'Conservation' is destroying those who've nurtured their surroundings for timeless generations, writes Stephen Corry - the Indigenous Peoples who have actually fashioned those precious places that we now mistake as 'natural'. It's time for a new conservation ethic that recognizes them as senior partners - not as 'squatters'' and 'poachers' to be evicted and criminalized.
… Wildlife conservation must support, not destroy, … Politics Human Rights baka-beaten-cut.jpg 'Conservation' is destroying those who've … now mistake as 'natural'. It's time for a new conservation ethic that recognizes them as …
It's a seductive narrative, writes Benjamin Neimark: nature is valuable, so let's call it 'natural capital', create markets to monetise it, and so ensure its conservation. But sadly, it's not working. Maybe because capitalism itself is the problem. We need new approaches to saving the world's biodiversity.
… | 24th September 2015 Comment Biodiversity Conservation brazil-nuts-cut.jpg It's a … markets to monetise it, and so ensure its conservation. But sadly, it's not working. … over-exploitation. In the late 19th century, conservation advocates with the help of …
Africa's poor environmental record has its roots in colonialism, which cut artificial boundaries through peoples and ecosystems, and left a rigid 'fortress conservation' ethic, writes Willem Daniel Lubbe. It's time for countries to adopt a new pan-African environmentalism, and transcend their colonial past.
… Only co-operative, trans-boundary conservation can save Africa's environment … | 29th May 2015 Comment Africa Biodiversity Conservation Law elephants-masai-mara-cut.jpg … and ecosystems, and left a rigid 'fortress conservation' ethic, writes Willem Daniel …
The massacre of elephants for Asian ivory trade is driving the iconic African giant to extinction, writes Lewis Evans. But the 'military response' is both brutal and ineffective, all the more so as it excludes and alienates the indigenous communities who are the best defenders of nature and wildlife. The simplistic message of 'Last Days of Ivory' is both damaging and dangerous.
… 'Last Days of Ivory' promotes a military conservation that is fatal for tribal peoples … Lewis Evans | 17th November 2015 Reviews Conservation Africa Wildlife Trade War … behind the increasing militarisation of conservation. Although many environmentalists …
The Conservative attack on the environment is being carried out for good reasons, writes Chris Rose: because they can; because it delights their support base; because it heads off UKIP; and because they think it carries no political risk. Now it's up the UK's green movement to prove them wrong. But have our 'herbivorous' NGOs got the stomach for a fight?
Strange happenings on a small island off Europe Chris Rose | 31st July 2015 News UK Politics Climate Change Society bullingdon-cut.jpg The Conservative attack on the environment is being carried out …
Two of Asia's three rhino species are 'critically endangered', writes David Tosh, yet the lion's share of rhino conservation resources is lavished on Africa. The reason is simple: Africa's rhinos generate more cash from tourism. But should this really be the point?
… 2nd October 2015 Comment Mammals Asia Africa Conservation Finance Economics … David Tosh, yet the lion's share of rhino conservation resources is lavished on Africa. … among the general public is the dream for conservation biologists, who often struggle to …
Should we really be spending £1.2 million a year to conserve red squirrels? Yes we should, writes James Borrell. But with Africa's rhinos facing extinction, and vital conservation in UK's overseas 'biodiversity jewels' sadly underfunded, there are much better investments we should be making too.
… Dover James Borrell | 8th August 2015 Comment Conservation Biodiversity UK … Africa's rhinos facing extinction, and vital conservation in UK's overseas 'biodiversity … conserving wildlife - wherever it is. Yet conservation spending in richer nations is …
Marine conservation is usually expressed in austere and negative terms, writes Alasdair Harris, with strict quotas and exclusion zones. But the truth is the exact opposite: it's about working with natural ecosystems to unlock their productive potential, creating sustainable wealth and abundance for fishing communities while enhancing marine biodiversity.
… Fishing traditional fishers-cut.jpg Marine conservation is usually expressed in austere … coastline, spawning a grassroots marine conservation revolution with 64 more Locally … for new approaches to demonstrate that marine conservation can be in everyone's interest and …
A new study led by RSPB shows that more than half of Britain's most precious upland moors are suffering from burning - widely used to increase the numbers of red grouse available for recreational shooting.
… July 2015 News Natural World Biodiversity Conservation Birds UK Law … A new study led by the RSPB Centre for Conservation Science has revealed that burning … This includes over half of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) designated under the EU's …
The orangutans of Southeast Asia make a fantastic symbol of endangered rainforests, writes Liana Chua, rousing public opposition to palm oil companies and their bulldozers. But this story of good versus evil omits the essential human dimension. To save the rainforests and their great apes, we must make forest peoples a key part of the conservation narrative.
… 2015 Comment Forests Indonesia Farming Conservation Primates Indigenous Peoples … we must make forest peoples a key part of the conservation narrative. Orangutans are often … public action. For 24 hours, orangutan conservation organisations filled Facebook and …
As ever more companies and governments pledge to 'go green' and protect forests, the world's tribal peoples should be among the main beneficiaries, writes Amy Dickens. Yet the reverse is the case. All too often the promises are purest greenwash, used to conceal the human and environmental tragedy of land-grabbing for plantations, mines, logging and even 'conservation'.
… Paraguay Farming Finance Corporations Conservation cam-pyg-baka-fw2-2014-382_cut.jpg … for plantations, mines, logging and even 'conservation'. In Paraguay's vast Chaco … to oust the forest's most accomplished conservationists , its tribal people. In spite …
The battle for the soul of the Conservative party will intensify on the volatile issue of climate change, write Brendan Montague and Matteo Civillini. Energy Secretary Amber Rudd may be among the Tories' greenest but the 'grey blob' led by Owen Paterson may yet defeat her.
Amber Rudd faces climate change battle with Tory 'grey blob' Brendan Montague DeSmog.uk | 13th May 2015 Comment Politics Climate Change UK amber-rudd-flowave-cut.jpg The battle for the soul of the …
The the creation of almost a million sq.km of the South Pacific as a fully protected marine area builds on a long Conservative tradition of protecting the natural environment, write Nick Hurd & Zac Goldsmith - and as factory trawlers close in on Pitcairn's pristine waters, the initiative could not have been more timely.
… Pitcairn Islands reserve is Britain's biggest conservation initiative ever Nick Hurd Zac … Goldsmith | 20th March 2015 Comment Oceans Conservation Politics UK Fishing … Chancellor has delivered the single biggest conservation measure taken by any Government …
While the world gears up for Jungle Book fever, something sinister is afoot in the forests of India, writes Tom Linton. No, not Shere Khan, but zealous officials illegally evicting indigenous communities from their ancestral forests in the name of 'conservation' - and to make way for tiger tourism. And it's happening across India putting millions of people under threat.
… from their ancestral forests in the name of 'conservation' - and to make way for tiger … who regard them as an impediment to tiger conservation policies. Earlier this month, … government to declare any area a reserve or conservation zone. Subject to certain terms …
Rewilding is now firmly on the agenda, writes Paul Jepson, and that brings a huge opportunity to re-invigorate conservation. But we must look to creating new functional ecosystems for the future, rather than trying to recreate a lost and perhaps imagined past.
… brings a huge opportunity to re-invigorate conservation. But we must look to creating new … harks back to a past age. However many conservation scientists are more relaxed … farming. The OVP, as it is known, made nature conservation political again and has become a …
Extinction is not just for exotic species in Africa or Asia, writes Louise Ramsay. Right here in the UK we have almost allowed our very own Scottish wildcat to disappear through persecution and mismanagement - despite its being a protected species under EU and Scottish law. Now it will take swift and effective action to bring it back from the brink.
… landowners' desires for grouse or pheasant conservation for hunts, meant that by 1914 … anybody's pet. Last ditch effort for wildcat conservation With pressure mounting from conservation groups and to meet international …
The international pet trade presents itself as responsible and conservation-aware, writes Clifford Warwick - and a key part of the message is the idea that its animals are captive bred. But the truth is very different. Quite apart from the routine cruelty and high mortality, the trade continues to depend on captive wild animals and contributes only negatively to wildlife survival.
… pet trade presents itself as responsible and conservation-aware, writes Clifford Warwick - … does the evidence demonstrate unequivocal conservation and ecological benefits from … I contacted the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's most recommended …
Fresh from his surprise election victory, David Cameron is facing calls to expedite a 'free vote' in Parliament to repeal the law that forbids hunting with dogs, writes Chris Pitt. We must make sure our MPs vote to protect wild animals from the horrendous cruelty that resumed hunting would inflict on them.
Bring back fox hunting and hare coursing? Not on our watch Chris Pitt | 22nd May 2015 Comment UK Hunting Politics Animal Welfare hare-coursing-cut.jpg Fresh from his surprise election victory, David …
As we celebrate 'World Wildlife Day' today, there's little for nature's best defenders to be glad of, says human rights lawyer Gordon Bennett. Indigenous Peoples around the world are routinely attacked, starved and cut off from the lands and wildlife they have protected for millennia under a flawed and brutal model of 'conservation'.
… Indigenous Peoples destroyed for misguided 'conservation' Gordon Bennett co-authors | 3rd March 2015 Comment Indigenous Peoples Conservation India Cameroon Botswana … millennia under a flawed and brutal model of 'conservation'. Wildlife law enforcement almost …
A survey of threatened Arctic mammals highlights melting sea ice as a prime threat to eleven keystone species, writes Tim Radford - meaning that efforts to conserve them may be doomed to failure unless we also tackle the causes of climate change.
… Centre in Seattle, reports in the journal Conservation Biology that marine mammals are … making informed and efficient decisions about conservation challenges and trade-offs in the … international organisations concerned with conservation of Arctic marine mammals. They …
The UK's decisive Conservative victory is the result of a grossly unfair electoral system.The 'winners' were backed by under 25% of the electorate, the losing Labour vote went up by twice as much as the Tories' - and some MPs represent as few as 23,000 voters, others over 3 million. We must now demand real democratic reform.
Before the day is out - we must unite and demand fair voting! Oliver Tickell | 8th May 2015 Comment Politics UK polling-station-cut.jpg The UK's decisive Conservative victory is the result of a …
Just when the UK's government might want to be boosting its green credentials it has chosen to do the precise opposite, writes Steffen Böhm: giving tax breaks and subsidies to oil and gas, while attacking renewables and energy efficiency. We must unite to oppose these destructive and short-sighted policies
Whatever happened to the 'greenest ever' Conservative Party? Steffen Böhm | 11th July 2015 Comment UK Energy Fossil Fuels Oil Renewables Politics Transport north-sea-oil-rig-cut.jpg Just when the …
In this imaginary letter to the father of modern taxonomy and ecology, Carl Linnaeus, about the current status of life on Earth, Gianluca Serra suggests renaming the human species from the self-satisfied 'wise' to 'obtuse' - if only to spare us from the ridicule we so richly deserve for our collective insanity.
… January 2015 Comment Society Natural World Conservation Extinction … had to take up arms and turn to be 'conservationists'. Conservation has become a new scientific …
Human existence relies on healthy soils, writes Jane Rickson. But all over the world they are being lost and degraded by inappropriate land use, reducing their capacity to produce food and store water, nutrients and carbon. Sustainable land management must be incentivised to conserve this essential resource.
… but the corollary is that soil protection and conservation should improve soil condition and … challenging. The beneficial effects of soil conservation practices on soil condition are … Jane Rickson is Professor of Soil Erosion and Conservation in Cranfield University ' s Soil …