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ARCHIVE: What you can do to help conserve biodiversity

Halting the loss of biodiversity has widespread public support and a great deal of biodiversity conservation is achieved by enthusiastic, passionate volunteers. But we need to engage more people in taking action to look after biodiversity as part of their everyday lives.  Here’s some ideas for things you can do to help:People clearing away reeds

Create, or encourage others to create, wildlife friendly spaces – at home, in your local community and through work. For example, plant native trees and wild flowers in your garden. See Natural England’s wildlife friendly gardening leaflets and Big Wildlife Garden for more ideas.

Enjoy - and value - your local wildlife friendly space and share this enjoyment with others. See the BBC Breathing Places website and NE Nature on the Map website for places near you.

Support the work of wildlife conservation organisations. This might be through volunteering or membership; See the Muck In 4 Life website for more volunteering ideas and also links to relevant organisations. There are also lots of community groups around the country.

Think before you buy, for example wildlife-based products or souvenirs from overseas trips; buy wildlife/environmentally-friendly/sustainably-sourced products;

Record what you see and send results to citizen science projects or your Local Records Centre. For example, this might involve recording the birds you see in your garden.

Exercise your civic duties to ensure those that represent your views, your MP and local councillors, reflect your environmental concerns.

Other environmental behaviours, such as greater energy and water-efficiency, can have indirect benefits to biodiversity too. See Direct Gov ‘Environment and Greener Living’ page for more ideas.

Page last modified: 05 March 2010
Page published: 23 October 2008