Latest news with #environmentalconservation
Arab News
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Saudi minister holds talks with Chinese, EU officials on climate, global issues
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Climate Envoy Adel Al-Jubeir received China's Special Envoy for Climate Change Liu Zhenmin in Riyadh on Sunday. During the meeting, they discussed strengthening cooperation in climate action and environmental conservation, along with other topics of mutual interest. Both officials also reviewed the Kingdom's ongoing initiatives and achievements in this field, the Saudi Press Agency reported. In a separate meeting, Al-Jubeir received the deputy secretary-general for political affairs at the European External Action Service, Olof Skoog, and his accompanying delegation. The meeting reviewed international developments and the efforts being made to address them, in addition to discussing topics of mutual interest.
Asharq Al-Awsat
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Meets China's Special Envoy for Climate Change
Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Cabinet Member, and Climate Envoy Adel Al-Jubeir met on Sunday with China's Special Envoy for Climate Change Liu Zhenmin, SPA reported. The two sides discussed strengthening cooperation in climate action and environmental conservation. They also went over topics of mutual interest, as well as the Kingdom's ongoing initiatives and achievements in this regard.
ABC News
22-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
Endangered turtles use Australian-first Rookwood Weir bypass
At first glance a series of concrete slides alongside the Rookwood Weir near Rockhampton in central Queensland may not seem like a feat of engineering. But it is a key piece of infrastructure that has become ground zero for a national experiment looking to balance environmental conservation alongside industrial progress. The slides work as a turtle bypass, or ladder, for several species including two that are endangered — the Fitzroy River turtle and the white-throated snapping turtle. Sunwater executive general manager of operations Colin Bendall said the ladder was an Australian first. "It's a substantial structure to give the turtles the capacity to get around a quite large wall in the middle of the river," Mr Bendall said. The weir opened to much fanfare at the end of 2023 and was described by the then-state government as the biggest weir built in Australia since World War II. Mr Bendall said while the weir itself cost almost $569 million, $4 million of that was spent on the turtle bypass and fish lock. Some of the features include resting pools between the ramps, as well as shade and protection for the turtles to ensure they are not targets for predators while crossing. Spanning more than 172 metres in length, the slopes are set at a 45-degree angle with textured aggregate to help the turtles climb. Mr Bendall said while it took time for local fauna to adapt to new structures in a river system, there was evidence of turtles using the ladder in the 18 months since construction finished. It is definitely known that a Fitzroy River turtle crossed through the passage in mid May. But the company could not determine the exact number, despite using cameras and sound monitoring equipment. "They mainly travel at night, and they're a bit sensitive to infrared, so it makes it a little bit difficult to catch them," Mr Bendall said. Whether or not the passage is used is something Col Limpus will be watching with keen interest from afar. Now retired, Dr Limpus has been researching turtles for decades and founded the Mon Repos Turtle Rookery on the Bundaberg coast. He was also involved in developing an early prototype for the turtle ladder. He said when research showed turtles walked along the bottom of a river or climbed near-vertical faces to get through strong currents, rather than swim, the idea for the turtle bypass was born. He helped design one for the Tartus Weir before government funding for the project was withdrawn. "That concept I believe has been picked up for Rookwood … but it's never been demonstrated that it actually works," Dr Limpus said. During planning for the weir there was concern from environmental groups around the impact on the endangered turtle species, especially the possible inundation of their nests. The ladder, and Sunwater's turtle monitoring programs, were in part a response to concerns raised in submissions to the company's Environmental Impact Statement. According to Central Queensland University PHD student Kymberly Robinson both the Fitzroy River turtle and the white-throated snapping turtle were struggling with aging populations, specific nesting requirements, and predators. "Almost 100 per cent of the [Fitzroy River turtle's] eggs are destroyed by different predators before they get a chance to go in the water," Ms Robinson said. Both species can also cloacal ventilate, also known as breathing through their bottoms. Before the weir was established Mr Bendall said Sunwater had been using sound monitoring to track more than 100 turtles in a 30-kilometre stretch of the river. "We're also monitoring things like feral cats and pigs to make sure that they're not having an impact on [turtle] nesting zones," he said. The research will be given to state and federal agencies for future projects.
The Independent
21-05-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Habitat loss and climate change make it tough to be an amphibian. Some humans are helping
On a rainy March evening, John Bateman puts on his boots and a headlamp and heads to a wetland cut through by a busy road. As he walks, he scans the pavement for spring peepers, toads, salamanders and newts making their slow way as they migrate to new habitat each spring, and leans down occasionally to help guide one across. It's a small act that makes a big difference for these amphibians, who need different habitats for different stages of their life cycle — sometimes wetlands, sometimes drier uplands. Roads often separate these habitats, and migrating amphibians can get squished. They already face challenges from habitat lost to development. That's especially true for vernal pools, the small pools that show up each spring in forested ecosystems as snow melt and rainwater collect at low points on the ground. These pools hold water as late as July, and provide essential breeding habitat for amphibians like salamanders and frogs. Larger wetlands can enjoy federal protections, but not the vernal pools, which are too small and temporary. 'Unfortunately, with urban sprawl and development, a lot of the forests are being cleared for new housing developments as people move out of the cities and into the suburbs," said Bateman, a professor of environmental conservation and horticulture at Finger Lakes Community College. "When they clear these forest habitats, vernal pools are going to be buried and become new houses, condominiums, and neighborhoods.' ___ EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is a collaboration between Rochester Institute of Technology and The Associated Press. ___ The U.S. Geological Survey calls amphibian declines 'a global phenomenon' and one that's been underway in the U.S. since at least the 1960s. The agency said populations are dropping almost 4% each year in the U.S. Development isn't the only threat. Amphibians are being affected by Earth 's changing climate. The Appalachian region is particularly rich in salamander species, and with temperatures rising, their range is shifting northward, Bateman said. That concerns him. 'At one point you hit the top and there is nowhere else to go," Bateman said. A warming climate also requires cold-blooded amphibians to spend more time hunting to get the food they need to maintain their metabolism, said Karen Lips, a University of Maryland biology professor whose research found salamanders becoming smaller as a result. Bateman isn't the only conservationist working to help amphibians. Margot Fass owns A Frog House, a center for frog advocacy in Pittsford, New York. In April, she raised money and worked with 70 volunteers to build three vernal pools as part of Save the Frogs Day. The pools should help amphibians, but will also be a source of water for birds and other wildlife. Fass grows animated as she talks about chemical-free gardens and their importance to amphibians: 'One spray of pesticides can kill a frog within an hour. It's just horrible." Both she and Bateman are strong believers in educating their communities to help amphibians. They often give talks in schools, libraries and to various groups. 'It's amazing how few people really know that frogs are endangered or that a third of them have gone extinct," Fass said. The Genesee Land Trust, a not-for-profit conservation organization, is another active member in preserving and protecting land in the greater Rochester region. It owns Cornwall Preserve in Pultneyville, New York, on the edge of Lake Ontario. The trust bought the 77-acre property in 2016, becoming the first non-farmers to own the land in 200 years. They're preserving the historical farmland and in doing so have restored some wetlands and vernal pools. 'The wetland immediately served a population of birds after we first started digging,' said Elliotte Bowerman, the trust's director of communications. Catching amphibians may just be a nostalgic childhood memory for most, but for Bateman it never lost its magic. He believes preserving wetlands and vernal pools is critical not only for the amphibians and the environment, but for the next generation to experience the childlike wonder of discovering these hidden creatures. 'I think that the future generations are absolutely going to be at a loss to not have those experiences that I did as a child, to have that connection with nature," he said. ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
