Wildlife conservation is really important. It helps save animal species and also helps people. Here are some ways that wildlife conservation benefits us:

Services from Nature

1. Pollination: Did you know that about 75% of the food we eat relies on animals like bees, birds, and bats to help with pollination? This is a big deal because the work they do is worth between $235 billion and$577 billion around the world.

2. Natural Pest Control: Birds and other animals help keep pests under control. This means farmers don’t have to use as many chemical pesticides. In the U.S., birds save farmers about $4 billion every year by helping with pest control.

Diversity and Strength

• Keeping wildlife safe helps maintain biodiversity. This is important because it makes ecosystems stronger. A healthy variety of species can help reduce the effects of climate change and natural disasters. If we lose biodiversity, our ecosystems become less productive. This can lower food availability and hurt people’s livelihoods.

Economic and Cultural Importance

• Wildlife is also a big part of the economy, especially through ecotourism. In 2019, ecotourism made around $134 billion globally and provided over 13 million jobs. This not only helps people earn money but also encourages local communities to protect their natural resources.

Health Benefits

• Protecting wildlife can help prevent the spread of diseases that jump from animals to humans. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that 60% of known infectious diseases and 75% of new diseases come from animals. Keeping ecosystems healthy can lower the risk of these diseases, which is good for everyone’s health.

Fighting Climate Change

• Forests where wildlife live are great at soaking up carbon dioxide (CO2). According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), forests absorb about 2.6 billion metric tons of CO2 each year. This is really important for fighting climate change, which affects all living things on Earth.

In short, wildlife conservation does more than just keep animals safe. It also helps humans by providing natural services, creating economic opportunities, improving health, and tackling climate change.