» Listings for 2018

1. Search engine Ecosia plants trees as you search

   Posted on 5:00pm Wednesday 14th Mar 2018

   If you're looking for a way to help plant trees yourself, here's a very easy way to do it!   Choose the search engine Ecosia to search online for the things you want!  This short You Tube video tells you  how Ecosia started.   It explains why they are planting teres, and how they decide where to plant trees.  Their goal is to plant 1 BILLION trees and you can help every time you search online.  So far, nearly 23 million trees have been planted already!    You can use Ecosia on a whole range of devices, such as computers, mobiles and tablets and help them plant more.  You only need to make a small change to have a big impact - the information about Ecosia is followed by an interview with conservationist Jane Goodall.

    

   
   
   

2. Where wines meet elephants....there's help for conservation

   Posted on 8:00pm Tuesday 13th Mar 2018

   The New Zealand company Elephant Hill will be partnering with Elephant Family, an international charity dedicated to the conservation of the Asian Elephant. The winery is to launch a bespoke series of it’s “Le Phant” wines, initially to be launched in Asia but then made available to other markets around the world.   A percentage of each bottle sold will be donated to the Elephant Family charity. The wines will have tailor-made labels with elephant sculptures from Elephant Parade.   This is a social enterprise that runs an enormous art exhibition of decorated elephant sculptures.  It’s all in aid of elephant conservation, and the sculptures have been shown in over 24 cities worldwide. As it happens, the heart of Asian elephant territory lies equidistant between Elephant Family’s headquarters in London and the New Zealand Elephant Hill’s base in New Zealand, so it’s wonderful that elephants will receive help from this partnership.    After all, they are just a trunk call away! Visit Elephant Family’s website here.   And Elephant Hill here

3. Drones making a big difference to turtle research and conservation

   Posted on 8:00pm Tuesday 13th Mar 2018

   Research undertaken by the University of Exeter shows that drones are rapidly becoming a key resource for scientists.  In a paper published in the Endangered Species Review, scientists noted a number of benefits drones have to turtle conservation. Drones enable scientists to track turtles over big areas and in places which are hard to reach.  And they can gather information in much greater detail.  They are cheaper than alternative ways to gather data, such as satellite systems.  The information they collect enable scientists to discover more about turtle behaviour and their movements in the water.   Drones also give an extra weapon with which to fight poaching. What’s more, stunning footage collected by the drones really increases public interest and involvement. What scientists don’t know at the moment is if the turtles can pick up drones in flight, and what impact it has on them, so the University says more research is needed to investigate these points. Visit the University of Exeter's Biosciences website Responsible Travel lists a number of turtle conservation holidays

    

4. Birdlife International reports that women are championing mangrove conservation in Nigeria

   Posted on 9:00pm Monday 12th Mar 2018

   International bird conservation charity BirdLife International report that a group in Nigeiria is empowering women and the community to protect the very productive but rapidly disappearing mangrove forests there. Groups of women are helping commuinties to restore and manage mangrove forests in 5 villages in South East Nigeria.   It’s a important breeding site.  Crocodiles, tortoises, turtles, fish, shrimps, crab, snails, clam and oysters call this area home.  Local people depend on the forest to support their livelihoods.  For the forests have been overharvested.  Trees have been used for firewood in homes and to build canoes.  Patches of forest have been cleared for housing.   This means that ecosystems and economic benefits have put the mangroves at risk.  But the good news is that 7 women on the frontline are working with communities. Workshops reaching 330 women are raising awareness about the importance of mangrove restoration and tree planting. Just 9 months after the project was started, over 400 trees have been planted in key areas.  Another 600 have been ear-marked for distribution to women in the communities to promote agro-forestry practice. And 2 nursery sites have been established in 2 communities to grow the Rhizophora species of mangrove tree, and over 400 seedlings grown! Fly away to BirdLife International for more information

5. Airline training helps prevent wildlife trafficking

   Posted on 9:00pm Monday 12th Mar 2018

   Air Cargo News report that campaigns to stop wildlife trafficking from Africa have seen two training workshops held in Mozambique and Kenya.   More workshops are planned in Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia and Malaysia. ROUTES (that’s the USAID Reducing Opportunities for Unlawful Transport of Endangered Species) delivered a workshops for airliner staff on the role they play in preventing wildlife trafficking. A ROUTES report analysing wildlife trafficking in the air transport sector says that Kenya is a significant transit point for poachers and traffickers who supply wildlife products to Asia. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is the busiest airport in East and Central Africa and so is a target for wildlife trafficking, especially ivory.   Kenyan authorities often seize illegal products at the airport.  Empowering staff to identify and report suspicious activities linked to wildlife trafficking is essential to stop the trade. There was also a training workshop in Mapoto for staff such as cabin crew, ground handlers, cargo processors and other staff.  They found out how to detect and stop smugglers carrying wildlife products out of Mozambique, a hotspot for ivory and rhino horn going to Asia. It’s thought that as airline staff spend more time with passengers and their baggage, and cargo shipments, than customs officers, they can be a key source of intelligence in the battle to stop the wildlife trafficking trade.  Good luck ROUTES with your on-going workshops!