Mostly, humans have been devastating to the planet but, on rare occasions, we get it right. Here are stories of people who live in harmony with their surroundings, from Tibet to Morocco and beyond.
A red fox listening for prey under the snow in Yellowstone National Park. Noise can affect foxes and other animals that rely on their hearing when they hunt.
Neal Herbert/NPS
A recent study finds that noise from human activities is intruding into many parks and other protected areas. Creating quiet zones and noise corridors can help reduce impacts from noise pollution.
Birdwatchers are keeping parrots’ locations a closely guarded secret.
Adventure Australia
With the right approach to data security, scientists’ discoveries of the locations of rare and sought-after species needn’t leave a trail for poachers to follow.
Australia’s Purnululu National Park is a World Heritage wilderness, but many other pristine places lack similar protection.
AAP Image/Tourism Australia
Wilderness areas are vitally important, yet are largely overlooked by the United Nations’ list of natural World Heritage. This week’s meeting in Poland is a chance to redress that balance.
Numbers of skylarks have declined dramatically in western Europe.
from www.shutterstock.com
‘Australian values’ have been mangled into meaninglessness by countless politicians. But there is an national character, shaped by the Australian land. New research investigates Outback values.
The Whanganui River, seen here, is now a person under New Zealand law.
AlexIndigo/Flickr
New Zealand just conferred personhood upon the Whanganui River, giving it standing to legally defend its rights. Can this novel strategy save the environment?
A meerkat at the National Zoo and Aquarium in Canberra. The Zoo has recently announced an expansion that will double its size.
AAP Image/Stefan Postles
Communities and indigenous people would like to conserve forests, nature and biodiversity. But their priority, like that of most people, is improving their own well-being and that of their children.
The “decision science” approach helps avoid unanticipated consequences of programs to bring species such as New Zealand’s little bush moa, Waitomo frog, or laughing owl back from extinction.
The Hirola has a global population size of 500.
Abdullahi H. Ali
Matthew Flinders Professor of Global Ecology and Models Theme Leader for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Flinders University