Preservation of planet earth
Human has been harming the nature for their own economic benefits since ages now. That is because humanity placed materialism above nature, and forgot that the real treasure is what the nature offers them. There is still a way where we can have more economic perks too if we take care of environment more. Widespread conservation done through the right policies can give superb economic rewards, say scientists.
Preservation of earth: Protect 30% of our planet
The world can reserve nearly one-third of its oceans and lands under environmental protection without hurting the global economy, and avail abundant economic rewards with the help of right polices, says a global study, commissioned by the Campaign for Nature charity. The planet is facing brutal commercial stress from agriculture, fishing and extractive industries.
Rising industrialization, urbanization, deforestation and forest fires have taken a big toll to the ecosystem. Even brought it to dangerous state with millions of species being in threat of extinction. A protection in 30% of planet’s oceans and lands can avoid mass extinction and restore vital habitats, projected the study.
The protection effort will require doubling up of the area of land under conservation from the current 15% and quadrupling of protected marine area from current 7%. To reserve the 30% of planet under protection, an investment of just $140 billion or £110 billion a year would be needed, estimated the environmental science research.
More than economic benefits of planet preservation
Currently, about $24 billion is already spent yearly across the globe on nature-protected areas. The 30% nature protection plan would increase economic output somewhere between $64 billion and $454 billion annually, depending on area of conservation, the research estimated. Nature conservation will have other benefits including, vegetation, lessen air pollution, clean river water and liveable habitats for abundant of wild species.
Forests and mangroves protection would cut the economic losses from the climate and other issues by $170 billion to $534 billion annually by 2050. A 30% nature protection can fetch an economic growth of 4%-6% a year. This is much higher than 1% annual growth for agriculture, fisheries and forestry, once coronavirus pandemic ends, the study projected.
This planet protection plan can help bring more revenue in the economy. And even add income to traditional alternatives, such as agriculture and forestry, the study suggested. This will even help prevention in climate change, water crises, biodiversity loss and disease. Nature cannot have a price tag, but the economic numbers are asking for planet protection, they added.
Value of protected areas for mental health
Another recent study has linked up protected outdoor areas to improved mental health and wellbeing of visitors. A time-spent as little as two hours a week can benefit people’s health and quality of life. Moreover, economic value of protected areas on visitor’s improved mental health is $6 trillion a year worldwide, estimated the study.
Whatever you like to explore – coastal walks on sandy beaches, wilderness of forests, highness of mountains or safari in desert. Your time-spent in nature pays off your wellbeing, finds the study of Griffith University in Queensland, Australia. A nature-walk can help not only physical health but also mental wellbeing.
Earlier, a number of surveys have found out the connection between spending time in nature and healthy blood pressure. And that too with just two-hour time-spent with nature weekly. However, this research concluded with quantifying the economic value of nature places on visitors’ mental health – $6 trillion worldwide.
Conclusion
As part of the nature, we don’t need to wait for any tangible benefit of protecting our planet. The nature intangibly gives us everything, including air to breathe, water to drink and food to eat. Still, for people, who scale even nature in economic terms, these researches could be quite helpful. They can understand why protecting our planet is more important than any other occupation.
