UNEP-WCMC’s Heather Bingham and Ben Lucas report back after attending the 14th Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP14) of the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention), which took place from 5 to 13 November 2022. Hosted by China, Ramsar COP14 was held simultaneously between Wuhan, China, and Geneva, Switzerland in a hybrid format. We were delighted…
Researchers have conducted initial studies scoping the potential for some of the most important zoonotic diseases to make the jump into humans as a result of the legal and illegal wildlife trade. Scientists from UNEP-WCMC and the UK Government’s Joint Nature Conservation Committee reviewed the best available scientific datasets and studies and cross-checked with trade…
Ministers and business leaders joined scientists, UN agencies and development experts at the COP27 climate change conference yesterday to underscore the vital mission of safeguarding the world’s biodiversity to help combat climate change. November 16 – day 10 of COP27 – was themed Biodiversity Day, with discussions, events, announcements dedicated to joined up, accelerated action…
View more
A new study has strengthened calls for coordinated action on climate change and nature loss, by calculating the CO2 emissions countries could save if they conserve and restore ecosystems on land, in line with proposed international targets for nature conservation. It comes ahead of Biodiversity Day at the COP27 climate conference, on November 16, during…
Launched today, the pilot edition of the World Wildlife Trade Report provides an overview of the international trade in endangered plants and animals over the past decade. The report considers the scale and trends in the global trade of nearly 40,000 species regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and…
Officers working on the front line of enforcing wildlife trade legislation now have instant access to key species information in the palm of their hands, thanks to a new mobile application. Launched today and available on both Apple and Android, the new Species+ app has been created to make the Species+ database more easily accessible to users…
View more
Megan Critchley, Programme Officer in UNEP-WCMC’s Nature-based Solutions team, introduces comprehensive new guidance to help evidence the climate mitigation impact of nature restoration projects Finding ways to mitigate climate change impacts is now an existential necessity. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the contribution that landscape restoration makes to climate change…
The world is not on track to achieve forest goals of ending and reversing deforestation by 2030, critical for a credible pathway to the 1.5°C Paris Agreement goal, according to a new report by the UN-REDD Programme, UNEP-WCMC and the Green Gigaton Challenge (GGC). It finds that for the 2030 goals to remain within reach, a…
Agriculture is a vital part of human development. However, global warming is impacting crop yields, and land conversion for food production is one of the most important drivers of nature loss. Smart planning, adaptation, and optimisation of agricultural practices are therefore crucial to ensuring a sustainable future for both people and the planet. Which crops are…
View more