Humans share the planet with 8 million other species of plants and animals, and it is our responsibility to protect the environment for future generations. Fortunately, there are plenty of opportunities to help. This article will provide information on the basic requirements of wildlife, why they may be attracted to urban environments, and how to discourage their presence in certain situations. Children can learn about wildlife through programs such as Project Wild, offered by the Canadian Wildlife Federation.
Additionally, wildlife may return to the city due to the removal of something toxic from their environment. For example, weed seeds are consumed by many species and are considered a staple of the diet of farmland wildlife. The Global Wildlife Program (GWP) has several collaborative partners, such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF), International Consortium to Combat Wildlife Crime (ICCWC), International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Traffic, WildAid, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The US Fish and Wildlife Service also has a website on endangered species that shares information about endangered animals in the United States.
To learn more about an individual species, consult local wildlife biologists and wildlife enthusiasts. Many GWP projects invest in activities that involve individuals and communities in wildlife conservation. This allows them to benefit from the economic value of wildlife through tourism or alternative livelihoods in order to maintain conservation efforts. All North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) partners rely on the cooperation of landowners who are willing to modify their agricultural practices to restore prairie swamps and improve the hydrology of their land.
