Today is Earth Day! Island Conservation invites you to celebrate our environmental heritage along with millions of people around the world. For over 50 years this special day has served as an annual reminder to appreciate the interconnected nature of all living organisms and their ecosystems – and that includes human beings.  

Every Island Conservation project requires an in-depth understanding of such networks – none more so than the 2030 Island-Ocean Connection Challenge we announced last week. This ambitious initiative is a call to NGOs, governments, philanthropists, and foundations to unite their efforts behind island communities to restore at least 40 globally significant island ecosystems from ridge-to-reef by 2030. 

Here’s why it’s important

Scientific research benefits from identifying separate ecosystems and unique species, then assigning them to specific categories. However, doing so runs the risk of undermining the beauty and understanding of how inseparable these natural wonders really are.  

For example, island and marine ecosystems flow into one another, sharing nutrients vital to the plants and animals within them. Fish from those oceans feed birds that then travel great distances. Those birds deposit the rich nutrients on remote islands, and the entire process begins again.  

This constant flow ensures that life thrives across oceans and islands thousands of miles away from one another – but it requires targeted conservation efforts. With consistent, collaborative initiatives we can have a positive impact on extinction crises, ocean health, island communities, and climate change. 

This is the motivation behind the 2030 Island-Ocean Connection Challenge, and we feel it aligns perfectly with the spirit of Earth Day. We encourage you to get inspired, stay informed, and celebrate the natural world around us.