Nature Beat #35

Updates, stories, resources and opportunities

Jul 07, 2024

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

Biodiversity benefit-sharing: The Secretariat of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity has published proposals for a new multilateral mechanism and fund that could unlock billions of dollars for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The proposals relate to the benefits companies gain from using digital information on the genetic sequences of plants, animals and other living things when making things such as medicines, cosmetics, bioplastics and so on. In 2022, parties to the CBD agreed to set up such a mechanism for fairly sharing these benefits. Since then, they have been negotiating how the mechanism would work, in a process co-chaired by Malawi and the United Kingdom. Parties to the CBD will discuss the new proposals on 12-16 August in their final negotiation session before COP16, the 16th Conference of Parties to the CBD in October. Read the press release.

National biodiversity strategies and action plans: The CBD Secretariat has reminded parties to the CBD that their deadline for submitting updated national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) and national targets is fast approaching. Parties need to submit them by 1 August for them to be included in the documentation for COP16.

Trade in endangered species: Scientific advisory bodies to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) are preparing to meet in Geneva, Switzerland. First, the CITES Plants Committee will meet on 8-12 July to discuss scientific advice on the sustainable use and conservation of species such as timber trees, orchids and medicinal herbs — see the press release. The CITES Animals Committee will meet on 15-19 July.

Harmful fisheries subsidies: Emma Farge reports that China and the United States are among 40 countries pushing fellow members of the World Trade Organization to agree to end subsidies that contribute to overfishing when they meet on 22-23 July. A draft deal could be published by 11 July.

UK climate and nature policy: On 4 July, the Labour Party won the UK’s general election by a landslide, ending 14 years of the Conservative Party’s rule. With a huge increase in parliamentary seats also for the Liberal Democrats, and the Green Party increasing from one to four seats, most of the parliament is now pro-nature, pro-climate action. Labour’s election manifesto contained a series of pledges to act to address climate change and restore nature. Edward Davey, head of the World Resources Institute’s UK/Europe office, suggests national and international priorities. Carbon Brief is hosting a webinar on 9 July to discuss climate issues facing the new government — register here.

India’s environment: Jairam Ramesh, a former environment minister of India, has accused the country’s government of launching “an all-out war on India’s environmental protection norms”. In a statement issued on 4 July, he criticized the government’s weakening of law on forests and biodiversity, and said the National Green Tribunal “has been made toothless, for the benefit of the [Prime Minister’s] corporate cronies”.

In Focus: The 30 x 30 Target

In 2022, parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) committed to protect 30 percent of land and sea by 2030, in what has become known as the 30 x 30 target — one of 23 targets in the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Vibha Varshney interviewed Rita M. El Zaghloul, director of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, about progress towards the target.
On 27 June, IUCN launched a report showing that protected and conserved areas now cover 17.2 percent of the 26 countries that make up east and southern Africa. While such areas cover more than 40 percent of some countries, they cover less than 10 percent of ten of these nations. Most protected areas are government-managed and in only 14 percent of them has the effectiveness of management been assessed. See IUCN's news story or the full report.
The United States is not a party to the CBD, but has its own 30x30 target. On 1 July, the US state of New York published its strategy for meeting the target, opening a two-month window for public comments.

In The Spotlight

The fate of wildlife that is rescued and returned to the wild is largely a mystery, reports Sofia Quaglia, raising questions about the conservation value of wildlife rehabilitation.
Francesca Pamela Norrington wrote about the prospects of the ocean gaining legal rights.
Jackson Ambole Okata wrote about how people in Kenya are using fly maggots to turn food waste into fertilizer for farms and aquaculture, reducing chemical pollution and pressure on wild fish stocks.
Reporting on the rapid and ecologically consequential spread of barred owls in the United States, Isobel Whitcomb asks what it means to call a species native or invasive — especially as climate change forces more to move.

Tips And Resources

With hurricane season underway, Carlos Robles, chief meteorologist at Telemundo, shared tips for reporting on tropical cyclones.

See past editions for more tips and resources.

What Caught My Eye

From plant pandemics to tree thinning drones, Ming Chun Tang shares five predictions on the future of forests.
Researchers in South Africa inserted radioactive material into the horns of living rhinoceroses so that the horns can be more easily detected if the rhinos are killed by poachers.
The Amazon is more than a rainforest — 24 million people live in cities there with big environmental challenges, writes Mac Margolis.
An international panel co-led by France and the United Kingdom released the results of its latest consultation on possible models for an international market for biodiversity credits, reports Giada Ferraglioni.
Cristina Marcos wrote about debt-for-nature swaps that have protected tropical forests.
Across Mexico, infrastructure for the 2026 World Cup threatens biodiversity and communities, report Alice Pistolesi and Monica Pelliccia.
Patrick Worms wrote about Africa’s Great Green Wall initiative’s progress and challenges.
A review of 20 sites set aside for ecological restoration in Australia's biodiversity offset scheme found that conditions had worsened in nearly a third of the sites, reports Lisa Cox.
Teodyl Nkuintchua and Tsion Issayas shared four takeaways from last month's 20th Meeting of Parties to the Congo Basin Forest Partnership.
The Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species says it has insufficient funds to maintain its database on illegal trade and data dissemination platform, and has asked parties to the convention for extra support.
Agroecology is gaining momentum in the United States.

Researchers published the first review of seabird capture by fishing vessels in European waters, showing that around 195,000 birds are caught each year — read the full paper.
Drylands and their biodiversity are less likely to be protected than other areas, yet they face widespread threats of conversion as urban areas, farmland and renewable energy production expand — read the full paper.
Kenya’s wildlife conservancies, which are mostly community-managed, now cover 16 percent of the country — read the full paper.
Planted mangroves stored up to 75% of the carbon stocks found in intact ones — read the full paper.
Deforestation and water availability drive human-elephant conflict in Tanzania — read the full paper.
Different types of wildlife ranching provide diverse socio-economic contributions in South Africa — read the full paper.

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Jobs And Opportunities

In August, the Earth Journalism Network is hosting a three-day online workshop for African journalists covering the transition to net zero carbon emissions —apply here by 23 July.
Journalismfund Europe has grants for cross-border teams of journalists to investigate environmental issues related to Europe (all countries, not only the EU) — deadline 25 July.
Journalismfund Europe has grants for cross-border teams of journalists to investigate wrongdoing by European fossil fuel companies and their proxies within and beyond the continent — deadline 25 July.
Applications are open for the 2025 Asia Foundation Development Fellows: Emerging Leaders for Climate Action — journalists and others can apply by 29 July.
The CEI SEEMO Award for Outstanding Merits in Investigative Journalism 2024 is open for entries focused on agriculture/food security, environment or health — deadline 31 July.

Bonus content: There are 30 jobs, grants, fellowships and other opportunities listed here for Global Nature Beat’s paying supporters. Paid subscriptions are less than £1 per week. A free seven-day trial is available.

On The Horizon

10-14 July 2024: The 19th International Congress of Investigative Journalism takes place, both online and in-person in São Paulo.

13-14 July 2024: A joint session of the CITES Plants Committee and Animals Committee takes place in Geneva, Switzerland.

15-19 July 2024: The 33rd meeting of the CITES Animals Committee takes place in Geneva, Switzerland.

15 July - 2 August 2024: The 2nd Part of the 29th Annual Session of the International Seabed Authority takes place in Kingston, Jamaica. See ENB’s preview and daily coverage.

22-26 July 2024: The 27th Session of the FAO Committee on Forestry takes place in Rome, Italy. See ENB’s preview and daily coverage.

Bonus content: The full calendar for Global Nature Beat’s supporters includes 45 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 toco toucan. Photo credit: pclvv / Flickr — Creative Commons

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