Climate Emergency

system_change_blog_header

What is systemic change and why do we need it to save the planet?

Systems Change may sound an intimidating concept, but it’s really very simple. Because we are intimately familiar with systems, as they are all around us, helping us make sense of the world: from eco-systems to economic systems to the human body itself.
A system can be defined as multiple elements working towards some common goal. A forest, for example, is a system, made up of a complex web of life, from the animals spreading nuts and seeds to the trees which grow from them, to the underground network of fungi distributing resources to those trees &#8211; all with the goal of helping the forest to flourish.

artboard-1-copy-9

Artboard 1 copy 9

A few other points to bear in mind about systems for the purpose of this article: systems are themselves made up of smaller systems, which are themselves made up of smaller systems in turn (the forest system is a smaller system within our global ecology for example, and also contains subsystems such as the aforementioned fungi network).  Additionally, the health of a system is dependent on the health of each individual component of the system, and vice versa. In the human body for example, blood and oxygen must be distributed efficiently to all parts of the system, according to their need. When one part of the system begins to horde resources to support its own growth at the expense of other parts, cancer sets in, harming the whole organism. Lastly, within every system there are leverage points, nodes of influence where a small shift can bring about big change for the whole system (such as a healthy amount of sleep benefitting the whole bodily organism).
The key takeaway from this is: the purpose therefore of all systems is to contribute to the health of the higher level system of which they are a part, which in turn takes care of them. It is a common feature of modern economic and political systems however, to operate as if this were not the case. Governments tend to address issues as if they were discrete entities, rather than interacting, intimately connected parts of a whole. For example, the default economic position of governments of the developed world is that ‘growth is good’ at all costs. But this ignores the fact that our economy is merely one element within a larger system &#8211; the environment &#8211; on which it is dependent for the natural resources which sustain economic production. This is incompatible because those natural resources are in fact limited, and so cannot sustain infinite, exponential growth. On the flip side, this economic narrative is reliant on a culture which tells people that what they already have and are is not enough, encouraging them to find fulfilment through filling this lack through consumption, rather than in the family and community systems of which they are already a part, thereby gradually undermining and eroding those systems. That is, the economy is at odds with both the systems which constitute it and of which it is a smaller part, falling foul of our cardinal rule for healthy systems.

artboard-1-copy-10

Artboard 1 copy 10

If we wanted to use one word to summarise exactly where our economic system is going wrong, we might use ’externalities’ (social/human/health-related costs accrued by an organisation’s operations which they are deemed not responsible for paying). So, river pollution is an externality of a factory farm, carbon pollution is an externality of airlines etc. But, if the economy is a subset of our planetary ecosystem, there are no externalities. Someone somewhere is going to pay the cost for what an organisation does, such as when citizens pay more taxes for healthcare to treat<a href="https://www.nrdc.org/resources/health-and-climate-change-accounting-costs"> climate change related diseases</a> (resulting from the operations of climate-damaging businesses like fossil fuel companies).

artboard-1-copy-11

Artboard 1 copy 11

Thankfully, a new wave of economists has realised this, such as Kate Raworth. In her <a href="https://www.kateraworth.com/">Doughnut Economic</a> theory, the need to provide for a growing planetary population on one hand and to protect our delicate ecosystem on the other is achieved by replacing growth with the redistribution, extraction with reuse, and pollution with<a href="https://greendiary.com/can-factories-be-eco-friendly.html"> eco-friendly</a> production techniques which replenish the environments they are situated in. On the micro-level, there is a re-emphasis on human wellbeing, recognised as an essential component within the broader economic and environmental systems. Because when we cut spending on things like education and healthcare in order to ‘balance the books’, pretending the economic health is some inherent goal divorced of human and environmental wellbeing, we simply create further debt later down the line as fewer people are equipped to become productive members in the economy.  
This may seem too general a concept to get our heads around, especially to act upon. But remember, within every system are leverage points. The Systems Thinker Donella Meadows lists<a href="http://donellameadows.org/archives/leverage-points-places-to-intervene-in-a-system/"> 12 types</a> we can use to bring about big change, concluding that the most effective one is what’s known as a paradigm shift.  A paradigm is essentially the base assumptions a system rests on &#8211; such as that growth is good. In order to change that paradigm, we look for the people within the systems we inhabit and &#8216;keep pointing at the anomalies and failures in the old paradigm’ &#8211; such as that it neglects the interconnectivity of the systems we inhabit; we continue to support the new paradigm ‘loudly and with assurance’ not ‘wasting time with reactionaries; rather [we] work with active change agents and with the vast middle ground of people who are open-minded’, until the point where we ‘insert people with the new paradigm in places of public visibility and power’.

artboard-1-copy-12

Artboard 1 copy 12

If having meaningful conversations with the right people sounds too small an impact, then consider the following: the ‘Great Wealth Transfer’ will result in $68 trillion dollars being passed down from babyboomers to millennials and Gen-Zers in the next decade or so, upwards of 95% of whom want to invest their wealth<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-12/millennials-finally-ready-to-invest-as-sustainably-as-they-shop"> sustainably</a>. And for the first time, a Green New Deal (ie an economic roadmap for fundamentally restructuring the economy to be both sustainable and more distributive) is forming part of the manifestos of both the Democrats in the US and the Labour party in the UK.  As the forthcoming generations begin to understand the interdependency of all of the systems which make up our lives and make themselves heard through their political and financial power, systems change is inevitable. Through it, we can not only reverse the negative effects of climate change but enter into an era where human wellbeing becomes the fundamental barometer for success, consistent with and indeed contingent on a healthy and thriving planet. 
So, start conversations, question where people have their money invested, question their assumptions about the responsibility each of us has towards people and planet, get people to question why they are doing what they are doing. Not aggressively, not judgementally, but with the understanding that this is simply part of preserving and nourishing the system of which we are all an active part.

Product

shopify-ecologi

Shopify + Ecologi

Did you know you can fund climate action straight from Shopify using <a href="https://apps.shopify.com/ecologi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">our app</a>?
<a href="https://www.shopify.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shopify</a> is the biggest e-commerce platform on the internet and our plugin allows you to fund reforestation projects automatically for every sale you make.
With this plugin we hope to enable the 1 million shops running on Shopify to join our mission for <a title="View our Collective Action milestones" href="https://ecologi.com/collective-action">collective climate action</a>, and continue the trend towards <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethical_consumerism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ethical consumerism</a>.

staff-perk

Simple to install

The app only takes 2 minutes to install and set up. Simply visit the <a href="https://apps.shopify.com/offset-earth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">app page</a> on Shopify, click &#8220;Add app&#8221; and follow the instructions.

net-zero-1

Ecologi Shopify app

Configure to your needs

You can choose to plant a tree for each sale, every order or for every X dollars of revenue. You can also set a cap to the number of trees you purchase per month.

company-forest

Watch your forest grow

Trees will be automatically planted in your Ecologi forest, meaning your shoppers can see the impact their purchases have in real-time.

Get started in minutes

&nbsp;
The app is free to install and works with any existing <a href="https://ecologi.com/business">Climate Positive Workforce</a> subscription. Each tree is billed at $0.15 (USD) and costs are added to your monthly Shopify invoice.
<h2>One more thing</h2>
We&#8217;re on a mission to make collective climate action accessible to all businesses. That&#8217;s why we also offer <a href="https://ecologi.com/impact-only">impact-only Ecologi accounts</a>, where instead of a subscription, you can add climate impact whenever suits you.
These accounts are for organisations where a Climate Positive Workforce doesn&#8217;t make sense or for start-ups who are light on cash but still want to commit to climate positivity.
You can always start off with an impact-only account, and move to a Climate Positive Workforce one when you&#8217;re ready.
Thanks for reading, and happy planting 🌱
<img class="size-large wp-image-1137 alignleft" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20200313115449/Blog-image-mountains-1024x476.png" alt="Ecologi Mountains" width="100%" />

Blog

deforestation_wildlife_blog-1

deforestation_wildlife_blog (1)

How does deforestation impact wildlife and biodiversity? What you need to know.

Forests cover <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/deforestation-and-forest-degradation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">31% of the land</a> on our planet and they are critically important for stabilising the climate, taking in approximately <a href="https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-briefs/forests-and-climate-change#:~:text=Approximately%202.6%20billion%20tonnes%20of,America%20%E2%80%93%20offer%20opportunities%20for%20restoration." target="_blank" rel="noopener">2.6 billion tonnes of CO2</a> each year. They also provide more than <a href="http://www.fao.org/state-of-forests/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">86 million</a> green jobs and support the livelihoods of many more. An estimated<a href="http://www.fao.org/state-of-forests/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 880 million people</a> spend part of their time collecting fuel wood or producing charcoal, and of people living in extreme poverty, over <a href="http://www.fao.org/state-of-forests/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">90%</a> are dependent on forests for at least part of their livelihoods. 
However, forests aren’t just important to us, they are also important to the wildlife that live, feed and breed within them. 80% of the world&#8217;s land-based species live in forests, and animals ranging from insects to elephants rely on these ecosystems to survive. From the boreal forests in the far North to the famously biodiverse rainforests of the tropics, forests provide habitats for <a href="http://www.fao.org/3/ca8642en/CA8642EN.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">80%</a> of amphibian species, <a href="http://www.fao.org/3/ca8642en/CA8642EN.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">75%</a> of bird species and <a href="http://www.fao.org/3/ca8642en/CA8642EN.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">68% </a>of mammal species. 
But these forests are being destroyed and degraded at an alarming rate. Since 1990, it is estimated that <a href="https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/CA8642EN.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">420 million hectares</a> of forest have been lost through conversion to other land uses. In addition, more than <a href="https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/CA8642EN.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100 million hectares</a> of forest are adversely affected by forest fires, pests, diseases, invasive species, drought, and other events that are exacerbated by human activity. The main driver of deforestation and associated loss of biodiversity continues to be agricultural expansion, particularly large-scale commercial agriculture including cattle ranching and cultivation of soy bean and oil palm. You can read more about the sectors driving deforestation <a href="https://ecologi.com/articles/blog/industries-and-sectors-driving-deforestation-what-you-need-to-know" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
At Ecologi we love all animals, whatever shape and size, and were anxious about how this deforestation is affecting our furry friends. We decided to explore how deforestation affects the wildlife that lives in and around the world’s forests.

Wildlife is increasingly becoming threatened by human activities and changing climates. The <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IUCN Red List of Threatened species</a> is the world’s most comprehensive information source of the global extinction risk of animals, fungi, and plant species. It lists species and classifies how threatened they are in terms of extinction according to the following categories: Extinct, Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near threatened and Least Concern.
<a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/deforestation-and-forest-degradation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">80%</a> of the world&#8217;s land-based species live in forests. When these forests are destroyed, animals lose their homes and are often unable to survive in the small fragments of forests left behind. The destruction and fragmentation of forests is the biggest driver of extinctions across the world. <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature23285" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A recent study</a> of more than 19,000 species of birds, amphibians, and mammals found that deforestation substantially increased the odds of species being listed on the IUCN red list as threatened and exhibiting declining populations. Even localised or small-scale deforestation can result in extinctions, as many unique species exist in small geographic locations around the world.
There are a number of ways in which deforestation can impact the animals living within and around forests.
Habitat loss &#8211; Habitat loss is probably the biggest threat to the variety of life on Earth today. It is identified as a main threat to <a href="https://wwf.panda.org/discover/our_focus/wildlife_practice/problems/habitat_loss_degradation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">85% of all species </a>described in the IUCN’s Red List. Deforestation can lead to a direct loss of wildlife habitat, with the removal of trees and other types of vegetation reducing the available food, shelter, and breeding habitat for animals. For example, tigers have lost an estimated <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/tiger" target="_blank" rel="noopener">95% of their historic range</a> as their habitat has been destroyed, degraded, and fragmented by human activities.
Habitat fragmentation &#8211; While evidently interlinked, habitat loss and fragmentation are distinct concepts. Habitat loss refers to a reduction in the area of forests, whilst habitat fragmentation involves the division of a once continuous area, into multiple patches. Smaller fragments of forest can support fewer animals and smaller populations are more at <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5182433/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">risk of extinction</a>. For example, <a href="https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijecol/2012/108752/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">giant pandas are particularly affected by habitat fragmentation</a>, and many giant panda populations are small and isolated, resulting in limited gene flow and risks from inbreeding.
Human interaction &#8211; The destruction of forests and the splitting up into smaller areas makes them more accessible to humans. This increases the occurrence of human-wildlife conflict, where the needs and behaviour of wildlife impacts negatively on humans, or when humans negatively affect the needs of wildlife. For example, it can include increased hunting and poaching of animals as they become more accessible to hunters; increased occurrence of roadkill and road traffic accidents; as well as wildlife causing destruction of property, crops, livestock, and even human lives. Increased contact with humans can cause species numbers to dwindle, and even go extinct.  <a href="https://wwf.panda.org/discover/our_focus/wildlife_practice/problems/habitat_loss_degradation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">An example </a>is in the palm oil plantations of Africa, Latin America and Asia where large areas of rainforest are cleared to grow palm crops. Orangutans, tigers, elephants, rhinos and many other species are increasingly isolated, and their sources of food and shelter are in decline. The fragmentation of their habitat has also resulted in increased human-wildlife conflict, and when these species encounter humans they are often killed or captured.
Change in canopy structure &#8211; The forest canopy plays an important role blocking the sun’s rays during the day and retaining heat at night. Removing trees deprives the forest of portions of its canopy, and this disruption leads to <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more extreme temperature swings </a>which can be harmful to animals.  
These are some of the general effects that deforestation is having on species that reside in the world&#8217;s forests. But what about the areas that Ecologi works in? What animals are being affected by deforestation &#8211; and how are we helping?

The island of Madagascar split from Africa over 160 million years ago, and since then it has developed its own distinct ecosystems and extraordinary wildlife. An estimated <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/places/madagascar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">95%</a> of Madagascar’s reptiles, <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/places/madagascar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">89%</a> of its plants and <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/places/madagascar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">92%</a> of its mammals are endemic, meaning they exist nowhere else on Earth. 
However, more than <a href="https://www.lcluc.umd.edu/hotspot/deforestation-madagascar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">90%</a> of Madagascar’s original forests have been destroyed, displacing entire animal species. The small-scale but widespread clearance of forests, through slash and burn agriculture and logging for firewood and charcoal production is jeopardizing the island&#8217;s habitats. As a result, several species such as lemurs and chameleons that evolved here over millions of years may become extinct before the end of the century. Almost a third (<a href="https://www.iucn.org/news/species/202007/almost-a-third-lemurs-and-north-atlantic-right-whale-now-critically-endangered-iucn-red-list">31%</a>) of all lemur species in Madagascar are now Critically Endangered &#8211; just one step away from extinction &#8211; with <a href="https://www.iucn.org/news/species/202007/almost-a-third-lemurs-and-north-atlantic-right-whale-now-critically-endangered-iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener">98%</a> of them threatened. Among those recently listed as critically endangered in 2020 include the <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/18354/115572044" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Verreaux’s Sifaka lemur</a> and the <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41573/115579496" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Madame Berthe’s Mouse Lemur</a>, the smallest primate in the world.
Particularly of concern in Madagascar are the mangrove forests. Madagascar contains <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/8/2/106/pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2% of the world’s mangroves</a>, accounting for 20% of African mangrove forests. However these are being deforested at alarming rates, and entire mangrove estuaries are gone, leaving the bare earth to wash away the sea. Mangroves, as well as storing massive amounts of carbon, are really important for wildlife. They provide breeding grounds and nurseries for numerous fish species and shellfish, and help trap sediments that might otherwise adversely affect habitats for marine life such as seagrass beds and coral reefs. 
The mangroves in Madagascar have critical importance for numerous endemic species (species that are only found in Madagascar and nowhere else) that are listed on the IUCN Red List. These includes the bird species that use the mangroves for nesting and roosting: the <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22680252/92852755" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Madagascar Teal</a> listed as Endangered; the <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22695121/125395004" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Madagascan Fish-Eagle</a> listed as Critically Endangered; the <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22697012/93598644" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Madagascar Heron </a>listed as Endangered; and <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22731855/95038024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Malagasy Sacred Ibis</a> listed as Endangered.
This is why our <a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/mangrove-planting-in-madagascar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mangrove planting project</a> in the north west of the island is so important. We will be planting two million trees there, before moving along the coast as our contributions continue to grow.

Mozambique – protection of elephant habitats

african_elephant_16x9

This Eastern African country has a rich and unique ecosystem including 236 species of mammal, 740 species of bird and 5,692 species of vascular plant. Additionally, Mozambique is the home to 200 endemic mammal species like the African elephant.
Poaching for ivory and meat has traditionally been the major cause of decline for <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/12392/3339343" target="_blank" rel="noopener">African elephants </a>however currently the most important perceived threat is the loss and fragmentation of habitat caused by ongoing human population expansion and rapid land conversion. This has increased the amounts of human-elephant conflict, which further aggravates the threat to elephant populations.
In <a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/reforesting-changalane-mozambique" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mozambique</a> we are working to plant 100,000 dry deciduous trees, helping to bring back a thriving ecosystem and prevent further deforestation by alleviating poverty and creating a long term maintenance and protection plan.

jaguar_16x9

Our <a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/reforestation-in-bosawas-nicaragua" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tree planting site in Nicaragua</a> is within the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve which forms part of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. This is a corridor that stretches between South and North America, connecting habitats and areas of tropical forest together to allow the movement of animals between them.
This is especially important for <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/15953/123791436" target="_blank" rel="noopener">jaguars</a>, which are endangered by habitat loss and fragmentation. Jaguars are the largest cat in the Americas, and have large round heads, short legs and a beautiful coat that is dotted with dark spots. These are truly incredible, majestic animals, however they are under serious pressure as their forest homes are increasingly being destroyed. Deforestation rates in Latin America are the highest in the world together with tropical Africa. Fragmentation and displacement frequently lead to<a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/spcies/15953/123791436#threats" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> lowering of density</a> of jaguars in forest patches. Their range has also contracted significantly: you used to find jaguars all the way from south-western USA down to central Argentina, but they now occupy less than half of their historical range.
Jaguars are a single species, with no subspecies, meaning that all populations are connected throughout their range. Therefore, connectivity is vital to these animals and ensuring links throughout the Americas is critical to maintaining populations. If the corridor is cut up by roads and development, then this leads to isolated populations with fewer animals. These have a lower genetic diversity and are more <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/08/protecting-jaguars-wildlife-corridor-belize/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vulnerable to extinction.</a> Many jaguar populations require connectivity between core sites to survive the long term and these connectivity corridors are critically important.
At Ecologi, not only are we <a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/reforestation-in-bosawas-nicaragua" target="_blank" rel="noopener">planting trees in Nicaragua</a> to help maintain this corridor, but we also funded a project to <a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/preserving-the-mesoamerican-biological-corridor-in-guatemala" target="_blank" rel="noopener">protect existing rainforest</a> in the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor within Guatemala, thus helping to facilitate the movement of jaguars between different areas.

Scotland – wildlife is returning to our Dalry site

Deforestation is not just a just a tropical phenomenon, vast amounts of Scottish forests have also been cleared. Without human intervention it is likely that much of Scotland would be covered by trees, however ever since the first foresters entered Scotland’s ancient woodlands over 6000 years ago, its trees and forests have been felled and harvested to make space for agriculture, homes and infrastructure. By the early 20th century, forest cover in Scotland, as well as in the rest of the UK, was reduced to around <a href="https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/strategy-plan/2019/02/scotlands-forestry-strategy-20192029/documents/scotlands-forestry-strategy-2019-2029/scotlands-forestry-strategy-2019-2029/govscot%3Adocument/scotlands-forestry-strategy-2019-2029.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5%</a>. This has since increased to around <a href="https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/strategy-plan/2019/02/scotlands-forestry-strategy-20192029/documents/scotlands-forestry-strategy-2019-2029/scotlands-forestry-strategy-2019-2029/govscot%3Adocument/scotlands-forestry-strategy-2019-2029.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">18.5%</a>; this percentage is higher than the rest of the UK, but still well below the EUs average of <a href="https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/strategy-plan/2019/02/scotlands-forestry-strategy-20192029/documents/scotlands-forestry-strategy-2019-2029/scotlands-forestry-strategy-2019-2029/govscot%3Adocument/scotlands-forestry-strategy-2019-2029.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">43%</a>.
Scottish forests and woodlands support a diverse range of species and are rich in biodiversity, with over 1000 associated species. These include <a href="https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/strategy-plan/2019/02/scotlands-forestry-strategy-20192029/documents/scotlands-forestry-strategy-2019-2029/scotlands-forestry-strategy-2019-2029/govscot%3Adocument/scotlands-forestry-strategy-2019-2029.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">172 protected species</a>, including the pine marten, twinflower, crested tit, scottish crossbill, black grouse and the capercaillie, as well as an estimated 75% of the UK’s red squirrel population.
Our reforestation project in Scotland is at a site in Dalry, once home to native Scottish wildlife; however, the land had since become barren. This <a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/reforesting-dalry-scotland" target="_blank" rel="noopener">project</a> is allowing the wildlife to come back to this area. Jim from the Future Forest Company, our tree planting partners, says ‘you now see hen harriers, an endangered species, regularly on site, when before the sighting of a bird of prey was rare’. This is yet another sign that the land is starting to recover.

koala_16x9

The WWF estimates that more than <a href="https://www.wwf.org.au/what-we-do/species/tree-clearing#gs.q5456g" target="_blank" rel="noopener">80% of global deforestation</a> between 2015-30 will take place in 11 deforestation ‘fronts’. One of these is eastern Australia in the states of Queensland and New South Wales (NSW). In Australia, tree-clearing is largely undertaken to create pasture for livestock, particularly for beef cattle production.
The impact of deforestation on wildlife is significant with <a href="https://www.wwf.org.au/what-we-do/species/tree-clearing#gs.q5456g" target="_blank" rel="noopener">964 of the 1250</a> Australian terrestrial animals’ species listed as threatened having habitat fragmentation identified as a threat. These include <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22684733/93044196#threats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Carnaby’s cockatoo</a>, the <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22678108/131902050" target="_blank" rel="noopener">southern cassowary</a>, <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/6426/21957127" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bennet’s tree kangaroo</a>, and the <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/16752/21955261" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cape York rock wallaby</a>, as well as the iconic <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/16892/166496779#threats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">koala</a>. It is also estimated that in NSW between<a href="https://www.wwf.org.au/ArticleDocuments/353/AnimalWelfareImpacts_Summary_March19.pdf.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 4.9-10 million</a> native wild animals are killed in the processes of tree-clearing each year.
Koalas are currently classified as<a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/16892/166496779#threats" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> vulnerable</a> with the key threat being continued habitat destruction, fragmentation, and modification, as the forests they live in are being rapidly cleared. Small populations of koalas in isolated sections of habitat are at the greatest risk of extinction. 
Our <a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/wildlife-corridors-koalas-australia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reforestation project in NSW </a>was established to try and protect the local koala population in the Northern rivers of NSW. The main goal is to establish a wildlife corridor by planting 50,000 trees to allow koalas to move between habitat fragments and their populations to bounce back.

cerulean_warbler_16x9

More than <a href="https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/articles/sustainable-forestry-in-appalachia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">150 tree species</a> can be found in Appalachia, making it one of the most diverse ecological regions in North America. The Appalachians are home to more than <a href="https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/articles/sustainable-forestry-in-appalachia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">200 globally rare plants and animals</a> and more than <a href="https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/articles/sustainable-forestry-in-appalachia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">15,000 documented wildlife species</a>, including the caribou, moose, black bear, wild boar, fox, and numerous small mammals, thrive there.
Appalachia’s forests are of particular importance as a breeding ground for migratory birds that spend the breeding season within this region, before flying south to overwinter in Mexico and Central and South America. These species include the Baltimore oriole, broad-winged hawk, red-eyed vireo, ruby-throated hummingbird, scarlet tanager, Tennessee warbler, and the cerulean warbler. 
However, the resource wealth of the region has meant that much of the forest has been deforested and degraded by mining and timber operations, with an estimated <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/na0403" target="_blank" rel="noopener">83% </a>of the original habitat having been lost. Approximately <a href="https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/articles/sustainable-forestry-in-appalachia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">80%</a> of the cerulean warbler population breeds within the Appalachian forests. This species is <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22721740/153691320" target="_blank" rel="noopener">threatened </a>by the conversion of its forest habitat for agricultural or urban use and the fragmentation of habitat left behind. 
Our <a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/rewilding-the-appalachia-usa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">planting project in Appalachia</a> plants native tree species to help the entire ecosystem recover. This will help preserve the unique biodiversity of the Appalachian region. Songbirds such as the cerulean warbler, salamanders, and copperhead snakes are just a few of the animals you can help.

We couldn’t talk about deforestation without mentioning the Amazon rainforest. This is the world&#8217;s largest rainforest and river system, which contains nearly a third of all the tropical rainforests left on Earth. Despite covering only <a href="https://www.wwf.org.uk/where-we-work/amazon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1%</a> of the planet’s surface, the Amazon is home to <a href="https://www.wwf.org.uk/where-we-work/amazon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">10%</a> of all known wildlife species, with many more being described each year.
However, as a result of the major pressures being exerted on the Amazon (large-scale agriculture and cattle ranching, small-scale agriculture, road and hydropower infrastructure, mining and logging), it is being deforested on a massive scale. <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/deforestation-and-forest-degradation">17%</a> has already been lost.
As well as releasing vast amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, this destruction and deforestation has numerous, complex impacts on the wildlife that lives within the forests. One example of an animal under threat from deforestation in the Amazon is the <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/black-spider-monkey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">black spider monkey.</a> This is one of seven species of spider monkey found in Latin America and is one of the largest primates in South America. They are an essential part of the tropical rainforest ecosystem, playing a key role in seed dispersal and thus allowing the forest environment to continue to grow and thrive. However, these monkeys are threatened by the destruction of forests. They prefer mature tropical forests and seldom venture into disturbed habitats. This means that these monkeys are especially vulnerable to the effects of forest fragmentation.
Black spider monkeys don’t do so well in newly reforested areas, and that’s why our projects  (see <a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/preserving-untouched-brazilian-rainforest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>, <a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/protecting-the-amazon-from-deforestation-in-brazil" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> and<a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/peruvian-protection-of-the-amazon" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> here</a>) to protect existing rainforests in the Amazon are so important. Our projects to avoid deforestation in Brazil help to preserve the habitats of the black spider monkey and many other creatures.
In fact, one project is designed partly with an animal species in mind. Our <a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/protecting-the-amazon-from-deforestation-in-brazil" target="_blank" rel="noopener">avoiding deforestation project in Almeirim, Brazil</a>, has objectives to protect the critically endangered Black bearded Saki (Chiropotes satanas). This species has decreased by at least 80% in the last 30 years and this trend is predicted to continue. In a scenario without the project we are helping to fund, the population trend of this species within this area is decreasing and becoming more threatened, mainly due to the loss of habitat caused by deforestation. However, in the scenario with this project, it is predicted there will be <a href="https://registry.verra.org/mymodule/ProjectDoc/Project_ViewFile.asp?FileID=45326&amp;IDKEY=a0e98hfalksuf098fnsdalfkjfoijmn4309JLKJFjlaksjfla9062504554" target="_blank" rel="noopener">improvements</a> in the trend of the population of Chiropotes satanas.

A note on deforestation and climate change 

Deforestation is also impacting the ability of species to adapt to future climate change. For millennia, wildlife around the world has moved up and down mountains, and towards and away from the equator in order to cope with changes in the world’s temperature. However, the deforestation of tropical forests is creating a patchwork landscape where natural habitat is fragmented. <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-019-0529-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Recent research</a> has found that most tropical forest habitat is currently too disconnected to provide pathways to cooler climates, meaning that wildlife will struggle to escape the impacts of climate change.

Most of the world’s creatures rely on forests for their food, shelter, and nesting sites. Worldwide, animals are being threatened as their homes are torn down at alarming rates to make way for agriculture and infrastructure. It’s really important that we do our best to combat deforestation, not only for our sake, but for the sake of the animals. There are lots of organisations that are doing great work in this field. Head to <a href="https://www.wwf.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WWF</a> to find out more or <a href="https://ecologi.com/plan">sign up to Ecologi</a> to support projects both to protect existing forests and to plant new ones!

one_small_step_blog_header

One small step for you, one giant impact for humankind

If you could only do one thing to minimise your ecological footprint, what would it be? There are so many options, and whilst it is good to have choice, we can find ourselves paralysed by the sheer amount of choice. We elect to use glass bottles instead of plastic, before hearing that this generates more emissions in transport; we buy products accredited as containing sustainable palm oil before discovering we have been<a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/big-business-has-a-new-scam-the-purpose-paradigm/"> deceived</a>; we recycle, before finding out that much of this is ending up in<a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/recycling-waste-uk-overseas-landfill-pollution-nao-environment-defra-a8458991.html"> landfill</a> on the other side of the world.
Whilst it is important to do our research and make the right decisions where we can, wouldn’t it be nice if there was a quick fix out there, where a one-off decision could outsource some of that eco-stress to the people with the time and expertise to see the bigger picture, ensuring maximum impact with minimum effort?
Well, it turns out there are, none more so than:

Since the Paris Climate accord in 2015, banks have invested <a href="https://www.ran.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Banking_on_Climate_Change__2020_vF.pdf">$2.7 trillion</a> in fossil fuel companies (to say nothing of tobacco, arms, gambling and other dubious investments). And unless you are explicitly invested in an environmental scheme, this likely includes<a href="https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/barclays-banks-climate-change-fossil-fuels/"> your money</a>. Conversely, it is estimated that it would cost about<a href="https://ourworldindata.org/how-much-will-it-cost-to-mitigate-climate-change"> $300 billion of investment</a> per year to prevent runaway climate change by the oft-cited cut off point of 2030 (so, about $1.5 trillion in total). Strange how we continue to damage our planet almost to the exact extent that we need to do just the opposite. But it at least makes the solution fairly obvious: reinvest the money currently supporting climate-damaging activities into those that support our planet’s health.
Despite being the driver behind so much destructive activity, finance often slips under the rug as a point of focus for those who care about the climate. Because we do not see what our finances are doing on a day to day basis, we do not associate them with the havoc they can cause. But just as factory farms were causing environmental (as well as animal) harm before the public had any idea, so too your finances. In fact, because of the relative wealth of the average western citizen, the choice you make regarding how your money is put to use is likely the most powerful one you can make in terms of your relative impact as an individual.
A common argument is that green investments are riskier, constituting a new and unpredictable market built around unproven, fledgling companies and technology. But this is not born out on the level of data or common sense. Traditionally, fossil fuels have been considered a safe investment because the industrial-era economy was based upon them. But this is beginning to change. As the connection between our economy and the broader ecology on which it is dependent becomes more and more stark, investors are waking up to the unsustainability and counterintuitiveness of deleterious investments and beginning to redivert finance in more positive ways. It is estimated for example that the $380 billion California state pension fund lost out on<a href="https://fossilfreeca.org/2019/11/11/study-ca-and-co-pension-funds-lost-billions-on-fossil-fuels/"> $12 billion dollars</a> because of its decision to uphold investments in fossil fuels over the last ten years. And there is growing evidence to suggest that ESG investments generally (those that look at environmental, social and governance  metrics of company performance, as opposed to merely financial) are<a href="http://www.apple.com/uk"> outperforming conventional investments</a>. 
Another common argument against shifting our finances is that it’s a lot of effort. But whilst the initial cognitive load of researching your options may seem large, the benefit is that, once we’ve made the switch, our finances do the work for us. For most of us, our interaction with our finances constitutes little more than an occasional balance check, so in terms of our day-to-day, investing our money for good requires very little from us. Moreover, with the migration to online (as opposed to high street) financial services, the process takes less time than ever before. No action for the climate comes without effort, but they don’t come much easier than this, especially considering how far that one action can go. 
Of course, the subject is vast and there is no substitute for doing your own research. Whilst this article makes no claim to offering any financial advice, here are a few places to get you started:

The last year has seen a range of banks announcing new climate change related products, from Natwest offering the UK’s first <a href="https://personal.natwest.com/personal/mortgages/mortgage-types-and-rates/green-mortgages.html">‘Green Mortgage’ </a>to the recently licensed <a href="https://www.forestcarbon.co.uk/our-partners/oxbury-bank">Oxbury Bank</a> offering the first ‘carbon offset savings account’. But the bank which has always had the climate and ethics at its heart is <a href="https://www.triodos.co.uk/">Triodos</a>, an ethical bank which uses the UN’s sustainable development goals as a yardstick for which companies it invests in. Rather than just avoiding harmful investments (eg tobacco, arms) they actively invest in communities, renewable energy schemes, sustainable food production and social enterprises generally. Their Energy Transition fund alone removed 60,000 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere and powered 30,000 homes with renewable energy.
If none of those feel right, you can find other options <a href="https://www.curiouslyconscious.com/2020/02/best-ethical-banks-current-accounts-uk.html">here</a>

For many of us, our pensions are the largest investments we have. In the UK alone, pensions account for <a href="https://makemymoneymatter.co.uk/">£3 trillion</a>. But most of us are enrolled by our employers into a default fund, tending to invest in FTSE 100 companies without considering their carbon footprint. According to Good with Money’s Good Guide to Pensions, “nine times out of ten, pension savings are going into tobacco firms, oil and gas majors, mining, big pharma and big banks: social, climate and environmental breakdown, in other words.” This makes it essential that we take control of our pensions and redivert our investments to combat climate change. The easiest option is <a href="https://www.pensionbee.com/fossil-fuel-free-pension">Pension Bee</a>, who have a range of environmentally friendly pension funds and provide an automated service which allows you to pool all of your previous pensions under one green plan. One option is their Future World Fund seeks to engage with fossil fuel companies and pressure them into divestment, whilst another is their Fossil Fuel Free fund automatically screens such companies from the outset. Aviva has also set a target of 2050 for its own auto-enrollment pensions to be carbon neutral. Whichever feels right to you, It really can take just a matter of minutes to make an impact that could last for generations. (To understand more about how our pensions are invested and what options you have, take a look at <a href="https://makemymoneymatter.co.uk/">Make My Money Matter</a>)

Whilst these low-effort, high impact solutions are addressed to individuals, they apply equally for businesses. Not only should any climate-conscious business seek to ensure their pension schemes are not harming the planet as indicated above. But simply by virtue of their size, finance isn’t the only easy win with significant consequences. Businesses account for <a href="https://www.moneysupermarket.com/gas-and-electricity/business-energy/a/renewable-business-energy/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=685a0262b7b872efb4b30d7fd88a14fa887b7e12-1609756959-0-AStc3cQp8rdo_zmmHfZoKzVefaR6yX8nrL0Br62FsqEHVJqTMc7zwvL69G7bkU4IGPu_fJ8FNhEdLs2dLHKC7DlZ_3SRQT0RuV3CsT5dkuAj0xn34tD15Mp3P6fZWI4gcwnqS1GZCxCzRtrJG5AnNngg3GXxS3rcHETyGXzHt5XA18DD9jAQ4Z1nZo0nT6d-XEiyz-gZLO4j8gEYPvw9F1-ergIV9z4QuXxhl4-UsNdq6sncz9d8sWjykuPe2-dJfVZT6m5EEs7a-UoS3jYjA0-vjIhJ2DrSvJL6Jp6VE97qOk2OvLzAwCV7JCuAoRWKRLmEPChKNqNQANsYVzeI6av4PrDqERRlGNjs6FuGFwS2zUfCmBVfD9dwLN0ypXHIhKNAw55mqNww881jfnbBamtI_vh9p5EhuAbjgVsGTHADFSwhv0mWBuUEd8VZZ725NQEE6UAl4ZCPuo3FXRgFmwU">56%</a> of the UK’s energy consumption, so switching to renewable energy companies such as <a href="https://bulb.co.uk/">Bulb</a> or <a href="https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/">Ecotricity</a> can make a massive difference. Similarly, businesses produce a huge amount of waste, so you might consider using sustainable waste management services such as <a href="https://thefirstmile.co.uk/">First Mile</a>, who recycle all possible waste and convert the remainder to be used for tarmac.

Whether as individuals or businesses, every decision we make has an important part to play in the fight against climate change, from what we eat to how we shop and travel. But through our investments we can support all of these areas, from green infrastructure, to investment in the natural world and renewable energy. Through your finances you are not only the consumer but the investor, creating pressure from both sides. So take ten minutes out of your day today and see how your finances could start doing some of the heavy lifting for you.

What is Systems Change and why do we need it to save the planet?

Before jumping in....

What's wrong with our current systems?

What does a new system look like?

Changing the conversation

More posts

Automatic tree planting via. Shopify

How does deforestation impact wildlife and biodiversity? What you need to know.

One small step for you, one giant impact for humankind

We send good things