Today is Earth Day, a day celebrated each year on April 22 to support our planet.

It is also the official one year anniversary of the Wildlife Collective.

When I reflect back of the past year, we’ve come a long way. We are building a community of people who love nature and wildlife, and who are “invested in our planet”, which is the official theme of this year’s Earth Day.

We only have one planet, which is full of wonder, amazement, and beauty. But the truth is that our planet needs our help. Climate change, deforestation, and biodiversity loss are all accelerating.

I don’t have all the answers to what are big, complicated problems. But I do know that small actions make a difference and that small actions add up to bigger change.

For example, I need to tell you about the work of one amazing individual named Danilo who I just met. Last week, I traveled to a remote corner of Ecuador with the hope of photographing one of the world’s most amazing species, the Andean Bear. In recent decades, deforestation has caused a dramatic decline in Andean bear populations, and estimates suggest fewer than 18,000 bears now survive in the wild.

Until now, these bears had been elusive and rarely seen. But thanks to the 20+ years of dedication by Danilo, there is a place known as “Bear Canyon” where these bears thrive in peaceful coexistence with the local community.

I’ll be sharing much more about Danilo and the bears shortly, but it is another shining example where one person can truly make a difference.

For this year’s Earth Day, I encourage you to take Earth friendly actions and to get outside, take a moment, and appreciate this wonderful world that we call home.