4 Beautiful Places in Immediate Environmental Danger

There’s nothing quite like the great outdoors. Whether it’s camping out under the stars or swimming in the sea, interacting with nature can be a simple yet profound experience.

It's no big secret that Mother Nature is a beautiful creature, but some of that beauty is fading fast. It’s also no big secret that so much of this damage has been at the hands of humans. At tentree, we aim to be a part of the solution to these environmental issues, rather than being a part of the problem. For every article of our eco-conscious lifestyle apparel sold, there are ten trees planted in an ecosystem that is desperate for help.

tentree planting projects are happening all over the world, from Madagascar to India. Only local species are planted in each location, allowing every tree the opportunity to grow to its utmost potential. For example, moringa trees are put into the ground in Haiti to help with sheet water erosion, while in Senegal, it’s all about restoring the mangrove.

The negative impacts of human carelessness Mother Nature has been subjected to are increasingly widespread, and tentree can't combat all of the issues on their own. It's up to the consumers, who have a say in the products they buy and the companies they support, to make the difference.

A lot of the damage has already been done. For your inspiration, here are just a few beautiful places around the world that are in immediate environmental danger. Take a look:

1. Siberia’s Lake Baikal is the oldest and deepest lake in the world, at 25 million years old and 1,700 metres deep. This is by far one of Mother Nature’s marvels, containing one of the richest freshwater faunas on the planet. In fact, it accounts for 20 per cent of the world’s unfrozen fresh water! Sadly, the quality of Lake Baikal is endangered due to massive amounts of pollution from a nearby paper mill.

2. The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system and one of the most famous tourist destinations out there. There are spectacular underwater views for snorkelers and divers, but perhaps not for long. A new study has found that the Great Barrier Reef is slowly being eaten away. Research shows that this is a result of ocean acidification, caused by carbon gas emissions from humans dissolving into the water. The worst part is that the reef is home to vast populations of underwater organisms, including lobsters and turtles, all of which are also in danger.

3. The Tropical Rainforest Heritage in Sumatra, Indonesia can only be described as stunning. It contains three national parks comprised of lush forest, lakes and even a volcano. However, it’s also home to many species of endangered animals. The Sumatran orangutan population, for example, has rapidly declined in an incredibly short period of time due to hunting and live capture for the pet trade. The rainforest itself is also in danger of deforestation, a result of widespread illegal logging.

4. Virunga National Park in Rwanda is home to a plethora of beautiful animals, from mountain gorillas to gazelles. But that wildlife population has been dwindling over a long period of time now. Poaching has become a serious problem and can be partly attributed to an influx in refugees from the Congo Civil War. Deforestation is also a problem here, too. Virunga National Park has been listed a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.

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