A Young Girl’s Quest for Protecting Insects: The Story of Anusha Vaish
Her fascination and love for insects is inspiring. Her efforts towards preserving them are even more so.
The article was originally published on WeNaturalists. For similar stories head to our Explore section.
“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago” — Warren Buffett
This famous quote by billionaire Warren Buffett is the motto Anusha Vaish lives by. A fifth-grader from New York, Anusha Vaish is a little girl with big ambitions. Anusha, who calls herself an environmental guardian, is an activist dedicated to conserving endangered species of insects.
Through her websites- SaveInsects and LivingGreenWays, Anusha spreads awareness about the declining population of insects and educates people on the environmental benefits of these creatures.
Through her efforts, Anusha has taught many people, especially children, the need and benefits of protecting insects. She has discussed ideas to preserve the insect population, thereby imparting a nature-positive childhood to the kids.
For her work, WeNaturalists has honoured her with the WeNaturalists People of Nature award in the Nature Conservation (Young Achiever) category.
Anusha’s love for insects blossomed around three years ago when she first studied them in school. Instantly fascinated, Anusha decided to learn more about them. As she delved deeper, she learned about the crucial role insects play in the ecosystem and the various threats they were facing. Concerned by their declining numbers, she was determined to protect these critters.
Anusha began by visiting different places and talking about the need for protecting insects. She discussed ideas like creating natural spaces in urban areas and planting native plants to attract insects.
Over the years, she has spoken at the UN, Youth Climate Action Summit, Entomological Society of America, Bedford2030 Greenlight awards, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Savannah Bee Company, American Museum of Natural History, India’s agricultural institute IARI, Clearwater Festival, Yonkers Science Barge, Sarah Lawrence College, Nature Girls, Girl Scouts, Town Hall, New York Hall of Science and many other places.
Anusha has also given interviews with radio stations, TV channels and has been featured in news articles. Through her work, she has increased awareness about conserving insects among government officials and the general public. Her relentless efforts have earned her a Green Medallion Award.
Anusha’s life is the personification of a Green Childhood. Her close bond with nature and her passion for preserving it stem from the eco-centric upbringing she has received. And this passion for nature will only grow with time.
On October 1, WeNaturalists earmarked World People Of Nature Day. The theme of the year is Green Childhood. As part of the event, we hosted a webinar with a panel of experts from different fields of nature. Learn more about it here.
