What’s Going On Here? Plans for new UN targets to curb biodiversity loss have been shared in draft by the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. Biodiversity, and the benefits it provides, is fundamental to human well-being and a healthy planet. Despite ongoing efforts, biodiversity is deteriorating worldwide and this decline is projected to continue or worsen under business-as-usual scenarios. What Does This…
It may not feel like it at the moment, but it is May, which means PEAK GARDEN TIME! The trees are coming into bloom, all the plants are growing, the wisteria is out…. And once the sun comes out it is going to be sweeeeet! So, whether you’re a frequent gardening fiend or yet to dabble in the arena of soil and…
What’s Going On Here? If we didn’t already have enough reasons to thank nature, a recent study has found that urban parks with more trees may provide better protection against human diseases than those without. We’re giving you another meaning to all those lockdown walks you’ve been on. What Does This Mean? It’s easy to overlook what we can’t see. In this…
Did you know that there are rainforests right here in the UK? We’re not talking about the tropical kind, but ‘temperate’ rainforests which thrive in places with heavy rainfall. No surprise that the UK makes the perfect climate!. Our very own green and pleasant land is home to some small fragments of these habitats which are as important for carbon sequestration and…
What’s Going On Here? You’re probably all aware of the IUCN’s red list of threatened species, but have you heard of the organisation’s green list of protected and conserved areas? This week, ten more sites achieved green list status and many more are eagerly working towards meeting the high standards for protected areas laid out by the International Union for Conservation of…
On April 24th 1932 over 400 people participated in a mass trespass onto Kinder Scout, the highest terrain in the Peak District and at the time a moorland owned and exclusively used by gamekeepers. The event was organised by the Manchester branch of the British Workers Sports Federation in protest of walkers being denied access to the countryside versus the rights of…
What’s Going On Here? Consumer choices in the wealthiest countries have been revealed to be largely responsible for tropical forest deforestation. The groundbreaking study, published on Monday, is the first to map and quantify the “deforestation footprint” of individual countries on an international scale. What Does This Mean? The global demand for tropical forest-related commodities is continuing to rise, including coffee,…
What’s Going On Here? In 2019 the UK’s Treasury commissioned The Dasgupta Review: an independent, global review of the Economics of Biodiversity led by world’s leading economist on ecology, economic, growth and development, Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta. The landmark review published on Tuesday addresses both concerned citizens (that is you, me, and your neighbour!) and governments to change how we think, act,…
What’s Going On Here? A team of international scientists combined detailed satellite imagery with a deep learning algorithm and managed to find millions of trees in the West African Sahara and Sahel. Using this kind of beneficial AI technology will contribute to a better understanding of the importance of trees outside of forested areas and their role in mitigating degradation, climate change…
