Thursday saw the highly anticipated presentation by John Dennis Liu, the internationally renowned ecologist, researcher and filmmaker, hosted at the Wild Spirit Backpackers Lodge. Greenpop, a tree planting organisation based in Cape Town, held their annual Eden Festival of Action where 5000 trees were planted over the past three weeks. As a means of reforestation after the … [Read more...]
England’s “meadow movement” sees roadsides blooming
A long-running campaign encouraging councils to let neatly-mown grass verges become mini meadows where wildflowers and wildlife can flourish appears to be building up a head of steam. Since 2013, Plantlife has been telling authorities the move could help them save money and boost their green credentials. Several have taken the message on board. An eight-mile "river of … [Read more...]
Farmers stand up against ‘wilful ignorance’ on climate
The last Australian elections may have left the impression with voters that farmers and rural people in general do not accept climate science because there was no seismic shift of seats. Yet this week the agricultural thinktank, the Australian Farm Institute, gathered farmers and their advocacy groups to talk about the impacts of global warming on the already risky business … [Read more...]
Rhino awards recognises the people who protect wildlife
“It’s not whether animals will survive, it’s whether man has the will to save them.”- Anthony Douglas Williams. Africa’s wildlife is a vital part of the continent’s heritage. They are in many ways not a part of Africa, they are Africa. The increasing threats to Africa’s wildlife suggest that Africa could be in danger of losing a part of its identity. But there is hope. There … [Read more...]
World’s largest plant survey reveals alarming extinction rate
The world’s seed-bearing plants have been disappearing at a rate of nearly 3 species a year since 1900 ― which is up to 500 times higher than would be expected as a result of natural forces alone, according to the largest survey yet of plant extinctions. The project looked at more than 330,000 species and found that plants on islands and in the tropics were the most likely … [Read more...]
Nature’s dangerous decline unprecedented according to UN report
Nature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history – and the rate of species extinctions is accelerating, with grave impacts on people around the world now likely, warns a landmark new report from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. “The overwhelming evidence of the IPBES Global Assessment, from a wide range … [Read more...]
Humanity must save insects to save ourselves
Humanity must save insects, if not for their sake, then for ourselves, a leading entomologist has warned. “Insects are the glue in nature and there is no doubt that both the [numbers] and diversity of insects are declining,” said Prof Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson, at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. “At some stage the whole fabric unravels and then we will really see the … [Read more...]
Farmers fighting to save the Earth’s soil
A growing army of UK farmers are turning their back on the plough – and centuries of farming tradition – in an effort to tackle a little-noticed but potentially devastating environmental crisis: the degradation of the Earth’s soil. Read the full article at The Guardian. … [Read more...]
Which political parties care about the environment?
Are our political parties addressing the bedrock issues of survival, or are they only interested in the short-term goal of re-election? In this country, with water constraints and fragile soil, we need to be very diligent about protecting these precious things, and about fighting climate change to ensure our own and our children’s futures. You could do worse than choose … [Read more...]
Scientists call for a ‘global deal for nature’
Nations must commit to protect half of the Earth to avoid massive biodiversity loss and the worst effects of dangerous climate change, according to a new scientific paper entitled A Global Deal for Nature: Guiding Principles, Milestones, and Targets. Based on the paper, a major petition is being launched by One Earth, a new initiative of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation and … [Read more...]
Help take care of nature’s gifts this Earth Day
Earth Day is a global event each year, and we believe that more than 1 billion people in 192 countries now take part in what is the largest civic-focused day of action in the world. Nature’s gifts to our planet are the millions of species that we know and love, and many more that remain to be discovered. Unfortunately, human beings have irrevocably upset the balance of … [Read more...]
Nominations for the 8th Rhino Conservation Awards are now open
Nominations for the 8th annual Rhino Conservation Awards have officially opened and are invited from the five rhino range states of Africa. The Rhino Conservation Awards will be presented at a Gala Dinner held at the Montecasino Ballroom in Johannesburg. Award finalists will be joined at the event by high-level dignitaries under the patronage of His Serene Highness Prince … [Read more...]
New conference seeks ways to make roads safer for wildlife
It is likely that many drivers have, at some point, accidentally hit an animal on the road. The consequences? Not only an injured or dead animal, but probably an insurance claim, or a visit to the emergency room for various injuries. At the inaugural African Conference for Linear Infrastructure and Ecology (ACLIE) 2019, which was held this past week in the iconic Kruger … [Read more...]
