Christmas is the season of giving! The very tradition of handing out gifts dates back hundreds of years, but it is only in recent history that the holiday has taken such a consumeristic turn. Morgan Johnstone gives a sustainable alternative to mainstream gifts and how conservation can be incorporated into Christmas.
At Christmas time in the UK, waste increases by around 30%, with almost 12 million tonnes of plastics released into the environment. With global consumption already a large problem, given that approximately 140 million pounds of clothing waste goes to landfill yearly, Christmas unfortunately only heightens this issue.
The environmental movement has inspired many people to consider their consumption and carbon impact. Brits have begun to take sustainability more seriously, with almost two thirds of people making a few simple changes to their lifestyle as a result of environmental discourse. At its core, sustainability aims to “meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”, or, in other words, to conserve what we already have. But the state of waste and overconsumption society is stuck in now is anything but sustainable.
Christmas is the season of giving, but what if we can gift our loved ones something sweet for both people and planet.
Image Credit: karishea on Pixabay
But what can Christmas do for conservation? Many charities and organisations have begun to adopt sustainable, low-waste gift ideas through the use of donations and sponsorships, with conservation being the main focus. This allows for the reduction of the usual Christmas waste, while also having benefits for species conservation and charity. A popular example is the WWF’s "give a gift that matters” scheme", where animals can be adopted as a gift. This is incentivised through themed packs including things like certificates. Similar schemes are run by the Wildlife Trusts, individual sanctuaries, and even zoos.
Adoption and sponsorship schemes aim to first bring awareness to endangered species, many of which are well known and loved. But, they also directly fund the efforts needed to prevent species extinction. According to the WWF, the money raised from their scheme can help reduce the poaching of rhinos, all the way to the funding of essential conservation work around the globe. Since 1961, the WWF has aided in the protection of endangered rhinos, including through the funding of population surveys, the “translocation and concentration of rhinos in sanctuaries”, and the support for community led projects. Whilst this seems, on the surface, a brilliant way to support conservation, questions arise over just how effective they really are.
A Black Rhino. This species is classed as critically endangered, largely as a result of the illegal demand for rhino horns. Picture credit: Pexels on Pixabay.
These schemes often support traditional conservation with a focus on enigmatic biodiversity, and in a way suggest that certain species are more worthy of protection than others. With big, charismatic mammals like tigers and pandas often prioritised in conservation efforts targeted to the general public, other equally important species are ignored. What about the Mardon Skipper Butterfly? One study found that 40% of insects are “threatened with extinction”. Many of these insects are vital for the cleaning and fertilisation of soils, as well as for pollination. The bias towards animals that are cute, often cuddly, and charismatic is disproportionate against the vast majority of endangered species.
The species used as the face of these schemes tend to be well-researched whereas other classifications such as invertebrates are highly underrepresented in lists such as the ICUN Red List of Threatened Species. George Orwell said that “all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others”, and this quote has stood the test of time in the world of conservation. Why should popular mammals receive such attention when invertebrates, which are often excluded from extinction scenarios, are just as vital to our ecosystems?
On the other hand, it can be argued that these gifts are only a tiny part of the wider conservation efforts of these organisations. It would be unfair to hold sponsorship schemes to the same standard as any other environmental endeavour, given that it is perhaps designed to be a helpful and sustainable alternative to the over-consumption of other gifts.
Besides, it’s possible these gifts target an audience that wouldn’t usually think to donate to wildlife and conservation charities. Studies have proven that charismatic animals are favoured by consumers regardless of their endangered status. So if anything, these schemes are clearly and powerfully designed to pull in donations that are then used for a variety of conservation purposes. For example, the “Adoptaxolotl” campaign raised $26,300 for axolotl habitat restoration in Mexico.
There are many organisations beginning to use this symbolic concept as a way to raise both awareness and funds. Given that these adoption schemes are posed as a gift, it is important that reputable and trustworthy charities are being given the support. The helpful website Charity Navigator is an efficient way to analyse the chosen charity and its authenticity. Transparency is important to recognise, and it should be clear what the money is going to fund. Organisations such as the Ape Rescue Centre, though not a registered charity, advocate for the education of the realities of ape smuggling, and actively aid in the push for the UK government to prevent the trading of primates.
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