Monday, April 22, is the 49th annual Earth Day and the 2019 theme is "Protect Our Species."

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife works to protect our state's native species every day of every year.

CDFW performs and oversees wildlife habitat conservation and restoration to maintain healthy ecosystems throughout the state. No matter where a native plant, fish or animal lives-in a marine, brackish or fresh water environment, on land, in trees or underground-all living things need clean, healthy habitats.

Some people see a wetland, grassland, desert or any undeveloped landscape and think, "There's nothing there." But there are numerous plant, animal and fish species living there, hidden underwater, underground, under rocks and in rock crevices. Those "unused" spaces are home to many species that are part of the elaborate web of life on which all living things depend.

In the past, people thought natural resources-like fresh, potable water-were unlimited. We know better now, yet still produce millions of tons of garbage each year and often dispose of it in ways that harm wildlife. With more than seven billion people on the planet, such a careless lifestyle causes irreparable damage to the very ecosystems all forms of life need to live.

It's easy to reduce, reuse and recycle the products we use each day. And when we do, our behavior benefits wildlife as much as it does ourselves.

Californians have been celebrating Earth Day with festivals, learning opportunities, and activities such as trail and habitat clean-up and restoration since 1970. It's a day to think about how each of us affects our world's limited natural resources, and what we can do as individuals or as groups to tread lightly on the Earth, make up for past damage and restore what we can.

For links to environmentally healthy living suggestions, Earth Day festivals and other activities throughout California, visit CalRecycle's Earth Day webpage.