Earth Day is 51 years old on April 22, 2021. It began in 1970, during an era of civic action when concerned citizens from all walks of life held environmental teach- ins. Around the USA, people gathered to learn the facts about environmental degradation happening across the country. Today, we might not call the actions teach-ins, however, individuals, governments and non-profit organizations around the world are planning their own activities for Earth Day. The Amherst Conservation Commission (ACC) continues to celebrate Earth Day, every day, by working to protect and conserve land and natural resources and promote the use of outdoors for pedestrian recreation.

This Earth Day, the focus in the USA and around the world is on climate change. It is up to every one of us to restore our Earth, not just because we care about the natural world, but because we literally live on it. We all need a healthy Earth to support our jobs, livelihoods, health and happiness, and to have fun. A healthy Amherst, a healthy New Hampshire, a healthy country, and a healthy planet is a necessity. It is up to all of us to promote. The phrase “think globally, act locally” was used 51 years ago and it is relevant today. There are small steps we can all take to restore our Earth and assure that we can enjoy our forests and waterways for hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation for many years to come.

Two ideas, ACTS of GREEN, come to mind:

1) Join the Amherst Conservation Commission on May 15, 2021, to participate in Amherst Clean-up Day. Look for more details as the time gets closer. For now, mark the date on your calendar.

2) Try Backyard Composting. Food waste is one of the world’s biggest contributors to climate change. Hundreds of millions of tons of food are thrown away each year. Composting is one solution to the growing problem of food waste. Composting is easy to do, it helps mitigate the climate impact from food waste (by reducing methane production from decomposition), has less impact on our transfer station (dump), it does not smell, and it is inexpensive to set up. The results of composting are also good for your flower and vegetable gardens. 

*This article is the first in a series of article that will focus on the activities of the ACC and the environmental issues it addresses in its work. The series is also an opportunity for others in the community to share their ideas about environmental and conservation matters. Guest contributions to the series are welcome. Please submit your article to the ACC here. The ACC reserves the right to determine the appropriateness of the material and whether or not it will be posted.