The headline “WWD” intentionally tried to draw you into this story. No, it’s not about WW, or Weight Watchers, although the Angelkeep columnist uses a mild form of the program as an unpaying convert, for personal gain. Actually weight loss is the goal, not gain, but that’s not going to be discussed.
Those thinking they might get new ideas for WD-40 uses, will find it not on the agenda today for Angelkeep Journals.
WWD refers to World Wildlife Day. It’s appropriate to use the full word title, or just WWD. Today marks the ninth celebration of WWD. Angelkeep missed the celebration of one through eight, thus something special should be achieved this year.
WWD began as December 20, 2013, United Nations General Assembly resolution “UN 68/205.” March 3 became adopted as the international day for the planet Earth to raise awareness and benefits of flora and fauna. It was Thailand that set the ball rolling, or tumbleweed rolling for a flora metaphor, or setting the roly-poly rolling, if you prefer a fauna metaphor.
Annual celebratory themes were started in 2015 with “It’s time to get serious about wildlife crime.” The 2022 theme, “Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration,” seems a challenge best left to the experts. So what can a common person do? What about Anglekeep?
For starters Angelkeep is proud to say half of its space is devoted to wildlife, both in flora habitat and the fauna that thrive because it exists. Nearby industrial, public, and private lands currently have huge amounts of money spent keeping natural growth at bay in favor of a sea of freshly cropped grass (golf courses excluded) but could opt for leaving the vast majority of it to return to a natural habitat. Visitors could walk through the woods and enjoy the plants and animals that thrive in such a space, with only a small outlay of funds for path maintenance.
This area is blessed to have many such areas such as Ouabache State Park, Acres, and more. Yet there are other spaces which could be allowed to go back to natural form. Some residences and businesses have so much acreage in lawn it requires farm equipment to keep it mowed. It’s an idea that saves dollars and cents, and makes sense.
Granted, one must change their thinking if a sea of green seems more beautiful. Wildflowers are weeds only to some. WWD enthusiasts celebrate that every flora (even dandelions) and every fauna (even skunks) have a purpose for being a part of Earthly cohabitation. Millions of people around the world rely on natural flora and fauna for their livelihood and sustenance.
Angelkeep uses none of its fauna as sustenance, only allow it to exist for the pleasure of wildlife observation. Angelkeep does enjoy, although not totally rely upon, many forms of flora for food. Fortunately it’s more for fun, like dandelion greens in scrambled eggs.
A wide variety of planted and volunteer apple trees remain for observation’s sake through the blooming and fruit seasons. The actual dining of Angelkeep’s apple crop has been always relegated to the wild animals, from deer, to groundhogs, to insects. And in return the insects that thrive in the bloom stage also provide service to other forms of flowers to add to the beauty of Angelkeep observation periods. If you scratch flora and fauna’s back, they will scratch your interest and offer fun in viewing wildlife in nature.
That’s a WWD, a Win Win Deal.
World Wildlife Day is meant to raise awareness . . . thus . . .
• 8,400 species of wild fauna and flora are critically endangered.
• Nearly 30,000 more are understood to be endangered or vulnerable.
• People everywhere rely on wildlife and biodiversity-based resources to meet needs from food, medicines, and health to fuel, housing, and clothing.
Observe and raise awareness of the theme for World Wildlife Day.Make use of the World Wildlife Day logos as widely as possible.
Angelkeep can do some of that, and maybe bake dandelion brownies.
Mr. Daugherty is a Wells County resident who, along with his wife Gwen, enjoy their backyard and have named it “Angelkeep.”
