Money puts people in key paid positions to protect and help sustain wildlife living in their natural habitat. Money also brings awareness to the plight of wildlife sustainability, and funding is the singular most important weapon in fighting degradation of the natural environment. Individuals can stand on soapboxes and voice their concerns about environmental issues till they’re blue in the face, but without political representation and bipartisan support wildlife conservation will only ever receive token funding and piecemeal solutions to a monumental problem that requires intervention by governments not organisations if it is ever to succeed in the long term. The preservation and protection of wildlife needs to be written into the constitution, and an international fighting fund set up and administered by government representatives from the international community. The proposed carbon tax levied on countries to reduce greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide omissions on a polluter pays principle is an effective long term solution in combating climate change but we need to act on conserving wildlife right now. Some of the world's major national parks and game reserves have fallen into a state of disrepair because not enough is allocated for their upkeep and security. The point here is that without a constant injection of capital wildlife sustainability is dying a slow and inevitable death. If enough individuals were to bequeath money to wildlife conservation then I wouldn’t have to write this column. I’m more than happy to put my money where my mouth is. It is the price we pay for our room here on earth. Jens Ward
Words ④ Wildlife