Nature Beat #14
Updates, stories, resources and opportunities
Welcome to the latest edition of Global Nature Beat. If you are new here, read my About page to find out what this newsletter is, who I am and why I am doing this. Or just dive in. You’ll find news, reporting resources, job postings, links to some great stories and a look ahead to what’s coming up in the world of biodiversity and nature policy.
Taking The Pulse
Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF): Target 15 of the GBF requires businesses to disclose and reduce biodiversity-related risks and impacts. To support this, the UN Environment Programme has published a report comparing nature-related assessment and disclosure frameworks and standards. On 25 January, the Global Reporting Initiative published a “major update” to its biodiversity standard. In Target 18, governments agreed to reduce subsidies that are harmful to nature by US$500 billion by 2030. Last week, the UN Development Programme published a step-by-step guide they can use to assess and redirect such subsidies to ensure positive impacts on people and nature.
Migratory species: The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) published its position paper ahead of next month’s 14th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species. The paper is also available in French and Spanish. IUCN will hold a series of side events at the conference.
Fortress conservation: The Mail on Sunday has exposed human rights abuses against indigenous Baka people living near a national park in the Republic of the Congo — see the press release from Survival International. African Parks, the non-profit managing the park says it is investigating the claims and accuses Survival International of not cooperating with it. Survival International responded and said African Parks is trying to evade responsibility. Meanwhile, Tanzania’s government has also been accused of violence against indigenous people living in and around protected areas — see the press release from the Oakland Institute.
In Focus: Food Systems
Food production, transportation and consumption all contribute to climate change and biodiversity loss. To address this, and other issues such as consumer health, more than 130 countries have developed pathways for transforming their food systems. On 29 January, the Food System Economics Commission published a report that said transforming food systems worldwide would bring socio-economic benefits worth US$5–10 trillion a year. Find out about the Food Systems Countdown to 2030 Initiative and its first assessment of global food systems in this webinar on 5 February. If you would rather read, I recommend the latest edition of Thin Ink.
In The Spotlight
Liz Kimbrough reports on the first Indigenous Marine Stewardship Area in the United States.
Sahana Ghosh wrote about scientists in Bhutan, Nepal and India who are analyzing environmental DNA and transforming understanding of biodiversity in the Himalayas.
Scientists say the plan to allow wolf hunting in Europe to protect livestock could backfire, reports Gennaro Tomma.
India’s Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments in a challenge to a controversial new forest law, reports Gayathri Vaidyanathan.
Community-led seed banks that preserve crop biodiversity are proliferating in Kenya, writes Jackson Ambole Okata.
With images by Ebrahim Noroozi and words by Victoria Milko, this is a powerful portrayal of what happens when an ecosystem that people depend on disappears.
Mark Hillsdon wrote about prospects for the Task Force on Nature-based Financial Disclosures, and the Science-Based Targets for Nature initiative — and why some critics say there is a greater need for new laws.
Tips And Resources
Ahead of World Wetlands Day, the Global Landscapes Forum is hosting a webinar on wetland conservation and restoration on 1 February.
The Global Investigative Journalism Network published its report on the Investigative Agenda for Climate Change Journalism — read the summary or the full report. There is also a webinar on it on 6 February — register here.
Professor Miles Silman will talk about the future of biodiversity in the Andes-Amazon in an online event on 9 February.
See past editions for more tips and resources.
From The Journals
In case you missed it, my latest round-up of new research included papers on: Wildlife farming. Storm-resilient forests. Dryland birds. Natural climate solutions. Tree planting. An influential invasive. Read the summaries here.
In Focus: Investigating Where Waste Ends Up
A study published this month shows that a large percentage of European plastic sent to Vietnam ends up in nature. Researcher Kaustubh Thapa of Utrecht University wrote about the findings here. His work echoes that of a team of data journalists who recently exposed plastic waste smuggling to Myanmar. In an article published last week, the journalists explained the investigative techniques and tools they used.
What Caught My Eye
England is on track to meet only 4 of 40 targets for environmental protection, says Alison Smith of the Nature-based Solutions Initiative.
This editorial in the journal Nature - Plants is a wonderful paean to the value of forests.
Joe Lo reports that Amazon nations are setting up a Centre for International Police Cooperation to tackle rainforest crime together.
The journal Ecological Applications published a special issue on challenges posed by invasive species in China.
Aimable Twahirwa wrote about villagers in Rwanda collecting bird sounds from their local rainforest as part of efforts to conserve wildlife and train ecotourism guides.
Aimee Gabay reported on Mexico’s recent announcement of 20 new protected areas — and concerns about funding needed to protect them.
The spread of West Nile virus in Europe is strongly linked to agricultural activities, urbanization and bird migration — see the press release or the research paper.
Phoebe Weston reports on the first confirmed or suspected cases of H5N1 bird flu in Antarctic penguin species.
Julia Webster Ayuso wrote about the growing trend for green burials in ‘sanctuary forests’.
Researchers published the first study of the soundscape of a tropical forest’s soil.
Marina Wang wrote about Brazil’s illicit market for seahorses.
The UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre has made a database and map of areas conserved by Indigenous Peoples and local communities available online.
Ireland published its new National Biodiversity Action Plan for 2023-2030 — see the press release. For some critical reviews see Elaine McGoff and Pádraic Fogarty.
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Jobs And Opportunities
The Asian Center for Journalism and the Earth Journalism Network are offering training and story grants to journalists in the Philippines who want to report on social and environmental impacts of infrastructure development — deadline 15 February.
Inside Climate News is hiring a newsletter writer —apply here.
Journalists in the United States can apply for science-health-environment reporting fellowships — deadline 23 February.
Devex is hiring a climate correspondent (remote) —deadline 16 February.
The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime invites journalists in Gambia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Mauritania or Cape Verde to training on illegal fishing, forestry crimes and human trafficking — deadline 2 February.
The Earth Journalism Network is inviting journalists in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico to a workshop on fisheries reporting — apply here by 22 February.
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On The Horizon
2 February 2024: World Wetlands Day.
5-9 February 2024: The 66th meeting of the Global Environment Facility’s Council takes place in Washington DC.
6 February 2024: The European Commission plans to present the EU’s 2040 climate target.
9 February 2024: The 1st meeting of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund’s Council takes place in Washington DC.
12-17 February 2024: The 14th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP14), will take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Bonus content: The full calendar for The Nature Beat’s supporters includes 53 nature-related intergovernmental negotiations, scientific conferences, report launches, and other events up until 2026. Paid subscriptions are less than £1 per week. A free seven-day trial is available.
Whose Eye Was It?
The eye belongs to a southern cassowary. Photo credit: cuatrok77 / Flickr — Creative Commons
Thanks for reading. For past editions, see the Archive. If you found it interesting or useful, please share and subscribe. If you want to get in contact, you can reach me at: thenaturebeat@substack.com.
Great roundup, thanks for sharing!