Category: Environment

1. Petition to keep the oil industry out of Africa's treasures

   Posted on 5:00pm Sunday 17th Jan 2021

    

   Rainforest Rescue is a non-profit organisation which is committed to preserving rainforests, protecting those living there, and furthering social reforms. Have a prowl around their website and you will notice that they have a number of petitions we can all sign to add our voice to protect the powerless. They say that those living in forests are often powerless against the business interests and ambitions of timber and cattle barons, Western banks, corrupt politicians and oil and mining companies. And there’s a petition at the moment aiming to keep the oil industry out of Africa's natural treasures. ReconAfrica have got a lience for oil and gase exploration in the Kavango delta.  They’ve got a second-hand oil rig in the US and shipped it across the Atlantic.  Drilling began in December in 2020 and if successful, the companies plans to extract two billion barrels of oil before drilling into deeper layers of rock.  Rainforest Rescue say the ecological impacts of the projects will be devastating.  They say it would threaten bodies of water in the dry Namibian savannahs, and Botswana’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Okavango Delta and huge numbers of elephants, hippos, rhinos and birds.  Livelihoods of locals hang in the balance.   Please help keep the oil industry out of Africa's natural treasures image © Rainforest Rescue Rainforest Rescue say, “We need to stop ReconAfrica’s project for the sake of the climate, biodiversity, water, and the livelihoods of the local people. Please support our demands with your signature.” Hippos, elephants, rhinos and birds can’t have a voice in this – they need us to speak for them.  Please sign the petition and act on their behalf.

    

    

2. Save our Seagrass - Rapanui steps in to help and you can too!

   Posted on 8:00pm Friday 12th Jun 2020

   Rapanui have an unusual offer this weekend! Their Buy One, Get One Tree offer has a twist – an under-the-sea twist.   They’ve teamed up with the Marine Conservation Society to help protect seagrass. This underwater grass is crucial in the fight against climate change. Why?  Well, seagrass absorbs 10% of the ocean’s carbon every year. In fact, estimates are that seagrass can capture as much carbon per hectares as trees in UK woodlands.  And seagrass is vital for marine life. Find out more about seagrass and why it matters here Unfortunately, 35% of seagrasses worldwide have been lost or damaged over the last 40 years – so Rapanui want to help the Marine Conservation Society do something about it. This weekend (until midnight Sunday 14 June 2020), every order on the Rapa store will help the Marine Conservation Society protect 5 square feet of this wonder-plant in the UK's seas! Visit Rapanui here – they have a wonderful range of t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, bundles, shirts and more! Visit the Marine Conservation Society here and donate directly to their seagrass appeal

    

3. National Trust for Scotland needs support

   Posted on 6:00pm Thursday 11th Jun 2020

   The National Trust for Scotland cares for over 76,000 hectares of countryside, home to a vast range of wildlife and world-famous landscapes.  And, thanks tot he coronavirus, it is in trouble.  It needs some help. There are some of Scotland's most beautiful places under the care of the National Trust for Scotland, and it works with people of all ages to help them enjoy these sights.  There's an abundance of rare and remarkable wildlife under the care of the National Trust for Scotland;  the Trust monitors them and undertakes conservation work,  helping to protect the habitats that support all kinds of animal and plant communities, from red squirrels and seabirds, to montane scrub and ancient trees. Otters, pine martens, red squirrels and bats all live on National Trust for Scotland's landscapes.  The Trust cares for over 400 islands and islets - and many of these are home to the world's most important seabird colonies.  It looks after 8 National Nature Reserves and 27 site at Trust places are designated as special importance for nature conservation in Europe.  You can help and support the National Trust for Scotland by making a donation today

    

4. Water, water, for wildlife in Guatemala

   Posted on 9:00pm Wednesday 3rd Jun 2020

   The World Land Trust reports that wildlife were putting themselves at risk in Guatemala because they were getting close to urban areas. So their conservation partner FUNDAECO introduced human-made watering holes and they have proved to be invaluable for wildlife – several species have been filmed using them. This initiative came after the Caribbean was hit by longer summers and animals got closer to towns.  It only takes the team a few days to install each watering hole.  The water holes will now be an annual part conservation.  The plan is to roll these artificial water sources out on other reserves. This means that wildlife will have access to water throughout the summer. The first project the World Land Trust did with FUNDAECO was the purchase of 1,500 acres of lowland and inundated tropical forest.  They created a reserve at Laguna Grande. Today, they are still buying and protecting some of the last remaining wetlands and tropical forests in Caribbean Guatemala.  Back in 2017, they started to create a new core reserve area in the Sierra Santa Cruz.  And WLT supports FUNDAECO through its Keepers of the Wild Appeal – that funds rangers on the reserves. Find out about the work the World Land Trust is doing in Guatemala here Find out about FUNDAECO here Donate to the World Land Trust’s Keepers of the Wild Appeal here

    

5. World Oceans Day is on 8th June

   Posted on 9:00pm Monday 1st Jun 2020

   Help #WorldOceansDay grow the movement to protect our blue planet, using #ProtectOurHome The 2020 Focus – or theme – is all about uniting conservation action to grow a global movement calling on world leaders to protect 30% of our blue planet by 2030.   This essential need is called 30x30.  If we can safeguard at least 30% of our ocean through a network of well protected areas, then we can ensure a healthy home for everyone! Two things you can do: First, sign the petition calling on world leaders to protect 30% of our blue planet by 2030. Today, only 15% of land and 7% of our ocean are protected – and the aim is to protect 17% of land and 10% of ocean by the end of 2020.     Many of our world leaders however need a really good kick up the backside if these are to increase.  They don’t quite seem to understand that the natural world provides critical resources which sustain life on earth.   We need clean air to breathe.   We need clean water to drink.  We need  good food to eat.  We need medicines.  We need the resources the natural world provides.  Animals need it too. So let’s give them a good kick up the backside and campaign for nature:   Sign the petition here Secondly, take a good look around the World Oceans Day website and see what is happening.  There are resources you can download and use to spread the word.  Some of these are for specific marine species such as sharks, rays, seals, hammerheads, turtles, dolphins and penguins.  Others are for areas such as corals.  And they come in different languages, too. Speak up for nature - there are resources you can download from the World Ocean Day 2020 website There’s a guide you can download on how to use social media – it’s a PDF – plus banners and posters. Find out more ways to act for our oceans here #Togetherwecan #ProtectourHome