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Hippos… beware the water horse!

  It’s World Hippo Day So…. on an overland trip in East Africa in the 1990s, my wife and I learned that the hippo – not the lion or elephant or rhino – is categorised as the most dangerous wild animal in the continent! Why? Those teeth and jaws are ultra powerful Some more facts about the hippo… “Hippopotamuses (Hippopotamus amphibius) are large, round, water-loving animals that are native to Africa. The word “hippopotamus” comes from the Greek word for...

Cities hot topic at Davos Conference

  As Davos conference comes to an end, let’s look at an #DavosAgenda item – life and economics of life in the city. The city – where more and more of us live, and where children in particular grow up with both opportunities of resources as well as the blunt realities of being separated from nature.  Those blunt realities come (and from ) with huge emissions…. see ‘Decarbonising Cities’ below…. Sometimes seen, often invisible, always arguably deadly long term. As...

Are there enough women in science? Does it really matter?

The election in the United States of America of the first woman Vice President has been applauded as historic.  While it begins to re-balance the gender  imbalance, it also highlights the gender issue – women , or the absence of, in high office – in the first place. In the field of nature conservation/ science/ etc , the high profile women are certainly there – Dr Jane Goodall  Dr Sylvia Earle  Susan Goldberg  Audrey Azoulay Mechtild Rosser Christine Lagarde However...

The unseen but very real problem…Plastics!

  Plastic – a family of polymers that is cheap, lightweight, strong, durable and very versatile, making it a primary choice for a variety of applications – has for the exact become same reasons become an environmental burden and a human health concern. Up to 14 million tons of plastic waste enter the ocean every year.  It takes years….. to degrade! Here are some updates – good news of positive actions, and ‘reality checks’ from the United Kingdom. Some good...

Stressed by lockdown? Turn to Nature

How do we remain healthy and well during particularly challenging times – such as pandemics? A number of studies show that being in or even near natural environments, can help a great deal regarding both our physical health and vital associated mental well-being. Science Daily…   A study published in Ecological Applications suggests that nature around one’s home may help mitigate some of the negative mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. An online questionnaire survey completed by 3,000 adults...

Snakes

Snakes – they are amazing, beautiful animals – they can also bring out the ‘fear and loathing’ in some people, as they have the potential to do real damage, but only of course if confronted or threatened. This sign I photographed recently – the classic ‘S’ movement – made my heart skip a beat, also as I was with a suitcase (strange I know, but ‘travel’ ). The late Steve Irwin ( above with Terri his wife), one of my...

How bad is palm oil?

Exactly how ‘bad ‘ is palm oil? Whilst groups have for a long time said ‘very bad’ , it seems not so simple …. according to the IUCN. A lack of data on the environmental and social impacts of vegetable oil crops stands in the way of informed discussions about their relative sustainability, a new study by members of the IUCN’s Palm Oil Task Force finds. More accurate, high-resolution maps and data on a range of vegetable oils are needed...

World Heritage celebrates 48th anniversary

The 16th of November marks the 48th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention. This Convention protects the world’s most outstanding places, belonging to us all. Where it all began The idea of creating an international movement for protecting heritage emerged after World War I. The 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage developed from the merging of two separate movements: the first focusing on the preservation of cultural sites, and the other dealing with the conservation of nature. The...

Sports & Nature in cities

While sports and nature often occupy and compete for the same green spaces in cities, well-planned sports infrastructure can make positive contributions to urban biodiversity. A new guide published today by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI), identifies key ecological criteria that city officials and sports venue developers can apply to incorporate the needs of nature in their planning. The new guide, published...

Invasive species threat to World Heritage

A new paper indicates that impacts on natural World Heritage sites from invasive alien species, such as house mice, Argentine ants and rainbow trout, may be greater than previously assessed. It presents results of a proposed framework tested in seven affected sites, recording the presence of more invasive alien species in almost all cases. The authors, a team of international scientists including from IUCN, call for improved monitoring and reporting as a first step towards more effective protection. Natural World...

‘Lost’ elephant shrew found

A sengi species ‘lost’ for half a century has been rediscovered in a surprising location A small mammal that has not been by scientists seen the late 1960s has been found, and in a new country. ( source and full article- https://www.discoverwildlife.com/news/a-sengi-species-lost-for-half-a-century-has-been-rediscovered-in-a-surprising-location/ ) Sengis, also known as elephant-shrews, are a group of small insectivorous mammals. The Somali sengi had not been seen in the wild there for half a century, and was considered lost to science. It was known from...

Biodiversity = connections the key!

People have been raising the alarm over habitat and biodiversity loss for decades, but solutions have so far failed to effectively address the problem. A new report, “Guidelines for Conserving Connectivity through Ecological Networks and Corridors,” suggests greater consideration of connections between protected areas is part of the solution. Ecological corridors on land, freshwater and in the sea are a critical conservation designation needed to ensure that ecosystem functioning and ecological processes are maintained and restored. ( source – https://news.mongabay.com/2020/08/in-the-fight-against-biodiversity-loss-connectivity-is-key-commentary/...

Celebrating elephants

World Elephant Day has been created to bring the world together to help elephants. It is a day to honor elephants, to spread awareness about the critical threats they are facing, and to support positive solutions that will help ensure their survival. Some charities working with elephants * https://www.savetheelephants.org * https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans Born Free Foundation – https://www.bornfree.org.uk/elephants-in-crisis...

Ocean hero dedicated to vaquita … COVID-19

IUCN is deeply saddened by the loss of Mexican conservationist Paco Valverde, who dedicated his life to protect the vaquita – the world’s smallest porpoise and most threatened marine mammal. Paco was regarded as an ocean hero who inspired his community to care for the marine environment on which their livelihood depends. Our thoughts go to his family, who have accompanied him in these conservation efforts. The site was formally listed as “in danger” last year after its population of vaquitas,...