Loved to Death:
Social media also poses several risks to wildlife, and may contribute to wildlife exploitation, increase visitor pressure to protected areas, and other anti-conservation behaviour due to the spread and influence of misinformation.
🚨 Wild Animals Are Not Pets! 🚨
Social media is normalizing the keeping of wild species as pets, creating a dangerous trend that increases demand for exotic animals. This fuels the illegal wildlife trade, leading to habitat destruction, animal suffering, and biodiversity loss.
🐾 Wild animals belong in the wild, not in cages.
🐾 Resist the urge to support influencers promoting exotic pet ownership.
🐾 Educate and advocate for wildlife protection.
🌍 Environmental problems are largely caused by human behavior and decision-making—and change starts with us! Say NO to the wild pet trade!
⚠️ The Hidden Dangers of Social Media on Wildlife ⚠️
While social media helps spread awareness, it also poses serious threats to wildlife 🌍. From fueling the illegal pet trade to encouraging harmful tourism practices, online platforms can unintentionally contribute to wildlife exploitation and habitat destruction.
❌ Viral trends promoting wild animals as pets
❌ Overcrowding of protected areas due to social media hype
❌ Misinformation leading to harmful conservation practices
🌱 Be a responsible digital citizen 🌱
✔️ Avoid sharing or engaging with content that exploits wildlife
✔️ Educate others on ethical tourism & conservation
✔️ Support organizations that truly protect nature
Together, we can make social media a tool for conservation, not destruction! 🦁🐘🐍
🌍 The Price of Urbanization 🏙️➡️🌿
Did you know that 50% of the world’s population lives in urban areas, and that number is expected to reach 70% in the coming years? As cities expand, our connection with nature is fading—leading to higher stress, anxiety, and depression. The solution? Spend more time outdoors! 🌳 Whether it’s planting trees, visiting parks, or simply surrounding yourself with greenery, reconnecting with nature can boost mental well-being and reduce stress.
🌍 The Hidden Impact of Social Media on Nature 🌍
As urbanization increases, more people are longing for a connection with nature. But instead of truly experiencing the outdoors, many turn to social media for virtual escapism—constantly scrolling through images of breathtaking landscapes, pristine lakes, and untouched forests.
🚨 But here's the problem:
Social media trends can unintentionally harm nature. Places like the Devil’s Bathtub—once a hidden gem—have become overcrowded due to viral posts. Wildlife is being disturbed, and fragile ecosystems are suffering from overexposure.
📢 The Rise of the Wildlife Pet Trade
Social media is also normalizing wild animals as pets, fueling illegal wildlife trade and harming biodiversity.
💡 What can we do?
✔️ Share content responsibly
✔️ Respect nature when visiting protected areas
✔️ Raise awareness about ethical wildlife treatment
Let’s use social media to protect nature, not exploit it. 🌱💚
Forests: Our Lifeline 🌿🌍 Forests are essential for our survival. They provide us with clean air to breathe, food, medicines, and vital resources like wood and fodder. Beyond their material benefits, forests play a crucial role in preventing soil erosion, protecting biodiversity, and maintaining the balance of our ecosystem. Let’s protect and restore our forests—because when we take care of nature, it takes care of us!
Those ecosystems that have a tree crown density (crown closure percentage) of 10% or more and are stocked with trees capable of producing timber or other wood products. This includes land from which trees have been removed to less than 10%, but which have not been developed for other uses.
GLOBAL GO GREEN
As scenic wilderness areas get more exposure on social media, it drives more traffic to some silent and secret places. ... Increased visitor traffic can have many problems, including more erosion and more negative interactions with wildlife. Common people use social media to post or share real time photos on a variety of environmental issues such as air, water, noise, soil, solid waste pollution, forest fires, chemical or oil spills in waterways, illegal dumping, plastic menace, affected plants or animals.
Social media furthers the reach of the public, allowing members to influence shifts in the environmental sector on every issue from moving away from fossil fuel dependence to renewable energy or changing the dynamic of current conversations on climate change.
FOREST BATHING
Forest bathing and forest therapy (or shinrin-yoku) broadly means taking in, in all of one's senses, the forest atmosphere. Not simply a walk in the woods, it is the conscious and contemplative practice of being immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of the forest.
Forest Bathing, is good for both physical and mental wellbeing. It is proven to reduce stress hormone production, improve feelings of happiness and free up creativity, as well as lower heart rate and blood pressure, boost the immune system and accelerate recovery from illness.
Take slow deep breaths and smell the fragrance of the forest air. Touch the trees, feel the leaves and soil. Forest bathing takes place at a slow, almost meditative pace. Take your time and look around as you stroll along on a forest path.
Shinrin-yoku or forest bathing has ancient roots in Japan and Asia. The term “forest bathing” was coined in Japan, where nature therapy has ancient roots. The idea of “park prescriptions” in urban areas first started in Asia and caught on worldwide.
FOREST LIVING
Living near a forest, even if you're in the city makes a positive impact. ... The team found significant evidence that city dwellers living near a forest were more likely to have healthy amygdalas and thus better able to manage stress, anxiety, and depression.
It is legal to live in the woods as long as you do it, well, legally. If you just want to go squat on federal lands, you run the risk of being discovered and kicked out, but you could also camp and move around, stake a mining claim, or buy some federal or sate land.
Trees not only improve our psychological health when we are near them, but they also contribute to keeping our bodies healthy! Combatting air pollution, trees absorb air-borne pollutants. ... Chemicals released by trees and plants, called phytoncides, were found to boost the immune system.
ART IN RESIDENCY
Artist-in-residence programs give artists the opportunity to live and work outside of their usual environments, providing them with time to reflect, research, or produce work. During a residency, artists can explore new locations, different cultures, and experiment with different materials.
More specifically, residencies are typically free or low-cost housing for a designated period of time designed for people with creative work to focus on. The duration, environment, discipline, and living quarters differ between each. Some also offer a stipend or scholarship.
Artist in residence programs provide the opportunity for artists to have a designated time and space to create new work. For the organization hosting the residency, it's an opportunity to bring in outside artists to engage with their community.
SECRET FOREST
A private forest (also private woodland or Secret Forest) is a forest that is not owned by municipal authorities (such as a corporate forest), church authorities or the state (e.g. a state forest or national forest). It can refer to woodland owned by a natural or juridical person or a partnership.
Most of the woods and forests are privately owned. Families and Individuals are the main owner category, owning more acres than corporate or other private owners. ... Families and Individuals most often cited reasons of beauty, home, and wildlife.
MIYAWAKI FOREST
Akira Miyawaki is a Japanese botanist and expert in plant ecology
The method, propounded by the Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki in the 1980s, compresses layers of a forest—shrubs, trees, canopies—on small plots of land, turning them into tiny forests. ... The method involves planting two to four trees per square metre. Miyawaki forests grow in two to three years and are self-sustaining.
CREATE FOREST
Forest formation types might be determined as a function of both physical factors and species composition. Physical factors such as elevation, type of substrate, topographic position (localities) and soil water can be used in combination.
If a piece of land is free from human intervention, a forest will naturally self-seed and take over within a period of around 600 to 1,000 years. ... Intrigued, I volunteered with Miyawaki and studied his methodologies, and then planted a forest of 300 trees of 42 species in a 93-square-meter plot in my back garden.
FORESTIFICATION
Creating to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and nature
Created by Nature Lovers, the Forestification was created with a simple mission: bring people together to restore and enhance our Forests and environment. Spend A little, Plant a tree or Plant Trees and Create our own Forest.
FOUNDER & VISIONARY
SATHAR AL KARAN
Visionary Leader & Strategic Advisor
Sathar Al Karan is a distinguished art exhibitor, curator, business facilitator, and Guinness World Record holder, with over 30 years of experience in the entertainment, investment, and business consultancy sectors. A prestigious figure in the UAE’s cultural and corporate landscape, he has played a pivotal role in shaping various high-profile initiatives and events.
As the Founder of ART UAE, Sathar has been instrumental in promoting art and culture, curating globally recognized exhibitions, and bridging the gap between artists and collectors. His expertise extends beyond the arts—he has successfully co-founded Forestification, Emiratism, and 1971 Events, further solidifying his commitment to business innovation and sustainability.
A Legacy of Excellence in Business & Advisory Services
With a career spanning nearly three decades, Sathar has built an exclusive network across the UAE, including royal family members, ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs), government officials, and diplomats. His deep-rooted connections and strategic insights have positioned him as a trusted advisor for businesses looking to establish a strong foothold in the Middle East.
Through his advisory services, Sathar has facilitated the successful market entry of numerous multinational corporations, enabled strategic joint ventures, and provided expert crisis management solutions. His unparalleled understanding of the UAE’s business ecosystem has helped companies from Italy, India, the US, and beyond navigate the complexities of the regional market.
Notable Events & Initiatives
Sathar Al Karan's entrepreneurial vision has been recognized through the success of numerous landmark events, including:
✔ Dubai Midnight Marathon – A premier sporting event promoting wellness and inclusivity.
✔ Dubai Art Exhibition – Showcasing local and international artistic talent.
✔ Emirates Awards – Honoring outstanding achievements across various industries.
✔ Global Luxury Council – Bringing together luxury brands and thought leaders.
A Vision for the Future
Sathar Al Karan’s approach goes beyond conventional business consultancy. As he puts it:
"I am not leading just another league of proficient consultants. Our vision transcends traditional business models, combining divergent intelligence, market expertise, and a deep understanding of the region. We don’t just offer consultancy and investment opportunities—we create transformative experiences that empower businesses and redefine success in the UAE and beyond."
Whether you are an emerging entrepreneur, a family-owned boutique, or a multinational enterprise, Sathar Al Karan and his team provide the strategic support you need to thrive in the Middle East.
