Embracing Nature's Healing Power: An Insight from Jason Momoa
As environmental challenges loom large, Jason Momoa emphasizes the importance of advocating for and restoring nature to safeguard our ecosystems.
Editor’s Note: The views expressed in this commentary belong to Jason Momoa, who is not only an actor but also serves as the UN Environment Programme’s Global Advocate for Life Below Water.
Call to Earth is a special editorial series by CNN that focuses on bringing attention to the environmental issues our planet is facing, while also highlighting possible solutions. This initiative is made possible through a partnership between Rolex’s Perpetual Planet and CNN, aiming to raise awareness and educate the public on important sustainability matters and encourage positive change.
Seven months ago, a devastating fire swept through Hawaii, particularly affecting Lahaina in Maui. The fire destroyed thousands of acres of land, fueled by climate change and the replacement of native plants with less fire-resistant species.
The fire tragically claimed the lives of almost 100 people and countless domestic and wild animals. Additionally, thousands of buildings were destroyed, resulting in rebuilding costs exceeding $5 billion. The aftermath of the fire has led to cancerous pollutants in the public water system and accelerated soil erosion that threatens to harm the island's corals.
Jason Momoa
Jason Momoa
As wildfires continue to spread across continents, including reaching the Arctic, more and more hearts are left broken. The UN Environment Programme, where I serve as a Global Advocate for Life Below Water, warns that the number of global wildfires could increase by 50% by the end of the century.
Wildfires are just one of the many reasons to be concerned about the future of our planet's ecosystems. There are numerous signs showing that nature is being harmed by human activities. Approximately 1 million animal and plant species are currently at risk of disappearing. Freshwater sources and coastlines are deteriorating rapidly. Additionally, forests, grasslands, shrublands, and peatlands are also facing degradation. Human actions have significantly altered three-quarters of the Earth's land surface, including vast savannahs, mountainous landscapes, urban areas, and rural ecosystems. Furthermore, two-thirds of the world's ocean, which covers 70% of the Earth's surface, has also been impacted.
An aerial image taken on August 10, 2023, shows buildings burned to the ground in Lahaina by wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii.
An aerial image taken on August 10, 2023, shows buildings burned to the ground in Lahaina by wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
Several weeks after fires devastated our historic town of Lahaina, there was a lot of excitement in the newspapers about a huge 150-year-old banyan tree that survived the flames and started growing new green leaves. Even though it's inspiring to see nature bounce back so quickly, it's not enough to repair the damage we've done to our environment.
From left, the banyan tree in Lahaina, Hawaii is pictured in 2011 and 2023.
From left, the banyan tree in Lahaina, Hawaii is pictured in 2011 and 2023.
Getty/Chris Imonti
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Maui’s 150-year-old banyan tree is growing leaves after being charred by the wildfires. It’s just the beginning of a long recovery
The harm caused to nature since the beginning of the industrial era has been extensive. It is crucial to take action to protect the remaining natural resources and restore what has been damaged. This requires immediate collaboration and collective effort, spanning from the polar regions to the Pacific islands.
A key factor in achieving success in this endeavor is incorporating Indigenous peoples' traditional knowledge and community perspectives into our decision-making processes. The current Western systems have limited our understanding of the environment. Indigenous communities have a deep connection to the land and Earth, and we should empower them to take the lead in conservation efforts. This approach should guide the restoration of Lahaina, with local groups and grassroots projects playing a central role in supporting their community.
Benefiting from the collective wisdom of the Hawaiian people, who have been traveling across the Pacific for over 2,000 years, using traditional navigational methods to migrate the 2,400-mile path to and from Tahiti, requires recognizing them as the Indigenous people of the ocean.
Indigenous people protect the land, the Earth. We need to go back to allowing them to do so.
Governments around the world are taking action. All 193 countries in the United Nations have pledged to restore one billion hectares of land by the end of the Decade of Restoration. This area is as large as China. In late 2022, a significant agreement was made to protect nature. This was followed by another historic agreement to protect the high seas, along with other important decisions.
On the ground, there are remarkable efforts being made to restore nature in various parts of the world. One initiative aims to protect Andean forests spanning seven countries and 3,000 miles. In Sri Lanka, the mangrove cover has been expanded by 50%, while a restored forest in Nepal has contributed to doubling the tiger population.
Another inspiring project involves collaborating with farmers in Senegal and Tanzania to re-green vast areas affected by desertification. This not only creates hundreds of thousands of jobs but also brings these areas back to life. Pakistani communities have also invested in restoring over 30% of the Indus River Basin after devastating floods. Additionally, there is a significant restoration initiative in the Mediterranean region to prevent wildfires.
In Nepal, the Terai Arc Landscape initiative has helped wildlife to bounce back.
In Nepal, the Terai Arc Landscape initiative has helped wildlife to bounce back.
Muna Thapa
These seven initiatives have been recognized as UN World Restoration Flagships. In a recent gathering of environment ministers in Nairobi, restoration was a key topic among leaders from over 180 nations.
Acts of kindness towards nature have a contagious effect, inspiring further action from a variety of groups including individuals, communities, NGOs, celebrities, scientific institutions, corporations, and governments. Solutions bring hope, and each small action can contribute to a larger wave of change, which I like to call mana (spiritual life-force) nalu (wave).
We, as humans, hold incredible power on Earth, even without superpowers. It is within our hands to decide how we will use this power.
The choice is ours: do we choose to revitalize places like Lahaina with nature-based solutions rooted in centuries of success, or do we allow profit-driven corporations to overpower our voices? I urge our generation to stand up for nature restoration and begin creating positive change.
Editor's P/S:
The article paints a grim picture of the environmental degradation facing our planet, with wildfires, species extinction, and the destruction of natural habitats posing serious threats. Jason Momoa, a UN Global Advocate for Life Below Water, emphasizes the urgency of taking action to protect and restore nature. He highlights the importance of incorporating Indigenous peoples' traditional knowledge and community perspectives into decision-making processes.
Momoa also showcases inspiring examples of nature restoration efforts around the world, such as the protection of Andean forests, the expansion of mangrove cover in Sri Lanka, and the re-greening of desertified areas in Senegal and Tanzania. These initiatives demonstrate that positive change is possible and that collaboration and collective effort can bring about significant results. Momoa urges readers to become active participants in nature restoration and to use their voices to advocate for policies that prioritize environmental protection.
