SLC31-W6 | THE GREEN JOURNEY | Sustainable Legacy.

One of the great things that a visit to the natural environment can teach us is that the most effective environmental actions are also the simplest ones. One such natural environment which I have had the chance to spend time in is Aluchi, Akwanga. It is a beautiful lush community where farming takes place and where nature's realm is rich in all sorts of trees; from old mango trees, citrus fruits, to oil palms all rooted in the soil. All the paths I took through the fields are dirt roads and as such, the richness of nature, which runs through all that we are to the way we live, was easily perceived.

Participating in Everyday Sustainability

It was while immersing myself in the natural resources of Aluchi that I was exposed to an extremely simple but an eco-friendly act-the observation of agriculture and farming in a sustainable manner. I took time while my strolls to engage myself with the local farmlands; particularly, observing newly sprouted maize planted all around the fields.

To help preserve this green landscape, I focused on the two aspects:

• Plastic-free approach: I make sure I leave absolutely nothing but my footprints in the fields. I had water in a reusable bottle and carried absolutely no packet food, hence zero-plastic environment.
• Respect for nature: While examining the soil and the leaves in the ground, I take extreme care in avoiding disruption of the roots of young crops and low lying grasses as much as possible.

Why Eco-friendly Actions Matter

Preservation of areas like Aluchi is very important to the life and health of all of us as it serves as our community’s natural air-conditioning plant. It holds the secrets of carbon storage, as the canopies of palm and mango trees trap carbon dioxide from our atmosphere, acting as the lungs of our communities, also ensuring proper microclimates with the shade it provides.

Active crop growth, such as maize cultivated all around the regions I have been also demonstrates our dependence on healthy soils for our nourishment and food security. By keeping these regions free from pollution, plastics and damaging degradation we are preserving the life of the insects, birds, soil microbes etc. That allow our pollinators and nutrient cycles to thrive.

How our habits translate to a greener future

We all know that significant and large-scale environmental efforts require a lot of resources. However, the truth is that true protection of our planet begins from the small habits we can all adopt daily, such as not using plastics for even a short travel time and having reusable materials with us as we move around and through any given space.

So it would be an awesome world to live in if each of us commits to only one thing to make the earth healthier per day- whether it is disposing of wastes properly or planting a tree or eating foods that are organically farmed.

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All these will translate into lasting practices and long-term effects once put together. Because through the care for our environment, we give our descendants a future with a world to dwell. Aluchi, Akwanga visit was a solemn lesson on nature that preservation began from where we were and is right here.