Nature Beat #44
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
Countdown to COP16: The sixteenth conference of parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) — or COP16 — takes place next month. The CBD Secretariat has published a compilation of 28 draft decisions for parties to consider. Text in square brackets — [like this] — is all up for negotiation at COP16.
Each party to the CBD should have updated its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) to bring it into line with the new Global Biodiversity Framework agreed at COP15. But so far only around ten percent of them have done this. WWF has analyzed these NBSAPs and found them lacking — see the press release in English or Spanish or visit WWF’s NBSAP Tracker to see your country’s progress.
The tool does not yet include Norway’s NBSAP, which the government published only last week. As Stian Reklev reports, environmentalists say it does not align adequately with the Global Biodiversity Framework.
China was among the first countries to share an updated NBSAP. Last week, Jiang Mengnan and Regina Lam reported what four experts think of the document.
And finally, Azerbaijan has offered to host COP17 in 2026. As Giada Ferraglioni notes, it is among the countries that has not yet submitted an updated NBSAP.
Plastics treaty: On 25 September, more than 65 countries in the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to developing a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from plastic pollution. WWF welcomed the statement and published its own priorities for the treaty. The final scheduled treaty-negotiating session begins on 25 November. On 4 October, the Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, national representatives and experts from the private sector and nongovernmental organizations will speak in a webinar to provide updates and look ahead to the end of the negotiations.
In The Spotlight
Toka Omar Qassem reported from Lake Nasser, Egypt on efforts to promote birdwatching as an alternative to hunting, which has devastated populations of migratory birds there.
A big team at Lighthouse Reports has exposed how US taxpayers funded a covert campaign to downplay the risks of pesticides and discredit environmentalists in Africa, Europe, and North America.
Daniel Shailer wrote about the poachers in Mexico whose alternative approach to fishing could protect one of the world’s most endangered mammal species.
Tips And Resources
The Committee to Protect Journalists announced a US$1 million initiative to protect journalists covering climate change.
The Revelator’s new column ‘This Month in Conservation Science’ features new research papers on conservation and biodiversity — especially those that do not receive a press release.
Covering Climate Now published a 14-part blueprint showing how journalism could evolve to meet the climate challenge — see the intro by Kyle Pope.
The latest ‘Meet the Nature Crime Alliance’ webinar takes place on 3 October, covering wildlife crime, timber traceability and the global landscape of criminalisation for environmental offenses.
Also on 3 October, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime is holding an online event on new frontiers in the fight against environmental and wildlife crimes — register here.
See past editions for more tips and resources.
What Caught My Eye
Colombia launched a US$40-billion investment plan to finance its transition away from fossil fuels, with US$8.5 billion for ecosystem restoration and conservation, reports Sebastian Rodriguez.
The UK must spend £1.7 billion more on nature and forests by 2026 if it is to meet a key pledge, reports Josh Gabbatiss.
Sandra Cordon explained the ins and outs of biodiversity credits.
Researchers say there are 33 ‘dark spots’ around the world where thousands of plant species await discovery, with many likely to be endangered, reports Patrick Greenfield.
A nongovernmental organization based in South Africa announced a US$1 billion plan to boost conservation and protected areas across Africa, reports Sergio Colombo.
Parliamentarians in the United States introduced legislation to establish a US$3.5 billion trust fund to finance forest conservation and restoration projects in developing countries.
Verena Manolis shared five messages she heard about finance for nature at the Nature Hub during the New York Climate Week.
A Cambodian journalist who reported on land grabbing of a community forest by a mining company has himself been charged with deforestation.
Guyana launched the Global Biodiversity Alliance to boost finance for conservation through biodiversity credits, debt swaps and green bonds, reports Thomas Cox.
Research by TRAFFIC and partners has revealed an increasing variety of non-native owls in pet stores and cafes in Japan.
A day in the life of environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb.
In a huge carbon credits deal, global companies, in partnership with Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States, will pay the Brazilian state of Pará up to US$180 million for reducing carbon emissions from deforestation in the Amazon.
John Platt interviewed science writer David Quammen about his work covering climate change, extinction and zoonotic diseases.
WWF reports that around 7,700 km2 of biodiverse grasslands — 1.9 million acres — were converted into farmland in the Great Plains of Canada and the United States in 2022.
President Macron of France and the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy urged all coastal and ocean states to join a new alliance for 100 percent sustainable ocean management.
The Kenya Wildlife Service launched a new strategic plan for 2024-2028.
Research by the International Livestock Research Institute shows how to take the risk out of wild-meat consumption in Africa and Asia.
From The Journals
A study of 160,000 protected areas worldwide found that many fail to prevent habitat loss — read the full paper.
More action is needed to compensate for the loss of protected areas that are downgraded, downsized or degazetted — read the press release or the full paper.
Eleven urgent actions to make marine fisheries sustainable — read the full paper
Pollinating insects are responsible for 60 percent of citrus fruit production in Argentina — read the full paper.
In Focus: Botanists and Zoologists as Endangered Species
Dasheng Liu — the general secretary of the Ecological Society of Shandong in Jinan, China— warns that a lack of trained botanists and zoologists will hamper efforts to conserve biodiversity. Writing in Nature, he says that educating a new generation of plant and animal taxonomists should be a priority for the Kunming Biodiversity Fund, set up by China and the UN Environment Programme to help low- and middle-income countries implement the Global Biodiversity Framework. There are similar challenges in wealthy countries too. As Karen Mockler reports, the United States and United Kingdom are producing fewer botanists just as demand for their skills is rising.
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Jobs And Opportunities
Climate Resilience for All is offering free training for South Asian journalists who want to improve their reporting on extreme heat — apply here by 7 October.
The Oxford Climate Journalism Network is seeking new members — apply by 13 October.
The 2025 True Story Award is open for entries — deadline 22 October.
The Open Notebook is offering a 12-month science-writing fellowship, with a US$6,600 stipend, for candidates with less than three years of experience — deadline 31 October.
EJN has grants to support climate and environmental journalism in newsrooms serving minority communities in the United States and Canada — deadline 31 October.
The International Center for Journalists has grants for reporting on climate change in the Global South — deadline 1 November.
The 8th Biennial Conference on Communication and Environment is calling for proposals.
Bonus content: There are 25 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
1-2 October: IUCN's Canada Regional Conservation Forum takes place in Ottawa.
1-2 October: The Forest Europe ministerial conference takes place in Königswinter, Germany.
8-10 October: The IUCN Leaders Forum will be held in Geneva, Switzerland.
8-10 October: The Global Nature Positive Summit takes place in Sydney, Australia.
13-18 October: The 7th International Marine Conservation Congress will take place in Cape Town, South Africa.
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 an ostrich. Photo credit: Ting Chen / 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.
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