More than 100 organizations from around the world, the majority from the global South, have signed a letter raising critical points about the UN Summit on Biodiversity (30 September 2020), the biodiversity crisis and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Category: Biodiversity
UN officials discuss roadmap to preserve the natural world
28 September 2020 – Top UN officials working to preserve the natural world are urging “action now” ahead of a crucial biodiversity summit this week, where world leaders will reaffirm their commitment to the cause.
Bending the Biodiversity Loss Curve Requires big Change
By Jamison Ervin The UN will be hosting the first-ever Biodiversity Summit – remotely – on September 30. UNITED NATIONS, Sep 23 2020 (IPS) – A spate of reports on biodiversity – the Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystems,…
World lost 100 million hectares of forest in two decades: UN
Paris, Sept 16 – The world has lost nearly 100 million hectares of forests in two decades, marking a steady decline though at a slower pace than before, a UN agency reported Tuesday.
Understanding the benefits of local wetland encourages to save it
by Mantoe Phakathi LAWUBA, Eswatini, Aug 10 2020 (IPS) – Sibonisiwe Hlanze, from Lawuba in Eswatini’s Shiselweni Region, lights up as she shows off her sleeping mat which she made from what she described as “the highest quality indigenous fibre”.
PM launches plantation of 10 mn saplings
Dhaka, July 16: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Thursday inaugurated the distribution and plantation of one crore saplings across the country as a part of the celebration of “Mujib Borsho” (Mujib Year).
PM to inaugurate plantation of 10 mn saplings Thursday
Dhaka, July 15: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to inaugurate the distribution and plantation of one crore saplings across the country Thursday as a part of the celebration of “Mujib Borsho” (Mujib Year).
PM to launch tree plantation campaign July 16
Dhaka, July 12 – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the one-crore tree plantation campaign on July 16 as part of the celebrations of ‘Mujib Borsho’ (Mujib Year).
DNA linked to Covid-19 common in Bangladeshis
The variant of the genes responsible for the coronavirus disease were passed on to humans by the Neandarthals, is very common in Bangladeshis, according to a new study.
Army Chief inaugurates tree plantation programme
Chief of Army Staff General Aziz Ahmed on Tuesday inaugurated a tree plantation programme, marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Sustaining Conservation in a Pandemic
By Matthew Brown BOULDER, COLORADO – Safari tourism has long been an economic boon to people living in Africa. But the suspension of flights and safari visits because of the COVID-19 pandemic has decimated this critical source of income –…
A Global Treaty Could Protect Biodiversity in the High Seas
Jun 9 2020 (IPS) – Oceans cover 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface. But, because many of us spend most of our lives on land, the 362 million square kilometres of blue out there aren’t always top of mind.
Don’t be colour blind, help blue oceans keep the planet green
9 June 2020 – The COVID-19 pandemic is a “sharp reminder” of how we are all intimately connected to each other and to nature, the UN chief said on Monday, World Oceans Day. “As we work to end the pandemic…
Pioneering technique to Bring the coral reefs back to life
7 June 2020 – Coral reefs are being killed by the climate crisis, which is leading to rising sea temperatures. “Cryopreservation”, a pioneering scientific technique, could be one way to help save them.
First Person: Collecting the ‘Book of Life’ for coral reefs
6 June 2020 – With the climate crisis threatening coral reefs around the world, a researcher in Hawaii is part of a team pioneering new techniques to preserve living coral sperm and larvae, and ultimately save the biodiversity and genetic…
World Environment Day on Friday
The World Environment Day will be observed in the country as elsewhere around the world on Friday with a call to encourage worldwide awareness and action for the protection of the environment.
Biological Diversity is Fundamental to Human Health
By Samira Sadeque UNITED NATIONS, May 22 2020 (IPS) – This year’s International Day of Biological Diversity falls amid the coronavirus pandemic and the slow easing, in some nations, of a global lockdown. While the lockdown has forced most people…
Shrinking forests need bold action to safeguard their biodiversity
22 May 2020 – Amidst alarming rates of deforestation and land degradation, urgent action is needed to safeguard the biodiversity of the world’s forests, according to a new United Nations report, released on Friday.
To Restore Forests, First Start With a Seed
By Emmanuel Hitimana HUYE, Rwanda, May 20 2020 (IPS) – In 2011, when Rwanda committed to restoring 2 million hectares of land in a global effort to restore 150 million hectares of degraded and deforested areas by 2020 — it…
COVID-19 has not slowed down ecological women farmers
Huasao, Peru, May (IPS/Mariela Jara) – It’s eight o’clock in the morning and Pascuala Ninantay is carrying two large containers of water in her wheelbarrow to prepare with neighbouring women farmers 200 litres of organic fertiliser, which will then be…
The Global Resilience Imperative
By Johan Rockström and Ottmar Edenhofer POTSDAM – As the COVID-19 crisis passes and governments try to shore up collapsing economies, many will be tempted to roll back their climate and nature commitments. They should resist that impulse. This century…
Biodiversity or Bust
By Tudor Alexis TORONTO – The blame game has begun. The number of COVID-19 victims is still unknown, but there is a stream of hate and misinformation pervading timelines. The damage of disinformation and the virus itself to families and…
Locust-like insects eat up green tree leaves in Cox’s Bazar
A mysterious species of voracious insect appeared in Teknaf Upazila here and started eating up green leaves of trees, creating concern among locals.
It’s a virus, and this isn’t a war
by Karin Pettersson on 28th April 2020 @AB_Karin The coronavirus crisis is a social challenge, Karin Pettersson writes, which the formerly secure are now being reminded is hitting the poor hardest.
‘HSBC must step up climate action stakeholder participation’
Oakland, CA – Tomorrow, HSBC will hold its Annual General Meeting. A London-based international bank, HSBC has closed the meeting to shareholders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and will neither webcast the meeting nor allow shareholders to participate. Shareholders…
Stay industrial activity: Indigenous peoples across Amazon
225 international organizations announce their solidarity with indigenous demands during the coronavirus pandemic, including an Amazon-wide moratorium on all industrial activity.
North East India Ramsar Wetlands in Crisis
North East India Ramsar Wetlands in Crisis: March 1, 2020SANDRP There are three Ramsar sites in eight states of north east India which includes Deepor Beel in Assam, Loktak lake in Manipur and Rudrasagar in Tripura. There are no Ramsar…
Biodiversity fundamental for global food systems, uplift
24 February 2020 – Because the production of everything we eat transforms the environment, the United Nations agriculture chief told a high-level UN meeting on biodiversity that careful discussions are needed to decide on the scale of acceptable transformations.
Small forest patches act as islands and corridors of biodiversity
by Sahana Ghosh on 19 February 2020 • Identification of smaller forest pockets that still hold high levels of biodiversity is essential for conservation. • Connecting smaller protected forests to larger ones can ensure movement of animals so that there…
One Million Species in World’s Eco-System in Danger of Extinction
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS, Feb 18 2020 (IPS) – When UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed the 193-member General Assembly last December, he focused on the smoldering climate crisis– pointing out that the last five years have been the hottest…