Happy World Environment Day: Do Your Bit To Help Monkey Forest Stay Green

Here at Monkey Forest we take great pride in our conservation efforts for the environment and our monkeys, working with the likes of the Primate Society of Great Britain (PSGB) and Barbary macaque Awareness and Conservation (BMAC).

 

Unfortunately, it is not only Barbary macaques fighting a losing battle, as 75% of the world’s primates are declining in numbers. That’s why here at Monkey Forest and alongside our sister parks in Europe we support a number of conservation projects happening across the globe.

 

Barbary macaques are native to Algeria and Morocco, but due to deforestation and the illegal pet trade, their population has declined in recent decades. There are fewer than 8,000 Barbary macaques left in the wild. This is why it is so important for organisations like Monkey Forest to raise awareness of the endangered status of these monkeys.

 

Threats to the wild primate population also have a detrimental impact to our eco systems, as primates are a contributing cog to the process of seed dispersal within some of the world’s natural woodlands.

 

Therefore, the falling numbers of Barbary macaques could have wide repercussions throughout the ecosystem, as explained Margarita Astrálaga, director of the IUCN Center for Mediterranean Cooperation.

 

“Macaques are vital to disperse seeds in the forest. Without them, the very composition of the forest would change dramatically” Astrálaga said.

 

Sadly, 3.19 million hectares of fallow woodlands face existential threats according to the Forest Research agency , so it is important to highlight that we ensure that conservation is a part of everyday life.

 

For climate change to be halted and the forests to grow stronger, we need to respect and love our environment.

 

Looking at what Monkey Forest needs to continue blooming is a good way to understand that need and how we achieve small victories in the mission to preserve our environment.

 

Cross-pollination

Green areas rely on the full range of plants – from subsurface grasses and fungi through to the tallest trees. These, in turn, are reliant on pollinators – something which, according to the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, are dying out at a startling rate. Bees encourage wild plant growth and provide a stable, cross-pollinating foundation for the ecosystem; bumblebees and carpenter bees being some of the most important among them. Building bee sanctuaries, planting bee-friendly plants, and leaving bee baths are important ways to promote ecological growth.

 

Water retention

Given how wet and windy Britain can be, you would be forgiven for thinking that there’s no shortage of fresh water. However, as the National Geographic highlights, rainfall is often the wrong type of hydration for the UK’s water systems. Many of its most important aquifers, including the Triassic sandstone which runs under Staffordshire, are drying up. These water supplies are crucial for plants and animals, and so minimising water usage is a great way to help out.

 

Being gentle

Human footfall and destruction have a huge impact on plants and animals, it’s important to follow the principle of leaving nothing but footprints. Don’t touch what you don’t need to; allow insects, flowers, plants and animals to exist peacefully; and report problems where you see them. Becoming an active participant in conservation is relatively straightforward, but it will have a big impact on the planet and the fate of its ecosystems.

 

 

Written by Jennifer Dawson, guest blogger.