Conservation (articles and reports)

[peter]

MATIAS

Good stuff. We need to develop the conservation section in order to be able to get to good assessments on the state of affairs in different parts of the world. Good information is needed, that is.  

There are distinct differences between continents and regions. In Europe, for instance, rivers are cleaner than a few decades ago. Wolves are now seen in regions where they're all but unknown. Same for quite a few other species. Things are slowly changing. The reason is a clear policy and a follow-up (research and protection).

In newspaper reports, we often read about forest destruction in Indonesia, Africa and North- and South-America. Although the reports are true, it also is a fact that the amount of forest worldwide has increased quite significantly last year (by about 7%). In Europe, Russia and China, reforestation is considered important. Politicians acted and it had an effect. Same for India.

Large predators are the best indicators of health. In quite many regions, they are protected. It most definitely has an effect. Let's take tigers. India, Nepal, Thailand and Russia now have more tigers than a decade ago. In regions where they're not protected, they're struggling or completely gone. In southeastern Asia (Vietnam, Laos and Cambodja), forests are all but empty. The result is that tigers, also targeted by poachers, have become extinct.   

As the remaining wild tigers are now protected in Russia, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Bhutan, Nepal and India, poachers moved to Africa (lions) and South-America (jaguars). That's not a result of coincidence; conservation isn't taken very serious in a number of countries in South-America and Africa. On the other hand, however, interesting initiatives have been developed as well. Projects about which we, as you said, know next to nothing. Same for research.  

In short: it would be much appreciated if you could keep us informed about the situation. South-America and Africa have some priority, but feel free to post about anything everywhere. 

At your request, you're still a member and not a mod. As far as we're concerned, however, you can act as a mod. If you need any help, let us know. Reply