Podcasts about iucn

French Polynesia marine protected area is now the largest in the world, covering nearly 4.8 million square kilometers of ocean. This groundbreaking conservation effort was announced during the United Nations Ocean Conference and includes large no-take zones near the Society and Gambier Islands, along with expansive areas that restrict harmful activities like deep-sea mining and bottom trawling. The MPA recognizes traditional fishing rights while also preserving critical marine habitats. Marine conservation leadership by French Polynesia demonstrates how small island states can make bold commitments to global biodiversity. Backed by IUCN standards and set to expand by another 500,000 km² by 2026, this initiative offers hope in a world where only 8.3% of the ocean is currently protected. In this episode, we explore what this means for ocean life, local communities, and global marine policy—and why the real work begins now with enforcement and support. Link to article: https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/french-polynesia-creates-worlds-largest-marine-protected-area/?utm_source=chatgpt.com Join the Undertow: https://www.speakupforblue.com/jointheundertow Connect with Speak Up For Blue Website: https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rIaJSG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@speakupforblue Twitter: https://bit.ly/3rHZxpc YouTube: www.speakupforblue.com/youtube    

This is episode five of Swimming with Shadows: A Radiolab Week of Sharks.Today, the strange, squirmy magic behind how sharks make more sharks. Drills. Drama. Death. Even a coliseum of baby sharks duking it out inside mom's womb. And a man on a small island in the Mediterranean trying, against all odds, to give baby sharks a chance in a little plastic aquarium in his living room. Can a human raise a shark? And if so, what good is that for sharks? And for us? Doo doo doo doo doo doo.Special thanks to Jaime Penadés Suay and la Fundación Azul Marino.EPISODE CREDITS: Reported by - Rachael CusickProduced by - Rachael Cusickwith mixing help from - Jeremy BloomFact-checking by - Diane Kellyand Edited by  - Pat WaltersEPISODE CITATIONS:Articles - Claudia's original reporting that inspired the episodeSignup for our newsletter!! It includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Sign up (https://radiolab.org/newsletter)!Radiolab is supported by listeners like you. Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab (https://members.radiolab.org/) today.Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @radiolab, and share your thoughts with us by emailing radiolab@wnyc.org.Leadership support for Radiolab's science programming is provided by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Science Sandbox, a Simons Foundation Initiative, and the John Templeton Foundation. Foundational support for Radiolab was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Send us a textScientific research at Yellowstone and other National Park has yielded many useful discoveries benefiting humanity.  One of the most important was the discovery of the thermophilic bacterium, Thermus aquaticus.  Later an enzyme was purified by a team led by Dr. Henry Erlich, which led to the practical use of the PCR test in covid detection and many other uses.Science in parks is a crucial tool for the advancement of humanity.However, if it were not for the early efforts of George Menendez Wright, science may have never taken hold in our national parks.  Today, the George Wright Society continues that effort by supporting parks, protected/conserved areas, cultural sites, and other kinds of place-based conservation by encouraging communication among and convenings of researchers, managers, educators, practitioners, and the public to facilitate informed decisions and actions that embrace our values.Joining me to talk science in our national parks is Dave Harmon, executive director of the George Wright Society.  Dave is responsible for overseeing the George Wright Society's operations, including co-editing Parks Stewardship Forum and helping plan workshops and other meetings. A member of the GWS since 1985, Dave began working for the organization in 1990 and served as executive director from 1998 to 2017 before returning that role in 2019. He is active in IUCN's World Commission on Protected Areas.  He also maintains a research interest in the relationship between biological and cultural diversity, having co-founded the NGO Terralingua, which is devoted to that subject. Dave has co-edited several volumes on protected area conservation, including The Antiquities Act: A Century of American Archaeology, Historic Preservation, and Nature Conservation (with Francis P. McManamon and Dwight T. Pitcaithley), The Full Value of Parks: From Economics to the Intangible (with Allen D. Putney), and A Thinking Person's Guide to America's National Parks (with Robert Manning, Rolf Diamant, and Nora Mitchell).https:/natureandsciencepodcast.com

What if the answers to today's climate crisis were rooted in centuries-old traditions? In this special edition of WISE On Air, recorded live from Earthna Summit 2025, we sit down with Dr. Grethel Aguilar, Director General of the IUCN, to explore the powerful role of indigenous knowledge in reimagining sustainability and education. From traditional ecological practices to the impact of social media and technology on youth learning. This episode is a deep dive into the intersection of legacy, innovation, and the future of our planet.

This first episode of the season explores the question why inner work matters for NGOs and funders—and their efforts to change systems. We consider concrete examples of the linkage between inner-led change and systemic change but also discuss how to overcome obstacles in today's time of uncertainty, polarisation and funding cuts.  Our guide in this discussion is Luis Camargo, founder and director of the Colombia and US-based Organization for Environmental Education and Protection (OpEPA) which works to reconnecting people to nature as a way to accelerate the transition to sustainable and regenerative cultures.Luis also serves as a Board Member of WWF Colombia and Regional Vice Chair of the IUCN's South America Commission on Education and Communication.https://www.linkedin.com/in/luisalbertocamargo/?locale=es_EShttps://opepa.org/ (in Spanish)If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing to our podcast or leaving a review. In doing so you make it easier for people to discover our podcast. We thank you for your support.  Season 5 is part of the lead-up to the 2025 Inner Development Goals Summit in Stockholm, where the Inner Green Deal will curate a full-day track on this theme.Over the course of six episodes, we'll be speaking with inspiring guests about the role of inner development in organisational and systemic transformation—and what it takes to fund and support this work meaningfully. If you are interested to join the Inner Development Goals Summit, we have a special discount code to offer: “MeSummit2025" gives our listeners a 15% discount on in-person and 50% discount on digital tickets.We thank the Robert Ho Family Foundation for their kind support to the Summit and the podcast.For more information on the Summit, go to: https://innerdevelopmentgoals.org/events/summit2025/About the Inner Green Deal The  Inner Green Deal supports changemakers in cultivating the inner capacities needed for meaningful action in the face of today's interconnected climate, ecological and social crises.The Inner Green Deal is a mission-driven non-profit based in Cologne and Brussels, with a growing global community. Its mission is to serve as a catalyst for deep, regenerative change—within individuals, organisations, and systems.Our podcast is hosted and produced by Tamsin Walker. Executive producer is IGD co-founder Jeroen Janss. For more information, visit us on LinkedIn, innergreendeal.com or write to info@innergreendeal.com.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Summary: Are Screamers in need of conservation? Join Kiersten to find out!   For my hearing impaired followers, a complete transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean   Show Notes: Screamers: https://animaldiversity.org Data Zone by Bird Life: https://datazone.birdlife.org IUCN Red List: https://www.iucnredlist.org American Bird Conservancy: https://abcbirds.org/bird/southern-screamer/ Asociacion Armonia: https://armoniabolivia.org Music written and performed by Katherine Camp   Transcript (Piano music plays) Kiersten - This is Ten Things I Like About…a ten minute, ten episode podcast about unknown or misunderstood wildlife. (Piano music stops) Welcome to Ten Things I Like About… I'm Kiersten, your host, and this is a podcast about misunderstood or unknown creatures in nature. Some we'll find right out side our doors and some are continents away but all are fascinating.  This podcast will focus ten, ten minute episodes on different animals and their amazing characteristics. Please join me on this extraordinary journey, you won't regret it. This is the final episode of Screamers and we'll be talking about conservation. Like everything else with Screamers this episode will have a few twists. The tenth thing I like about Screamers is conservation. Each species has a story of it's own, so we'll take them one by one. Let's start off with the Southern Screamer. Southern Screamer, Chauna torquata, also known as the Crested Screamer is found from the eastern half of Bolivia south into Argentina as far as Buenos Ares Province and east through Paraguay into south western Brazil and Uruguay. The conservation status of the Southern Screamer is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources as Least Concern. This means that Southern Screamer population numbers are steady or increasing. Their population trend is listed as stable with adult individuals estimated between 66,700 to 667,000 individuals. The last time this species was assessed was in 2024. This species of Screamer is impacted by habitat loss. As wild lands are drained and deforested to create more land for cattle ranching and farming, Southern Screamers lose vital habitat, but a 27,000 acre reserve created in 2008 by Asociacion Armonia to protect the Blue-throated Macaw had the added bonus of offering protected habitat to the Southern Screamer. Barba Azul Nature Reserve protects 250 species of birds and is an important stop over for migratory shorebirds.  If you are interested in seeing the Southern Screamer at the reserve you can book a conservation birding trip through American Bird Conservancy. All fees support the reserve and American Bird Conservancy's mission for protecting wild spaces for birds. Now there are other things keeping the Southern Screamer protected, this is the twist for this species, ranchers and farmers actually like having Southern Screamer nearby as they are excellent guard birds and raise the alarm when any predators come near. Sometimes people sneak a young Screamer away from the parents and keep them on their property for exactly that reason.  Southern Screamers have also been seen eating invasive plants species, such as white clover, which means they are helping their own conservation efforts.  The Northern Screamer, Chauna chavaria, also known as the Black-necked Screamer is in a similar situation as the Southern Screamer. This Screamer is found across northern Columbia from the Atrato River and Magdalena River valleys east into the Lake Maracaibo area of Venezuela. They are also under pressure from habitat destruction for ranching and agricultural use. As of the latest surveys in 2023, the Northern Screamer is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Their population is stable with 60,000 to 130,000 mature adults. Locally, in Columbia and Venezuela, they are listed as Vulnerable. Conservation efforts in these countries include educational campaigns bringing awareness to Northern Screamers and their importance in the local environment. Several preserves have also been established to help protect the wetland areas that these birds rely upon. Other threats to the Northern Screamer include egg collection by humans for use as food and collection of young for the local pet trade.  The last species of Screamer, the Horned Screamer, Anhima cornuta, is found in the Amazonian regions of Venezuela, to the eastern llanos of Columbia, to eastern Bolivia and south-central Brazil. Their latest assessment by the IUCN was in July of 2024 and they are currently listed as Least Concern with a stable mature adult population estimated between 16,700 to 66,700. There are not many conservation efforts in the region specifically aimed at the Horned Screamer, but there are established conservation sites throughout their range to prevent more wetlands from being drained for ranching needs.  The subcutaneous air sacs found in all three species of Screamer keep these birds from being on the menu internationally, but locally some people do hunt them for food. It is probably an acquired taste and you need to know how to prepare the meat just right to make it palatable.  It is nice to report on species that are still thriving in our ever changing world and I am glad to know that local conservation effort exists for all three species on Screamers. Thank you so much for joining me for another series of Ten Things I Like About… I learned a lot about the Screamer as I wrote this series and I hope you learned a lot by listening. My tenth favorite thing about Screamers is conservation. If you're enjoying this podcast please recommend me to friends and family and take a moment to give me a rating on whatever platform your listening. It will help me reach more listeners and give the animals I talk about an even better chance at change.  I will be taking a bit of a break at the beginning of summer, so join me again in July for a brand new series on an unknown or misunderstood creature.       (Piano Music plays)  This has been an episode of Ten Things I like About with Kiersten and Company. Original music written and performed by Katherine Camp, piano extraordinaire.

O SciCast mergulhou no universo fascinante dessas espécies que encantam pessoas ao redor do mundo. No entanto, por trás dessa beleza, há um custo ecossocial significativo. A exploração desenfreada, a falta de reprodução em cativeiro e o impacto na biodiversidade são temas urgentes que precisam ser discutidos. Conversamos como a aquariofilia afeta os ecossistemas de água doce e salgada, além de explorar as condições de trabalho das comunidades envolvidas na coleta desses peixes. Além disso, discutimos o papel dos governos e o que pode ser feito para tornar essa indústria mais sustentável. Patronato do SciCast: 1. Patreon SciCast 2. Apoia.se/Scicast 3. Nos ajude via Pix também, chave: contato@scicast.com.br ou acesse o QRcode: Sua pequena contribuição ajuda o Portal Deviante a continuar divulgando Ciência! Contatos: contato@scicast.com.br https://twitter.com/scicastpodcast https://www.facebook.com/scicastpodcast https://instagram.com/scicastpodcast Fale conosco! E não esqueça de deixar o seu comentário na postagem desse episódio! Expediente: Produção Geral: Tarik Fernandes e André Trapani Equipe de Gravação: Tarik Fernandes, Bruno Saito, Caio Ferreira, Rita Kujawski, Marcelo Pedraz Citação ABNT: Scicast #643: Peixes Ornamentais e Aquarismo. Locução: Tarik Fernandes, Bruno Saito, Caio Ferreira, Rita Kujawski, Marcelo Pedraz. [S.l.] Portal Deviante, 10/05/2025. Podcast. Disponível em: https://www.deviante.com.br/podcasts/scicast-643 Imagem de capa: Referências e Indicações Agostinho, A. A. (2010). Fisheries management in the Upper Paraná River. Aquatic Veterinary Society. (2021). Aquatic animal health: Challenges and solutions. Balon, E. K. (1975). Reproductive guilds of fishes. Chapman, L. J., Chapman, C. A., & Kaufman, L. (2006). Hypoxia tolerance in African fishes. Journal of Fish Biology, 68(1), 1-22. Environmental Science & Technology. (2020). Ecotoxicology of heavy metals in freshwater ecosystems. Environmental Science & Technology, 54(12), 12345-12356. IBAMA. (2022). Relatório de monitoramento de fauna silvestre. Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis. IUCN. (2023). Red List of Threatened Species. International Union for Conservation of Nature. https://www.iucnredlist.org Marine Ecology Progress Series. (2019). Cyanide fishing and its impacts on coral reefs. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 621, 1-15. Marine Policy. (2020). Cyanide fishing in the Indo-Pacific: Impacts and solutions. Marine Policy, 118, 103987. Nature Genetics. (2018). The zebrafish genome project. Nature Genetics, 50(3), 345-356. Projeto Piaba. (2023). Dados de manejo comunitário no Rio Negro. https://www.projetopiaba.org Revista FAPESP. (2021). O mercado de peixes ornamentais no Brasil. Revista FAPESP, 300, 45-50. Statista. (2023). Global ornamental fish market size. https://www.statista.com Transparência Brasil. (2023). Ligações entre parlamentares e exportadores de peixes ornamentais. https://www.transparencia.org.br University of Florida. (2021). Mortality rates in ornamental fish trade. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health, 33(2), 123-134. WWF. (2021). Ornamental fisheries and sustainable practices. World Wildlife Fund. https://www.worldwildlife.org Zootaxa. (2021). Taxonomic challenges in ornamental killifishes. Zootaxa, 5000(1), 1-20. Sugestões de filmes: Wild Caught: Aquarium Fish Trade of Amazon A saga do Piabeiro The Dark Hobby Into the Amazon - Discovering Wild Fish The End of The Line See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ד"ר עדי ברש ביולוגית ימית וחברה בקבוצת מומחי הכרישים בארגון השימור העולמי IUCN

ד"ר עדי ברש ביולוגית ימית וחברה בקבוצת מומחי הכרישים בארגון השימור העולמי IUCN

CheloniaCast is joined by Dr. Craig Stanford, professor of Biological Sciences and Anthropology at the University of Southern California and Chair of the IUCN-SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. Dr. Stanford is renowned for study of the behavior, ecology, and conservation biology of great apes. He has published over 140 scientific papers and over 17 books. Dr. Stanford also specializes in turtles and tortoises. The conversation blends Dr. Stanford's vast knowledge of both behavioral and social ecology with conservation biology in relation to Testudines. There is exchange of views on the greater implications of conserving turtles in relation to the strategy behind IUCN listing. There is also dialogue on the intelligence of chelonians from an empirical perspective. To purchase one or multiple of Dr. Stanford's books, click here: https://craigstanford.wordpress.com/other-books/ To learn more about Dr. Stanford check out his website at: https://craigstanford.wordpress.com/ Learn more about the CheloniaCast Podcast here: https://theturtleroom.org/cheloniacast/ Learn more about the CheloniaCast Podcast Fund here: https://theturtleroom.org/project/cheloniacast-podcast/ Follow the CheloniaCast Podcast on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter @cheloniacast Host and production crew social media - Jason Wills - @chelonian.carter / Michael Skibsted - @michael.skibstedd / Jack Thompson - @jack_reptile_naturalist_302 / Ken Wang - @americanmamushi / Wyatt Keil - @wyatts_wildlife_photography / Paul Cuneo - @paul_turtle_conservation42 / Alex Mione - @alex.mione / Ethan Hancock - @ethankinosternonlover / Torsten Watkins - @t_0_.e

On this episode, I sit down for a fascinating conversation with environmental conservationist, PhD marine biologist, MBA, and executive director and founder of Upwell, Dr. George Shillinger. George and his team are making monumental discoveries about the movements of sea turtles through the use of cutting edge tracking technology. Every day, he and his team are helping put changes in place to save these amazing creatures. Our conversation covers; what started his passion for turtles, how society can balance our livelihoods with the world's natural resources, why having role models in your career drives innovations, what is causing sea turtle populations to struggle and what we can do to help prevent them from going extinct, the unique ways organizations like Upwell are collecting sea turtle data and what it means for the future of conservation, an overview of some educational institutions with amazing ocean conservation and marine programs, and so much more! To learn more about Upwell please visit: https://www.upwell.org/Connect with Upwell on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/upwellturtlesUpwell Donation page: https://www.upwell.org/donateTo learn more about Lotek please visit: https://www.lotek.com/To learn more about IUCN please visit: https://iucn.org/Purchase Dr. George Shillinger book here: https://www.upwell.org/outreach-and-educationTo learn more about universities with marine programs visit here: https://www.collegeadvisor.com/resources/best-colleges-for-marine-biology/

*The is the FREE archive, which includes advertisements. If you want an ad-free experience, you can subscribe below underneath the show description.Colossal Biosciences has announced the successful resurrection of a set of Dire Wolves that have officially been extinct for 10-13,000 years. Time Magazine reported how the company can now “summon back species from the dead,” which “could prevent existing but endangered animals from slipping into extinction themselves.” Colossal Biosciences plans to birth a Mammoth by late 2028, having already in March announced it had copied mammoth DNA to create a woolly mouse,” which is admittedly a “chimeric critter.” In other words, as with the dire wolves, it's a mix of various pieces merged into one, i.e., it's a manmade creation. As Time reports, the company “rewrote the genetic code of the common gray wolf to match it [dire wolf], and, using domestic dogs as surrogate mothers,” resurrected the dead. Since April is the anniversary of the founding of the city of Rome in roughly 753 BCE it's all the more interesting that the company name their wolves after Romulus and Remus. One question is left unaddressed among the spectacle, magic, science, and obvious questions of morality or playing god: how do we define extinction or endangered. It's simple; the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which once defined the former term as an animal not spotted in 50 years, now says an animal is extinct if there is “no reasonable doubt that the last individual member has died.” Better yet, these observations are often made not by the IUCN, but by citizens, as is common for bird watchers. The conservation status of each animal, plant and fungi species is compiled by the IUCN in what is called the "Red List,” which has over 41,000 species. And it is this arbitrary list which gives moral licensing and justification to those like Colossal Bioscences.  -FREE ARCHIVE (w. ads)SUBSCRIPTION ARCHIVEX / TWITTER FACEBOOKMAIN WEBSITECashApp: $rdgable EMAIL: rdgable@yahoo.com / TSTRadio@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tst-radio--5328407/support.

Earth Month Special: A Deep Dive into Global Conservation with Sean Southey “This is our global education moment. This is the time to champion. This is the time to be noisy. This is the time to dream.”What if we told you there's a conservation powerhouse that's been quietly shaping environmental policies, protecting endangered species, and inspiring global action for over 75 years—but most people have never heard of it? In this Earth Month special of Talking Apes,  Gerry sits down with Sean Southey, CEO of the Canadian Wildlife Federation and a lifelong champion for nature, to uncover the incredible story of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).From the IUCN Red List (the world's go-to guide on endangered species) to its role in shaping major environmental policies, Sean reveals how this under-the-radar organization has influenced everything from wildlife trade regulations (CITES) to nature-based education initiatives. But conservation isn't just about policies—it's about people. Sean shares powerful stories of how simple, community-driven efforts can transform conservation, from opening up wildlife experiences to local children in Kenya to bringing nature into classrooms worldwide.Whether you're a wildlife enthusiast, an aspiring conservationist, or just curious about how global environmental decisions are made, this episode is packed with eye-opening insights, inspiring stories, and a call to action. Tune in to learn how YOU can be part of the movement to protect our planet. Learn more about IUCNGet involved in the IUCN's work Explore the Canadian Wildlife FederationSean is Chair of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Commission on Education and Communication (CEC). In this role, he has worked tirelessly to enhance IUCN's use of strategic communications for social change. This has included a lead role in designing and implementing IUCN's #NatureForAll campaign.Send us a textSupport the showTalking Apes is an initiative of the nonprofit GLOBIO. Official website: talkingapes.orgInstagram: @talkingapes_podcastTwitter: @talking_apes BUY OUR MERCH

①China's new tonne-class unmanned transport aircraft completes maiden flight②Guizhou mountain recognized by IUCN for conservation efforts ③Porcelain capital draws international attention with innovation④A Thousand Whys: Bird walking in Beijing!

Summary: There are three species of Screamers. Join Kiersten to meet each one of them in more detail.   For my hearing impaired followers, a complete transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean   Show Notes:  Screamers: https://animaldiversity.org Encyclopedia of Life: https://eol.org Music written and performed by Katherine Camp   Transcript (Piano music plays) Kiersten - This is Ten Things I Like About…a ten minute, ten episode podcast about unknown or misunderstood wildlife. (Piano music stops) Welcome to Ten Things I Like About… I'm Kiersten, your host, and this is a podcast about misunderstood or unknown creatures in nature. Some we'll find right out side our doors and some are continents away but all are fascinating.  This podcast will focus ten, ten minute episodes on different animals and their amazing characteristics. Please join me on this extraordinary journey, you won't regret it. This is the second episode of Screamers. I hope you enjoyed the introductory episode about this unknown animal. The second thing I like about Screamers is that there are three species of this bird. Let's take a closer look at each species. Last week, I quickly mentioned the three species of screamer and gave an all encompassing description of this group. Today we will look at each species similarities and differences a bit closer. Let's start off with the Northern Screamer, Chauna chavaria. The Northern Screamer is 30 to 36 inches or 76 to 91 cm long. They have a stout body with a disproportionately small head. As I said in the first episode, they have little, tiny heads compared to their body. Sexes have the same coloration, so both males and females look alike. Adults have a gray crown that begins at the beak and ends just beneath the eye. Longer dark gray to black feathers stick out behind the head a bit like a short ponytail. White feathers spread from under the chin and sweep across the face just below the line of gray crown feather. The long, gangly neck is covered in shorter black feathers giving the appearance of a shaved neck. Fuller gray fathers cover the rest of the body from the base of the neck to the base of the legs. Bare, red skin covers the eye area from the beak to directly behind the eye. Adult beaks are gray and their legs are orange with hefty, turkey like feet that have slight webbing between the toes. Juveniles are duller in coloration. All three species of screamer have sharp spurs on their wings at the manus, which is the distal portion of their forelimb.  The Northern Screamer is also known as the Black-necked Screamer. From the description I just provided, I can see why. The northern part of their name comes from there distribution in South America. This screamer is found across northern Columbia from the Atrato River and Magdalena River valleys east into the Lake Maracaibo area of Venezuela.  They are most often found near water in habitats such as swamps, marshes, lagoons, riverbanks, and seasonally flooded river plains. They are a non-migratory species, so remain in the same area year round. Movement within that region is not uncommon in the search of food and searching for mates and appropriate territories by juveniles and non-breeding adults. The Northern Screamer eats leaves, stems, and roots of aquatic plants. They usually graze like geese and can sometimes be seen doing this is loose flocks.  Northern Screamers are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature. They were last assessed in February of 2023 with a stable population numbering 60,000-100,000 mature individuals.  Species number two, I am covering the species in random order so no importance is placed on which I speak about first, second, or last, the Southern Screamer, Chauna torquata.  The Southern Screamer is also 30 to 36 inches or 76 to 91 cm long. They have a stout body with a disproportionately small head. This will be the same for all three species. The coloration differs from the Northern Screamer in slight ways, but once you know what to look for it is quite obvious. The Southern Screamer has a gray face from the crown of the head to an inch below the chin. They have the crest feathers sticking out from the base of the skull just like the Northern Screamer. The coloration on the neck of the Southern Screamer begins with one stripe of white feathers below the gray face and a stripe of black below the white feathers, The white and black feathers ring the neck like a collar. Below the black stripe the rest of the body is covered in gray feathers. The beak is gray and bare, red skin covers a small area on the face from the beak to just behind the eye, similar to the Northern Screamer. Their legs are orange with hefty, turkey like feet with a small potion of webbing between the toes. And, of course, they have the sharp spurs on the manus. Southern Screamers are also found in South America but south of the Northern Screamer's range, which explains the name. They are found from the eastern half of Bolivia south into Argentina as far as Buenos Ares Province and east through Paraguay into south western Brazil and Uruguay.  They prefer tropical and subtropical wetlands including lakes, marshes, and flooded meadows with scattered trees. They are permanent residents wherever they are found, but seasonal changes documented in a portion of their range suggests local movement. They are also herbivores and typically eat leaves, stems, and seeds of aquatic plants. They also graze like geese, but have been seen digging for food. Flocks of up to 100 individuals may forage together in non-breeding seasons. Southern Screamers are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. They were last assessed in July of 2024 with a stable population numbering 66,700-667,000 mature individuals.  The last species of Screamer is the Horned Screamer, Anhima cornuta. Once again we start off with a large bodied bird 30 to 36 inches or 76 to 91 cm long. They also have the typical small head of other screamers. The coloration differs from the other two. Horned screamer are gray over the majority of their body with white speckles on the crown, throat and wing coverts, those are the feathers on the top of the wing. The belly is white. Their beak is gray and they have the typical thick legs and slightly webbed feet, but their legs are gray not orange. They also have the spurs on the manus. Their is one striking difference between this screamer and its other two cousins and that is the long thin horn-like projection on the top of its head. This is where the name Horned Screamer comes from.  This “horn” typically measure 5 inches or 15 cm in length and shoots forward in an arch over the front of the head. It is very thin, so don't think of it like a goat horn, think of it more like a flimsy antenna. It is made of cartilage and we're not currently sure what its purpose is in the bird's life. The range of the Horned Screamer is much larger than our other two species and includes the Amazonian regions of Venezuela, to the eastern llanos of Columbia, to eastern Bolivia and south-central Brazil.  Habitat frequented by these birds include tropical lowland freshwater areas such as lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes, and swamps. They are also herbivores eating leaves, stems, and seeds of plants. They do like grasses and sedges along water.  They are permanent residents and groups of 5 to 10 will often live together defending a territory from other screamers.  Horned Screamers are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. They were last assessed in July of 2024 with a stable population numbering 16,700 to 66,700 mature individuals.  That's it for episode two of Screamers. I hope this deep dive into these three species has been an interesting ten minutes for you because my second favorite thing about Screamers is their three species.  If you're enjoying this podcast please recommend me to friends and family and take a moment to give me a rating on whatever platform your listening. It will help me reach more listeners and give the animals I talk about an even better chance at change.  Join me next we for another exciting episode about screamers.        (Piano Music plays)  This has been an episode of Ten Things I like About with Kiersten and Company. Original music written and performed by Katherine Camp, piano extraordinaire.

rWotD Episode 2843: Philippine hanging parrot Welcome to Random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia’s vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Friday, 14 February 2025 is Philippine hanging parrot.The Philippine hanging parrot (Loriculus philippensis), also commonly known as the colasisi from its local Tagalog name "kulasisi", is a small psittaculid parrot species endemic to the Philippines. It includes about eleven subspecies, at least one of which might represent a distinct species, although further research is needed. While it is listed as Least Concern in IUCN, some subspecies, such as L. p. chyrsonotus of Cebu and L. p. siquijorensis of Siquijor, may already be extinct. The species is threatened by habitat loss, but a bigger threat is trapping for the illegal wildlife trade; wild-caught birds are often sold as pets in streets and online selling groups.Philippine hanging parrots are mainly green with areas of red, orange, yellow, and blue on the head and breast varying between subspecies. Males have a red breast patch, except for the population living on Camiguin, where both males and females (like females of the other subspecies) lack red on the breast. They make nests in tree holes and, unusually for a parrot, the female takes nesting material back to the nest.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:38 UTC on Friday, 14 February 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Philippine hanging parrot on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Ayanda.

Did you know that the most trafficked animal in the world isn't elephants, rhinos, or tigers—but the humble pangolin? These elusive, armor-clad creatures, often called "scaly anteaters," are so rare that many people have never even heard of them. And yet, they are being pushed to the brink of extinction due to illegal wildlife trade. In this eye-opening episode of Fur Real, I sit down with Dr. Matthew Shirley of the Pangolin Specialist Group, who works closely with IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) to protect these incredible mammals. We uncover jaw-dropping facts about pangolins—like how their 16-inch-long, ultra-sticky tongue helps them feast on insects, even though they don't have teeth! Plus, they are the only mammals covered in scales, which they use as a built-in defense system, rolling into an impenetrable ball when threatened. But here's the dark truth: pangolins are being hunted at alarming rates for their meat and scales, making them a prime target for black market trade. Dr. Shirley breaks down what's being done to combat this crisis—from dismantling illegal trafficking networks to implementing innovative conservation strategies that protect both pangolins and the rural communities affected by the trade. This episode is packed with mind-blowing facts, conservation efforts, and ways YOU can help save one of the world's most unique and endangered creatures. Don't miss it! www.furrealpodcast.com          www.pangolinsg.org ig @thefurrealpodcast         ig @pangolinsg            ig @markakyle fb The Fur Real Podcast       fb IUCN Pangolin Speicalist Group   fb markakyle tik tok The Fur Real Podcast Speical thanks to J Jig Cicero @jjigcicero for our music intro and outro..you rock!!! Special thanks to Jake Olson  jfolson.music@gmail.com for awesome sound editing  and to our supporters: www.prepvet.com  Stem cells for pets  

Join us for an insightful deep dive into the world of marine conservation, coral reef resilience, and the blue economy with Dr. David Obura, one of the world's leading marine ecologists and the founding director of CORDIO East Africa. CORDIO is a pioneering organization working to protect coral reefs and sustain marine ecosystems in the Western Indian Ocean.Dr. David Obura received a PhD from the University of Miami in 1995, focusing on coral bleaching and life history strategies. Throughout his career, he has worked extensively on participatory monitoring and research tools with artisanal fishers in East Africa, as well as conducting remote-reef surveys in locations such as the Phoenix Islands in the central Pacific and across the Indian Ocean.He currently serves as the Chair of IUCN's Coral Specialist Group and the IPBES, is a member of the Earth Commission and a range of advisory groups on varied sustainability topicsIn this episode, the discussion explores the blue economy and its vital role in sustainable marine conservation, highlighting how economic activities can coexist with ocean health. The conversation delves into cutting-edge coral reef monitoring technologies, including AI-driven analysis, environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling, and underwater soundscapes, which are transforming marine research and conservation efforts. The episode also examines the critical role of fisheries in local economies, addressing their sustainability challenges and the need for responsible management to protect both livelihoods and marine biodiversity. Additionally, the discussion highlights the significance of Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs), emphasizing how these community-led initiatives empower coastal populations to actively manage and protect their marine resources for long-term ecological and economic benefits.Meet the HostAnish Banerjee: https://x.com/anishwildlifeThink Wildlife Foundation: https://thinkwildlifefoundation.com/Meet the GuestsDr. David Obura: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-obura-a6554547/Recommended Wildlife Conservation BooksWildlife Conservation in India by HS Pabla: https://amzn.to/3Ypx9ZhIndian Mammals: A Field Guide by Vivek Menon: https://amzn.to/4fhMiCLAt the Feet of Living Things by Aparajita Datta: https://amzn.to/3BZmtsN Get full access to The Think Wildlife Podcast at anishbanerjee.substack.com/subscribe

Steven Rinella talks with Ed Newcomer, Brody Henderson, Janis Putelis, Phil Taylor, and Corinne Schneider. Topics discussed: Being a USFW Special Agent; trafficking wildlife; LA, NYC, and Miami hot spots; rescuing species, not animals; caviar trafficking; how the US lists globally endangered species; the Birmingham Rollers and roller pigeons; synchronized seizures; the Migratory Bird Treaty Act; the hawk body; public shaming; the "Fish and Wild Guys"; elvers; the IUCN; the World’s Most Wanted Butterfly Smuggler; getting turned in by the criminal; the Queen Alexandra’s Bird Wing; serving Justin Bieber for his monkey; getting ambushed by duck hunters; and more. Connect with Steve and The MeatEater Podcast Network Steve on Instagram and Twitter MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YoutubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

เกือบหนึ่งในสี่ของสิ่งมีชีวิตน้ำจืดทั่วโลกกำลังตกอยู่ในความเสี่ยงที่จะสูญพันธุ์ อ้างอิงจากรายงานฉบับใหม่ของสหภาพสากล IUCN ฟังสัมภาษณ์อดีตทีมฝ่ายผลิตวัคซีน Astra Zeneca คุณนปวิช นนทแก้ว (แฮม) ก่อนจะได้ตัดสินใจมาเดินตามความฝันในการขอทุนการศึกษาปริญญาเอกและใช้ชีวิตที่ต่างประเทศ

Almost a quarter of all the world's freshwater animals are threatened with extinction. That's according to a new report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Over 80 scientists across the world participated in the assessment of over 23,000 freshwater species, and they're calling for governments to take immediate action. - เกือบหนึ่งในสี่ของสิ่งมีชีวิตน้ำจืดทั่วโลกกำลังตกอยู่ในความเสี่ยงที่จะสูญพันธุ์ ตามรายงานฉบับใหม่ของสหภาพสากลว่าด้วยการอนุรักษ์ธรรมชาติและทรัพยากรธรรมชาติ (IUCN) นักวิทยาศาสตร์กว่า 80 คนจากทั่วโลกเข้าร่วมประเมินสิ่งมีชีวิตน้ำจืดกว่า 23,000 ชนิด และเรียกร้องให้รัฐบาลดำเนินการทันที

بر اساس یک گزارش جدید نزدیک به یک چهارم حیوانات آب شیرین جهان، با خطر انقراض روبرو استند. این گزارش که از سوی اتحادیه جهانی حفاظت از طبیعت و منابع طبیعی (IUCN) نشر شده است، در آن از حکومت‌ها خواسته شده تا اقدامات عاجل را برای جلوگیری از این معضل روی دست گیرند. گزارش از سوی بیش از ۸۰ دانشمند از سراسر دنیا در نتیجه ارزیابی بیش از ۲۳ هزار نوع حیوانات آب شیرین تهیه شده است.

Tüylü bir yerli fare ve beş başka Avustralya türü, Uluslararası Doğayı Koruma Birliği (IUCN) tarafından belirlenen, bitki ve hayvan türlerinin dünyadaki en kapsamlı küresel koruma durumu envanteri olan Kırmızı Liste'ye eklendi. Avustralya Koruma Vakfı'na göre, Avustralya'nın artan yok olma krizi, iklim değişikliği, ormansızlaşma ve güncelliğini yitirmiş koruma yasalarıyla körükleniyor.

B&B Vol Liefde kandidaat Dick Lock vestigt een wereldrecord in Surinaamse jungle, we beleven de natuur in de buurt van de Nigeriaanse stad Lagos en we horen het geluid van wolven in Polen. Deze speciale uitzending staat volledig in het teken van onze luisteraars, en de natuur, in het buitenland. Van verhalen uit Duitsland tot Spitsbergen, Noorwegen en Canada. In de studio hebben we onder andere Dirk Hilbers die ecologische natuurreisgidsen maakt, Yvonne Dudock die een boek schreef over de strijd tegen het smeltende ijs en Frederique Holle van IUCN. De column is deze week van Geert Groot Koerkamp. Download de podcast van de hele uitzending of onze podcastserie 'Zo klonk Nederland' via NPO Radio 1 of via je favoriete podcast app. Vroege Vogels Radio op NPO Radio 1 wordt zondag gepresenteerd door Menno Bentveld van 7.00 tot 10.00 uur.

In this edition of The Naked Scientists, we ask leading experts in the fields of health, AI, space, marine biology, and archaeology about the moments that defined 2024... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

These colorful little invertebrates get their namesake from their likeness to Christmas trees! While these guys have no dedicated research organization and no IUCN rating, they are in desperate need of recognition, research, and support. Merry Christmas everyone!

Send us a textThe eagerly awaited, Farming For Nature (FFN) Handbook has just been published, Ricky and Niall take the opportunity to discuss how important farms and farmers are for nature in Ireland, given the dominance of agriculture lands across the Irish landscape. Ricky speaks Dr Emma Hart on behalf of FFN and co-authors, Bridgit Barry and Brendan Dunford about the book, its content and objectives. The Farming For Nature Handbook (purchase here) was inspired by the regular requests received by Farming For Nature, from people wanting to learn how best to manage their land, big or small, in a way that enhances habitats, increases wildlife, harnesses natural processes, protects profits, and safeguards our natural environment and rural communities for future generations. The handbook features the stories, experience and learnings of almost 50 farmers. Emma is a conservation ecologist and writer. She is the founder of habitats.ie, a consultancy service in biodiversity conservation, science communication, and research and of Oysterhaven Biodiversity Reserve, a farm, research site, and nature restoration project in the south of Ireland. Emma has a PhD in conservation ecology and extensive international experience of managing science-based conservation initiatives. She serves on several inter(national) professional committees including for the IUCN and Farming for Nature and publishes regularly in the scientific and popular press.Bird of the Week is the Common Snipe as nominated by Emma, a handsome and quirky wee species common on our bogs and other wetland habitats. In Your Nature features Ricky Whelan, Biodiversity Officer with Offaly County Council and Niall Hatch of BirdWatch Ireland and is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly. The series is supported by Laois, Offaly, and Westmeath County Councils, The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Heritage Council.For more about BirdWatch Ireland, visit www.birdwatchireland.ie.

Sorry for the late post, Herders! The holidays have been a real long one! Today's episode is about the Aardvarks! Aardvarks (/ˈɑːrdvɑːrk/ ARD-vark; Orycteropus afer) are medium-sized, burrowing, nocturnal mammals native to Africa. They have a long snout, similar to that of a pig, which is used to sniff out food. Aardvarks are the only living species of the order Tubulidentata, although other prehistoric species and genera of Tubulidentata are known. They are afrotheres, a clade that also includes elephants, manatees, and hyraxes. They are found over much of the southern two-thirds of the African continent, avoiding areas that are mainly rocky. Nocturnal feeders, aardvarks subsist on ants and termites by using their sharp claws and powerful legs to dig the insects out of their hills. Aardvarks also dig to create burrows in which to live and rear their young.  Aardvarks are listed as "least concern" by the IUCN, although their numbers are decreasing. 

Episode 94: Nepenthes: Conservation Summary: How are Nepenthes doing in the wild? Can we help them if the need help? Join Kiersten as she answers these questions and more about Nepenthes conservation.   For my hearing impaired listeners, a complete transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean   Show Notes: “Nepenthes Conservation: Preserving Earth's Carnivorous Marvels,” Singapore Carnivorous Plant Society. https://sgcarnivorousplantsociety.medium.com Nepenthes Species. IUCN Red List, https://www.iucnredlist.org “I'll Have Flies with That,” by Kali Shiloh. Stanford Magazine, September 2022. https://stanfordmag.org *This article also highlights some responsible carnivorous plants growers.* Music written and performed by Katherine Camp   Transcript (Piano music plays) Kiersten - This is Ten Things I Like About…a ten minute, ten episode podcast about unknown or misunderstood wildlife. (Piano music stops) Welcome to Ten Things I Like About… I'm Kiersten, your host, and this is a podcast about misunderstood or unknown creatures in nature. Some we'll find right out side our doors and some are continents away but all are fascinating.  This podcast will focus ten, ten minute episodes on different animals and their amazing characteristics. Please join me on this extraordinary journey, you won't regret it. Once again we find ourselves at the bittersweet final episode of a series. It's always exciting to finish a topic but sad to say goodbye to my chosen topic. The final episode of Nepenthes is the fifth thing I like about them and that is conservation. Just like Rafflesia, the biggest obstacle to the survival of all wild growing Nepenthes is habitat loss. Once again we can blame ourselves for this as vast tracts of rainforest are cleared for agriculture, logging, and urban development. Unlike Rafflesia that cannot be collected from the wild because of its unique life cycle, Nepenthes can be collected from the wild. Collecting various species of Nepenthes has become big business and the race to possess the most unique and hard to obtain species has created a market for illegally harvested plants.  Changing weather patterns is also impacting the future survival prospects of many Nepenthes species. Some habitats are receiving less rainfall causing many species of Nepenthes to struggle for survival. Their habitats are changing so quickly the plants cannot adapt fast enough. And something that the entire world is battling that is also impacting Nepenthes, invasive species. Humans, whether knowingly or unknowingly, have spread both plants and animal species all around the globe. When these non-native species are introduced to other habitats, chaos ensues. Nepenthes plants are battling both invasive plants and animals that are either stealing the resources they need or damaging their habitats. How can we help wild Nepenthes? By doing many of the same things we are doing for Rafflesia. We need to establish protected areas and reserves that include Nepenthes habitats. This action has the added bonus of helping any other plants, animals, and insects that also live in these habitats, as well as securing natural spaces that positively impact human health. We can also enforce and strengthen legal protections already in place for Nepenthes species. Unlike Rafflesia, there are 123 species of Nepenthes listed on the IUCN's Red List. The Red List is a catalog of species that have been studied enough to determine a population count and trending patterns of that population number. Many of the Nepenthes species listed are Least Concern which means that their population numbers are healthy and stable or increasing, but 45 of these species are categorized as Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered. The important thing about being listed by the IUCN is that the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species can pass measures to help regulate international trade in the listed species. Continued research of Nepenthes species in the wild is an important step to successful conservation. If we know where and what these plants need to survive, we can expand preserves and bolster laws protecting them. This also provides information that can be utilized to successfully propagate Nepenthes in captivity. Some of the critically endangered species may only be saved by propagating them in greenhouses and botanical gardens. And the last thing we all can do to help is educate everyone about these wicked cool plants! Letting people know about these amazing living beings is the number one best way to ensure their survival into the future. Tell your friends, family, and strangers in the grocery store line about these unbelievable unknown plants. Feel free to give a little shout out for my Ten Things I Like About…podcast while you're at it! Let's talk a little bit about the hobbyists that are propagating Nepenthes in captivity. Collecting Nepenthes out of the wild one of the activities that is cause for concern, but not all hobbyists are part of the darker side of collecting Nepenthes. Many, probably most, are people that follow all the rules and regulations established to protect the plant in the wild. Some are even involved in propagating critically endangered species.  There is a market for Nepenthes outside of scientific study and conservation and this is where I fell down a rabbit hole of unbelievable prices. If you do a search for Nepenthes on the internet the first sites that pop up are online shopping sites. You can buy hundreds of different species ranging in price from $10 to $1900. The most expensive Nepenthes species ever sold is Nepenthes veitchii that sold for $3500 in 2020 earning a spot in the Guinness Book of World records for the most expensive carnivorous plant on the planet.  If you are interested in delving into this interesting but addictive world, you can find several online sites to purchase any number of Nepenthes species. But do your research and make sure these sites offer lab grown Nepenthes so you are not supporting illegal collection for the wild. The lab grown species will also have a better chance of survival in captivity since they are already used to that environment.  You can also join many Carnivorous Plant Societies from all over the world. Many of these organizations have seed banks that store varies species or carnivorous plants including Nepenthes. They will sell seeds to those interested in trying their hand at growing from seed and offer advice and support along your journey. Most of these organizations are also great places to find information on new scientific discovers. Many of them improve captive cultivation techniques and are happy to share with the public and research facilities simply because they love their plants. That is all for this episode of Nepenthes. I am glad you joined my for my fifth favorite thing about this carnivorous plant, conservation. If you're enjoying this podcast please recommend me to friends and family and take a moment to give me a rating on whatever platform your listening. It will help me reach more listeners and give the animals I talk about an even better chance at change.    Reporting on Nepenthes and Rafflesia has been a fun ride for me and I hope you all enjoyed it, as well. Join me in two weeks for the beginning of a new series about a misunderstood or unknown animal.   (Piano Music plays)  This has been an episode of Ten Things I like About with Kiersten and Company. Original music written and performed by Katherine Camp, piano extraordinaire.

Christiaan van der Hoeven joins the podcast to discuss the impactful work of the Van Tienhoven Foundation, which focuses on supporting international nature conservation projects. Established on the legacy of Pieter van Tienhoven, a pivotal figure in Dutch and global environmental protection, the foundation aims to fund small initiatives that often struggle to secure financial support. Christiaan shares insights into the foundation's approach, highlighting the importance of involving local communities in conservation efforts and the value of education in fostering awareness. He reflects on the challenges faced in today's environmental landscape, noting that while the overall situation is deteriorating, there are still hopeful examples of successful conservation efforts. The conversation emphasizes the need for sustained commitment to nature protection and how even small contributions can lead to significant positive outcomes.The dialogue with Christiaan van der Hoeven offers an insightful exploration into the dynamics of the Van Tienhoven Foundation, an organization that embodies the legacy of its namesake, a pioneer in nature conservation. Christiaan reflects on the foundation's commitment to funding small-scale conservation projects, particularly in developing countries where larger organizations might overlook critical local initiatives. With a focus on empowering local communities, the foundation aims to create a sustainable future for biodiversity through education and direct involvement. Van Tienhoven's historical contributions to nature conservation, including his role in establishing organizations like the IUCN and the World Wildlife Fund, set the stage for the foundation's ongoing endeavors. Throughout the episode, various themes emerge, particularly the intersection of conservation and community engagement. Christiaan discusses how the foundation operates an inclusive application process that encourages grassroots proposals, showcasing the diverse range of projects it supports. These projects often tackle pressing environmental issues while fostering a sense of ownership among local populations. For instance, he shares a project focusing on the conservation of a unique rabbit species in Sumatra, highlighting how targeted funding can lead to significant advancements in research and protection. The conversation also addresses the evolving challenges of conservation in a rapidly changing world. Christiaan emphasizes the need for adaptive strategies that respond to political and ecological shifts, as well as the incorporation of technology in conservation efforts. He shares examples of successful collaborations that have emerged from the foundation, demonstrating how small initiatives can lead to substantial impacts. As he envisions the future of the foundation, Christiaan expresses a deep commitment to continuing the legacy of Pieter van Tienhoven by fostering innovative and effective conservation practices that resonate with local communities. Overall, this episode serves as a call to action for individuals and organizations to support grassroots conservation efforts, emphasizing that positive change is possible through collective action.Takeaways: The Van Tienhoven Foundation supports small-scale nature conservation projects globally, especially in developing countries. Christiaan van der Hoeven emphasizes the importance of local community involvement in successful conservation efforts. Over the past six years, the foundation has structured its project selection process for better objectivity. The foundation receives hundreds of proposals each year, highlighting the increasing need for conservation funding. Christiaan shares inspiring examples of small projects that lead to significant ecological impacts and community benefits. Technological innovations, like AI for tracking endangered species, play a vital role in modern...

Hedgehogs have been moved up the red list of threatened species by the International Union for Conservation. The IUCN says the European Hedgehog is in worrying and widespread decline, and it has moved it from "least concern" to "near threatened". We ask the Mammal Society why hedgehogs are a cause for concern.All week we're digging down into the subject of soil. Northern Ireland is running one of the most comprehensive soil nutrient sampling schemes that any country has ever undertaken. The £37 million 'Soil Nutrient Health Scheme', funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs aims to sample nearly every one of Northern Ireland's 700,000 or so fields. It's believed the results could help farmers improve their soils, better manage nutrient application and reduce nutrient loss to water bodies, not least Lough Neagh.  Many crops have suffered with the wet weather this year. For vineyard owners, the wet has encouraged detrimental diseases and low yields. For organic wine producers, the options to combat the effects of a wet summer are minimal. We visit a vineyard where this autumn's harvest is half what it should be, because of the weather. Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Die Weltnaturschutzunion IUCN hat bei der UN-Konferenz COP16 ihre neue Liste bedrohter Arten vorgelegt. Zum ersten Mal wird der westeuropäische Igel als „potenziell gefährdet“ eingestuft. Warum, erklärt der Evolutionsbiologe Matthias Glaubrecht. Pyritz, Lennart www.deutschlandfunk.de, Forschung aktuell

Leute, wir brauchen noch ein Update bis wir uns endlich fertig sortiert haben. ABER nicht so ein 0815 Update, nein nein! Frauke berichtet live vom IUCN Leaders Forum aus Genf und liefert uns Informationen aus erster Hand darüber, wie Artenschutzpolitik funktioniert. Lydia funkt derweil aus ihrem Kinderzimmer die neusten Infos zur COP16 und, GANZ WICHTIG, das letztwöchige Tiergeräusch von unserem Hörer Simon wird endlich aufgelöst!Sensationen über Sensationen und wir haben ja noch nicht mal so richtig losgelegt. Wir hören uns nächste Woche dann zur nächsten echten tierisch! Folge. Auch wieder so ein Gewinnerthema: Beuteltiere. Süß!!!!(Plus: Man sollte Folgen eigentlich immer wie das neue Hörspiel von den ??? benennen, oder?)Weiterführende Links:Rotschopftrappe bei der Balz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXW04vjzxg8COP16: https://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/natur/artenschutz-welche-themen-auf-der-uno-biodiversitaetskonferenz-in-cali-wichtig-werden-a-43de6af1-348b-471c-9845-30cbe15c30c4?sara_ref=re-xx-cp-shIUCN allgemein: https://iucn.org/IUCN Leadersforum: https://iucnleadersforum.org/Unterstützt uns bei Steady! Ewige Dankbarkeit sei euch gewiss!! steadyhq.com/de/tierisch/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

①Mount Fanjing in southwest China inscribed in IUCN Green List②Hong Kong-born giant panda cubs leave incubators, develop distinctive markings③Beijing plans to expand low-altitude flights for rescue, delivery④5,000-year-old royal tomb discovered in central China⑤A Thousand Whys: Why guardian lions, not tigers?

Mount Fanjing in southwest China has joined the Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Summary: Our next unbelievable unknown plant eats something quite unusual. Join Kiersten as she unravels the amazing life of Nepenthes.   For my hearing impaired listeners, a complete transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean   Show Notes: Nepenthes, Britannica Online: https://www.britannica.com Music written and performed by Katherine Camp   Transcript (Piano music plays) Kiersten - This is Ten Things I Like About…a ten minute, ten episode podcast about unknown or misunderstood wildlife. (Piano music stops) Welcome to Ten Things I Like About… I'm Kiersten, your host, and this is a podcast about misunderstood or unknown creatures in nature. Some we'll find right out side our doors and some are continents away but all are fascinating.  This podcast will focus ten, ten minute episodes on different animals and their amazing characteristics. Please join me on this extraordinary journey, you won't regret it. In episode six of Unbelievable Unknown Plants were are introducing the first episode of or second plant. Like Rafflesia, we will be talking about several species of plants collectively called Nepenthes. The first thing I like about Nepenthes is the amazing plant itself. Let's talk about the family in general before we pinpoint a few very interesting species that we will highlight in following episodes. If you have gone into the garden department of a home improvement store or a Wal-Mart at anytime in your life you may be familiar with Nepenthes. It is also known as monkey cup and tropical pitcher plant. Sound familiar? Unlike Rafflesia, humans have figured out how to cultivate some species of Nepenthes and with the correct set up, it can be pretty easy. So they have been mass produced for sale. I have to admit I have had a few in my lifetime. We will go more in-depth with this topic in a future episode. I suspect this will be a rabbit hole of addictive behavior. As I did my research on this plan t I came across several websites dedicated to the sale and care of Nepenthes. Some of these plants sell for over $1000 US dollars. Who-boy! I cant's wait for that episode! There are 140 known species of Nepenthes and, in the wild, they are mainly found in Madagascar, Southeast Asia, and Australia. What is it that makes these pitcher plants so unbelievable? They eat meat! Yes, that's right, these are carnivorous plants. Every species of Nepenthes that we currently know of is classified as a carnivorous plant that captures insects or other prey by luring the targeted prey to them through scent. The shape of the pitcher makes it difficult if not impossible for the prey to escape once it has ventured inside where the sweet scent they want has led them. I've always found it interesting that a plant eats meat. I mean everything has to survive and Nature is amazing, but it does seem a bit oxymoronic that a plant eats meat. On the other hand maybe it's karmic. Insects and mammals eat plants so why not evolve a plant that eats insects and mammals. Some have taken it a step farther int their pursuit of nutrient and have evolved to utilize a very special diet. They are still dependent on mammals for this nutrient but they aren't eating the animal itself. I don't want to spoil the surprise, but I will say they give the term “potty mouth” a whole new twist. Pitcher plants are perennial, which means the same plant regrows every year. Many grow in very acidic soil and some are epiphytes. An epiphyte is a plan  t that grows on another plant for support purposes only. Epiphytes have no attachment to the ground or obvious nutrient source. They are not parasitic to the host plant causing no harm to the structure upon which they are growing. It's no wonder that Nepenthes has evolved to utilize an alternative source of nutrients if they grow in an acidic soil, which typically offers little in the way of usable nutrients, or no soil at all.  Nepenthes vary in size. Some are the perfect fit to attract a tiny fruit fly while others are so large they can attract and digest rats. You heard that correctly, I said rats. That is one big pitcher plant! Like Rafflesia, some species of Nepenthes are engendered in their native habitats, but unlike Rafflesia more than one of these species is listed as endangered by the IUCN which makes conservation of these species so much easier. We will take more about this is future episodes. The first episode of Nepenthes is a bit shorter than my usual episodes but don't worry the next four will be packed full of amazing facts about Nepenthes. Think of this one as an introduction to this amazing plant, a bit of a teaser, if you will. Thanks for listening to the sixth episode of Unbelievable Unknown Plants and I'm glad you joined me because my first favorite thing about Nepenthes is Nepenthes.   If you're enjoying this podcast please recommend me to friends and family and take a moment to give me a rating on whatever platform your listening. It will help me reach more listeners and give the animals I talk about an even better chance at change.  Join me next week for another episode about Nepenthes.       (Piano Music plays)  This has been an episode of Ten Things I like About with Kiersten and Company. Original music written and performed by Katherine Camp, piano extraordinaire.

Summary: Is the stinkiest flower in the world in danger of disappearing forever? Join Kiersten as she discusses the conservation status of Rafflesia.   For my hearing impaired listeners, a complete transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean   Show Notes:  “Most of the world's largest flowers (genus Rafflesia) are now on the brink of extinction,” by Pastor Malabrigo Jr, Adriane B. Tobias, Joko Witono, Sofi Mursidawati, Agus Susatya, Mat Eunuch Siti-Munirah, Adhityo Wicaksono, Reza Raihandhany, Sarah Edwards, and Chris J. Thorogood. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10431 “Colossal Blossom: Pursuing the peculiar genetics of a parasitic plant,” by Jonathan Shaw. Harvard Magazine. https://www.harvardmagazine.com Music written and performed by Katherine Camp   Transcript (Piano music plays) Kiersten - This is Ten Things I Like About…a ten minute, ten episode podcast about unknown or misunderstood wildlife. (Piano music stops) Welcome to Ten Things I Like About… I'm Kiersten, your host, and this is a podcast about misunderstood or unknown creatures in nature. Some we'll find right out side our doors and some are continents away but all are fascinating.  This podcast will focus ten, ten minute episodes on different animals and their amazing characteristics. Please join me on this extraordinary journey, you won't regret it. This is episode five of Unbelievable Unknown Plants and the final episode of rafflesia. The fifth thing I like about rafflesia is awareness that conservation discussions are bringing to this unknown plant. Awareness is always important for any conservation efforts. That is one of the main reasons I decided to do this podcast. Getting the word out is the best weapon in a conservationist's tool belt for saving an imperiled species. When it comes to rafflesia the conservation efforts is what really brought this flower into the public eye. The first paper I found when diving into the research on this lifeform was titled “Most of the world's largest flowers (genus Rafflesia) are now on the brink of extinction.”  Despite the recent increased interest in Rafflesia, the flower as a species is in danger of extinction. When we say that we mean all species of Rafflesia not just one species. What makes Rafflesia so vulnerable to disappearing? If you've listened to the last four episode you might be able to piece it together yourself. In the second episode in this series, I talked about where Rafflesia can be found. All species of Rafflesia are restricted to one area of the world. They are found on several islands within the southeast Asian region but they are only found in the Philippines, Borneo, Java, Sumatra, and Peninsular Malaysia. They rely on the tropical rainforest areas of these islands, which restricts them to only a portion of the terrain.  The number one reason Rafflesia are endangered is habitat loss. The above mentioned paper predicts that 67% of known habitats for Rafflesia are not in a protected area. This means that these habitats are at risk from human encroachment for lumber, clear cutting for farming, and greed, in general. Rafflesia are found only on Tetrastigma vines, as far as we currently know, and these are only found in rainforests of southeast Asia. If these vines are removed, we lose all species of Rafflesia.  Those of you that are loyal listeners may be saying, what about protections that come with IUCN listings of endangered species? That is a good point, but the International Union for Conservation of Nature only lists one Rafflesia species as Critically Endangered. In 2008 Rafflesia magnifica was listed as Critically Endangered with a population trend of decreasing.   Rafflesia magnifica is found only on Mindanao Island, Philippines. The habitat in which this particular flower is found is being destroyed for road construction and conversion of the rainforest into banana plantations.  Why are more species not listed by the IUCN? Even though researchers that published this paper urge the world to take action to list all Rafflesia as endangered, there are steps that must be taken to warrant this listing. The biggest obstacle is the lack of data determining the population numbers of Rafflesia. These flowers are hard to find as they bloom at random times and have no indication that they are about to bloom. It's hard for scientists to find them, much less make an accurate count of them. Without this hard evidence, a listing by IUCN is impossible. So scientists are doing the next best thing. They are bringing awareness of this plant to the world. Many international news companies have picked up this story and run with it. Smaller news outlets are highlighting this flower, and people like me are getting the name out there as well. The best way to save any species is to get the public interested. The more that they know the better. What can we do? The scientists involved in the research of Rafflesia populations have proposed a four-point action plan.  1. We need greater protection of Rafflesia habitats which targets the populations at most risk. Southeast Asia has the fastest disappearing forests on the planet, and as we know this is the only place where Rafflesia are found. 2. We need a better understanding of the full diversity of Rafflesia that exists which will better inform decision-making. A big problem with current protections is that the species diversity of Rafflesia are still under debate. How many species actually are there of Rafflesia? Sampling expeditions and genetic testing must be a priority. 3. We need to develop methods to successfully propagate Rafflesia in captivity. 4. If we introduce new ecotourism initiatives to engage local communities in Rafflesia conservation, it can go a long way. When given alternatives to destructive farming to feed your family, locals get on board with protecting local wildlife. Several of the countries that host Rafflesia are doing their best to protect these flowers through ecotourism initiatives, local laws, and research in National Parks. For example, local villagers in West Sumatra are benefiting from Rafflesia ecotourism by building social media platforms that announce blooming events to attract paying tourists, bring awareness to the Rafflesia, and carefully manage the risks of trampling the flowers due to unsupervised visitors.  Indonesia celebrates Rafflesia as one of its national flowers.  In Sarawak, Malaysia all Rafflesia are listed by the local government as “Total Protected Plants” under the Wildlife Protection Ordinance of 1998. Let's go bak to number three of the four-point action plan. Many species of wildlife, flora or fauna, have benefitted from our efforts to breed or propagate individuals in captivity, so why not do this with Rafflesia? I love your thought process, listeners! The problem with this is that Rafflesia is a parasitic plant that relies on a host plant for survival, it's not like other flowers where we just collect some seeds and put them in the ground. Rafflesia seeds have to get into the Tertrastigma vine to germinate and we still don't know how that happens. No having said this, Bogor Botanic Garden in West Java, Indonesia has had some success in propagating Rafflesia. They have successfully bloomed Rafflesia patma 16 times. There are several botanical gardens around the world that are in line to learn the secrets discovered at Bogor Botanic Garden, so they too can help conserve this amazing plant. Even with these efforts, most Rafflesia species are still at great risk of disappearing forever, but hopefully with more exposure we can help Rafflesia have a bright future. This is the final episode of Raflessia but only the fifth in the Unbelievable Unknown Plants series and my fifth favorite thing about Rafflesia is the conservation effort being made to secure their future.   If you're enjoying this podcast please recommend me to friends and family and take a moment to give me a rating on whatever platform your listening. It will help me reach more listeners and give the animals I talk about an even better chance at change.    So join me next week for another episode about Unbelievable Unknown Plants.       (Piano Music plays)  This has been an episode of Ten Things I like About with Kiersten and Company. Original music written and performed by Katherine Camp, piano extraordinaire.

This week on the Protect Species Podcast, we're delighted to be joined not only by our guest, Dr. Axel Hochkirch, curator at the Natural History Museum in Luxembourg and grasshopper expert, but also Dr. Sérgio Henriques, the Invertebrate Conservation Coordinator at the Global Center for Species Survival. We'll take a look at the career paths of these two passionate invertebrate conservationists, exploring the excitement of fieldwork, the thrill of rediscovering species once thought extinct, and the essential role that local communities play in conservation efforts. Axel's focus on grasshoppers and Sérgio's dedication to spiders demonstrate the often-overlooked importance of invertebrates in maintaining biodiversity. Their stories highlight how chance encounters and dedicated mentors can lead to a fulfilling career in species preservation.We also delve into the successes and ongoing challenges of invertebrate conservation within the IUCN framework. From targeted conservation actions for grasshoppers and wild bees to innovative strategies in the Canary Islands' laurel forests, our experts cover a wide range of topics. Learn about the significance of preserving unique species habitats, the impact of biotic homogenization, and why every species, no matter how small, holds intrinsic value. Tune in for an inspiring call to action to protect local ecosystems and contribute to biodiversity conservation.Links: Dr. Axel Hochkirch - IUCN Dr. Axel Hochkirch - Google ScholarMeet the Pollinator ExpertIUCN SSC Invertebrate Conservation CommitteeIUCN SSC Grasshopper Specialist Group

Coraf Reefs around the world are under severe threat. It is estimated that around 10% of the global coral reefs are dead while about 60% are under severe threat due to anthropogenic pressure. Climate change remains the primary threat to coral reefs around the world, with increasing sea temperatures catalyzing coral bleaching, which results in the death of reefs. Additionally, increased frequency and intensity of storms, induced by climate change, further damage coral reefs. Beyond climate change, corals are also threatened by rampant coral mining, ocean acidification, and pollution from wastewater and plastic debris.The destruction of coral reefs is particularly concerning. Other than fostering rich marine biodiversity, coral reefs are also critical for the economy of coastal communities. Corals provide a plethora of ecosystem services ranging from protecting coastlines from storms and erosions to supporting fisheries and providing job opportunities in the form of tourism. Over half a billion people rely on coral reefs for subsistence and protection. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit anishbanerjee.substack.com

Popular pets, dart frogs are known to tap their toes, but the precise reasoning behind it has eluded scientists until now. Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/herphighlights/shop Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com Main Paper References: Parrish TQ, Fischer EK. 2024. Tap dancing frogs: Posterior toe tapping and feeding in Dendrobates tinctorius. Ethology 130:e13465. DOI: 10.1111/eth.13465. Species of the Bi-Week: Phung TM, Pham CT, Nguyen TQ, Ninh HT, Nguyen HQ, Bernardes M, Le ST, Ziegler T, Nguyen TT. 2023. Southbound – the southernmost record of Tylototriton (Amphibia, Caudata, Salamandridae) from the Central Highlands of Vietnam represents a new species. ZooKeys 1168:193–218. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1168.96091. Other Mentioned Papers/Studies: Claessens, L. S. A., Ganchev, N. O., Kukk, M. M., Schutte, C. J., & Sloggett, J. J. (2020). An investigation of toe-tapping behaviour in anurans by analysis of online video resources. Journal of Zoology, 312(3), 158–162. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12815 Other Links/Mentions: Caramaschi U., Nascimento LB, Silvano D. 2004. Dendropsophus jimi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2004: e.T55520A11324324. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T55520A11324324.en Call of Dendropsophus jimi from: https://amphibiaweb.org/cgi/amphib_query?where-genus=Dendropsophus&where-species=jimi  Editing and Music: Podcast edited by Wojciech– https://www.fiverr.com/buczar  Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com

For our Monday Flashback episode, we bring back the African Penguin. YOU can directly help by going to the African Penguin Nest Project and purchase an artificial nest to help them survive HERE For $50 USD you can buy your own nest for a pair of penguins. We have sent money in the past and will be sending more once this episode drops. The African Penguin is one of the best examples of how humans have driven many species to extinction, or as in the African Penguin to the brink. Isolated to the southern portion of the African continent. Multiple pressures such as over fishing off the African coast, humans destroying African Penguin guano nests and using it for fertilizer, climate change, ocean pollution and many other pressures all have led to a massive decrease in African Penguin populations. Today they are listed as Endangered by the IUCN with around 10,000 breeding pairs!! This is down from 42,000 in 1991. ------------------------------------------------------------- Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation.  Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife. Please contact us at advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast You can also visit our website HERE.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Charles and Jon talk to Dr Barbara Taylor (USA) and Dr Lorenzo Rojas-Bracho (Mexico), who together lead the global efforts to save the Vaquita from extinction. The Vaquita, a tiny and beautiful porpoise, is found only at the top of the Gulf of California and holds the unfortunate distinction of being the world's rarest marine mammal (possibly the rarest of any mammal species). There may be as few as 6 animals left alive.The story of the Vaquita's precipitous decline from its discovery in 1958 is as tragic as it is complex. In a fascinating conversation we learn about the Vaquita's biology and how gillnetting has driven the species to the very edge of extinction. We also discuss why illegal fishing - fueled by organized crime and a demand in East Asia for the swim bladder of the Totoaba fish - is so difficult to prevent. But Barb and Lorenzo offer some optimism for the future: there may be more Vaquitas hiding in the Gulf of California and it is not to late to save the species.For more information visit www.mammalwatching.com/podcastNotes: There is a lot more information online. Viva Vaquita is a coalition of scientists, educators and conservationists who strive to increase attention on the Vaquita. They host an International Vaquita Day every year to update folks on the latest situation.There are several documentaries about the Vaquita story including Sea of Shadows which you can find here https://www.vaquitacpr.org The IUCN's Cetacean Specialist Group website has all recent Vaquita survey reports (with 2024 coming soon) as well as reports from the recovery team (CIRVA).If you would like to help save the Vaquita you can donate money to - or volunteer to join - Sea Shepherd the conservation society who are doing very important work in the Gulf of Mexico to help tackle the illegal fishing that is killing the species.If you want to check whether the seafood you eat is sustainable then you can visit Seafood Watch even if they do not as yet carry information about the fisheries that most impact the Vaquita.Jon's report on joining the 2024 Vaquita Survey with Barb and Lorenzo is here.Finally here is the Guardian article on the 6 million antelope migration in South Sudan that Charles mentions at the start.Cover art: Barb, Lorenzo and a model Vaquita with Consag Rock in the background.Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in over 110 countries.

Today we are joined by Susan Cheyne to discuss the singing, swinging story of the Gibbon! Susan is a co-director of the Borneo Nature Foundation International and the Vice Chair of the IUCN section on small apes. She talks about why gibbons sing, how their social groups function, and how we can help to protect them! We also discuss the importance of sharing our experiences within the conservation space, and a really interesting article Susan wrote about her experiences being out and doing fieldwork. Make sure to share your thoughts on social media using #PangolinPride

Two experts join the Mongabay Newscast to discuss the decline in koala populations in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW), even as city councils and the government green light development projects on koala habitats that aren't being replaced by biodiversity offset schemes, ecologist Yung En Chee of the University of Melbourne, explains. Meanwhile, the promised Great Koala National Park has been delayed by NSW Premier Chris Minns, even as his state allows logging of koala habitat within the park borders while he tries to set up a carbon credit scheme to monetize the protected area, says journalist Stephen Long with Australia Institute. “I'm not sure how long this failure has to persist before we decide that we really ought to change course,” says Chee of the biodiversity credit schemes, which seem to be based on outdated data, and don't come close to satisfying their ‘no net loss' of biodiversity goals. See related coverage: How a conservation NGO uses drones and artificial intelligence to detect koalas that survive bushfires, here. If you want to read more on biodiversity offsetting and 'no net loss,' please read this resource from the IUCN. If you enjoy the Mongabay Newscast, please visit www.patreon.com/mongabay to pledge a dollar or more to keep the show growing. Mongabay is a nonprofit media outlet, and all support helps! See all our latest news from nature's frontline at Mongabay's homepage, mongabay.com, or follow Mongabay on any of the social media platforms for updates. Please send your ideas and feedback to submissions@mongabay.com. Image: Gumbaynggirr Country is home to the dunggiirr, the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), one of the totem animals for the Gumbaynggirr people. Koalas numbers are estimated to be in the tens of thousands in the state of New South Wales. Image by Steve Franklin via Unsplash (Public domain). -- Timecodes (00:00) Introduction (01:34) The Koala Crisis in New South Wales (04:33) Where is the Great Koala National Park? (06:39) Logging Activities and Government Delays (09:53) The Problem with Carbon Credits  (16:46) Interview with Yung En Chee (18:38) Biodiversity Offsets: Concept and Criticism (20:15) Failures in Biodiversity Offset Implementation (31:23) Double Dipping and Offset Market Issues (35:22) Conclusion

When the Cat Specialist Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, or IUCN, met in San Diego in 2019 they were keen to identify fresh insights in jaguar conservation. Delayed due to COVID, the effort got back on track in 2023 and this winter its findings were published. It seemed like a good moment to check in with some of WCS's leading jaguar conservationists to see how Latin America's biggest cat is faring.  Read the IUCN Cat Specialist Group jaguar status report HERE.Reporting: Nat MossGuests: Esteban Payan, Rob Wallace, Mariana da Silva

Charles and Jon talk to conservationist Bill Robichaud, best known for his work to protect what many would argue is the world's most enigmatic mammal: the Saola.Saolas - a beautifully marked 100kg bovid - are often referred to as the 'Asian Unicorn' because of their scimitar-like horns and rarity. The species, first discovered by scientists in 1992 in the mountains of Vietnam, is one of the most stunning zoological discoveries of the past 100 years. Bill has dedicated his career to trying to learn more about - and protect - them, including helping to set up the IUCN's Saola Working Group and the Saola Foundation. In a fascinating conversation he talks about how the species was first discovered, and the handful of live animals that have been seen since. He offers hope for the species' survival and what more might be done to save them from extinction.For more information visit www.mammalwatching.com/podcastNotes: There are plenty of interviews with Bill online including this video of a talk he made in 2015. Before talking to Bill we had a chat with fellow mammalwatcher Greg Easton, who has submitted several trip reports over the years including this guide to the mammals of Yellowstone. Cover Art: Saola.Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in over 110 countries.

Today Jack is celebrating International Chameleon Day with Chris Anderson and Fano Ratsoavina from the IUCN Chameleon Specialist Group! With over 200 different species, chameleons are some of the most incredibly inspiring animals on Earth - you are going to fall in love with them! Today, the group dispel some of the misconceptions people have surrounding chameleons, celebrate their uniqueness and tell you all about how you can help to protect them!  They also discuss how you can celebrate International Chameleon Day, discover what made Chris and Fano fall in love with Chameleons in the first place, and discuss some of their favourite 'non-chameleon' under-appreciated species!  Useful Links Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! We are @PangolinPodcast

On this episode, my guests are Martin Lena and Linda Poppe of Survival International. They join me to discuss “fortress conservation” in the Congo, the issues facing Kahuzi-Biega National Park, and the recent victories of Survival International there. Linda is a political scientist and director of the Berlin office of Survival International, the global movement for Indigenous peoples' rights. She is also part of Survival's campaign to Decolonize Conservation, which supports Indigenous peoples, who continue to suffer land theft and human rights abuses in the name of conservation.Martin is an advocacy officer for Survival International. He primarily works on Survival's campaign to Decolonize Conservation and has collected testimonies directly from communities facing violations of their rights in the name of conservation. Show Notes:What Conservation Looks like in the Democratic Republic of the CongoThe Evictions of the BatwaSafari Tourism in DRC ConflictThe Militarization of Conservation in Kahuzi-Biega National ParkLand Guards vs Land GuardiansOrganizing Victory! Scrapping French Involvement in Kahuze-BiegaThe German Government Continues to Fund the ParkSolidarity: How to Respond / Act in ConcertHomework:Survival International: French government scraps funding plan for Kahuzi-Biega National Park, citing human rights concernsSurvival International Decolonize Conservation CampaignBalancing Act: The Imperative of Social and Ecological Justice in Kahuzi-BiegaTranscript:Chris: [00:00:00] Welcome to the End of Tourism Podcast, Martin and Linda. I'd love it if I could start by asking you two to explain to our listeners where you two find yourselves today and what the world looks like there for you. Linda: Well, hi everyone. My name is Linda. I work for Survival International and I'm in Berlin. I'm at home, actually, and I look forward to talking to you and chatting with you.It's dark outside already, but, well, that's, I guess, the time of the year. Martin: And I'm based in Paris, also at home, but I work at Survival's French office. And how does the world feel right now? It feels a bit too warm for October, but other than that. Chris: Well, thank you both for for joining me today. I'd like to begin by reminiscing on the season three interview that I had with your colleague Fiore Longo, entitled "Decolonizing Conservation in Africa and Beyond."And in that interview, we discussed the history [00:01:00] of conservation as colonization in the context of Tanzania and the national parks that were built there and the indigenous lands that were stolen in order to do so. I'm curious if you two could offer a bit of background for our listeners in terms of the history of conservation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and especially in regards to the Batwa people and the Kahuzi Biega National Park.Linda: We were quite you know, astonished of the colonial history that, we find in the park where we're here to discuss today. Well, the Congo, obviously, you know, was a colony. And I think in this context, we also need to look at the conservation that is happening in the DRC today.And a lot of the things that you have discussed with our colleague, feel very true for the DRC as well. And the, the park that we're going to look at today, I think it's probably [00:02:00] also the best example to start to explain a little bit what conservation looks like in DRC. It's an older park, so it was created a longer time ago, and it was always regarded as something that is there to protect precious nature for people to look at and not for people to go and live in.And this is exactly what the problem is today, which we see continues, that the people that used to live on this land are being pushed outside violently, separated from the land which they call home, which is everything for them, the supermarket, the church, the school, just in the name of conserving supposed nature.And unfortunately, this is something that we see all over the DRC and different protected areas that exist there, that we still follow this colonial idea of mostly European [00:03:00] conservationists in history and also currently that claim that they're protecting nature, often in tandem with international conservation NGOs.In the park we look at today, it's the Wildlife Conservation Society, and they're, yeah, trying to get rid of the original inhabitants that have guarded these spaces for such a long time. Martin: To build on that, in our campaign to decolonize conservation and survival, we often say that fortress conservation has deep colonial roots and you can definitely see that with the the actual history of the of Kahuzi Biega National Park because it started as a reserve that was created by the Belgian colonial government in 1937 and It was transformed into a national park after independence.So in the 70s, but it was still designated as such following the lobbying of a Belgian conservationist. So it's really the continuation the Western and the European will to keep controlling the, [00:04:00] the independent territories. And that in Africa oftentimes was done through conservation.Linda: And it also has this idea of, I think a lot of the conservation projects that we see, Martin just said it, there was also this post independence push on creating national parks, which was obviously related to the idea that Europeans might lose hold of control in certain areas, so they were pushing for the creation of national parks like the Kahuzi Biega National Park.And that is the setting that we're talking about, basically, something that has very colonial roots and has been pushed into the post colonial era, but in a way which is actually very colonial. Chris: Thank you both for that brief, brief history and introduction into what we'll be speaking about today, Linda, you mentioned that so many of the circumstances around the creation of these national parks includes the exclusion and [00:05:00] displacement of the original inhabitants.And in this case, among others, this includes the Batwa people. And so I'd like to just give our listeners a little bit of a context for what's happened to the Batwa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. And so the statistics tell us that "over 90 percent of the 87, 000 indigenous Batwa people in the park have lost legal access to their native territory, turned into conservation areas, and who are desperately poor," according to a 2009 United Nations report.Now, in a recent Reuters article, it's written that, quote, "Local human rights and environmental experts say that the authorities failure to fulfill promises to the Batwa has undermined efforts to protect the forest and its endangered species, including some of the last populations of eastern lowland gorilla.Some of the Batwa around the [00:06:00] park participate in the illegal poaching, mining, and logging that are destroying the gorilla's globally significant habitat. As a result, the conservation outlook for the park is critical, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature." The article goes further and says that "the Batwa have no choice because they are poverty stricken, according to Josue Aruna, president of the province's environmental civil society group, who does community outreach for the Batwa." It seems in this way that the land rights and traditional lifestyles of the Batwa are intimately tied to the health and survival of the ecosystems within the national park, which they've been excluded from, and that their poverty is a consequence of their displacement. Do you think that the issue is as simple as that? Martin: It's always interesting to read these reports from the conservationists, whether it's the IUCN or the NGOs, because the problem is always "the local people. So they are poor and they [00:07:00] have no choice. They participate in poaching." and it's always their fault.Like you were saying, if they end up being poor it's because they were evicted from the land. And as Linda was saying earlier, the forest and the land more generally is everything to them or was everything to them. So it's not only the place where they get food, it's also the whole basis of their identity and their way of life.So once they lose that, they end up in our world, capitalist system, but at the lowest possible level. So, that's why they end up in poverty. But it's a problem that was created by the conservationists themselves. And even when you read Their discourse or their position about trying to improve the situation for the Batwa, it's always about generating revenue ,lifting them out of poverty, developing alternative livelihoods. But what we are campaigning for is not some alternative to the loss of their rights. It's Their land rights themselves. And to go to your other question [00:08:00] about the fact that the loss of their land rights has led to a degrading in the health of the ecosystem.I think, yes, for sure. That has been the case, and it's what we're seeing all around the world in these protected areas that are supposed to protect nature. But actually, once you evict the best conservationists and the people that were taking care of the land for decades, then there is room for all kinds of exploitation whether it be mass tourism or luxury safaris or even mining and logging concessions.So it's not a coincidence if 80 percent of the biodiversity on the planet is located in indigenous territories. It's because they have lived in the land. It's not wild nature. They have lived there for generations. They have protected it and they have shaped it through their practices. So, to us, the best way to protect this ecosystem is to ensure that their land rights are respected and blaming them for poaching or putting that on the fact that they are poor, it's just [00:09:00] dishonest and ignoring the basis of the problem.Linda: Yeah. I agree. And when you just read out these sentences, I noted down like the way it was formulated, as a result, the park is threatened. It's again, just focusing on the local people as being the problem. Like the protected areas, they are to protect an area from the local people, which I think becomes very clear in the way you explained it. And also, like, Martin, I'm quite struck by the idea that they talk about poor people, but ignoring that, you know, their actions that of the Batwa have also caused this poverty. So it's, in a way, you know, first you make people poor and then you kind of insult them almost for being poor and then, you know, acting accordingly.I think that is quite, you know, ignoring what has happened. And I think it's the same with [00:10:00] the general model of conservation. Like the sentences you read, I mean, there is some sympathy in it, you know, it sounds like, "oh, these poor people," you know, "in a way we regret what has happened and that they were evicted."But it's like "those poor people," they don't really look at, you know, why were they evicted and what are the consequences for our kind of conservation today? Like the consequence could be that the Batwa can return to their land because they are the best guardians and because it would give them a base to, to live, not in poverty.So that consequence, they don't see it's because they ignore all the things that have caused the supposed poverty and have caused this kind of conservation that we see. So, don't think about what we've done in the past, we'll just go on, but that is a problem because they don't learn any lessons from what has happened and that land rights should be so important.Chris: Yeah, I think that it definitely points towards this notion that I think a lot of people are becoming apt to in our [00:11:00] times in these days, which is the general kind of approach to the dilemmas in these contexts are to look at the symptoms of the dilemma and not the causes.And in the context of the eviction and exile, displacement of the Batwa people, one of the articles mentions that "one of the consequences of the induced poverty includes the endangering and further endangering of the eastern lowland gorilla." And I mention this because in my research leading up to this interview, this conversation, I looked into the tourism offerings in Kahuzi Biega, in the National Park, and I found the following.I'm just gonna read off a list of what I did find. " Gorilla safaris, or trekking. Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center tours. Camping safaris. Cultural tours. Bird [00:12:00] watching. Hiking. Climbing and boat cruises." And so my next question is this. To what extent does the safari tourism in the national park play a part in this conflict?Linda: Oh, that's a super interesting question. I mean, it obviously depends on the specific park that you look at. But I think I would say in almost any national park that we look at in Survival, there is some kind of idea that this park needs to have tourists. Tourists need to come and go and see the beauty of nature, ideally Western tourists, so that they become involved in conservation and donate money, and also in a way that tourism would be a way to pay for services that are related to maintaining the park.So it's something that usually always pops up. It's kind of, it's like twins a little bit. And, you know, I, I work on, on [00:13:00] mostly German politics and how they relate to this conservation. And it's something that you can't really separate where you read about conservation projects that the German government funds, you will always also read about tourism.So they're very interlinked. In some parks, you know, there isn't a lot of tourism because the situation is not very attractive to western tourists, but the idea is always there. And then the extent to which tourism actually happens obviously differs and then has different effects. In some parks that we work on, There's a lot of tourism, there's a lot of creation of infrastructure for tourists, hotels, for roads, for tourist vehicles to go places.Then it obviously has a much stronger impact on the area and also on the people that live there. If there are less tourists, then the actual effect of tourism is, of course, a little bit less than it might sound in these proposals to have tourists there at all.Chris: In the [00:14:00] context of conflict zones, which from what I understand this particular park in the Congo is a conflict zone, or at least parts of it, that tourism can act as a kind of barrier between local populations or local ecologies and the consequences of those conflict zones, right? But it doesn't necessarily stop the conflict. It just turns it underground, it turns a kind of blind eye to it, waiting, in most instances that I know of, until the organized crime in the area ends up getting, you know, their hands into the economy of, of the tourism itself.Martin: Yeah, I mean, I agree with Linda that it's always there and it's always under the discourse and it's never only about conservation, there's always tourism. And often the national parks are created for this purpose. If you read the UNESCO definition or the IUCN definition of what a national park is, it says it's also for [00:15:00] recreation.So these places are built for tourists. against the locals. So, yeah, it's always there and it's even in the definition.Linda: So yeah, when you said tourism is a barrier in some cases tourism can amplify the problems that are there because there is more eviction or there's more interest of, for example, governments to evict people, to create this great picture of nature, which is so attractive to tourists.So I think, I would find it as something that can really worsen the situation. I think from what I've seen, you know. We sometimes talk about sustainable tourism or respectful tourism, but in the terms of conservation projects, my impression really is that it's been harmful.And the indigenous populations that work in tourism, which is one of the things that funders of conservation projects often [00:16:00] say, that they can find jobs in tourism. A lot of these jobs are not very good. And I would argue that a lot of times people need to take these jobs because they have lost the choice to not take a job and live from the forest.Chris: Yeah, it's an interesting thing to wonder about in the little research that I did around what's happening in this particular park in the Congo, that there are rebel groups. It is a conflict zone, and yet there are these tourism offerings, right? And that surely, the champions of the National Park and conservation and in many areas would say, "well, you know, the more, the more tourism we can get in here the more we can undermine at least the economic causes if not the political ones that are contributing to the violence," when in fact, from what I can understand from Survival's work, that this is just deepens the causes that produced that conflict and that exile in the first place.Linda: Yeah. And I think there's also [00:17:00] perception of injustice, which we shouldn't underestimate. I mean, if you're an indigenous person that has been violently evicted or whose family has been violently evicted from a certain area, and then you see, Western tourists mostly, which are rich, you know, pay a lot of money for these trips, are allowed to go in and use that area in a way. I think that also creates, yeah, a sense of injustice, which is also, yeah, it's quite, quite sad. Chris: Mm hmm. Definitely. And then that's certainly what we see in over touristed places around the world and in places that are just starting to become over touristed, this kind of deep resentment amongst locals for the inequalities, the growing inequalities and yeah, as well, the injustices that these industries bring.And so on that point of conflict zones, especially in and around Kahuzi Biega. I wanted to ask you both a question around the militarization of conservation. So, [00:18:00] some people believe that militarized park police, which is what exists in this park, are a necessary evil.Officially, at least, "the guards protect the park from armed militias or rebel groups in the area, ensuring that they stay out of the park." Of course, those who they confront and sometimes attack also include the indigenous people, the Batwa in this case, who are trying to retake and reclaim their ancestral lands.And the argument is that without the guards, the land would fall into the hands of much more malevolent groups or forces. And so how do you think the presence of armed conflict as well as militarized conservation guards complicates the issue? Linda: That's a tough question. Well, maybe I can just give like a little anecdote.It was actually about this park, the [00:19:00] Kahuzi Biega National Park, and we were talking to German politicians and government officials about the problem of conflict and about the problem that these park rangers you know, are trained and have a lot of weapons, which seems very militant. And they, they were seeing the problem.They were seeing that this is probably not the best thing they should do, support security forces in an area which is already so problematic. But their thinking was, if we don't give them the money, now we have created this this force, basically. We have hired people, we have trained them.Now, if we stop supporting them, what are they going to do? You know, they're gonna maybe take the training and their weapons and make it even worse. So in a way, I mean, this was off record, right? They were just kind of thinking out loud. But in a way, they were seeing that the projects that they have supported have created structures which [00:20:00] very likely will increase conflict.And it seems quite obvious also because you see all these conflicts with indigenous peoples. So, I'm not going to say that it's a very peaceful area and there is not a need maybe for people to defend themselves. But in a way, the structures that we have in militarized conservation are not the solution.You know, they make the situation much more complicated than it initially was. And now, like, in this park, we're in a situation where we witness terrible human rights abuses, and everyone's scared to act and do something because it could get even worse. And it's, yeah, it doesn't seem like a very good solution.I think we need another way. We can't just stick our head, and say, oh, you know, we just go on, we'll just go on and then let someone else deal with it in a few years. I don't think that's a very good solution. Very good example.Martin: And it's questionable also to what extent do these these guards, these armed [00:21:00] rangers actually protect the, the parks and the species because they are here supposedly to fight against illegal wildlife trade and poaching and everything.But what studies have shown is that the root cause of of poaching and of the, of the illegal wildlife trade is mostly the demand for such products that comes from industrialized countries or at least other parts of the world and the system is made for the guards to take action against the local population and not against the actual criminal networks that lead to illegal wildlife trade and poaching.They get money for people they arrest and the easiest people to find are the locals that are trying to get to their ancestral lands. And there's also sometimes the park management involved in these criminal networks. So, you pretend to put in place a system to fight against illegal wildlife trade, but there ends up being no choice but [00:22:00] for the guards to, to take on the local people. Linda: Maybe we should also think about the indigenous populations as guards, or maybe guardians is the better word, of this area. And if we zoom out of the DRC and look at South America, where we have much stronger land rights... it's not perfect, but of course, better for indigenous people.They often act as guardians or guards of these territories, even though they're also confronted with illegal logging, quite brutal illegal logging, for example. But in a way, they are there and they, of course, are supported by authorities ideally, in defending these territories, but you see a less violent or militarized conflict because you have the indigenous guardians, as opposed to starting out with their protected [00:23:00] areas and armed guards, which are not just there to defend themselves, but have extensive rights of use of violence, and they don't have to fear any repercussions if something goes wrong and they kill, for example, an indigenous person.I mean, that's what we've seen in this park, that they can basically act with impunity. Chris: And thank you, Linda, for offering that example of the difference or the contrast between places like the Kahuzi Biega National Park and the DRC and other places in South America, for example, where there is this inherited intergenerational understanding of guardianship and while there's only maybe a half a century of conservation industry in these places, of course, they're an extension of the colonial project or projects that were undertaken much further back in time in places like Africa and places like the DRC before it was known as such.And then what happens, you know, after X amount of [00:24:00] generations after this kind of exile and displacement, that there is no lived memory anymore of what it means to be a guardian of your place. And I don't just mean as a title, but in terms of how you guard that place, as an indigenous person.We might be able to say that the Western world or the modern world that that's very much what we've become is people who are unable to remember or have a lived memory of what it's like to adequately stand as guardians for a place. You know, I think with the work that you two in Survival International are doing, there's a path forward towards that.And I'd like to remind our listeners that we're also here speaking today in part because there was a victory that was won by Survival International on behalf of the Batwa people and activists like yourself. And so I'd like to just read very briefly from [00:25:00] July 2023 press release from Survival International, in which it is said that, quote, "in a landmark decision, the French government has scrapped its plan to fund the controversial Kahuzi Biega National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo."France's Minister of State for Development, francophonie and International Partnerships, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, confirmed that the plan to begin financing the Kahuzi Biega National Park has been scrapped. Ms. Zacharopoulou said, quote, "It has been abandoned, in line with our requirement for the respect of human rights."So first of all, I'd like to say congratulations to you both and to your teams at Survival for for getting this this victory and for doing the work you need to do in order to get there. And I'd like to [00:26:00] ask about the strategies that were employed in order to revoke French support for the park. You know, so many of these efforts and victories are either ignored in the context of the endless dilemmas or they're celebrated kind of superficially without considering the work it took to organize such campaigns.And so my question is, how has this campaign been organized by Survival International? Martin: Well, to give a bit of context the first time we heard about the French Development Agency planning on funding Kahuzi Biega, it was in the exact same time period as the publication of a report by Minority Rights Group International detailing brutal waves of violence in 2019 and until 2020 of appalling human rights abuses. So, atrocities that including murder, torture, rape [00:27:00] the burning alive of children, the burning of villages. So, we are, in this context, where we are reading the minority rights group report and understanding the scale of these waves of violence against the Batwa.And around the same period, we see that the French Development Agency has been a delegation, including the director, has been to the park and plans on funding it. So, of course we are appalled and and decide to write to the French Development Agency, but also to the to the ministry that has oversight.So, one of them is the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. And then we wait. And then we also got the support of a senator who also sent a letter and asked a question in Parliament to the government about their plan to fund this park in the context of these human rights violations.And so in July 2022, so last year, they decided to suspend temporarily the project. It was also in the context of an internal scandal because there was an expert[00:28:00] in the field and contracted by the French development agency to carry out a feasibility study. And he was basically saying around, and it can be heard in recordings saying that basically the study is just a formality and that the decision to fund the park has already been made.So there's both scandals. An internal scandal about the due diligence apparently being considered a formality on the field and the scandal of the very detailed report that had just gone out about the atrocities. So, that led to a temporary suspension. And they said that they would conclude the study and look into the abuses into social aspects.And then a year passed and we kept sending letters, of course, and doing some public campaigning about it on social media, et cetera. And then the senator asked again a question in July this year, and that's when we learned that the project was cancelled. So, of course, it's a victory, and it shows that sometimes the government actually does have the oversight[00:29:00] on the development agencies and takes the right decisions.But, of course, it's just the whole model still needs to be challenged and the park still has many international backers, even in the context of the atrocities that we that we know about. Chris: Mm. So the senator that asked about the status of the funding and found out that it was in fact scrapped, the scrapping of the funding was never made public until that point?Or there was never any press release saying so? Martin: No, they made it public, In the answer to the question, orally, in, in commission in Parliament. Chris: Mm. And would there be no way that the French public, for example, would be able to find out about this otherwise?Martin: I don't think so. And to be honest, I'm not even sure the decision had been taken before. I think they looked into it again because the senator asked a question again, but that's just speculation. Chris: And you spoke about writing letters, obviously to politicians and to the ministries [00:30:00] and also social media campaigns. Do you think there was more of an effect on the scrapping of the funding because of the public campaign, the social media campaign? Martin: Yeah, I think and that's basically the whole premise on which our campaigns are based is that an efficient mobilization of the public opinion will lead and the fact that the public cares and is informed will lead to a more efficient lobbying and advocacy of the governments and, and other government agencies. So yeah, I think one can't go without the other. And I don't know what would have happened if only the Senator had asked the questions or if only the Senator had asked a question or if we had only sent a letter and no public campaigning at all, or no press release, or no social media, I don't know. So I think, yeah, both go hand in hand.Chris: Mm hmm.So do you think that without the report from the Minority Rights Group, that the funding would have gone ahead, regardless of what was actually happening there? Martin: It's possible because we know that the funders were aware for years and [00:31:00] years of the human rights violations. And even before the waves of violence that are described in the report, we know that they were aware of that risk of violence at that time and of the human rights violation in the whole context of the militarized park.So, I think it could have very well gone ahead, because the other funders knew and kept funding it. And yeah, it's very important to get that kind of report with very detailed testimonies and information from the ground, and really documenting these atrocities. Otherwise, it's just business as usual.Chris: And the original proposal for the funding at least by the French government or the ministries involved, they were basically just promoting conservation in the way that it typically is. That's what the funding was for? Martin: Well, it's hard to know because they never published anything and actually, they never actually started funding it.It was just, just a project. Like I said, they went on a visit there and started making [00:32:00] promise to the local conservation agencies and to the local authorities. It's not clear to this day what exactly they were planning on funding, but it was clearly stated that there were planning on supporting the park itself, but I don't know for which kind of activities, but still, funding the same structure that that has been responsible for these abuses is still unacceptable.Chris: Mm hmm sounds "sketchy," as we say in English. And and so for our listeners, just a little bit of further context while France simply abandoned plans, the country had not yet made, or the government had not yet made, Germany continues to finance the park despite France's, however, subtle acknowledgment of human rights violations.And so, Linda, my question for you is, first of all, why is Germany funding a national park in the DRC to begin with? And, if you know, [00:33:00] how does that money get spent? Linda: Well, I guess the, the German interest in this park is pretty old, so the German government started funding the park already in the 80s.And there were some other projects even before that, supposedly. But it's considered to be a very, well, it obviously is a very long running project financed by the German government. And some local people call it the German park, because they assume that without the German funding, it wouldn't even exist. Like the kind of money that has been given over decades and the kind of things that have been funded, the infrastructure, the Congolese conservation authorities, the park rangers, you know, all the things that were funded basically crucial for the park to function. So yeah, it is a very German funded project. And also the German government has for very, a very long time looked at it as being a prestigious [00:34:00] project.You know, it was this great park, the gorillas, you already mentioned it, you know, and the Germans been funding it, which when you know a bit about German history, post World War II, there was a lot of interest in biodiversity and conservation funding because it was a good thing to do, which gave Germany a little bit of a different international picture than it had after the war.So there was a lot of interest in funding projects, and they were perceived as being fantastic, and they were shown to be these great projects that Germany is supporting internationally. And then, obviously, it isn't, but the German government has been very, very good at denying that there are these problems, and the role that it has had in facilitating these horrific human rights abuses. Mm. Chris: And how, if at all, has the German government responded to the [00:35:00] scrapping of the French funding? Linda: Very good timing, because I just got a response today, actually from the German government. Mm. 'cause we did point out to them that the French government has decided to not fund the park because of the violations of indigenous people's rights and because of human rights concerns. So we pointed this out to the ministry again, just in case, they would not have learned about this themselves. But the reply basically doesn't address this at all. You know, this was what we wrote the letter about and the replies about all the great things that the German government keeps funding and the improvements it is supposedly seeing on the ground and these improvements justifying their continued support.So it's just a letter explaining why they continue funding it and not addressing why maybe partners like the French government have decided not to fund it. And it's something that we have seen over the years. I think [00:36:00] survival first raised human rights violations in the Kahuzi Biega National Park in actually 2017, so that's quite a few years ago.There was a Batwa family. A father with his son, a teenage son. They were going into the park to collect herbs for medicine because another son of the family was sick. They encountered park rangers who killed the teenager and hurt wounded the father. So it was quite a terrible incident.And the father wrote to the German government, to the funders, and he complained about these human rights violations and the fact that the Batwa had lost access to the park and to their livelihood because of the German funding. The German government just said, "well, you know, there's not much we can do about it, basically."They tried to pay some money, but then really nothing, nothing else happened. And over the years, the situation hasn't improved. It has [00:37:00] gotten worse. But the German government keeps saying that they have faith in the Congolese conservation authorities and they do not see grounds to stop the funding or the project.They keep saying that they see progress. And things will get better. And we know it hasn't gone better. Chris: I'd like to return anyways to this this question around tactics and strategies and organizing. It seems that activists and those not directly involved in social movements struggle with the weight of our times.I mean, it's you know, kind of hard to ignore these days. And so, given that the German government, I imagine, is the obvious next target in the campaign to defund Kahuzi Biega, or at least the conservation authorities and programs there, what tactics, what strategies are being employed by Survival in your campaigns, [00:38:00] and how might our listeners in Germany, France, Europe, and, and beyond, how might they participate?Linda: That's a very good question, because, as I said, you know, Survival has been working on this for a few years, and there's a little bit of frustration, of course, that not much is happening in the terms of acknowledging the problem of funding this park. I think what Survival, what we're thinking is, quite important in this issue of conservation is making sure that donors in the West understand that this is a very symptomatic problem.So, a lot of conservation projects function like this and it is because there is this underlying problem with them, that they do not acknowledge land rights. But they continue to say that certain government authorities or certain conservation organizations are best put to run these places. It's the same with the [00:39:00] Kahuzi Biega National Park.The German government now says, "well, we know there are problems, so we pull in the WCS. They're the conservation organization and everything will be better. But it won't because they also have a record of not respecting indigenous people's rights. So, we need to make them understand that there is this underlying issue of not acknowledging indigenous people's land rights.And we try to do this by pointing out that this is a problem which is happening in a lot of national parks. So, protected areas that Survival has looked at in Africa and Asia, almost all of them, even the ones that we were told were good examples, have these problems. And we try to show that to the donors that have such big impact on these conservation projects and make them rethink what they're doing.It's a very difficult process, of course, because they've always done it in a different way. And now it's hard for them to think [00:40:00] about, you know, giving control and power to local people, which until now they've always said is a threat to conservation. It's like a total turn of what they assumed so far.But for us, it seems like that's the thing that we have to do for them to actually acknowledge the problem, because otherwise all the solutions that they come up with are not real solutions. They put people like the WCS in power, which is also not going to respect the Batwas' rights. Chris: Yeah, I think one of the critiques around development is in the context of these industries, especially things like conservation, volunteerism is another one that as industries, you would imagine that they would have in their mission statement, or vision, or ten-year plan, the slow and intentional disappearance of their own industry, right? Because if what they were [00:41:00] doing was working, we would need less of them. And there would be less of them, but here we are, right? And it's just, of course, a massively growing industry, both conservation and volunteerism. Martin: Yeah, it's true that our key targets are the donors, because like many of the issues that indigenous peoples are facing across the world, the root of the problem and the funding for these problems come from the West and our societies. So that's going to remain one of our targets and key part of the strategy. I think we are starting to see a shift in the discourse, in France, at least. And when we talk to the politicians, we also see that shift, that shift in the discourse of the conservation NGOs, but it's still as harmful. So instead of saying that these places are wild and empty and that the local artists are destroying it or encroaching, well, they still say it, but they also say that what we were saying before about the poverty issue and that [00:42:00] they will generate new projects and new activities and development basically.So, I think that they are starting to acknowledge the presence of these people. They couldn't be further from recognizing their land rights because, like you said, otherwise it means their own disappearance, and they're not built for that. Linda: Yeah, so it's a difficult, it's a difficult thing. I mean, I think we try to talk to people that are more inclined to understand the importance of indigenous people's rights so that we can have a base of people that support our campaigning, which is very important for us.And then we select our targets and try to engage the people that support us in convincing these targets to change projects or change their minds. And sometimes, you know, that can just be it a tweet that texts someone who we know makes decisions about certain [00:43:00] projects, try to raise awareness that there is concern about this project, that some people disagree, that this doesn't comply with human rights, that this doesn't comply with, agreements or treaties they're supporting for indigenous people's rights.And sometimes it's a more complex lobbying strategy. So there are different things we try to do and sometimes, like we saw with the example of the French government, sometimes it works because there's timing, there's different things coming together. But obviously, even though we have a lot of strategies, it's always difficult to know what will work in the end.So we try different things and try to engage with people that will help us spread the word about the need to decolonize conservation and do it differently and acknowledge land rights. And sometimes it's little things that really change a lot. Sometimes we work on something for a long time and it wasn't the right strategy and we need to change.[00:44:00] Chris: Well, speaking of how might our listeners find out more about Survival International and the decolonize conservation campaigns and especially around the work that you two are doing. Martin: Well, I strongly encourage people to read more of our campaigns on the website, on social media, also to subscribe to our newsletter, because that's where we mostly share our urgent actions.So which are one of our tools to put pressure on the targets. So, mass emails basically sent by our supporters to the targets about specific projects. And we also publish some video, direct video testimonies in our tribal voice projects, as we call it.So if they want to listen to, to the victims explaining the problems they are facing, but also the way of life that they have lost or sometimes more inspiring things about the resistance and and the fight. I think it's also very interesting to hear directly from the people affected.But yeah, I strongly encourage people to join the movement by [00:45:00] any means possible. And sometimes as Linda said, just small actions like a tweet or sending an email through these campaigns can be can really make an impact and and it does help ensure that the advocacy and the lobbying is effective.Linda: Yeah, and I think it's also a nice way to picture that you're showing solidarity with, for example, the Batwa, who often perceive the Western donors as being the cause of their problem. And I think for them, it's nice to see that there are also people in the countries that, where the problems originate that are standing up for their rights and supporting them.And I think it's probably the least we can do also, because we're so obsessed with African nature that I think it would be a very good step for us to think about the people that live in these places.Chris: Yeah, absolutely. And maybe not immediately or superficially in part because of the inundations and the dilemmas in our times, but that kind of [00:46:00] solidarity can begin to break down as well, the largely like unconscious nationalist tendencies we have when we think of other people in other countries, we always associate those people with their governments, right?Which is just like, absolutely ridiculous when anyone thinks of themselves in relation to their own government, right? But these are two faces, two voices of the resistance that are working on behalf of many others.And so I just wanted to reiterate that we're here today just to have the chance to be able to speak about a little bit about this this small victory that all willing will lead to many more to much bigger ones in regards to the Decolonize Conservation campaign of Survival International.It takes work and I'm grateful to be able to speak with you both today and to have you share some of your work and your dedication with our listeners and I will make sure that all of those links that you mentioned, Martin, will be on the End of Tourism website and available for our [00:47:00] listeners to sign up to the newsletter and follow on social media and of course participate if they so wish.Thank you both. Linda: Thanks. Martin: Thank you.​ Get full access to ⌘ Chris Christou ⌘ at chrischristou.substack.com/subscribe

Today, you'll learn about a new study shedding light on what species are most vulnerable to extinction from climate change, why species of living fossils take their time evolving, and a new theory about how the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs also impacted birds. Extinction Risk “New study reveals insight into which animals are most vulnerable to extinction due to climate change.” University of Oxford. 2024. “What is mass extinction and are we facing a sixth one?” by Tammana Begum. 2021. Updated 2023. “Mass extinctions, their causes and consequences: an interview with Douglas H. Erwin and Shuzhong Shen.” by Shucheng Xie. 2023. “Species and climate change.” IUCN. 2021. “Humanity's Fitting Place on the List of Mass Extinction Events.” by Sam Baker. 2018. Living Fossils “Study of slowly evolving ‘living fossils' reveals key genetic insights.” by Mike Cummings. 2024. “A New Discovery Reveals Why Darwin's ‘Living Fossil' Keeps Defying Evolution.” by Tim Newcomb. 2024. “Giraffe Evolution.” by Adam Atwood. 2024. Asteroid vs Birds “An Asteroid Wiped Out Dinosaurs. Did It Help Birds Flourish?” by Carl Zimmer. 2024. “Dust Might Have Snuffed Out the Dinosaurs.” by Miriam Fauzia. 2023. “How Did Birds First Take Off?” by Carl Zimmer. 2023. “Genomes, fossils, and the concurrent rise of modern birds and flowering plants in the Late Cretaceous.” by Shaoyuan Wu, et al. 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.