Nature Beat #41

Updates, stories, resources and opportunities

Sep 04, 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

Pact for the Future: World leaders will gather in New York later this month for the Summit of the Future. The latest draft of the pact that they will agree includes several references to nature, such as pledges to “accelerate our efforts to restore, protect, conserve and sustainably use the environment” and “deliver on our agreed commitments to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030”. The draft text also includes commitments to promote greater use of debt swaps for climate or nature, and undertake reforms to give women equal rights to own and control land and natural resources.

In Focus: The 30x30 Target and OECMs

Target 3 of the Global Biodiversity Framework — which nearly 200 countries adopted in 2022 — is a commitment to protect 30 percent of the planet’s land and sea by 2030. Last week, Heather Bingham of the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre took stock of progress towards this ‘30x30’ target.

Bingham’s article emphasizes that the target encompasses more than area alone — among other things, it says areas should be “effectively conserved and managed”. This creates a challenge for countries such as the United Kingdom that have protected large areas that are in poor condition and lack management plans.

As Giada Ferraglioni reported last week, a new study by the Institute for Public Policy Research warns that the United Kingdom risks missing the target as only 3 percent of the country’s land is effectively protected for nature.

Another concern about 30x30 is that it will promote more ‘fortress conservation’ — excluding local people from living in and benefiting from protected areas that have been their homes for generations. In recent days, Chris Lang has highlighted ongoing cases of exclusion and human rights abuses linked to conservation in Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Global Biodiversity Framework provides for an alternative to protected areas, one that requires effectiveness and can be used to recognize the roles communities play as custodians of nature. The jargon term that will become increasingly common is OECMs — ‘other effective area-based conservation measures’. These are places outside of protected areas that are shown to be effective at conserving biodiversity, even though that is not their primary purpose.

A forthcoming research paper will show that, by 2023, there were 820 registered OECMs in nine countries. They were contributing 1 percent towards the 30x30 target. Currently, Indigenous People or local communities govern under 2 percent of the reported OECMs — a figure that could grow considerably if governments increase recognition of community-led management of local forests and other ecosystems.

In The Spotlight

Patrick Greenfield reported on the politics of how to govern ownership of the genetic data of the Earth’s species and fairly share some of the billions of dollars arising from its use.
Abhishyant Kidangoor reported on the final round of a US$10 million contest in which scientists are using tools such as drones, environmental DNA analysis and artificial intelligence models to rapidly monitor rainforest biodiversity in collaboration with local communities.
Manon Bachelot’s video report — available in French or English — exposes the lucrative trade in baby gorillas and chimpanzees poached from forests in Central Africa and trafficked via Libya to buyers in Europe.
Bing Lin wrote about an invasive seagrass species causing ecological harm — and bringing some benefits — as it rapidly spreads across the ocean.
Joel Guinto and Jiraporn Sricham reported on how Thailand is battling the ‘most invasive species’ ever to reach the country — a fish native to West Africa.

Tips And Resources

SciLine is offering a one-hour course in science essentials for editors on Zoom on 18 September.
Adding artificial intelligence to the environmental journalism toolbox — register here to attend this online event on 10 September.
On 4 October, the Earth Negotiations Bulletin and the Geneva Environment Network will hold a webinar on the upcoming final session of intergovernmental negotiations towards a global treaty on plastic pollution — register here.
WWF and partners have a webinar on 10 September to share findings in their new report on how to redirect subsidies that harm forests and other ecosystems.
The Earth Journalism Network has a webinar on 3 October focused on its recent research into the state of climate and environment journalism worldwide, and how best to meet the needs of journalists covering these topics.

See past editions for more tips and resources.

What Caught My Eye

Stella Paul interviewed Astrid Schomaker, the new head of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.
A new project funded by US$18.5 million from the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund will strengthen Mexico’s protected areas and community-conserved lands.
India launched a new policy to develop a US$300 billion bioeconomy by 2030, report Sahana Ghosh & Subhra Priyadarshini.
The Central African Republic has committed to ending ivory trade and has become the 26th country to join the Elephant Protection Initiative.
The ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations is weakening a planned declaration on environmental rights, reports Nicha Wachpanich.
The European Union should reject calls to delay or drop its landmark anti-deforestation law and do more to help commodity-producing smallholders and countries, writes campaigner Nicole Polsterer.
Augusta Dwyer wrote about how artificial intelligence is aiding conservation.
SV Krishna Chaitanya reported on rising conflict between people and wildlife — in India, elephants and tigers have killed more than 3,000 people in the past five years.
Scientists say cannabis farms harm biodiversity in Morocco.

The number of fish species at risk of extinction could be five times greater than previously thought — read the press release or the full paper.
Researchers warn that the UN Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals do not adequately recognize the threats posed by biological invasions — read the full paper.
Climate change will exacerbate conflict between agriculture and timber production — read the press release or the full paper.

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Jobs And Opportunities

Indigenous journalists can apply to NASW for travel grants to attend the ScienceWriters2024 conference — deadline 17 September.
The Earth Journalism Network has fellowships, training and story grants for journalists in six Asian countries to cover infrastructure development and its impacts on the environment and human rights — deadline 30 September.
Journalists based in the United States can apply for an environmental solutions journalism fellowship with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology — deadline 14 October.
Investigative Journalism for Europe is offering grants of up to €50,000 for journalists who want to collaborate across borders on ambitious stories — deadline 28 October.

Bonus content: There are 27 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

5-6 September: The 5th Global Climate and Sustainable Development Goals Synergy Conference takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

9-11 September 2024: IUCN's West Asia Regional Conservation Forum takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

16-20 September 2024: IUCN's Oceania Regional Conservation Forum takes place in Suva, Fiji.

17 September 2024: Global Landscape Forum - Africa will take place, with sessions online or in-person in Nairobi, Kenya.

23-23 September 2024: UN Summit of the Future takes place in New York City, United States.

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 squid (Chiroteuthis sp.). Photo credit: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration / Flickr — Creative Commons

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