Ericka Mae A.

Santiago 16 - 051 (GE 4120)

Environment Stewardship PAA 4B

REFLECTION PAPER

An Environmental Steward is an individual or a group of people that actively

participate and engaged in the conservation, preservation, and protection of the
environment. They are dedicated and responsible for advancing sustainability,
lessening their impact on the environment, and protecting natural resources.
Environmental Stewards work to modify and strive to change their own behavior for
the betterment and promote and advocate more extensive environmental initiatives
because they understand the connection between human activity and the health of
ecosystems. According to James Madison University (2022), stewardship of the
environment is not a recent phenomenon. In actuality, it has a wide range of deep
roots in our nation. There are many different contexts in which one might develop
an appreciation for natural resources and the beneficial services they give, from
farming to hunting, from conservation techniques to spiritual beliefs. It is evident
that environmental stewardship may aid in the preservation of natural resources
and the achievement of sustainable results as we consider how to build a more
sustainable society.

Greater knowledge of the state of our environment is the first step towards
becoming an environmental steward. Understanding how our actions can either
exacerbate or mitigate environmental degradation requires acknowledging the
interconnectivity of all living things. My daily decisions—from lowering my carbon
footprint to choosing an eco-friendly lifestyle—have become more thoughtful as a
result of this insight. From the Creative Output Activity, I had seen the ways how
my classmates presented and reiterated the importance of being environmentally
aware and taking into action the ways how to take care, conserve, and preserve the
environment. Being engaged in these activities and practices can help the
environment in your own small way including lessening the consumption of goods
and services, preventing the usage of plastics, transitioning to more eco-friendly
practices, and even being an advocate and letting people be aware and also start to
take action within them and their respective homes. According to Inspire Clean
Energy (2021), our ecosystems are supported by and housed in our environment,
which enables them to expand and flourish. Failure to protect the environment will
endanger the lives of people, animals, plants, and other living things. To preserve
our ecology, we must defend each one of them. Paying our obligations in order to
provide possibilities for future generations is part of protecting the environment.
Through protecting and conserving the environment, we, people can give future
generations enough natural resources and a healthier planet to live in. Through the
activity, it allowed us, students of the subject to fully understand and grasp what
an Environmental Steward is and its job to the environment. It was fun but at the
same time an enlightenment, an inspiration, and motivational to really start a
movement and action in protecting and conserving the environment. I also believe
that being aware is not enough to bring about change; we must take action. As a
responsible environmental steward, I have made an effort to reduce my
environmental impact. I've developed sustainable practices including cutting down
on single-use plastics, saving electricity and water, and choosing eco-friendly
modes of transportation. By making these adjustments, I want to motivate those
around me to do the same and together help create a greener and healthier Earth.
In addition, stewardship of the environment goes beyond individual behavior. It
entails actively increasing awareness of environmental challenges within the
communities.

To sum up everything, I believe that it takes awareness, action, and

advocacy to become an environmental steward, which is a transforming journey. I
have embraced this job with a great deal of enthusiasm and dedication through
personal decisions, environmental activities, and educational projects. I've come to
realize that we can help safeguard our world for both present and future
generations if we practice environmental stewardship. I'm devoted to motivating
others and promoting a general sense of responsibility for the environment as I
continue down this path. Together, we can secure a sustainable future and protect
our priceless planet Earth.

References:

Inspire Clean Energy. (2021). Ways to Help the Environment & Help Save Planet
Earth. Retrieved on May 16, 2023, from
https://www.inspirecleanenergy.com/blog/sustainable-living/ways-to-
protect-the-environment

James Madison University. (2022). What is Environmental Stewardship?. Retrieved

on May 16, 2023, from https://www.jmu.edu/stewardship/what-is-
environmental-stewardship.shtml