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 Nature Stamps
Shiban Khan
It's
not rare to come across stamps with beautiful images of nature in
the daily pile of mail. Apart from soothing our eyes and minds, these
scenic views also help to promote environmental awareness — and
in some places, revenue from their sale is even channeled into environmental
research.
The United States Postal Service (USPS), as well as post offices from
many other countries around the world, have issued postage stamps that
feature nature. More than this, USPS has also issued stamps with
specific environmental messages over the years. Prominent events
have been featured with commemorating stamps, including, for example,
the Fifth World Forestry Congress held in Seattle in 1960 and the
Seventh Watershed Congress. To mark the centennial anniversary of
the birth of President Theodore Roosevelt, founder of our national
parks system, a 4-cent stamp bearing messages of Forest Conservation
was issued in 1958.
Among the current nature- and environment-inspired stamp series offered
by USPS are the Nature of America Series, which focus on biodiversity,
and the Endangered Species Series and Wildlife Conservation Series,
which raise awareness about threatened wildlife.
The
Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (popularly known as
the Duck Stamp) was imitated by conservationists concerned by the
rapid decrease in wild duck and geese populations due to indiscriminate
hunting. The Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act requires all adults
with a hunting license for ducks, geese, swans or brant to carry a
current Duck Stamp on which he has written his signature in ink. Issued
by the Postal Service, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service use the sale
revenues to buy land for the National Wildlife Refuge System. This
ensures enduring financing for waterfowl habitat acquisition and restoration.
Environmental stamps are not unique to the US, either. The German
postal company Deutsche Post AG issues postage stamps that carry an
"environmental" surcharge. The proceeds from these special environmental
stamps go towards environmental education and awareness programs run
by nonprofits in Germany and abroad, especially in tropical and subtropical
developing countries.
Environmental and nature stamps are prized possessions for many stamp
collectors. There are many philately groups who take special interest
in environment-related stamps. The Tristate Coin and Stamp Show meets
the fourth Sunday of each month and gives out free stamps to children
in order to promote philately. For more information, contact: Tristate
Coin and Stamp Show, Holiday Inn Hotel, Pennsylvania Avenue, Fort
Washington, PA 19047.
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