Farming should not only sustain people with healthy food, writes Jigmi Y. Thinley. If humans are to survive on Earth, it must also revitalise nature and sustain vital planetary systems, instead of poisoning and over-exploiting them. And to do that farming must be organic.
Earth's vitality and the power of happiness Jigmi Y. Thinley | 19th June 2014 Activism Food Farming Oceans Climate Change Water broad-beans-cut.jpg Farming should not only sustain people with healthy …
Plastic pollution in the oceans is impacting every level of marine life, writes Kate Rawles, from micro-plankton to whales. And here is your chance to do something about it - join a research expedition to the Azores next month to study the problem and develop solutions!
Microplastic ocean pollution - will you join our research voyage? Kate Rawles | 5th August 2014 Comment Oceans Pollution Consumerism Toxics Oil Science rozalia-fishing-plastic-ceri-lewis-cut.jpg …
Is the species that dwells peacefully within its habitat with respect for the rights of other species the one that is inferior? Or is it the species that wages a holy war against its habitat, destroying all species that irritate it? Paul Watson questions man's monopoly on advanced brain power, and finds a planet suffused with a far deeper intelligence than our own.
The cetacean brain and hominid perceptions of cetacean intelligence Captain Paul Watson | 22nd August 2014 Comment Oceans Ecology whale-shark-diver-cut.jpg Is the species that dwells peacefully …
The world's mussel population could be under threat as rising CO2 levels in atmosphere and oceans makes their shells weaker and more brittle shells - making them more vulnerable to stormy seas, and predation.
Carbon dioxide threat to mussels' shells The Ecologist | 24th December 2014 News Climate Change Oceans mussels-cut.jpg The world's mussel population could be under threat as rising CO2 levels in …
The oceans are awash with plastic, write Magnus Johnson & Melanie Coull, with dire effects on marine wildlife mistaking it for food. But it's not just big animals like basking sharks, turtles and albatrosses that suffer. The very worst damage may be caused by particles too small for the eye to see, and the toxic chemicals that cling to them.
Over 268,000 tonnes of ocean plastic - neglect it at our peril Magnus Johnson Melanie Coull | 11th December 2014 Comment Oceans Waste Toxics Natural World garbage-laden-beach-of-anchado-cut.jpg The …
As the Arctic warms and its ice melts, growing numbers freight ships are reaping big savings from the 'Arctic short cut'. But this is creating a huge risk of invasive species spreading in ballast water and on hulls - disrupting both Arctic and temperate ecosystems.
The Arctic shipping boom - a bonanza for invasive exotic species Natasha Geiling Smithsonian | 27th June 2014 News Oceans Transport Natural World Ecology redkingcrab-cut.jpg As the Arctic warms and …
Even creatures at the bottom of the ocean aren't sheltered from the detritus of human civilization, writes Sarah Zielinski. Everywhere they have looked, scientists have found plastic, glass and other trash littering the seafloor and collecting in canyons.
Our garbage is polluting the remotest, deepest ocean Sarah Zielinski | 1st July 2014 Comment Oceans Waste sea_plastic-cut.jpg Even creatures at the bottom of the ocean aren't sheltered from the …
If SeaWorld is looking to build a new park in California, it will be steering well clear of San Francisco, writes Laura Bridgeman. Following a campaign backed by scientists and hundreds of high school students, the City has declared cetaceans' right to be free and 'unrestricted in their natural environment'.
San Francisco declares: every whale and dolphin has the right to be free Laura Bridgeman | 23rd October 2014 Activism Cetaceans Oceans Cities USA bottlenose-dolphin-flips-cut.jpg If SeaWorld is …
The year 2014 is on track to be one of the hottest, if not the hottest, on record, according to preliminary estimates by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Their latest report, issued today at the UN climate talks in Lima, shows exceptional heat and flooding in many parts of the world.
WMO: 2014 set to be the hottest year on record The Ecologist | 3rd December 2014 News Climate Change Un Oceans Water Flooding 2014-temp-anomalies.jpg The year 2014 is on track to be one of the …
A common marine worm key to the richness of many coastal ecosystems is being damaged by the increasing ocean acidification that was thought to imperil mainly shellfish and coral, writes Alex Kirby. It's an unwelcome sign of more unexpected ecological changes to come.
Lugworms suffer toxic impact of acidifying oceans Alex Kirby | 30th October 2014 News Oceans Climate Change Pollution Toxics Ecology lugworm-hunting-cut.jpg A common marine worm key to the richness …
The world's biggest slaughterhouse for endangered whale sharks has been uncovered in southeast China, writes Sophie Morlin-Yron. It's products are being traded across the world in health and cosmetic products.
World's largest whale shark slaughterhouse uncovered in China Sophie Morlin-Yron | 3rd February 2014 News Wildlife Trade Oceans China Natural World Fishing ws-butcher.png The world's biggest …
Two huge open pit mines in northern Norway are on the verge of approval, writes Tina Andersen Vågenes - even though they would dump hundreds of millions of tonnes of tailings in fjords where wild salmon spawn. Scientists are voicing serious concerns, and protests are growing, but government and mining companies appear determined to push the projects forward regardless.
'Acutely toxic' mine waste threatens the death of Norway's fjords Tina Andersen Vågenes | 28th November 2014 News Mining Norway Corporations Waste Pollution Fishing Oceans …
Following the ruling by the International Court of Justice that Japan's whaling in the Antarctic is illegal, Elizabeth Claire Alberts examines the legal, financial and practical challenges of a continued whaling program - with some help from Sea Shepherd's Captain Paul Watson.
Japan's whaling - the end is nigh Elizabeth Claire Alberts | 24th April 2014 News Oceans Hunting Law Cetaceans ss-whale-research-cut.jpg Following the ruling by the International Court of Justice …
Ukraine's Priazovskii National Park epitomises the problems faced by the world's natural areas, writes Dimiter Kenarov, as it contends with inadequate funding, rising sea levels, dried-out rivers, industrial pollution and illegal hunting. And that's not to mention the war. But the staff battle on: 'If we don't do this, then who will?'
Ukraine - now the war is to rescue threatened nature Dimiter Kenarov | 1st October 2014 News Ukraine Natural World Oceans Climate Change Farming park-rangers.jpg Ukraine's Priazovskii National Park …
As the IPCC prepares to launch its latest climate report, Mark Spalding reports that mangrove swaps don't just protect coastlines from storms, flooding and erosion - they also sequester huge tonnages of carbon. And that makes them a super-smart investment ...
The world must invest in mangroves Mark Spalding | 30th March 2014 Comment Climate Change Natural World Oceans Forests mangrove.png As the IPCC prepares to launch its latest climate report, Mark …
Fish from the high seas are too valuable to be eaten, as they lessen climate change through the carbon they carry down to the ocean depths. The carbon benefits are worth $150 billion every year - almost ten times the value of high seas fish landings.
Stop fishing the high seas, say scientists, for climate and ecology Climate News Network | 21st June 2014 News Oceans Fishing Carbon Climate Change Food new_fish-cut.jpg How long before this is all …
As the Arctic ice retreats, a fragile but resource-rich landscape replete with oil, minerals, fish and islands is opening up, writes Conn Hallinan. A new land-rush is on, and it could all lead to war. But it can be avoided provided states respect the rule of law and build on existing regimes of cooperation to protect the precious Arctic environment.
Arctic chill, red hot politics - as the ice melts, a new Cold War can still be avoided Conn Hallinan | 25th November 2014 News Arctic Politics Oceans Oil Mining Law arctic-walrus-cut.jpg As the …
In the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 we have found oil slicks and debris everywhere - none of it connected to the missing plane, writes Paul Mobbs. The seas are littered with human trash, and it's killing the oceanic ecosystem.
What MH370 told us - the oceans are awash with trash Paul Mobbs | 5th April 2014 Comment Waste Oceans Transport ocean-rubbish-2.png In the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 we have found oil …
A Pacific island paradise 340 miles from Costa Rica's coast should be the ideal place for marine conservation, write Julia Baum & Easton R. White. But while its waters are indeed teeming with life, steep population declines in key shark and ray species show that stronger protection is badly needed.
Shark-counting divers off Costa Rica show marine reserves need active protection Julia Baum Easton R. White | 24th April 2014 Comment Oceans Pacific Cost Rica Fishing Protected Areas Natural World …