World Camel Day

 

World Camel Day honours the incredible camel and its importance in many spheres of life. In order to highlight the importance of the camel at the global level, Dr. Abdul Raziq Kakar founded World Camel Day. Every year since its launch in 2009, World Camel Day has been celebrated on 22 June. Camel habitats observe World Camel Day on this date because it is the longest and hottest day in the year.

Camel, (genus Camelus), are any of three species of large ruminating hoofed mammals of arid Africa and Asia known for their ability to go for long periods without drinking. The Arabian camel, or dromedary (Camelus dromedarius), has one back hump, while the domesticated Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) and the wild Bactrian camel (Camelus ferus) have two.

World Camel Day is celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of camels to the ecosystems, cultures, and economies of the regions where they are found. The day aims to highlight the contributions of camels to human societies and to promote their conservation and sustainable use. Camels play a crucial role in the livelihoods of millions of people in arid regions. These animals are widely used mainly for transportation and milk production.

Camels are deeply rooted in the cultural heritage and traditions of many communities, especially in the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia.

World Rainforest Day

 

World Rainforest Day, observed annually on June 22 worldwide, is dedicated to protecting, preserving, and conserving rainforests for future generations. These ecosystems provide crucial ecological benefits, supporting diverse plant and animal species, regulating climate, and supplying essential resources.

Initiated by the Rainforest Partnership in 2017, World Rainforest Day celebrates the importance of maintaining healthy, intact rainforests for climate stability, biodiversity preservation, cultural heritage, and sustainable livelihoods. It serves as a global platform to promote efforts in safeguarding and restoring these vital environments.

Rainforests play a critical role in climate regulation and carbon sequestration, influencing weather patterns by releasing water vapour from leaves to form atmospheric rivers, thereby supplying essential precipitation to distant regions.

Recognised as 'living pharmacies,' rainforests harbour untapped biodiversity valuable for developing new medicines and sustaining daily essentials such as coffee, spices, fruits, and vegetables.

Covering approximately 1.2 billion hectares (3 billion acres), tropical rainforests are pivotal in maintaining global ecological balance, often called the Earth's thermostat.

The Amazon rainforest, known as the ‘lungs of the planet,' is the world's largest tropical rainforest, contributing about 20% of Earth's oxygen and storing significant amounts of carbon dioxide, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.

Tropical rainforests provide crucial habitats for over 30 million species of plants and animals, and sustain over 30 million people, including 350 Indigenous and ethnic groups with distinct cultural identities and traditions.