Conservation

Conservation

IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES

The unsung hero of the environment turns 60

Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species provides a vital service to us all. It is the world’s most far-reaching information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species, watching over them with the care of a doting parent. It has an enormous and beneficial impact on the ecosystems of our planet.

“Every morning,” says Dr Craig Hilton-Taylor, head of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, “I come into work thinking, ‘Okay, what am I going to do to make a difference today?’”

And, I can assure you, every single day he does make a difference – and a massive one at that.

The IUCN Red List is a crucial indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity. Much more than a mere list of species and their status, it is a potent tool to provide information and galvanise people into taking action, effecting conservation measures and bringing about policy change. It is absolutely pivotal in preserving the natural resources we require to survive. It plays a…

Conservation

Birdwatching in St Lucia

The search for the elusive Jacquot, the emerald island’s national bird

A few months ago I went birdwatching to St Lucia in search of the elusive Jacquot, the island’s national bird, and learnt about biodiversity, endangered species and the power of environmental activism. My wife and I are nearing the end of an eight-hour hike up a vertiginous mountain trail. We are in the heart of […]

Conservation

Nature, wildlife and climate change

A story of peacock spiders, seabirds and koalas

The collective actions of animals over millions of years have shaped the planet’s climate to make it habitable for all. Our addiction to fossil fuels has become a smoke screen for this facet of reality. It’s true that humans are the major cause of climate change. However, the solutions aren’t simply about humans engineering new […]

Conservation

Back Where You Belong

For a very long time, the idea of reintroducing endangered species in captivity back into their wild natural habitats was very often thought an impossible task. Many attempts were made with disappointing and heart-breaking results. The task at hand was, and is, immense. But for John Aspinall, the founder of The Aspinall Foundation and his […]

Conservation

May The Wild Remain Wild

by Rafael Zuñiga

Wilderness Safaris have been working for almost four decades to protect millions of hectares across seven countries in Africa. They create unforgettable journeys for guests, who enjoy a front row seat in Africa’s awe-inspiring sights as well as encounters with the most majestic animals in the continent. Wilderness Safaris had its origins in Botswana in […]

Conservation

Rewilding the British Landscape

When we speak about conservation, it is very common that our minds fly to the majestic beasts roaming the plains of Africa or hiding in tropical jungles but the fact of the matter is that in Europe and specifically in Britain, many of our wildlife is threatened and at risk of extinction. It is estimated […]

Conservation, Travel

A family adventure on your doorstep

Home to the best safari experience in the UK, Port Lympne Reserve offers a family escapade like no other. From hand-feeding giraffes to spending the night in a luxurious lodge just inches away from a pride of lions, the whole experience is absolutely hypnotic. Set in over 600 acres of beautiful Kent landscape, Port Lympne […]

Conservation, Travel

Place of the Blue Crane

Kwandwe Private Game Reserve

South Africa’s Kwandwe Private Game Reserve is a true conservation victory. Situated in the diverse and scenic Great Fish River valley of the Eastern Cape, its 22,000 hectares of pristine wilderness stretch either side of the river, which meanders for 30 kilometres through the rugged landscape of the reserve. The Great Fish River is of […]

Conservation

What Are We Breathing?

by Natasha Mudhar

The consequences of air pollution are rarely addressed until the very last minute. It’s only when cities smog up or occasional studies spotlight alarming figures, that governments transition into a state of damage control and seemingly begin implementing an action plan. However, air pollution is not a sporadic issue resulting from individual crisis points. For […]

Conservation, Lifestyle

Why Sarah Kate Byrne

Buys Only Vintage Clothes

Fashion is one of the major polluting industries, with the textile industry accounting for an estimated 25% of the total carbon emissions by 2050, making it the second-largest polluter in the world after the oil industry. If you wonder how this is possible, just think of all the steps required in the production and distribution […]

Conservation

Beneath The Sea

The World We Are About To Lose

I am sure it will not come as news to you that human activities are threatening life in the world’s oceans. More than 80% of marine pollution comes from land-based activities: oil spills, agricultural pesticides, industrial sewage, even air pollution… all of which contribute to poison the water and deplete oxygen levels, resulting in the […]

Conservation, Culture

Cristina Mittermeier

by Dr Andrew Hildreth

Rewriting the manual for planet Earth This is the year of social distancing and remote living, in which we feel a global common purpose to beat a virus that is sweeping the world. Therefore conservation has become an afterthought as we concentrate on our own immediate survival. But, what happens in the aftermath? What lessons […]