No-one doubts that life on Earth is undergoing a mass extinction. Estimates of species loss vary. Nonetheless, it is clear that human impacts are taking their toll. There are numerous examples of extinctions due to human activities, whether directly (e.g., hunting) or indirectly (e.g., introducing invasive species). Human activities may promote speciation We applaud the […]
The 10 Most Powerful Biodiversity Images
Here we present 10 powerful biodiversity images. A picture is worth a thousand words, they say. That may be true! Today we’re swamped with information. Images can say a lot with a little. That said, we’re in the digital revolution. So now we’re flooded with zillions of photos and memes. We like and tag images […]
Honesty, integrity and “fake news” in fund-raising for conservation
A hair-raising fund-raising story This story begins with a post I read on LinkedIn. The article in question is trying to raise money for a conservation organization. Among several dubious claims, one stuck out. According to the author, for “approximately $12M a single donor could have protected, in perpetuity… trillions of microbial species.” Well, I’m […]
SAS/JMP Fall Academic Webinar Series
The SAS/JMP Fall Academic Webinar Series includes 17 free webcasts that will inspire you to use JMP statistical data analysis software in new ways. Register now for free. You will learn how to explore and visualize data. Other skills you learn include how to build and deploy predictive models, and how to use JMP for […]
The word for “biodiversity” in 103 different world languages
Do you know what the word “biodiversity” means? In 2010, the UN Year of Biodiversity, the BBC conducted a survey. The survey showed that most people don’t know the meaning of “biodiversity.” Most people thought it was a type of laundry powder. Consider that in perspective. Biodiversity loss is the biggest problem facing us today, […]
Video infographic shows temperature anomalies increasing over time
Most people reading this won’t have much doubt about the reality of global warming. Yes, there is debate about the extent of the human component. But most scientists agree that humans are significantly increasing CO2 levels. The science certainly points to this being a major cause of global temperature increase. Why is a video infographic […]
The BIG Biodiversity Challenge 2016
With construction and development essential for continued economic growth, it is crucial that the current upward trend does not come at the expense of the natural environment. Further awareness of the relationship between natural systems and a strong economy has led to organisations developing plans and strategies that integrate both economic and environmental targets. An […]
Conservationists must engage local communities
Let’s face it, top-down approaches haven’t worked. While the big NGOs have some merits, the model of going into a conservation area and it fencing off has not made much difference to the overall trend of biodiversity loss and wildlife population declines. One answer is to engage communities more frequently and more effectively. According to […]
Does it help conservation to put a price on nature?
Assigning an economic value to the benefits which nature provides might not always promote the conservation of biodiversity, and in some cases may lead to species loss and conflict, argues a University of Cambridge researcher. There is a risk that traditional conservation strategies oriented toward biodiversity may not be effective at protecting the economic benefits […]
Carbon storage vs. biodiversity conservation
Recent research has profound implications for conservation organizations who base their model on carbon storage and sequestration. Up to now, conservationists (and their donors) have assumed that conserving the maximum biodiversity also stores the most carbon. It’s supposedly a win-win. But two new studies turn this assumption its head. In a July 2015 paper in […]
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