Sh*tty Waters: The UK’s Sewage Scandal
Warm weather invites thoughts of a refreshing swim in nature, yet a grim reality hides beneath the surface: the UK’s sewage crisis, now in the spotlight, still endangers public health and aquatic life.
Posts
Behind the Lens and Beyond the Microphone: Studying Wildlife with AI
As AI transforms global biodiversity monitoring, machine listening decodes species from vast sound data—yet real benefits for nature and people hinge on addressing ethical and socio-political challenges.
Green Literature: Ways of Being Alive
How many ways of living can coexist on our planet? In Ways of Being Alive, Baptiste Morizot rethinks coexistence among all living beings, proposing a new ethical and political framework for life on Earth.
Urban Trees, Insects, and Monitoring
Reporting, monitoring, surveys, and prevention are the most powerful weapons in the fight against species that are threatening our urban green spaces.
Green Literature: Half Earth, or a Brief Overview of the Ethics of Conservation
Today’s pick is Half Earth by E.O. Wilson, who argues for protecting half the planet for biodiversity, sparking a discussion on conservation ethics and its main currents.
Planning Landscapes and Cities
Landscape and urban planning face environmental and social challenges: shared responsibility and participation foster resilient, transformative spaces.
Italy: so Biodiverse, so Fragile
From the Alps to the Mediterranean, Italy holds a treasure of biodiversity. But without concrete action, we risk losing it.
Beaver Engineering: Architects of Biodiversity
While humans struggle with red tape, beavers build dams in days. These “ecosystem engineers” boost biodiversity, fight floods, and sometimes even save governments millions.
Echoes of a Silent Summer: Conserving Europe’s Grasshopper Chorus
On warm summer nights, grasshoppers and crickets sing. In Greece’s mountains, the rare Epirus grasshopper’s fragile song tells a story of survival and a habitat worth protecting.
LIFE Program, Endangered: New European Budgets Neglect Biodiversity
Scientists, naturalists and ecologists are worried about the new European Union budgeting drafts: the LIFE program is no longer mentioned. What is it, what is its function, and why does it matter so much?
Combating the Invasive Crayfish Problem with Crayfish-infused Beer?
Invasive crayfish species cause problems to ecosystems, threaten native crayfish populations and spread the crayfish plague. Control measures include the release of predator eels, “canoe-hygiene”, and crayfish-infused beer.
Reflecting on the Newts
An emotional story on the ski slopes this winter reminds us that climate change isn’t waiting. It’s happening. And yet, we keep crossing the line.
Fast Fashion Plants: The Pretty Garden Trend That’s Hurting the Planet
As more people turn to their gardens for joy, biodiversity, and a touch of green serenity, an important question arises: Where do our garden plants come from—and at what cost?
Protecting the Yellow-Bellied Toad in Trentino
The yellow-bellied toad iconically uses its brightly colored underside as a defense strategy. Yet, the survival of this species is threatened by habitat destruction. Conservation projects in Trentino aim to support their populations.
Green Literature: The Word for World is Forest
The Word for World is Forest — On a forested alien planet, humans exploit nature — until the native Selver rises. Le Guin’s sci-fi classic questions our dominion over Earth and our humanity.
The Hidden World of Brazilian Ponds: The Battle of Cloud Fish
A legend in the Brazilian outback says that fish fall from the clouds every year. Although this statement may seem fanciful, there is a scientific basis that explains the phenomenon.
Trentino’s Path to a Sustainable and Biodiverse Future
With 2,300 different species, Trentino is home to a vast range of biodiversity. Much like biodiversity around the world, this natural wealth is at risk. Yet, with its strategy for sustainable development – SproSS, Trentino aims to protect and enhance this biodiversity.
Chimborazo: the Closest Point to the Sun
Chimborazo is the highest point from Earth’s center, making it the closest to the Sun. Everest is taller from sea level, but Chimborazo’s position near the equator gives it the greatest peak distance from Earth’s core.
Ecology Concepts: Ecological Interactions and the Mathematics of Ecosystems
A trophic web is defined by the species involved and their interactions among themselves. What kind of interactions are there and how can they be analyzed?
Biodiversity: Who Are You?
What is biodiversity? How is it identified and measured, and how can we enhance and protect it? Can our mountains make themselves a refuge for species and a cradle of biodiversity?
Ecology Concepts: Trophic Webs and Ecosystems Through Nature Documentaries
An ecosystem is a complex network of interactions, often simplified into a pyramid. Documentaries and specialist journals provide insights into its real complexity. I provided you with some tips.
The High Seas Treaty: Protecting Oceans’ Biodiversity
Deep seawater ecosystems are under several threats, with the inconvenience that the management of those areas does not belong to any country. How do we deal with this, and what are those menaces?
Balancing Agriculture and Sustainability in the EU
The European Union (EU) stands at a crucial crossroads as it seeks to balance agriculture and food supply with sustainability and environmental preservation. What are the challenges?
A two in one: caterpillar then butterfly!
The marsh fritillary is an iconic butterfly species; but its population size has decreased dramatically in the last 50 years across the British Isles.
The Country That Cried Wolf: Human and Wolves Relationship
Some months ago, there was a proposal to lighten the protection status for the wolf in the EU. The proposal was turned down, but that was neither the beginning nor the end of the controversy this animal carries along.
It Takes A Flower
Botanical discoveries drive mankind toward an incessant need for determination. Species that live in a territory are distinguished from others and named. A true botanical version of a treasure hunt.
Brazilian Biomes – Chapter 2: Cerrado The Inverted Forest
Exploring the heart of Brazil, today we land on the Cerrado. Understand how the biome is a key piece for the safeguarding of Latin-American rivers and how you can make a difference in its survival.
Tales from the Caatinga: The Vision of an Expert
Prof. Francisca Soares de Araújo, a biologist, and Sarah Ferreira discuss here the challenges of Caatinga. In this conversation, they talked about the dangers involved in the new dynamics of this Brazilian region.
Alm Sweet Alm
Pastures are a living part of Alpine culture and landscape. They are a history of men and animals, an example of integration between man and nature and represent a landmark for mountain agriculture, economy and society.
Brazilian Biomes – Chapter 1: Caatinga
This year, we shall explore the Brazilian landscape! First stop: Caatinga, a place once seen as empty and forgotten. Discover why this ecosystem doesn’t get what it deserves and learn its challenges in staying protected!
