Ecology
Protection of Seagrasses Key to Building Resilience to Climate Change, Disasters
Seagrass meadows can be a powerful nature-based climate solution and help sustain communities hard-hit by stressors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, but these important ecosystems continue to decline. The importance of seagrasses is highlighted in a new report, Out of…
Greening the Entertainment Industry Is Music to Our Ears
How were you planning to spend summer this year? Seeing your favourite band under a moonlit sky? Dancing at your beloved bar? Going to a festival with friends? Unfortunately, COVID-19 has made all those impossible. Like with other industries, the…
What COVID-19 Means for Ecotourism
For decades, ecotourism has helped to conserve nature and protect endangered species. COVID-19 and the subsequent closure of ecotourism sites has had an indelible impact on wildlife and the communities that protect it. Johannes Refisch is a United Nations Programme…
Good Health is an Environmental Right
The COVID-19 crisis is a reminder of the intimate relationship between humans, animals and the environment. There are several human rights related to the environment- these are our environmental rights. Without clean, safe, healthy and sustainable ecosystems, numerous human rights…
The State of the World’s Forests: Forests, Biodiversity and People
As the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity 2011–2020 comes to a close and countries prepare to adopt a post-2020 global biodiversity framework, this edition of The State of the World’s Forests (SOFO) examines the contributions of forests, and of the…
Honey Bees Feel Sting of Viral Disease
There’s nothing new in nature. Viruses have been around for as long as plants and animals, if not longer. Most viruses are benign to humans and other animals and in fact are essential for life. Some—as humans are finding out…
UNEP Start-Up Challenge Winners Show How Business Can Build Back Better From COVID-19
The 2020 winners of a UN Environment Programme (UNEP) start-up initiative are demonstrating business solutions that will help Asia build back better and greener after the COVID-19 pandemic. The nine entrepreneurs selected by the 2020 Asia-Pacific Low Carbon Lifestyles Challenge…