those who produce ethical art, engage with the earth, or create pieces motivated by social change.
The team is also committed to implementing sustainable practices throughout their organisation and beyond, to foster a sustainable future. All framed and canvas products sold on Pikcha make use of sustainable wood from renewable forests and are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This is achieved by the wood suppliers, who grow their trees to a specific size to maximise the yield of the tree, which in turn reduces waste.
#teamtrees
Pikcha is also a proud supporter of #teamtrees, whose mission was to raise $20 million to plant 20 million trees by 2020. After surpassing this goal, #teamtrees continues to grow – as do the 7 million trees they have already planted around the world! The team aspire to finish planting by 2022, taking time to ensure they maintain a high survivability rate with plants local to each area. To donate to this cause, follow the #teamtrees link.