In the first of a three part blog in which Les Carlisle joins a team of translocation experts, he discovers the buzz of darting and blindfolding a rhino, whilst considering the absurd fact that their very existence is threatened due to the growth of an inert keratinous material on their heads ...
Rhinos without borders: preparation & capture Les Carlisle | 1st November 2013 Comment Rhinos Conservation Ivory Natural World Africa 718214 (1).jpg The Rhinos Without Borders translocation team In …
The global gold trade relies on 'tax optimisation' and dumping tons of hazardous waste.
The price of gold Dimitar Sabev | 8th January 2019 News Gold Mining Africa Asia Europe Canada Dundee Precious Metals dpm_3.jpg The global gold trade relies on 'tax optimisation' and dumping tons of …
The trade ban on rhino horn is not working, writes Keith Somerville. But non-lethally and sustainably harvested rhino horn can earn income to encourage breeders, pay rangers and anti-poaching teams, provide surveillance and supply wider benefits that will gain the support of people around parks, reserves and ranches.
To save our rhinos, we need a legal horn trade Keith Somerville University of Kent | 22nd September 2016 Comment Wildlife Trade Economics Africa Swaziland Conservation Hunting Farming …
The UK Government is to examine the activities of London-based oil company Soco over alleged violations of environmental protections and human rights abuses in Africa's first National Park, home to 200 Mountain gorillas.
Virunga - UK Government to investigate oil company The Ecologist | 17th February 2014 News Africa Congo Natural World Oil Fossil Fuels UK virunga-gorillas.png The UK Government is to examine the …
The idea that GMO cotton offers hope to Africa's impoverished cotton farmers is facile and fraudulent, writes Arya Tajdin. In fact it only adds to their vulnerability. Their real problems lie in the structural oversupply of subsidized cotton on world markets, and the flood of 'kifua' - dead white man's clothing - that undermines the continent's textile industries.
GM cotton: a false promise for Africa's farmers Arya Tajdin | 27th August 2015 News Farming Africa Tanzania Trade Corporations cotton-farmers-cut.jpg The idea that GMO cotton offers hope to Africa's …
Survival International argues that the activities of WWF in the Congo Basin have been shown to be doing tremendous damage to rainforest tribes like the Baka, without effectively protecting the environment. But efforts to hold them to account have been frustrated, the director of Survival, STEPHEN CORRY, argues.
Survival International claims OECD failed to recognise WWF 'conservation abuse' Stephen Corry | 23rd November 2017 Comment Conservation Africa Survival WWF Indigenous Human Rights Violations …
The latest salvo in the battle over Africa's seed systems has been fired, writes Stephen Greenberg, with the Gates Foundation and USAID playing puppet-masters to Africa's governments - now meeting in Addis Ababa - as they drive forward corporation-friendly seed regulations that exclude and marginalize the small farmers whose seeds and labour feed the continent.
Grabbing Africa's seeds: USAID, EU and Gates Foundation back agribusiness seed takeover Stephen Greenberg Oliver Tickell | 23rd March 2015 News Africa Farming Seeds Corporations USA EU maria banda …
Roads, mines, dams, power lines, pipelines and other infrastructure projects are fast eating into the world's 'core forests', writes Bill Laurance. These rare and precious places where wildlife and ecological processes can flourish undisturbed must come before the evanescent gains of 'development'. To save what's left, governments and funders must learn the word 'No!'
Saying 'No!' A last chance for the world's forests Bill Laurance James Cook University | 5th February 2016 News Forests Development Transport Conservation Africa Brazil Malaysia amazon-dam-cut.jpg …
If rhinos are driven to extinction in the wild, Africa's landscapes and ecosystems would be very different, reports Rachel Nuwer. The activities of this mega-herbivore diversify plant life and create prime grazing spots for other animals.
Africa without rhinos would be different, and poorer Rachel Nuwer | 6th April 2014 Comment Natural World Africa Ecology rhino-kariega.jpg If rhinos are driven to extinction in the wild, Africa's …
The charity SolarAid has just celebrated 1.5 million small solar lighting installations in Africa, writes Paul Brown - an important milestone on its mission to get solar lighting into all of Africa's homes by 2020, and see out dangerous, polluting kerosene lamps.
1.5 million solar lamps brighten Africa's future Paul Brown Oliver Tickell | 10th February 2015 News Energy Renewables Africa sunnymoney.jpg The charity SolarAid has just celebrated 1.5 million …
Africa is facing an unprecedented surge in road and railway building with 33 huge 'development corridors' planned that threaten 2,400 of the continent's protected wildlife areas, writes Bill Laurance. We must block the most destructive plans and limit avoidable impacts on natural areas - before it's too late.
Massive road and rail projects threaten thousands of Africa’s wildlife reserves Bill Laurance James Cook University | 4th January 2015 Comment Africa Conservation Transport Development Protected …
With the help of some clever engineering, writes Paul Brown, the power of the Sun can now produce electricity on demand - day and night, bright or cloudy. The key technology has just won a prestigious DESERTEC Award.
Round-the-clock solar power comes of age Paul Brown | 1st May 2014 Comment Renewables Solar Power Energy EU Spain Africa Germany gemasolar-cut.jpg With the help of some clever engineering, writes …
With the Kimberley Process in a state of paralysis over Zimbabwean diamonds, consumers can no longer be sure they’re buying ethical jewels. Ahead of a BBC Panorama investigation into the issue, Rosie Spinks reports
Export of Zimbabwean diamonds threatens ethical jewellery trade Rosie Spinks | 8th August 2011 News Blood Diamond Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe Alluvial Deposit Mineral Extraction News Society Mining …
In an effort to address the joint problems of poverty and environmental degradation, Vivienne Westwood has joined up with the International Trade Centre for the launch of her second ethical range
Not charity but work: Vivienne Westwood's 'Ethical Fashion Africa' collection goes on sale Rosie Spinks | 9th August 2011 Ethical Living Fashion Society Green Living Africa Vivienne Westwood Ethical …
Ebola has wiped out a third of chimps and gorillas since the 1990s, writes Meera Inglis, and together with hunting and deforestation is pushing them towards extinction. So why haven't we even used a safe, effective Ebola vaccine developed for chimps and gorillas?
Ebola is killing chimps and gorillas too - now we must save them! Meera Inglis | 29th January 2015 Comment Health Primates Extinction Africa mtn-gorilla-uganda-cut.jpg Ebola has wiped out a third of …
Australian mining companies have a poor track record operating in Africa. Australian uranium company Paladin Energy has now put two of its mines into 'care-and-maintenance' and bankruptcy looms. But who cleans up the company's mess in Namibia and Malawi, asks JIM GREEN
Who cleans up the mess when an Australian uranium mining company leaves Africa? Jim Green - Nuclear Monitor | 18th June 2018 Comment Uranium Africa Australia Nuclear Mining Langer Heinrich uranium …
The increase in population in Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda from 380 to 480 is due to efforts to reduce poaching and disease, say scientists
Mountain gorilla numbers in central Africa on the rise Shanta Barley | 9th December 2010 News Wildlife Gorillas Natural World Africa gorilla.jpg A recent census found the gorilla population was …
Giant wind farms may grab the headlines but plans to develop local off-grid electricity will have bigger impact on Africans and carbon emissions
Local electricity: Africa goes off-grid Tom Levitt | 29th July 2009 News Energy Climate Change Africa Renewable Energy Politics And Economics africaelectricity.jpg Reliable access to power is crucial …
A $4m plan to move 80 rhinos from South Africa to Australia is inept, patronising, a waste of scarce resources that contributes nothing to conservation, and betrays an outdated neocolonial mindset, writes Matt Hayward. The money should be spent on successful but underfunded community-based rhino conservation initiatives in Africa that benefit entire ecosystems.
Rhinos should be conserved in Africa - not moved to Australia! Matt Hayward Bangor University | 2nd May 2017 Comment Conservation Mammals Rhinos Ecology Africa South Africa Australia …
A new Ecologist series explores grassroots stories of resilience and hope in a time of multiple crises.
Stories of resilience Million Belay Liz Hosken | 8th September 2020 | News Food Sovereignty Climate Change Storytelling Africa Seed Protest Indigenous Peoples Ugandan seed custodians A new Ecologist …
The team discovers that, even in the midst of marine beauty, the ever rising tides exact a terrible price
Atlantic Rising: when the sea swallowed a school Tim Bromfield | 19th October 2009 Comment Climate Change Sea Level Rise Africa drownedschool.jpg The team discovers that, even in the midst of marine …
Dian Fossey dedicated her life to the study of the critically endangered mountain gorilla. CURTIS ABRAHAM looks into her life, sudden death and the lasting legacy she left in mountain gorilla preservation.
Dian Fossey, Africa's mountain gorillas and deadly toll of poaching Curtis Abraham | 25th October 2017 News Fossey Gorillas Africa Poaching Murder 405578.jpg Dian Fossey dedicated her life to the …
The global rebirth of nuclear power was meant to be well under way by now, writes Jim Green. But in fact, nuclear's share of world power generation is on a steady long term decline, and new reactors are getting ever harder to build, and finance. The only real growth area is decommissioning, but that too has a problem: where's the money to pay for it?
Running in reverse: the world's 'nuclear power renaissance' Dr Jim Green | 29th January 2015 News Nuclear Energy UK Japan EU USA France Germany Japan Saudi Arabia Africa …
The European Parliament has had a great week, writes Molly Scott Cato MEP - for those who oppose GMOs in food and farming. MEPs voted on five occasions to say no to GMOs, and gave their support to agroecology as the only sustainable way to feed the world.
No 'old' GMOs, no 'new' GMOs, no GMOs in the EU, no GMOs in Africa! Molly Scott Cato | 9th June 2016 Comment GMOs Food Farming Politics EU Africa Corporations soy-depot-cut.jpg The European …