World Environment Day and Clean up the World Campaign 2011

World Environment Day and Clean up the World Campaign 2011

31 May 2011 - Clean Up the World participants are joining thousands of others around the world to celebrate World Environment Day (WED) on 5 June. From Bangladesh to Venezuela, they have been inspired by this year’s WED theme, ‘Forests: Nature at Your Service’.

With forests providing homes to more than 300 million people and 80% of terrestrial biodiversity worldwide, they are an incredibly precious resource

In response to the theme, many Clean Up the World participants are taking a stand for our planet by planning tree planting activities.

In the Philippines, the Junior Foresters Society will be planting threatened tree species around Lake Lanao, in order to protect the area’s fragile ecosystem and boost carbon sequestration.

Kenyan-based Mashambani World Watch has organised tree planting activities at six primary schools in the Kanduyi region. The 500 trees planted on each campus will provide shade and go long way towards making learning during the dry spell 'cool'.

In Spain, Asociación Meteoambiente’s full week of activities will include reforestation in Rio Segura.

In addition to tree planting, Clean Up the World groups are focussing on recycling initiatives, local clean ups, and environmental education activities.

Raksha, an Indian youth organisation, will be removing plastic from Jhalana Forest area, which is under constant threat from deforestation, cattle grazing, industrial waste, and pollution.

For Clean Up the World, World Environment Day marks the first milestone in what promises to be a successful year-long campaign. An estimated 35 million people in over 130 countries will take part in Clean Up the World activities in 2011, with action peaking over Clean Up the World Weekend, from 16-18 September.

Ian Kiernan AO, Chairman and founder of Clean Up the World, said “All of the local activities undertaken are a crucial part of the global campaign. Be it a local clean up, a revegetation project or a national awareness campaign, each one adds up to make a huge difference to our earth.

“In particular, I would like to thank all of our participants in India, which is this year hosting WED.”

See further World Environment Day activities being undertaken by Clean Up the World Members at activities at http://activities.cleanuptheworld.org/#1 and on the WED website http://www.unep.org/wed/activities/

ENDS

© Scoop Media