By Karen Branagh | Director of Partnerships and Outreach
Teaching children about the importance of biodiversity
Earth Day 2025 Update from ACTAsia
Hello from all of us at ACTAsia!
On Earth Day this year, we wanted to shine a light on something that doesn’t always make headlines but affects every one of us: biodiversity.
You may have heard the word a lot lately – and for good reason. Nature’s incredible variety of life is in serious trouble, and the consequences are already impacting our daily lives, from the food we eat to the air we breathe.
Here’s what’s happening – and how, thanks to your support, ACTAsia is taking action.
A Global Crisis We Can’t Ignore
The World Economic Forum has listed biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse among the top five global threats over the next decade. And it's not just about protecting wildlife. The health of our ecosystems underpins more than half of the world’s GDP – that’s around $44 trillion of global economic value.
In the past 50 years alone, wildlife populations have dropped by over 70%. And once-common species are losing genetic diversity at an alarming rate.
How We’re Tackling It – One Classroom at a Time
This Earth Day, ACTAsia used our award-winning Caring for Life (CFL) education programme to help children and teachers across China understand why biodiversity matters – and what they can do to protect it.
Lessons were exciting and interactive. Children got hands-on with nature collages, zero-waste crafts, interactive games, and even filmed their own biodiversity news reports!
They explored ecosystems by building models, learning how plants and animals rely on one another, and discussing what happens when key species disappear. Through activities such as group storytelling and nature walks, we helped children connect emotionally with the natural world and understand that their actions, no matter how small, can make a difference.
We also introduced fun classroom pledges, where children promised to plant seeds, protect insects, save water, and refrain from harming animals. These personal commitments are part of what makes CFL unique — we’re not just teaching facts, we’re inspiring lifelong compassion and responsibility.
One young student exclaimed, “We found amazing animals and plants hidden all over our country!”
Teachers were just as inspired. Mr Li Jiangqiao from Sichuan told us:
“The children’s response was beyond my expectations… they even wanted to become biologists!”
And because of your support, we were able to reach rural and under-resourced communities too, bringing environmental education to places where it's rarely taught.
Why It Matters
By helping children understand the importance of biodiversity from an early age, we’re planting the seeds of long-term, sustainable change. These children are growing up with the tools, knowledge and empathy to protect the natural world – and that’s exactly what our planet needs right now.
Thank You
Your support through GlobalGiving is what makes all this possible. Every donation, every share, and every show of support helps us reach more classrooms, train more teachers, and inspire more children.
Together, we’re building a generation that cares – not just about animals, but about people, the planet, and our shared future.
With heartfelt thanks,
The ACTAsia Team
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