10 signs you’re an everyday conservationist

By Brittany Gawley, photographer, educator, and podcaster

What kind of conservationist are you? Are you in the closet? Are you loud and proud? Are you leading by example? Are you failing miserably? Are you totally inactive? Are you exploring the impacts of your consumer choices? Are you doing your best? If you’re not 100% sure whether you’re a conservationist or not, I’ve developed a list to help you decide.

10 Signs You’re a Conservationist

1. If you notice your neighbour is starting their spring clean up and you casually work into the conversation that you are letting your lawn grow or planting pollinator gardens — you might be a conservationist.

2. If the voices and works of David Attenborough or Dr Jane Goodall soothes your soul — you might be a conservationist.

3. If you think a Saturday perusing the treasure troves that are thrift stores is time well spent — you might be a conservationist.

4. If you support a greener economy, more women and BIPOC in power and climate action NOW — you might be a conservationist.

5. If you love animals and wildlife and care about future generations — you might be a conservationist.

6. If you enjoy nature and the outdoors have a deep, deep dislike for litterbugs, you might be a conservationist.

7. If you look into ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle — you might be a conservationist.

8. If your partner constantly leaves all the lights on and it drives you mad — you might be a conservationist.

9. If you correct your aunt Kathy when she considers a styrofoam take out container as recycling — you might be a conservationist.

10. If you donate regularly to organizations and causes that help animals, people or the planet — good for you! You might be a conservationist.

Conservation was once a career path thought to be reserved for academics and scientists, and for those who dabbled in hobbies such as birding, but as it turns out, it’s not such an exclusive club. In fact, there are no bouncers checking IDs at the door. Everyone is allowed in. You just have to show up.

You don’t have to be a hippie, gather your friends around the campfire, join hands and sing Kumbuyah to agree that we must be careful with our one and only home. You don’t even have to be an environmentalist to agree that together, we can create a better world. These days, no matter where you live or your circumstance you can practice ecologically respectful behaviour and inspire others along the way to join you.

An everyday conservationist can be defined as someone who experiences environmental concern and takes pro-environmental action. This can be your 5-year-old niece, your 96-year-old grandma, artists, teachers, corporate executives, athletes, stay at home parents, chefs, designers, architects, business leaders — you get the picture. You’ll see them around, doing their part — planting pollinator gardens, driving and flying more consciously, eating a more plant-based diet, reducing, repurposing, reusing, recycling and more.

Everyday conservationists demand higher standards for the welfare of our planet and the animals (including us) that need it to survive. They operate with the understanding that if we hope to imagine a better world, we must create a culture to support, recognize and honour the diversity of living and nonliving entities with which we share the planet and in doing so, can inspire change for a new construct, a better future.

When you picture the future, what kind of world do you imagine? Floating cities? Greenhouses atop city buildings? What does the natural world look like? Are natural spaces abundant, supporting diverse and healthy ecosystems or are they few and far between with wildlife penned off to specific areas? How is the water situation? Has water finally become a basic human right or are there still inequalities that exist? It’s our job as conservationists, and global citizens in a shared world, to reimagine and take action to create something better, and we can do so each day.

Which direction will you take on your journey as an everyday conservationist? To let me know or for more info, find me on Instagram.

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