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Ferns and Fantails

Helping everyone understand the Science behind our biggest environmental problems and how you can help make a change

You are here: Home / Home and Garden / Environmental Advocate: Your Path to Hope & Action

Home and Garden, Human Impacts, Journal · 25 July 2025

Environmental Advocate: Your Path to Hope & Action

The Profound Beauty: Finding Joy and Connection in Nature’s Embrace

From an early age, I’ve always been immersed in nature, exploring all day long with my animals, friends, and family. I believe that this upbringing has helped shape who I am today as an environmental advocate. I vividly remember the days at my grandmother’s stream. My brother, grandmother, and I turned over stones, searching for whatever we could find. We turned over a stone one day to find a freshwater crayfish/kōura. Seeing that little creature mesmerised my brother and me, it sparked many questions in wonder. Like, how did this little crayfish not get swept away by the current? What does the kōura eat? How many kōura are there in the stream?

Whether you were born into an outdoorsy family or you have only just started exploring nature in adulthood. The world’s beauty inspires awe in us all. This feeling reminds us of our vital role as stewards of the land for generations to come.

Photo showing person at sunrise on a mountain

For the Environmental Advocate: Serenity in Wild Spaces

Nature is the way I recharge. Whether it’s going for a swim in the ocean, a walk in the forest or cuddling my animals. Nature is a sensory experience that everyone needs to experience more in their lives.

My recent favourite moments that I’ve spent in nature are going for gallops down the beach on my horse Caddy. I love the feeling of the sea air through my hair and the sound of hooves pounding on the sand. I just feel free with no other care in the world.

Last year, when I walked the Heaphy track with my friends, the change in the forest was incredible. We transitioned from beech forest in the high-altitude zones to mixed conifer and broadleaf forests near the coasts, where mighty Rata trees have stood strong for hundreds of years. The smell is fresh and clean; it takes you away from all urban life and makes you appreciate our forests. The feel of brushing your hand through the soft and damp leaves is so peaceful. Share your happy place in the comments below and tell our community what you loved about it.

Photo showing a girl cantering on her horse down the beach

The Simple Pleasures of Sustainable Living

I love the feeling when I buy and use something that I know is genuinely good for the environment. It could be the company behind it, scientific research, renewable resources or compostable packaging. I have slowly been going through the process of removing all plastic from my bathroom drawer. It’s roughly split now, and the sustainable reusable options are so much nicer than the ones in plastic. They look cuter, smell better and make me feel happy using them. This could be when I shave with my copper safety razor or wash my hair using solid shampoo and conditioner.

I also have a little herb garden at my flat. There is nothing better than caring for this little ecosystem, seeing the plants grow and thrive. Then being able to use them to create aromatic dishes for myself and my flatmates. I get the same joy from tending to my houseplants. Which bring a pop of green, peace and tranquillity into our sometimes-chaotic student flat.

This journey has made me understand more about how we think as a society. For example, how we often get the newest clothing piece only to push it to the back of our wardrobe two months later. Trust me, I was there once too. But now I understand that buying higher quality and fewer things makes me think more consciously. This allows me to support brands that are doing wonderful things in terms of sustainability, gender equality and living wages to staff.

Photo showing a bright green herb graden

The Strength of Community in Collective Action:

Seeing people rally together to help our environment in impactful ways always inspires me. It is so much fun meeting like-minded people, and these people become your support system. Helping you navigate the highs and lows of being an environmental advocate. Whenever you help at a community event—whether it’s a beach clean-up or a community garden day. The collective impact of you and your community builds up. This collective effort can be incredibly special and shows everyone that change is possible.

Photo showing person picking up plastic on the beach

The Weighty Burden: Acknowledging Grief and Eco-Anxiety

As environmental advocates, the jarring realities of our planets suffering can lead to anxiety, grief and helplessness.

Grieving What We’re Losing: Nature’s Wounds and Our Own:

Today, I have just had my first Environmental Psychology class. I’m excited for this class, but the first few slides were very jarring. These slides held news articles from around the world over the past five years. These articles covered devastating forest fires in Australia, heat waves in Europe, hurricanes in America, and the recent horrific flooding events in my hometown, the top of the South Island in New Zealand.

Planetary Boundaries

Then it went to discussing Johan Rockström’s 9 planetary boundaries, for a safe operating space for humanity. The graph showed that in 2023, six of Rockström’s nine boundaries had already been crossed. This may result in humanity crossing irreversible tipping points.

If you want to learn more about the planetary boundaries, have a look at these videos:

  • TED talk Let the environment guide our development | Johan Rockström
  • TED talk 10 years to transform the future of humanity — or destabilise the planet | Johan Rockström
  • Netflix Documentary with Johan Rockström and David Attenborough, Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet

News Headlines

The main reason I wanted to talk to all of you lovely readers today is because of the heavy feelings that come with these news articles, documentaries, and scientific papers.

As an environmental science student, I get bombarded with all the depressing stats. Like how 2024 has been the hottest year on record. Or that five of the seven sea turtle species are at risk of extinction. I can speak for myself and my classmates in saying that after four years, we’re almost numb to these terrifying stats. But that doesn’t mean we don’t feel anxiety about what the future may hold. After my environmental psychology class, I got another bout of this eco-anxiety as well.

It felt like a gnawing in my stomach, and I forgot to breathe for a bit when looking at these statistics. It made me scared, upset and angry. We have had science explaining what will happen for 30 years! With not much to show for a positive change in the future.

Photo showing a sad environmental advocate by the ocean

Navigating Eco-Anxiety as an Environmental Advocate

Realising that you have eco-anxiety when it’s happening is the first part of managing it. Which is why the community of environmental advocates from community projects is so important. Having people who understand what you are going through is very comforting. If you don’t have any person who will understand your feelings, I always go to my animals instead. Animals can sense when you are upset and will cuddle with you for as long as it takes. You can also tell them how you are feeling and they never tell anyone.

Other ways to navigate eco-anxiety include writing your feelings out on paper. Having a good cry, feeling, and releasing those emotions is also one of the healthiest ways you can move forward.

Then go and give someone or your animals a hug. Or go for a walk in your favourite place and soak up all of the peace. When I’m stressed, I like to lie on the grass and look up at the sky and watch the clouds. Then I will look for what shapes they make, e.g. Minnie Mouse, a dragon, a horse or a lion.

If it all gets too much, you might benefit from stepping away from your advocacy work to prevent burnout. This is a key part of your sustainable activism journey. Or having a social media and news detox can also help. Try a challenge like removing Instagram and Facebook for a week. Or instead of watching the six O’clock news, have a family games night to reconnect with those you love. I always feel the most connected to myself when I’m going tramping. Because I’m normally out of cell phone range but surrounded by nature, which makes me feel present and deeply connected.

Photo showing lady cuddling her cat

Cultivating Resilient Hope: Finding Strength in Action and Vision

Facing environmental challenges can feel daunting, but we can find strength by taking action, getting inspired by new ideas, and building our resilience for our journey.

Hope Found in Every Small Act of Change

Even though the world may seem sad and heavy, we can always find the positives. There is always people and projects who are putting effort into helping the environment. It doesn’t matter how small your change may be. From swapping plastic toothbrushes for bamboo ones, to having conversations with friends about what you’re doing. Or planting bee-friendly plants in your garden. Every conscious action counts.

Just like how Greta Thunberg decided to strike from school and sat outside of Swedish Parliament in 2018. This led to ‘Fridays for Future,’ a global movement where people worldwide have joined these strikes. This shows how one young girl’s act of protest created a global movement of youth climate activism.

You can demand change in other ways, for example, using reusable coffee cups, water bottles and shopping bags. This might seem small if you do it, but millions of people are supporting this change with you. Which leads to a reduced demand for disposable plastics. Prompting businesses to adapt and offer sustainable alternatives. Leading to policy changes like New Zealand’s ban on plastic shopping bags from supermarkets, which came into effect on July 1st, 2019.

Another example is the Chipko Movement in the 1970s. Rural women living in the Himalayas of India started a non-violent movement of hugging trees. They did this as an act of defiance against commercial logging that saved their livelihoods. This movement has inspired thousands of similar movements across the world.

These are just a few ways in which individuals and groups around the world have worked together to create change. No matter how small you may think it will be, it all adds up. You can make a difference every day if you choose to.

Photo showing environmental advocates

Drawing Inspiration from Innovation and Collective Progress:

There are so many new initiatives, technologies and policies that are fostering change all around the world.

Elephants and Bees

In Kenya, a nine-year study has shown that putting live beehives around the fences of farms reduces human elephant conflict. As the human population grows in Kenya, these people need more space for their crops. This shrinks the habitat of Elephants, who then look to the local communities’ crops as a food source, which can result in human-wildlife conflict.

Adding beehives around the fences of their farm creates a physical, sound, and smell deterrent to the elephants, as they don’t want to get stung by bees. Beehives also add an extra income source to the farmers through their honey. More beehives increases the pollination of crops and native plants. These beehive fences deterred 76% of elephants. Helping to protect both the elephants and the farmers peacefully, thanks to green technology.

Predator Free 2050

In New Zealand, we have a big initiative using technology to help us. That government-backed initiative is Predator Free 2050. New Zealand once had no land mammals apart from our two native bat species and marine mammals. With human colonisation came many invasive mammalian predators like stoats, possums and rats.

These invasive species are a primary reason why more than 75% of New Zealand’s indigenous species are either threatened or at risk of extinction. This is why there’s been a significant push to remove rats, stoats, ferrets, weasels, and possums from all of New Zealand. Aiming to bring our precious wildlife back. By using new methods of pest control and fostering community involvement, the initiative will move forward. Predator Free Wellington is leading the way as they have removed all rats, weasels, stoats and possums from urban areas on the Miramar Peninsula. This shows that Predator Free 2050 is possible across New Zealand if we all work together.

Photo showing family of elephants

Nurturing Inner Resilience for the Long Haul as an Environmental Advocate

A Calm Body

When we are doing the demanding work, helping make the environment a better place, we need to give ourselves self-care time. Try getting into nature for a walk—whether it’s on a solo date, with friends, family, or your animals. Also, if you want to try, go barefoot and ground into nature. I love going to a local park, forest, or beach, to listen to all the beautiful sounds in nature. From the birds chirping to the sound of water over rocks. Listening to sound can bring you peace in a sometimes-stressful world.

For more activities to do to connect to your senses in nature, my recent blog post will guide you with ways to put more peace and joy into your life.

Photo showing a girl relaxing in nature

A Strong Mind

We are all hopeful for a better future, and with this comes change and time. We need to learn to create a mindset where we foster patience and endurance because we will get there if we all work together. However, as we all know, the process will take time and won’t be without setbacks. Environmental change in the world is a marathon, not a sprint, so we need to be ready for this. Practice mindfulness, meditation and journaling about what you are feeling will help with this process.

Being an environmental advocate is such a special and powerful role to be in at this time in the history of the planet. Remember, anyone can call themselves an environmental advocate; you don’t need a degree. We need more people to be environmental advocates from all over the world. Representing everyone and their local precious ecosystems and animals that they care about and want to protect. We will face the difficulties together; they will make us stronger and more compassionate, shaping us into better stewards and advocates for the planet.

Photo showing a woman writing by a river

Thank you for Reading!

This blog post is a more raw, less edited reflection. I hope you found it inspiring and that it gave you purpose to keep moving forward, while also giving yourself time and space to process news and setbacks. We are all environmental advocates. Let me know in the comments what you are going to add to your compassionate environmental advocate routine.

Georgia xo

About Georgia

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