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Opinion: Finding joy in birdwatching: A personal journey

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Thursday, April 4, 2024

Ed Yong shares how dedicating time to birdwatching transformed his appreciation for nature and his own well-being.Ed Yong writes for The New York Times.In short:Ed Yong, a seasoned science writer, recounts how becoming a dedicated birdwatcher has enriched his life, increasing his time outdoors and deepening his connection to nature.After embracing birding, Yong observed over 450 species, developing an intimate knowledge of avian life and their habitats through extensive research and fieldwork.Birdwatching has not only been a meditative practice for Yong but also a gateway to exploring his surroundings in Oakland, California, in novel and profound ways.Key quote:"Birding has tripled the time I spend outdoors."— Ed Yong, science writerWhy this matters:In a world often dominated by screens and urban living, birdwatching offers an accessible escape to the natural world, reminding us of the beauty and complexity of life beyond human constructs. It's a gentle nudge to slow down, observe, and listen, fostering a sense of wonder and respect for the natural world that can inspire both personal growth and greater environmental consciousness.Be sure to read our 2014 coverage: Winged Warnings: Built for survival, birds in trouble from pole to pole.

Ed Yong shares how dedicating time to birdwatching transformed his appreciation for nature and his own well-being.

Ed Yong writes for The New York Times.

In short:

Ed Yong, a seasoned science writer, recounts how becoming a dedicated birdwatcher has enriched his life, increasing his time outdoors and deepening his connection to nature.
After embracing birding, Yong observed over 450 species, developing an intimate knowledge of avian life and their habitats through extensive research and fieldwork.
Birdwatching has not only been a meditative practice for Yong but also a gateway to exploring his surroundings in Oakland, California, in novel and profound ways.

Key quote:

"Birding has tripled the time I spend outdoors."

— Ed Yong, science writer

Why this matters:

In a world often dominated by screens and urban living, birdwatching offers an accessible escape to the natural world, reminding us of the beauty and complexity of life beyond human constructs. It's a gentle nudge to slow down, observe, and listen, fostering a sense of wonder and respect for the natural world that can inspire both personal growth and greater environmental consciousness.

Be sure to read our 2014 coverage: Winged Warnings: Built for survival, birds in trouble from pole to pole.

Read the full story here.

Photos courtesy of

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Heart-shaped mollusc has windows that work like fibre optics

Tiny, solid windows in the shells of heart cockles let in light for the photosynthetic algae inside them – and they could show us how to make better fibre-optic cables

Heart cockles come in many colours and host photosynthetic algae inside their shellsDakota McCoy A heart-shaped mollusc has evolved tiny windows that work like fibre-optic cables, the first known example in nature. Heart cockles (Corculum cardissa) are bivalve molluscs a bit like clams that have a symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic algae that live inside them. The algae have a safe home, get light to photosynthesise and provide nutrients for their hosts. Unlike other bivalves, heart cockles don’t open their shells up wide, yet they somehow funnel light to their interior even while staying shut. Now, Dakota McCoy at the University of Chicago and her colleagues have found that there are transparent calcium carbonate crystal structures in the heart cockle shells that function like fibre-optic bundles, letting light inside to bathe the algae. “If you don’t have to open and can just have a transparent window, that’s a very safe way to irradiate your algae,” says McCoy. The researchers examined fragments of different heart cockle shells and the transparent structures within them, as well as the intensity and colour of light that gets through. They found that the windows were made from long, thin fibres of a mineral called aragonite – a form of calcium carbonate – which lets twice as much of the photosynthetically useful light through as it does harmful ultraviolet light. “We put on sunblock because UV causes mutations and cancer. The heart cockles are using these windows as a sunblock,” says McCoy. Heart cockle shells illuminated from within to show the transparent windows in their shells, which can be little triangles (left) or stripes (right)Dakota McCoy While the aragonite threads look similar to manufactured fibre optics, they lack a protective, insulating sheath, called cladding, yet transmit light just as effectively. This could serve as an inspiration for cladding-free fibre-optic cables, which would be cheaper to manufacture. The natural, UV-blocking properties of the shells could also be used to help protect corals, which, like the cockles, host photosynthetic algae inside them, but are more susceptible to environmental stresses like light and heat, says McCoy.

Nature

As Australia privatises nature repair, the cheapest approach won’t save our threatened species

Australia’s carbon credit scheme largely fails to protect threatened species, despite assumptions to the contrary. The findings provide cautionary lessons for the nature repair scheme.

ShutterstockAustralia is a world-leader in species extinction and environmental decline. So great is the problem, the federal government now wants to harness money from the private sector to pay for nature repair. Under the government’s new “nature repair market”, those who run projects to restore and protect the environment are rewarded with biodiversity credits. These credits can be sold to private buyers, such as corporations wanting to meet environmental goals. The nature repair market is similar in many ways to Ausralia’s existing carbon credit scheme. So, examining the extent to which carbon projects actually protect biodiversity is important as the government sets up the nature repair market. This was the focus of our new research. Alarmingly, we found Australia’s carbon credit scheme largely fails to protect threatened species, despite assumptions to the contrary. The findings provide cautionary lessons for the nature repair scheme. Spotlight on the carbon credit scheme Australia’s carbon credit scheme encourages activities that reduce carbon. They include planting trees, reducing animal grazing on vegetation, or retaining vegetation instead of cutting it down. Project proponents earn credits for carbon reduction, which can then be sold on a carbon market. The scheme also purports to offer “non-carbon” benefits. These include increasing biodiversity and expanding habitats for native species. Indeed, biodiversity conservation has underpinned the carbon credit scheme since it began in 2011. But does the carbon scheme actually benefit biodiversity? To answer this question, we overlaid the locations of carbon-reduction projects with the locations of habitat for threatened plants and animals species. We then scored the level of degradation of each habitat, and identified the processes imperilling the threatened species. So what did we find? Threatened species most in need of habitat restoration are the least likely to have their habitat restored under the carbon credit scheme. Projects under the scheme are primarily located in arid parts of Australia not suitable for growing crops – mostly vast cattle grazing leases. Carbon projects here involve inexpensive activities such as removing some cattle or managing weeds. These areas support habitat for only 6% of Australia’s threatened species. In other words, vegetation loss here generally doesn’t threaten species’ survival. In contrast, just 20% of carbon projects take place on productive agricultural land which supports nearly half of Australia’s threatened species. In these areas, property values are high and landholders can earn good money from farming. That means carbon-reduction projects are often less financially attractive than other land uses, so their number and size is limited. So what’s the upshot? Australia’s carbon projects are concentrated in areas containing little threatened species habitat, rather than where threatened species live and most need protecting. Government policies enable this perverse outcome, by giving preference to projects that can reduce carbon for the lowest cost. This has skewed projects towards unpopulated, relatively unproductive lands. There’s an upside It’s not all bad news, however. We found the carbon credit scheme may protect threatened species in some cases. Almost one-third (or 525) of Australia’s threatened species live in habitat that overlaps with projects under the scheme. In addition, five species whose habitat is not safeguarded in Australia’s protected areas, such as national parks, may also occur on land where carbon projects take place. A further 270 species with too-little protected habitat also overlap with the projects. The potential for positive benefits can be seen by looking at the two regions with the largest concentration of carbon projects in Australia. In the Murchison bioregion in Western Australia, a quarter of species rely on habitat that is not adequately protected elsewhere. In the Mulga bioregion in New South Wales and southwest Queensland, two-thirds of species rely on habitat inadequately protected elsewhere. The Mulga bioregion, one of two in Australia where the carbon credit scheme may protect threatened species. Shutterstock Lessons for nature repair Australia’s nature repair legislation came into effect in late 2023. It creates a framework for the nature repair market which is expected to launch early next year. Our findings provide important lessons for this market. Most importantly, they show a lowest-cost approach to generating credits is unlikely to benefit biodiversity. It will drive projects to marginal areas that do not overlap the ranges of species threatened by habitat loss. If nature repair investment is to prevent species extinctions, the Australian government must ensure taxpayer funds actually achieve these outcomes. The best way to do that is to speed up the progress of promised environmental law reform. Likewise, as global conservation increasingly looks to private finance and biodiversity markets, we must ensure funds are delivered to where they are most needed. Penny van Oosterzee is a Director of the Thiaki Rainforest Research Project, which generates Australian Carbon Credit Units as part of a restoration and research project in the Wet Tropics of Australia. Penny van Oosterzee has been a partner for two Australian Research Council projects. Jayden Engert receives funding from the Australian Commonwealth Government through an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship.

Nature

Animals

Extinction

Negotiations Stall Over Some Crucial Issues on Final Day of UN Biodiversity Summit in Colombia

At the United Nations biodiversity summit in Colombia, negotiators struggle to find common ground on key issues, such as how to finance protections for 30% of the Earth's wild species by 2023 and how to make payments for nature’s genetic data

CALI, Colombia (AP) — At the United Nations biodiversity summit in Colombia, negotiators have struggled to find common ground on key issues.These include how to finance protections for 30% of the world's plants and animals by 2030, how to establish a permanent body for Indigenous peoples and how to make payments for nature’s genetic data that's used to create commercial products.The two-week conference, known as COP16, was due to wrap up Friday, although observers say negotiations could go into the weekend. In 2022, the biodiversity summit in Montreal, COP15, established a framework for countries to go about saving plummeting global ecosystems. This year’s follow-up summit was to put plans into motion. "COP15 was all about the ‘what’; this was supposed to be about the ‘how,’” Georgina Chandler, head of policy and campaigns at The Zoological Society of London, told The Associated Press. Wealthy nations pledged in Montreal’s summit to raise $20 billion in annual conservation financing for developing nations by 2025 — with that rising to $30 billion annually by 2030. “I don’t think we’ve seen governments come here with increased commitments towards the $20 billion significant enough that we’re going to achieve that," Chandler said. "That’s fallen a bit short.”The lack of financial pledges from wealthy countries prompted 20 ministers from the Global South to release a joint statement calling for the need to build trust among nations and for the Global North to meet its finance targets. In the run-up to negotiations, over 230 businesses and financial institutions demanded stronger policy ambitions to address the growing risks of nature loss, said Eva Zabey, CEO of Business for Nature. “In the final stretch at COP16, negotiations are stalling on crucial issues — including the mobilization of meaningful financial resources and a way for companies to ensure the benefits of nature are valued and shared fairly,” Zabey said. “We need governments to put aside their differences and demonstrate real and urgent leadership to deliver a strong COP16 outcome that incentivizes and drives necessary business action, further and faster, to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030,” she said. Who owns nature's DNA was a major topic at the summit. There was tension between poorer and developed countries over digital sequence information on genetic resources (DSI). This would oblige the sharing of benefits when genetic resources from animals, plants or microorganisms are used in biotechnologies. In Montreal, countries agreed to set up a global fund. “The DSI fund was scheduled to be adopted here two years ago. There is no clarity on how money will be gathered from companies,” said Oscar Soria, director of The Common Initiative. “As the text reads it is purely voluntary.” Sources told AP that there has been significant back and forth over wording in the draft agreement by nations. ’It’s clear that a number of points are going down to the wire in the COP16 negotiations," Catherine Weller, Director of Global Policy at charity Fauna & Flora said. One of the biggest controversies during talks was the blocking by a few countries of a Permanent Subsidiary Body for Indigenous Peoples and local communities, who Weller says bring valuable insights to many discussions. “We urge the negotiators to step up and ensure this is finalized,” she said.The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Photos You Should See - Sept. 2024

Nature

Animals

Climate

Green farming budget freeze 'will hit nature work'

Environmental groups warn that next year's farm payments budget will not be enough to protect nature.

Green farming budget freeze 'will hit nature work'Getty ImagesEnvironmental groups say more money needs to be invested in the annual farm payments budgetEnvironmental groups have warned that work to boost biodiversity across the UK countryside will be put at risk by the government’s decision to freeze the level of payments to farms in England.Farmers - already angry at changes to inheritance tax rules announced in the Budget - have been told payments from the public purse will be frozen next year.The Wildlife Trusts say the decision leaves a "monumental gap" between current environmental land management scheme (Elms) funding and what is needed to help farmers protect and boost wildlife and its habitats, while still producing food.The government said it would maintain the £2.4bn current level of farm payments in England for 2025/26, and that its commitment to farming was "steadfast".James GrindalJames Grindal says the government has failed to protect smaller family farmsOne farmer told the BBC he no longer believed the government understood the pressures of producing the nation’s food and protecting the countryside.James Grindal, a mixed arable and livestock farmer in Leicestershire, said: “I wouldn’t think the government has any idea."I think they ought to come and see the reality - the coalface of putting food on people’s plates."In Wednesday's Budget, the Chancellor announced that, while there would continue to be no inheritance tax due on combined business and agricultural assets worth less than £1m, above that there would be a 50% relief, at an effective rate of 20%, from April 2026.While some maintain the new policy is designed in part to cover large-scale landowners who may have invested in farmland for the tax benefit, many in farming say the £1m limit will hit small family farms hardest.Mr Grindal, who has two sons, aged 17 and 19, said he could be hit twice by the changes – on handing down the family farm, and if landowners sell off the land he rents.CLAVictoria Vyvyan from the CLA said the decision to freeze the farming budget would hit sustainable food production"I explained to my youngest son, who asked what the implications were, that if you take 20% off something every time someone dies, it’s not long before you get to nought," he said.“The Chancellor said she wants to protect small farms, but she is protecting the person who made a lot of money somewhere, bought a nice house with 20, 30, 50 acres to have a few horses on."Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Tim Farron said of the changes to agricultural property inheritance tax relief: "This is a family farm tax which risks ringing the death knell for local farmers and the small businesses who rely on them."Conservationists and environmental groups have spoken out on the government’s plans to maintain the farming payments budget at its current annual level of £2.4bn, the majority of which goes on environmental land management schemes.The Wildlife Trusts said around £3.1bn was needed for environmental farming schemes in England, and that maintaining the budget at current levels was a real-terms cut.'Largest ever budget'Elliot Chapman-Jones, the Trusts’ head of public affairs, said: “Ultimately, there is a monumental gap between current funding and what is needed to reverse wildlife declines, clean up rivers and significantly reduce the use of chemicals on farms."Tom Lancaster, land, food and farming analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit think tank, said all the budget did was "maintain the status quo, just about keeping the show on the road for now".The Country Land and Business Association's (CLA) president Victoria Vyvyan said the decision to freeze the budget at the same level would hit hard-pressed farmers.She added: "It could hit sustainable food production and undermine improvements to wildlife habitats, flood management and access to nature."The government said the £2.4bn farming budget for England in 2025/26 would still be the “largest ever budget directed at sustainable food production and nature’s recovery”.Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs Daniel Zeichner said: “Our commitment to farmers and the vital role they play to feed our nation remains steadfast.“That is why this government will commit to the largest ever budget directed at sustainable food production and nature’s recovery in our country’s history, enabling us to keep momentum on the path to a more resilient and sustainable farming sector.”

Nature

Business

Climate

Cape nature reserve granted Green Coast Status

At a special ceremony, WESSA awarded Green Coast Status to Blaauwberg Nature Reserve for the fifth time this year. The post Cape nature reserve granted Green Coast Status appeared first on SA People.

Cape Town’s Blaauwberg Nature Reserve has been again awarded Green Coast Status this year. Markedly, it is the fifth time that the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) has awarded this nature reserve this prestigious status. The award recognises the work that those involved are doing in protecting the environment. About Green Coast Status WESSA, founder of the programme, presented official Green Coast Status to the Blaauwberg Nature Reserve at a special ceremony. The event was held at the Two Oceans Aquarium on 28 October 2024. The award is a recognition of the hard work and effort put in by the parties involved. These include individuals from the Environmental Management Department and the Friends of Blaauwberg Conservation Area. The Green Coast Awards recognise local conservation champions and towns for their effective environmental practices and support of nature-based tourism. As part of WESSA’s advocacy efforts, these awards also provide a platform for citizen science monitoring projects (such as water quality testing and biodiversity surveys), local community activism, and environmental education. These empower individuals to take action in protecting South Africa’s coastlines. About Blaauwberg Nature Reserve The Blaauwberg Nature Reserve in the Cape covers approximately 2 000 hectares of coastal terrain, including inland koppies and flats. It is home to critically endangered vegetation and has a seven-kilometre coastline. Markedly, the Blaauwberg Hill in the reserve is one of the rare spots in the world where you can view two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These are Table Mountain and Robben Island. Along this stretch of coastline, the Green Coast Zone promotes conservation, sustainable tourism and environmental education. Eddie Andrews, City of Cape Town’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, said that this achievement comes as a result of the City’s Environmental Management Department and its implementing partner, the Friends of Blaauwberg Conservation Area’s collective efforts. These include ‘actively monitoring, maintaining, and ensuring the accessibility of the coastline, while providing opportunities for environmental education, sustainable tourism, and the empowerment of local communities’, said Andrews. “Today we can proudly say that Blaauwberg Nature Reserve is a beacon for coastal conservation in Cape Town and South Africa. I am pleased that we have set the ‘Green’ bar.”Eddie Andrews. The post Cape nature reserve granted Green Coast Status appeared first on SA People.

Nature

Activism

Education

Suggested Viewing

Reboot

Humans have exploited Earth to the point where it is no longer possible to live on it. Their only option is to relocate to Mars. When the last group of people has boarded the spaceship for the red planet, the Earth can finally breathe easy. Like an expressionist painting, Reboot depicts a world in which the absence of our species is the only chance nature has to recover its lushness and flourish once more.

Animation

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Cosmos

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Dot

In the not-too-distant future, when depression and loneliness are rampant in modern lifestyles, human limbs have been bent by the extreme use of technological tools, and their field of vision has been limited to the digital screen in front of them. A young man who leads a regular and repetitive life, accidentally notices the beauty of nature and tries to see it again in different ways…

Animation

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El Monte (The Woodland)

In Sierra Maestra, Cuba, José Manuel explains to his granddaughter Malena his world view through deep knowledge of natures' mysteries. Plants and people have great resemblances and must respect each other. José Manuel hopes that Malena inherits the knowledge that he obtained from the father and she becomes a great mountain tree.

Forests

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Family

Karibu Nyumbani

“Karibu Nyumbani” translates as “Welcome to my Home” in Swahili. Guides in the Maasai Mara have a deep-rooted pride, knowledge, and love for wildlife. This film encapsulates that passion from the perspective of George Osono, a guide in Mara North Conservancy, who completely embodies this spirit of caring for nature. Throughout the film, you meet Half Tail, Lola's cubs and the other iconic members of the Marsh Pride, Kweli the Cheetah and her three cubs as they prepare for adulthood, and an impressive elephant named Edwin. This film is visual portrait of the Maasai Mara's majestic wildlife, and the stories of the extraordinary animals that call it home. The film encourages people to see the beauty of these animals, recognise how fragile their existence is and in turn care more about protecting them.

Conservation

Animals

Nature

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Opinion: Finding joy in birdwatching: A personal journey

Related News

Heart-shaped mollusc has windows that work like fibre optics

As Australia privatises nature repair, the cheapest approach won’t save our threatened species

Negotiations Stall Over Some Crucial Issues on Final Day of UN Biodiversity Summit in Colombia

Green farming budget freeze 'will hit nature work'

Cape nature reserve granted Green Coast Status

Suggested Viewing

Reboot

THE SPRAYER

Dot

El Monte (The Woodland)

Karibu Nyumbani

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Opinion: Finding joy in birdwatching: A personal journey

Related News

Heart-shaped mollusc has windows that work like fibre optics

As Australia privatises nature repair, the cheapest approach won’t save our threatened species

Negotiations Stall Over Some Crucial Issues on Final Day of UN Biodiversity Summit in Colombia

Green farming budget freeze 'will hit nature work'

Cape nature reserve granted Green Coast Status

Suggested Viewing

Reboot

THE SPRAYER

Dot

El Monte (The Woodland)

Karibu Nyumbani

Join us to forgea sustainable future

sign up for our mailing list to stay informed on the latest films and environmental headlines.

Join us to forge
a sustainable future