Conservation can feel overwhelming to the average person when species are disappearing from our planet at an alarming rate. It can feel like moving a mountain with a spoon or bailing out the Titanic with a sieve. With deforestation, ocean pollution, and mass extinctions threatening the wildlife we cherish, the problem can seem too vast to tackle. It’s easy to wonder—do my small, everyday choices really matter? When the impact isn’t immediate or even visible, it’s natural to feel like individual actions don’t add up.

But the truth is—they do. Just as a river slowly carves through stone, meaningful change happens when countless small efforts come together. It’s about progress, not perfection when it comes to conservation. And the best part? There are simple, impactful ways you can contribute right from your own home or within your community. This article will break down practical steps you can take in your daily life, highlight the Akron Zoo’s conservation initiatives and show you how to get even more involved.

At Home  

Let’s start with the smallest habitual changes we can implement in our daily lives. These are the conservation basics—the bread and butter of small, incremental changes that can create a real impact over time. 

• Recycling Responsibly: It may seem straightforward, but proper recycling requires attention to local guidelines. Always check labels and municipal regulations to ensure certain materials are accepted. For instance, plastic grocery bags typically can’t be recycled curbside, and food-contaminated items must be cleaned before recycling. Stay informed and check with your local guidelines to make sure your efforts count!
• Water Conservation: while water flows easily from our taps, freshwater is a finite resource that we are depleting faster than it can be replenished. Turning the faucet off while brushing teeth, running only full loads of laundry with eco-friendly detergent, limiting shower time and fixing leaky pipes or sinks are small ways you can help. By limiting our water use, we can make sure that more water stays in our riparian zones and wetlands, which benefits local wildlife.
• On the Go: Combining errands isn’t just time efficient, it’s also fuel efficient and minimizes your carbon footprint. Furthermore, reducing idle time and carpooling are effective ways to limit fuel consumption and air pollution. Whenever possible, opt for walking, biking or using public transit to further reduce emissions from personal vehicles.
• Planting Local Wildflowers: Planting native wildflowers provides vital food and habitat for pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Unlike non-native plants, they support local ecosystems and help declining pollinator populations. When buying wildflower seed mixes, be sure they’re native to your region. A pollinator-friendly yard boosts biodiversity and creates a healthier environment!
• Sustainable Seafood Choices: SeafoodWatch.org is an incredible resource that was developed by the Monterey Bay Aquarium to help consumers choose more sustainable seafood options. By checking their recommendations before purchasing, you can ensure the seafood you buy supports healthy oceans and responsible fishing practices.

Doing More for your Community

Believe it or not, you can do even more for conservation by recycling, volunteering or participating in citizen science programs! Here are just a few ways you can get involved:

• Cans for Corridors: Recycling your aluminum cans can help restore the Brazilian rainforest! Proceeds from recycled cans help fund the planting of native trees, creating essential tree corridors that reconnect fragmented forests and support countless species who call the rainforest home. Akron Zoo partners with Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust to make this conservation effort possible. Drop off your used aluminum cans right at Akron Zoo at the chute in the center of Parking Lot C.
• FrogWatch USA: Listening to the calls of local frogs and toads not only can be a fun activity in your community, but it can actually be tremendously helpful in monitoring the health of our wetland ecosystems. FrogWatch USA is a citizen science program with about 150 chapters around the country collecting data on amphibians. This information is compiled into a national database, supporting the development of conservation strategies for amphibians and the protection of wetlands across the country. Take the volunteer training and join a local chapter today!
• Audubon Christmas Bird Count: Help track bird populations in our region. Every December, volunteers of all skill levels join organized groups to count and record bird species in designated areas. This data helps scientists monitor population trends, assess environmental health, and guide conservation efforts. The Akron Zoo works with the Audubon Society to coordinate a count in our region—join us in this long running citizen science tradition!
• Plastic Free July: This may sound intimidating, but this global initiative makes it easy to cut down on plastic waste with small eco-challenges. You can commit to simple, everyday pledges—like using reusable bags, avoiding single-use plastics, or trying plastic-free alternatives during the month of July. You can sign up and join Akron Zoo’s team at https://plasticfree.ecochallenge.org/. Every action helps reduce plastic pollution and protect our environment.  

Akron Zoo’s Conservation Efforts

Awareness is the first step in creating change. Simply learning about conservation efforts in your community and beyond can help spark conversations and inspire action.  Akron Zoo is a part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) which is an organization dedicated to preserving our natural world through conservation, education and science. As an AZA accredited institution, we are making strides in conservation within the zoo, and even on a global scale. Here are some of our efforts:

• Species Survival Plans (SSPs): These are conservation programs managed by AZA to help protect endangered and threatened species. These plans coordinate breeding, research, and conservation efforts across accredited zoos to maintain healthy, genetically diverse populations. SSPs also support field conservation projects, helping species in their natural habitats. By participating in SSPs, we play a crucial role in preventing extinction and ensuring a future for wildlife. Akron Zoo currently participates in 41 species survival plans.
• Conservation in the Field: Through our Conservation Fund we are able to support global and national conservation through various initiatives. We support organizations like Fauna & Flora International to monitor white-cheeked gibbon populations in Vietnam by training rangers and local communities to combat poaching. The zoo collaborates with the Red Wolf Coalition to support the survival of this critically endangered species, including the zoo’s effort in reintroducing pups into their native habitat in 2021. Additionally, in partnership with Hiram College and Sylvan Heights Bird Park, the zoo aids in research to improve the health and sustainability of the critically endangered white-winged wood duck.
• Our Sustainable Habits: Similar to the practices you can implement at home—but on a much larger scale! At the Akron Zoo, we prioritize sustainability through energy conservation, water efficiency, and waste reduction. We use a large-scale composting machine called "Big Hanna" to turn organic waste into compost for our gardens on grounds. We’ve also implemented solar panels and installed low-flow faucets and toilets to minimize water use.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and no one expects a single person to save the planet alone. But when individuals, communities, and organizations work together, real change happens. From small at-home habits to global conservation efforts, every action—no matter how small—adds up. Whether it’s recycling, supporting sustainable seafood, planting native wildflowers, or participating in a local conservation project, your choices make a difference. By acting today, we ensure a healthier planet for ourselves and future generations.

Learn more about these initiatives and how you can help at: www.akronzoo.org/conservation

Learn more about supporting the zoo at:  https://www.akronzoo.org/give

Written by Erin Whatley. Published March 12, 2025