Latest news with #InternationalDayforBiologicalDiversity
Egypt Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Egypt Today
Egypt's Senate to address proposed amendments to Natural Reserves Law
CAIRO – 31 May 2025: Egypt's Senate, the upper house of Parliament, is set to review proposed amendments to the law governing natural reserves during its sessions scheduled for next Monday. The discussion will focus on a comprehensive legislative update to Law No. 102 of 1983, prompted by a legislative impact study submitted by Representative Noha Ahmed Zaki, a member of the Coordination of Youth Parties and Politicians and Deputy Chair of the Senate's Energy and Environment Committee. According to Representative Zaki's study, the existing law—enacted over four decades ago—no longer meets the needs of the current environmental, economic, and social context. The law, she noted, primarily emphasized absolute environmental protection while failing to regulate the interaction with local communities or promote opportunities for sustainable development. The study highlighted several critical gaps in the current legislation, including the absence of legal frameworks for the safe and sustainable use of natural resources within reserves, inadequate penalties for environmental violations, and limited powers granted to the Environmental Affairs Agency, restricting its ability to effectively plan and manage protected areas. The report emphasized that protecting natural reserves must not come at the expense of local economic development. It recommended amending the law to allow for sustainable tourism and eco-friendly economic activities, ensure local community participation in reserve management, and introduce stricter penalties for environmental crimes. It also proposed the scientific classification of reserves, the definition of permitted uses for different species and ecosystems, and the development of flexible financing mechanisms to support long-term conservation goals. A central critique in the study was the lack of legal provisions enabling communities living within or near reserves to participate in or benefit from reserve resources. This exclusion, the study argued, has fueled tensions, led to environmentally harmful practices, and hindered prospects for local economic development. It called for a comprehensive shift in legal philosophy, moving from a model of strict environmental protection to a more integrated framework that balances environmental conservation with social and economic needs. On the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity, observed on May 22, Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad stated that Egypt is home to 30 natural reserves, covering approximately 15 percent of the country's land area. Thirteen of these reserves, she noted, have been developed for ecotourism, offering a variety of nature-based activities, including diving and mountaineering. In comments to Extra News, Minister Fouad highlighted Egypt's efforts to preserve biodiversity and maintain the delicate balance between land, sea, flora, and fauna. She also noted that several Egyptian reserves, including Wadi El-Hitan and Ras Mohammed, have been recognized on the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas—an international benchmark for effective, equitable, and enduring conservation.
Borneo Post
7 days ago
- General
- Borneo Post
Captive-bred green peafowls naturally reproduce in China
A captive-bred green peafowl is seen at the Weishan Qinghua green peafowl provincial nature reserve in the Bai Autonomous Prefecture of Dali, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 20, 2025.(Xinhua/Hu Chao) KUNMING (May 28): Four green peafowl chicks were recently hatched naturally in a wild training base in southwest China's Yunnan Province, marking the first successful natural breeding of the captive-bred species in a simulated wild environment and major progress in the country's rewilding efforts for the rare birds. The young birds were discovered in mid-May via camera surveillance at the training base located at the Weishan Qinghua green peafowl provincial nature reserve in the Bai Autonomous Prefecture of Dali. The base was co-founded by the nature reserve, the Kunming Institute of Zoology (KIZ) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Yunnan Forest Nature Center (YFNC), with a focus on wild training of captive-bred green peafowls. Currently, 11 birds are receiving wild training at the base. May 22 marks International Day for Biological Diversity. Yang Jiawei, an official at the reserve, said captive-bred green peafowls are trained in simulated wild conditions to master survival skills like foraging, predator avoidance and reproduction before they are released into the wild. An aerial drone photo taken on May 20, 2025 shows the Weishan Qinghua green peafowl provincial nature reserve in the Bai Autonomous Prefecture of Dali, southwest China's Yunnan Province.(Xinhua/Hu Chao) 'Naturally hatched chicks adapt better in the wild, increasing the release success rates,' Yang said. He added that, in the next step, the base will assess the peafowls' survival skills and release those qualified into the wild with trackers for monitoring, providing technical support for China's conservation efforts. Lu Lin, who is in charge of wildlife rescue and breeding at the YFNC, said that in 2024, the center in the provincial capital Kunming successfully bred 48 chicks, with the hatching rate surging to 73.85 percent, up from 15 percent three years prior. As of May 22, 12 chicks have hatched from 68 eggs laid this year, with more expected soon. The entire hatching process will be completed within two months. The green peafowl, China's only native peafowl species, is classified as 'endangered' on the IUCN Red List, with a higher extinction risk than giant pandas. A captive-bred green peafowl is seen at the Weishan Qinghua green peafowl provincial nature reserve in the Bai Autonomous Prefecture of Dali, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 20, 2025.(Xinhua/Hu Chao) With the continuous ecological conservation efforts in China, endangered wild animal species, including the green peafowl, have seen a rise in their populations. In Yunnan, multiple nature reserves have been established in green peafowl habitats, with 48.1 million yuan (about 6.7 million U.S. dollars) spent on conservation projects like population monitoring and habitat improvement as of 2024, said Li Peng, an official in charge of wildlife protection from the provincial forestry and grassland bureau. Thanks to these efforts, the population of wild green peafowls has risen from less than 500 in 2016 to about 850 today. – Xinhua Green peafowl chicks are seen at the Yunnan Forest Nature Center in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 19, 2025.(Xinhua/Hu Chao) animal species China fauna peafowl
Time of India
25-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Legacy harvested: Silt-based agri, ‘puran sheti', shoots out from oblivion in Sattari
Keri: The traditional silt-based agriculture, locally known as 'puran sheti', that had gone into oblivion has been revived at Shir, Savarde, in Sattari. The renaissance represents the will of farmers to surmount multiple hurdles. A quarter century ago, right from Uste to Ganjem on either side of the Mhadei in Sattari, chiefly landless farmers were engaged in silt-based agriculture. It provided them rice, a basic constituent of Goa's staple diet. However, as the water resources department began building bandharas to store raw water, the water levels along the banks surged, wiping out puran sheti. This year, Sujan Sawant, a youth from Shir, undertook an initiative to bring back the agricultural legacy. He was guided by his father Krishna, 65. 'Our ancestors lived in harmony with nature and started this unique silt-based agriculture inside the river by using its rich alluvial silt,' Krishna said. 'By transplanting paddy, they used to grow the crop in the winter without ploughing. They irrigated the field through naturally available river water,' he added. Rice is a family necessity, Krishna said. 'As it usually starts raining early in Sattari, we immediately reaped the crops,' he added. Suryakant Gaonkar of Bhuipal said, 'The bandharas have increased water levels. Yet, in the vicinity of Pishyabaichi Kond, the Sawant family decided to revive puran sheti without any govt support.' They were successful in reaping paddy this season, Gaonkar said. 'In the past, many landless families had been involved in puran sheti in the winter,' he said. 'As the new generation was unaware of the tradition, we decided to resuscitate it, focusing on the respectful relationship with the river.' Shilpa Bhousule, an associate professor at Dhempe College, helped the Sawant family by providing seeds of walay, a local variety of paddy and boosted the farmers' morale by visiting their field. Vithoba Gawade, a member of Vivekanand Environment Awareness Brigade, who photo-documented the tradition, said, 'At Shir, I got an opportunity to experience this year's theme of the International Day for Biological Diversity — living in harmony with nature and sustainable development.'
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Awareness campaign on biodiversity held in Tiruvannamalai
The Tiruvannamalai Division of the Forest Department has organised an awareness campaign on biodiversity conservation at Azhaganandhal village here to mark the International Day for Biological Diversity. The campaign was inaugurated by K. Sudhakar, District Forest Officer, Tiruvannamalai. Forest officials said it was aimed at raising awareness about the importance of biodiversity, taking active measures for its conservation, and emphasising its necessity for sustaining human life. In his address, Mr. Sudhakar stressed the urgent need for biodiversity conservation, the necessity of protecting natural habitats, reducing exploitation of nature, preventing climate change, controlling pollution, and removing invasive plant species to preserve ecological balance. The programme witnessed active participation from members of Azhaganandhal's Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC), students and teachers of Shazammal Vidya Mandir School, an NGO, wildlife enthusiasts, forest officials, and residents. G.P. Saravanan, Forest Range Officer (Tiruvannamalai); G. Vinodhraj, Assistant Conservator of Forest; Adhiya, Chairperson, Azhaganandhal BMC; and R. Balaji, forester (Tiruvannamalai), were present.
Rhyl Journal
24-05-2025
- General
- Rhyl Journal
FUW highlights wildlife and environmental resilience success
Since 2016 we've seen Brexit, Covid-19 and a steady stream of UK Prime Ministers come and go. Meanwhile, farmers have been quietly getting on with creating, restoring and managing habitats, often on the same land that feeds us all. With this Thursday marking the International Day for Biological Diversity, it provides an opportunity to celebrate these efforts that have delivered impressive results for local wildlife and environmental resilience. For example, diverse hedgerows which flower and fruit are a priority habitat for 12 of the UK's most threatened bird species, and restored or managed ponds and scrapes can lead to a 25-times increase in emergent insect biomass, supporting even more biodiversity than rivers and lakes. The extent, and success of this work was recently highlighted by the Farmers' Union of Wales following some data analysis from Welsh Government figures. Between 2016 and 2023, an average of 388,460 hectares was managed under agri-environmental contracts - around 21% of Welsh farmland. As part of this work, farmers planted, restored or laid 1,716,529 metres of hedgerows, created 72,134m² of new ponds, and created or maintained 1,218.51 hectares of streamside corridor/riparian woodland, alongside creating orchards, hay meadows and winter bird seed sources. All of these combine to create cover, food and connectivity for insects, birds, and small mammals as well as contributing to cleaner, slower flowing water, clean air, and carbon sequestration alongside food production. As the FUW gathered these figures, the Welsh Government released its Wales National Trends and Glastir Evaluation report for 2010-2021 (ERAMMP Report 105). Some of these efforts made by farmers through Glastir agreements can be seen within national trends. For example, the management of unharvested/unsprayed cereals or winter stubble providing seed, insects and shelter has led to a 24% increase in granivorous bird species. Riparian or streamside woodland corridors provide a multitude of benefits, and the report shows that 80% of headwaters remain in good ecological condition, with a halt in decline of plant species richness in broadleaved woodland. However, the report also makes for sobering reading, with generally negative and some 'stable' impacts for Wales' environment and wildlife as a whole. Farmers have been following the prescriptions provided to them by the Welsh Government through its editions of agri-environment schemes for decades, so we must ensure that future schemes offer practical options that work for both farming businesses and biodiversity in Wales. It is an FUW priority to ensure future support, largely through the Sustainable Farming Scheme, works for all farming businesses.
