Biodiversity treaty: UN deal fails to address the root causes of nature’s destruction

Global summits to arrest Earth’s deteriorating health look increasingly farcical.

Rosaleen Duffy, Professor of International Politics, University of Sheffield • conversation
Dec. 21, 2022 ~7 min

Five ways you can help stop biodiversity loss in your area – and around the world

Nurturing habitats close to home can make a world of difference for wildlife.

Kate Hiseman, Senior Lecturer Practitioner in Environment and Sustainability, Anglia Ruskin University • conversation
Dec. 20, 2022 ~8 min


China's lucrative orchid industry is a test for the nation's commitment to conservation

Dendrobium orchids are familiar to most people in bouquets, but they are in high demand in China for use in traditional medicines. Can Beijing find ways to grow these threatened plants sustainably?

Hong Liu, Professor of Earth and Environment, Florida International University • conversation
Dec. 20, 2022 ~9 min

Weasels, not pandas, should be the poster animal for biodiversity loss

Polar bears and wolves may get the glory, but small predators like weasels, foxes and their cousins play outsized ecological roles. And many of these species are declining fast.

David Jachowski, Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology, Clemson University • conversation
Dec. 5, 2022 ~8 min

Protecting 30% of Earth's surface for nature means thinking about connections near and far

Governments, scientists and conservation groups are working to protect 30% of Earth’s land and water for nature by 2030. Two scientists explain why scale matters for reaching that goal.

Jianguo "Jack" Liu, Rachel Carson Chair in Sustainability, Michigan State University • conversation
Dec. 2, 2022 ~11 min

Beware of 'Shark Week': Scientists watched 202 episodes and found them filled with junk science, misinformation and white male 'experts' named Mike

A recent study offers evidence that marine biology’s biggest stage is broken, and suggests ways to fix it.

David Shiffman, Post-Doctoral and Research Scholar in Marine Biology, Arizona State University • conversation
Nov. 30, 2022 ~10 min

Is China ready to lead on protecting nature? At the upcoming UN biodiversity conference, it will preside and set the tone

China has rich natural resources and is seeking to play a leadership role in global conservation, but its economic goals often take priority over protecting lands and wildlife.

Vanessa Hull, Assistant Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida • conversation
Nov. 29, 2022 ~10 min

Olive ridley sea turtles are constantly on the move, so protective zones should follow them

Standard marine protected areas with fixed boundaries can’t effectively shelter these ocean nomads.

Joseph Bernardo, Research Associate Professor of Biology, Texas A&M University • conversation
Nov. 3, 2022 ~11 min


Emperor penguins get Endangered Species Act protection – with 98% of colonies at risk of extinction by 2100, can it save them?

Emperor penguins survive in a ‘Goldilocks zone’ between too much sea ice and too little. Climate change is having an impact.

Stephanie Jenouvrier, Associate Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution • conversation
Oct. 31, 2022 ~9 min

To help protect newly hatched baby sea turtles, we designed a tool for sensing activity inside their nests

Scientists don’t know what prompts turtle hatchlings to emerge from their nests and head for the water, but vibrations appear to play a role.

Erin Clabough, Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Virginia • conversation
Oct. 26, 2022 ~8 min

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