Archive Website of the UK government

Why protect the environment?

The natural environment underpins the health of the planet and is a vital part of the world’s economy. However, human activity is causing an increasing decline in biodiversity (the variety of life on earth).

More people need to take action to tackle the decline in biodiversity and protect the environment. The ten tips below show you easy, everyday activities that can help.

• Biodiversity: the variety of life on earth

• Pressures on the environment

1. Create a space for wildlife

Create and encourage others to create, wildlife-friendly spaces at home, in your local community and through work. Simple actions can make a huge difference. For example:

• put out food and water for garden birds
  
• plant native trees and wild flowers
  
• make or buy a bee box to help bees survive the winter
  
• let a bit of your garden grow wild to create your own wildlife haven

Natural England and Buglife have more ideas, and you can read about making your garden wildlife friendly in ‘Encouraging wildlife in your garden’.

• Encouraging wildlife in your garden

• Tips from the BBC to help you support British wildlife Opens new window

• Welcome bugs into your garden: Buglife Opens new window

2. Enjoy the natural world where you live

Enjoy – and value – your local outdoor spaces and share this enjoyment with others. Find local parks and green spaces using the link below.

• Find out about parks and green spaces

3. Volunteer

Volunteers already do a great deal to conserve biodiversity and protect the environment. Volunteering to improve your local environment is fun, healthy and free. You can find conservation volunteering opportunities on the Muck In4Life website, or by looking for community groups near you.

• Muck In4Life Opens new window

4. Take part in a wildlife survey

Get involved in a wildlife survey. This involves recording the wildlife you see and sending the results to citizen science projects or your local records centre.

• Find out about UK wildlife surveys: Breathing Places Opens new window

• Wildlife in hedges survey Opens new window

• Record wildlife in Wales Opens new window

5. Support a wildlife or conservation group

Join or support an organisation working to protect wildlife and the natural environment. You could give your time or money to help their efforts. Wildlife and Countryside Link is an umbrella body that brings together many of these organisations in one place.

• Wildlife and Countryside Link: support a wildlife group Opens new window

6. Make your voice heard

Use your civic power and make sure that those who represent you, like your MP, reflect your concerns about the environment.

• Find your local MP (Member of Parliament)

• Find out about contacting your local councillor

7. Be Plant Wise

When you are clearing out old pond plants, remember to compost them carefully.

Some pond plants can become a problem if they get into the wild. They can smother native plants, clog waterways, worsen flooding and remove oxygen from the water, which can harm fish.

• Find out more about invasive plants Opens new window

8. Think before you buy

Some gifts and foods available in certain countries can be made from endangered plants or animals. Think before you buy wildlife-based products or souvenirs from overseas trips. If in doubt, it’s best to avoid them.

When buying products, from foods to furniture, there is often a greener choice. Look out for labels like:

• the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) label for fish
  
• the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) label for wood products

Only buying peat-free compost to use in your garden can help to protect important peat bogs.

• Souvenirs and endangered species

• Choosing peat-free soils and fertilisers

9. Dispose of waste carefully

When it's time to throw something away, make sure you dispose of it carefully and safely.

Never pour paints, varnishes or waste pesticides down the drain or put them in household bins. This can lead to hazardous chemicals getting into the environment. Your local council can give you advice on safe disposal. For more information, see the paragraph ‘Disposing of paints, finishes and preservatives’ in ‘Greener DIY’.

Many electronic items contain chemicals that can damage natural systems if not disposed of properly. For more on how to safely dispose of these, see ‘Reusing and disposing of electrical equipment’.

• A to Z of local councils

• Greener DIY

• Electrical equipment: reuse and disposal

10. Reduce waste

Everything you buy has some impact on the environment, because it takes energy, water and resources to make it. Trying not to waste things can help, as it means you need to buy less.

For example, you could:

• cut down your food waste by making use of your leftovers
  
• hang on to your mobile phone for longer and recycle old handsets
  
• avoid excess packaging
  
• take your own bags when you go shopping

• Reducing waste, reusing and repairing

• Food and drink: greener choices

• Get a bag habit Opens new window

Useful contacts

• Environment and Greener Living contacts