Native biodiversity in countless corners of the world has been heavily impacted by large-scale animal agriculture. Of the total amount of available, ice-free land on the face of the planet, it’s estimated that 40% has been carved out to raise animals for food — all at the expense of the native plants and animals that once used that land.
Not to mention that animals like cattle emit more heat-trapping greenhouse gas than the entire transportation sector combined.
But the efforts to break this cycle are real… and effective. Scientists like Pat Brown combat the issue on two fronts: first to create alternative options for protein that don’t come from animals, and second, to transform defunct cattle ranches into revived forested ecosystems.
Make the Change to a Plant-Based Diet
Plant-based alternates to traditional meat are becoming more accessible and delicious as the technology continues to improve. There are countless reasons to substitute plants as a source of protein — taste and personal health as two leading factors for many — but the planetary impact of adopting plant-based diets is immense as well. Resources like the Planet-Based Diets guide from the World Wildlife Fund use data to frame the planetary benefits of making the change: curbing greenhouse gas emissions, preventing biodiversity loss, and reviving land once used for animal agriculture.
For resources on the benefits of plant-based foods, guides on building diet plans, and much more information, visit the Planet-Based Diets website at planetbaseddiets.panda.org.
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Join Together to Track Carbon Sequestration
The Carbon Ranch featured in Wild Hope: Mission Impossible is just one of many global projects that closely monitor reforestation and carbon sequestration. One of the largest of such projects is NASA’s citizen science app GLOBE Observer, which provides an opportunity for anyone, anywhere, to play a part in measuring recovering forests.
The GLOBE Observer: Trees project collects data from any user who can measure the height and circumference of trees; this data is collected and used by NASA scientists to track climate change and the recovery of forests worldwide.
Get started by downloading the GLOBE Observer app and joining the movement today!
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