?? Success in Species Conservation is an Achievement for Climate Protection
Biodiversity for Climate Protection - and vice versa
Animals and plants have crucial functions in our ecosystem. Their diversity is crucial to regulating our climate and safeguarding our existence. It is estimated that there are almost nine million animal and plant species worldwide - and a large proportion is probably still undiscovered. But today, diverse species are threatened on an unprecedented scale. The causes are manifold and mostly man-made - climate change also plays a central role here. In the coming decades, there is a threat of increasing loss of numerous species if fundamental changes are not implemented in a timely manner.
The measures?that can bring this about are manifold. One important way: strengthening environmental laws worldwide and implementing them, such as the?EU Biodiversity Strategy, which aims to put Europe's biodiversity on the road to recovery by 2030. But we can also contribute to species protection in our everyday lives by paying attention to a climate-friendly and energy-saving lifestyles.
Successes in species protection can thus already be seen today. You can read about such and ambitious conservation projects in this issue!
Tuna is back in the European Seas
It is one of the most spectacular sea creatures - and was considered hopelessly overfished. Now bluefin tuna is returning to the North and Baltic Seas, apparently on a regular basis, research shows. The evidence comes from northern Denmark, where the fish have been fitted with transmitters to track their routes. A representative of Denmark's Technical University warns against hunting the animals and repeating past mistakes. According to the statement, protection now comes first.?Read more here.
Ban on Trawling Extended in Denmark
Denmark has extended the ban on trawling in parts of the North Sea and Baltic Sea to more areas?to increase protection of endangered marine life. The ban now also covers areas where special protection measures for harbor porpoises and seabirds apply. In addition, monitoring will be stepped up and violations will now face higher penalties. Environmentalists welcome the extended ban, but of course would not reject even more far-reaching measures.
Using green Corridors and Databases to Protect Wildcats in Germany
Wildcats are severely threatened in Germany. In particular, the isolation of forests is a major problem for the population and prevents the exchange of genes between different groups of wildcats. The connection of different forests should now help. The BUND (a German environmental organization) is committed to this and has now drawn up a wildcat path plan, which will serve as a basis for planning green corridors and monitoring measures. This is already creating forest connections of shrubs and woods that work even in a country as densely populated as Germany.
BUND has been conducting large-scale monitoring of wildcats for years. As a result, the world's first wildcat gene database has been developed, and green corridors can only make it more comprehensive and accurate.
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??? Number of the Week
The 500th orangutan was released in Borneo at the end of 2022. A milestone for the conservation organization BOS (Borneo Orangutan Survival).
Orangutans now live only on the Indonesian islands of Borneo and Sumatra. Due to palm oil plantations, poachers and forest fires, they are highly endangered and, according to experts, could be extinct within a few years. The wildlife conservationists of local animal protection organizations are opposing this and are taking care of rescued, mostly young orangutans. When the small apes grow up in captivity, they often first have to learn basic things - such as how to find food, build a place to sleep or climb trees.
However, the organization believes in preserving the orangutan population after the fact with their actions.
Stable Labels
Seals and certificates on products help consumers to pay more attention to sustainability, social justice and species protection in their purchasing behavior. Unfortunately, the different labels set different standards in terms of transparency and requirements for production companies.
Our Label challenge is designed to help you make your decision.
With the help of the challenge, you can get to grips with seals and certificates and ideally find a few labels you can trust.
We encounter most labels in the supermarket, but many other products such as travel, building materials or paper can also be purchased with sustainably controlled seals.
For example, the?FSC certificate?is particularly committed to species protection. This certifies sustainable forest management. This means that forests are managed more responsibly so that endangered species are not restricted too much in their habitat.
For a first overview of the seal and certificate market in Germany, Utopia offers a good overview.?Here you will find many seals and certificates from different areas listed.