Football is the most popular sport in the world, attracting a global fanbase of 3.5 billion. Unfortunately, its massive following and international reach has a dark side: a significant carbon footprint. From stadium and energy consumption to travel-related emissions and waste production, the beautiful game is leaving a negative mark on planet Earth.  

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The Environmental Impact of Football

Independent clubs’ emissions have proven difficult to calculate as each club’s respective output varies depending on size and location. Travel by fans and teams, however, has consistently been shown to be the main culprit behind football’s negative impact on the environment. 

It is estimated that the global football industry produces more than 30 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, roughly the equivalent of the total emissions generated by Denmark.

Major Tournaments’ Contribution

• Men’s World Cup 2022

The Men’s World Cup 2022 in Qatar produced approximately 3.63 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). Transportation accounted for 52% of the total (1.89 million tCO2e), while accommodation generated 20% of the total emissions (728,404 tCO2e). Temporary (162,556 tCO2e) and permanent (654,658 tCO2e) facility/venue construction combined accounted for 23% of the total. Other contributing factors included logistics, media, materials and merchandise, venue operations as well as electricity, heating, and cooling. 

While FIFA said the tournament would be carbon-neutral due to offsetting claims, data clearly shows that the pledge did not materialise. The tournament also failed to adhere to recommendations issued by the Swiss Fairness Commission – Switzerland’s self-regulatory body of advertising and communications industry. 

Climate analysts have expressed that carbon offsetting claims are being exploited as the main ground of net zero claims for sporting events. Offsetting acts as an excuse for circumventing actual emission reductions and can create a threatening misconception of “climate neutrality” when emissions are high or rising.

More on the topic: Qatar 2022: The Environmental Cost of the FIFA World Cup

• Men’s Euro 2024

As mentioned above, travel creates the biggest carbon footprint across football. No other sport sees fans travel so frequently and in such great numbers as football. The Men’s Euro in 2020 was staged across 11 European countries. This summer’s tournament is taking place in Germany, with UEFA investing €32 million (US$34.6 million) in sustainability initiatives to make the Men’s Euro 2024 the greenest one yet. 

This includes a €29 ($31.4) flat rate discounted ticket to travel with Deutsche Bahn – Germany’s national railway system – and free 36-hour local transport for ticket holders to encourage fans to travel by rail. The degree to which this will help limit emissions or change behaviours is yet to be seen. The majority of fans will not be local, meaning a substantial proportion will be travelling to Germany from other European nations and beyond. This year’s tournament is predicted by UEFA to generate ~490,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with ~400,000 coming from fan travel (>80% of total). Germany’s extensive rail network, existing football and transport infrastructure and green stadia limit the emissions produced from other factors outside of transport. 

• Future World Cups

The path to a greener football future seems to be heading in a different direction with future World Cups en route to get bigger. The 2026 and 2030 men’s tournaments are set to be hosted across multiple continents with more teams (format increasing to include 48 teams from 32). The 2026 event will take place across the US, Canada, and Mexico while the 2030 tournament was awarded to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco with Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay also hosting matches to mark the tournament’s centenary. 

Beyond location, travel, and stadium construction, football governing bodies need to consider World Cups’ brand sponsors in order to reduce the tournament’s carbon footprint. Even if the 2022 event had been carbon neutral, it still featured sponsorship from Qatar Airways and Qatar Energy. FIFA has also been under fire for not prioritising the environment in its bidding process, awarding Saudi Arabia, the oil giant, as host of the 2034 event.  

Expansion of European Football: An Environmental Threat?

Next season will see Men’s European club football expand further, partially a result of the European Super League proposal, with an additional 177 fixtures across UEFA’s three major tournaments – Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League. 

BBC Sport research suggests the fixture expansion could lead to fans and teams flying approximately 2 billion air miles across the 2024/25 season, up from 1.5 billion in 2022/23. The projected figures suggest the release of almost 500,000 tonnes of GHG which will contribute to global warming. For a deeper analysis, the 2022/23 season (32 teams) emitted 368,388 tonnes of CO2e from fan and team travel. The projected emissions for the 2024/25 season (36 teams) due to fan and team travel is 480,717 tonnes of CO2e. 

Green Football?

In 2016, the United Nations launched the Sports for Climate Action Framework, calling on signatories to reduce their emissions and reach net-zero by 2040. The Premier League signed up in 2021, with clubs including Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs and Newcastle as well as non-league and European teams making independent pledges. FIFA shared it aims to reduce emissions across its events as part of its climate strategy and hope to be carbon neutral as an organisation by 2040. 

UEFA joined the UN Race to Zero campaign in 2022, vowing to halve emissions across its events by 2030. Additionally, UEFA introduced sustainability guidelines to help clubs improve: energy and water consumption, building infrastructure, food and apparel manufacturing.   

More Is Needed

On 6 March, 2024, UEFA launched its Carbon Footprint Calculator, an online tool designed to help clubs and teams manage their carbon emissions, and not only from travel but also from purchased goods, facilities and services. The calculator, which has third-party verification, has been in development for two years. 

“The UEFA Carbon Footprint Calculator embodies our ambition to showcase that football can be part of the solution in the global effort to reduce carbon emissions,” explained UEFA Vice-President Laura McAllister. 

“By providing stakeholders with the tools and guidance, we are facilitating collective action towards a more sustainable future for our sport and the planet. Together, we can demonstrate to governments, investors, fans, and commercial partners that football is committed to addressing climate change in a unified and strategic manner.”

The tool will also help clubs “understand” what their carbon footprint is and push them to cut emissions, according to UEFA Director of Sustainability Michele Uva.

Climate-Conscious Young Football Fans

Research conducted by Rising Ballers, a UK-based football digital media agency and platform, found that 72% of Gen Z football fans care about the environment, with 61% believing football should be more eco-friendly. 

The findings also showed that 40.2% of young football fans suspect waste production contributes to football’s high carbon footprint the most (32.5% transport, 18.1% stadiums, 9.2% food and drink). Although waste production is a significant contributing factor, it does not outweigh transport. Further awareness and education, including on green transport when travelling to and from matches, is a way forward to promote collective effort in reducing football’s carbon footprint.

The research also demonstrated that there is a new sponsorship opportunity for brands in football’s evolving eco-aware landscape: 54% of young football fans would consider purchasing from a more environmentally sustainable brand over a mainstream option. This gives sponsors ample room to capitalise on football’s convergence with other cultures, including sustainability. Football fans are more than what meets the eye – they are complex consumers with many habits and interests that extend beyond the game. Tapping into these interests provides an exciting activation portal for brands to engage this huge global community. 

You might also like: The Influence of the Sports Industry on Climate Change and How it Can Be Part of the Solution

Future Outlook

The young generation shape much of how football functions today – from brand sponsorships to industry decision making and matchday content consumption. By promoting green activity and raising awareness on climate change to young fans, football has the power to reduce its carbon emissions, progress towards net-zero goals and become greener in the long-term. 

The environment affects football by providing appropriate weather conditions and natural resources such as the pitch to play. The environmental impact of football will affect its ability to function properly in the future if governing bodies fail to account for carbon emissions. How are we supposed to continue to enjoy the beautiful game if we do not care for the environment which enables it to flourish? Food for thought. 

Featured image: Wikimedia Commons

The post The Carbon Footprint of Football: Unveiling the Dark Side of the Game appeared first on Earth.Org.

A 2020 study has predicted that polar bear extinction will occur in the Arctic by 2100 if greenhouse gas emissions remain on their current trajectory. Further, polar bears are likely to experience reproductive failure by 2040, reducing the number of offspring needed for population maintenance. To celebrate International Polar Bear Day, which every year falls on February 27, we take a look at what is threatening this endangered species and what the future holds for them. 

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Will Polar Bears Go Extinct?

The study, published in Nature Climate Change, analyses how polar bears will be affected under two greenhouse gas emission scenarios. 13 of the world’s 19 polar bear subpopulations were examined, representing about 80% of the species’ total population.

The researchers found that under a ‘business as usual’ emissions scenario, polar bears will most likely only be found in the Queen Elizabeth Islands – an archipelago in Canada – by the end of the century. 

In a scenario of moderately mitigated emissions, it is still likely that polar bear populations in Alaska and Russia will experience reproductive failure by 2080. 

The researchers modelled polar bears’ energy use, in addition to body mass, to derive the threshold number of days they can persevere without food before adult and cub survival rates decline. Following this, they combined the thresholds with the projected number of future sea ice-free days to establish how and where populations will be affected in the Arctic.

For an in-depth analysis of the Polar Bear, check out our dedicated Endangered Species Spotlight

Peter Molnár, biologist and lead author of the study, says, “Even in the case where greenhouse gas emissions are mitigated, some subpopulations will go extinct by the end of the century, including those polar bears in the vulnerable, southernmost ice areas of western Hudson Bay, Davis Strait and southern Hudson Bay, but we would have substantially more populations persisting by the end of the century, even with reduced reproduction, compared with a business-as-usual emissions scenario.”  

The researchers noted that their study, at most, models a conservative ‘best-case-scenario’ projection such that the figures and impacts outlined are more lenient than the harsh realities of the extinction of polar bears. “The impacts we project are likely to occur more rapidly than the paper suggests,” Steven Amstrup, co-researcher of the study says. 

The IUCN/SSC Polar Bear Specialist Group estimates that there are less than 26,000 polar bears left in the world, comprising 19 different subpopulations that inhabit places like Svalbard, Norway, Canada and Alaska. Polar bears rely on sea ice to hunt for food, however, with sea ice melting as a result of global warming, polar bears are more likely to go hungry due to lack of hunting ground availability.

Molnár outlined that it was always inevitable polar bears would suffer under the pressures of the climate crisis, “but what was not fully clear was when we would expect major declines in the survival and reproduction of polar bears that could ultimately lead to their extirpation. We didn’t know whether that would happen early or later in this century.”

Polar bears rely on energy reserves built up over the winter hunting season to endure the lean summer months on land or time spent on ice with scarce prey around. Despite their innate ability to fast for long periods of time, their body condition, reproductive capacity and survival will suffer if they are starved for too long. 

Polar bear numbers have already dropped 25-50% in Alaska’s southern Beaufort Sea population, and 30% since 1987 in western Hudson Bay in Canada. 

Future of Polars Bears

Polar bear extinction can be curtailed and saved through habitat protection, unlike other species threatened by hunting or deforestation. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions on a global scale will help deter some of the negative effects of the climate crisis, and will subsequently assist in maintaining sea ice integrity, preventing sea levels from rising and ensuring polar bears are able to feed and nourish themselves as well as their cubs. Moreover, future research should aim to build on the investigation of Molnár and colleagues to help further identify global-warming-induced projections, what is causing such projections and how they can be managed or mitigated.

You might also like: Greenland Polar Bears are Adapting to Climate Change

The post When Will Polar Bears Go Extinct? appeared first on Earth.Org.

Deforestation in Costa Rica led to nearly half of its forest cover by 1987. But thanks to a government-led initiative that pays local communities to help protect the natural ecosystem, it became the first tropical country to have stopped, and subsequently reversed, deforestation. Costa Rica’s reforestation was such a success it was recently awarded the Earthshot Prize, an award created by Prince William to champion innovations and solutions helping save the planet. So, what can the rest of the world learn from the country and can it follow suit?

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Pedro Garcia is one of many farmers who have taken the initiative to help restore Costa Rica’s environment and forests. Garcia has worked on his seven-hectare plot in northeast Costa Rica’s Sarapiqui region for 36 years. As a result of his efforts, the region has transformed from bare cattle pasture to a densely forested refuge for wildlife, home to hundreds of species ranging from sloths to strawberry poison-dart frogs.

Garcia also grows agricultural produce, such as pepper vines and organic pineapples. 

While most of the world is becoming more aware of the climate crisis and the importance of trees in battling its associated effects, Costa Rica is already a leading example in mass conservation, having all but ended deforestation. 

“It is remarkable,” Stewart Maginnis, global director of the nature-based solutions group at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), reported to CNN. “In the 1970s and 1980s Costa Rica had one of the highest deforestation rates in Latin America, but it managed to turn that around in a relatively short period of time.”

How Bad Was Deforestation in Costa Rica?

In the 1940s, 75% of Costa Rica was covered in rainforests. Following the arrival of loggers, much of the land was cleared to grow crops and livestock. It is unclear just how much land was lost, but it is thought that between a half and a third of forest cover was destroyed by 1987. 

Following this devastation, the government intervened to restore and preserve the forests. In 1996, the Costa Rican government made it illegal to chop down forest without approval from authorities and the following year it introduced the Payments for Environmental Services (PES) Program.

Today, close to 60% of the land is once again forest and the landscape is home to around half a million plant and animal species.

The country’s significant achievement is a clear disparity to the rest of the tropics where deforestation rates continue to increase. According to data from the University of Maryland, in 2019 tropical regions lost close to 12 million hectares– equivalent to 30 football fields per minute- with nearly a third of the loss taking place in older, carbon-rich primary forests.

You might also like: Key Takeaways from Prince William’s The Earthshot Prize: Repairing Our Planet

Monetary Incentives: The Driving Force for Environmental Compliance 

Costa Rica’s success was driven by economics. The combination of a ban on deforestation with the introduction of PES- which pays farmers to protect watersheds, conserve biodiversity or mitigate carbon dioxide emissions- is the reason for success.

“We have learned that the pocket is the quickest way to get to the heart,” says Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, Costa Rica’s minister for environment and energy, acknowledging that people are more likely to care for the environment if provided with an income- a sad yet harsh truth behind environmentally friendly behaviours and monetary incentives.

The PES scheme pays an average of $64 per hectare per year for basic forest protection, according to FONAFIFO, the nation’s industry fund. 

Elicinio Flores, a farmer who has replanted seven hectares of trees with the help of the PES scheme, said “I feel proud when I walk through the forest, not only for me but for my whole family … when I am no longer here, I know that my children will continue to look after it.”

The scheme allows farmers to generate additional income by selectively harvesting timber from the reforested areas. Flores sought guidance from Fundecor, a sustainable forestry NGO, to ensure he does not disrupt or harm the ecosystem in any way.

The government scheme, predominantly financed by a tax on fossil fuels, has funded a total of $500 million to landowners over the last 20 years, according to FONAFIFO. It has saved more than 1 million hectares of forest, which is equivalent to a fifth of the country’s total area, and planted over 7 million trees.

The Influence of Culture and Ecotourism in Reforestation

According to Maginnis, Costa Ricans’ deep respect for nature has played a vital role in the country’s reforestation success. This respect is reinforced by the country’s booming ecotourism sector. Patricia Madrigal-Cordero, former vice-minister for the environment, says, “People come to see the mountains, the nature, the forests, and when they are stunned by a monkey or a sloth in the tree, communities realise what they have here, and they realise they should care for it.”

Welcoming 3 million tourists a year, more than 60% choose to visit Costa Rica for its environment, according to its tourism board. Last year, tourism produced $4 billion in revenue for the country, and the industry accounts for more than 8% of GDP, employing 200 000 people. 

“People in Costa Rica receive a lot of money because of tourism and that changes the incentives of land use,” says Juan Robalino, an expert in environmental economics from the University of Costa Rica.

Robalino claims that without tourists, less effort is exerted to maintain and preserve the environment; with less revenue, there is less funding for conservation, ultimately leading to less ecotourism.

Costa Rica is not the only country that is determined to protect the environment. Guatemala, Mexico, Rwanda, Cameroon and India have also committed to restoring at least one million hectares of forest through the Bonn Challenge, a global effort that aims to restore 350 million hectares of degraded ecosystems and deforested land by 2030. However what these countries lack, and what Costa Rica has, is a long history of environmental policy coherence and consistency, noted Maginnis. Political will combined with environmental passion and tourism has allowed the country to become a pioneer in reforestation. 

The country’s environment minister explains that despite the fact that Costa Rica’s strategy in reforestation and encouraging environmentally friendly behaviour can be applied anywhere, ‘principle and values’ are required, too. He noted that ‘good governance, strong democracy, a respect for human rights and a solid education system’ is vital for success. Madrigal-Cordero added that the secret to Costa Rica’s environmental triumph is a generation of peace. She says, “nature is in our DNA.” 

You might also like: 10 Deforestation Facts You Should Know About

The post How Costa Rica Reversed Deforestation and Became an Environmental Model appeared first on Earth.Org.

Carbon sinks extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and absorb more carbon than they release. Carbon sources, conversely, release more carbon than they absorb. They cover about 30% of the Earth’s land surface and as much as 45% of the carbon stored on land is tied up in these sinks. Carbon sinks are therefore an essential means of helping fight climate change, but without major changes to current human practices, they are unable to mitigate the detrimental effects alone. 

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The Carbon Cycle 

The carbon cycle refers to the natural flow of carbon between the ocean, rocks, fossil fuels and living organisms. Forests are examples of carbon sinks as trees and plants extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis – some is also stored. When plants die, the carbon dissolves into the soil where microbes are then able to release the carbon back into the atmosphere by process of decomposition, where it’s available to other plants for photosynthesis.

Oceans are considered to be the main natural carbon sinks, absorbing approximately 25% of the carbon emitted into the atmosphere. Plankton, corals, fish, algae and other photosynthetic bacteria contribute to this extraction of carbon.

Any process that uses fossil fuels – such as burning coal to generate electricity – releases more carbon into the atmosphere than carbon sinks can absorb. Cattle farming also releases a lot of carbon into the atmosphere. It also contributes to deforestation, depleting the planet of its carbon sinks; according to the World Resources Institute, farms emitted 6.6 billions tons of greenhouse gases in 2011, equivalent to about 13% of total emissions. The agricultural sector is the world’s second largest emitter of GHGs, after the energy sector. 

Ideally, the carbon cycle would maintain Earth’s carbon concentration, helping to move carbon from one location to the next and keeping atmospheric carbon levels stable. However, due to human activity, the carbon cycle is changing: we are releasing more carbon into the atmosphere than Earth can handle by using fossil fuels and maintaining large livestock operations. Deforestation is further exacerbating this problem as it depletes the Earth’s  supply of carbon sinks. Since 2016, an average of 28 million hectares have been cut down every year, equivalent to one football field of forest lost every second. Consequently, the amount of carbon in the atmosphere is rising. 

Solutions to combat this problem include banning deforestation, planting more trees, utilising renewable energy sources and reducing the use of fossil fuels.

Examples of Carbons Sinks

Aside from the aforementioned oceans being the main natural carbon sink in the world, forests are also significant carbon sinks examples as well. According to a report published in January 2021, forests absorb twice as much carbon as they release each year,  absorbing a net 7.6 billion metric tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

As the world’s largest and best known tropical rainforest, the Amazon accounts for just over a third of tree cover across the tropics and is one of the most important natural carbon sinks in the world.  Their role is more important than ever especially as the world’s carbon emissions exponentially increase over the last few decades. However, recent studies have recorded the Amazon releasing higher carbon emissions than absorbing it due to deforestation and higher rates of wildfires.

Similarly, mangroves are highly regarded in their role of absorbing and capturing carbon in the atmosphere, and in fact, have been known to be a more effective carbon sink than forests. Mangroves have been recorded to absorb almost 10 times as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than terrestrial forests. Indonesia currently boasts the world’s largest mangrove ecosystem, accounting 23% of the world’s total.

Recent research in what has been dubbed as the world’s largest seagrass project, has also found seagrass to be a particularly effective carbon sink and hugely successful in restoring oceans and  purifying the water.

You might also like: What is the Kyoto Protocol?

Image by Earth.Org.

Artificial Techniques 

In addition to natural carbon sinks, technological advances have helped produce artificial techniques that extract carbon from the atmosphere. 

Examples include: using geological carbon sequestration techniques that inject carbon dioxide into deep saline aquifers to produce large pockets of salt water; injecting carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power stations deep under the Earth’s surface and using light-sensitive algae that are capable of absorbing carbon dioxide and emitting oxygen.

Artificial technologies, however, are not efficient or advanced enough to cope with the effects of the climate crisis. Investing in research and companies who commit to finding alternate ways of extracting carbon dioxide from the atmosphere will prove worthwhile.

The post Explainer: What Are Carbon Sinks? appeared first on Earth.Org.

According to Category III: Natural Monument or Feature, published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), natural monuments can be defined as ‘protected areas set aside to protect a specific land feature, which can be a landform, sea mount, submarine cavern, geological feature such as a cave or even a living feature such as an ancient grove. They are generally quite small protected areas and often have high visitor value’. 

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The primary objective of Category III is to ‘protect specific outstanding natural features and their associated biodiversity and habitats’.

The IUCN comprises both government and civil society organisations that make information about the status of a natural environment as well as measures on how to safeguard it widely accessible.

What Is the Criteria for Natural Monuments?

The IUCN identifies natural monuments required for protection under the following categories: natural geographical and geomorphological features, culturally-influenced natural features, natural-cultural sites, and cultural sites with associated ecology. 

Furthermore, the above can be further distinguished according to the following two classification types: (a) biodiversity that is exclusively associated to the ecological conditions of the natural feature, and (b) biodiversity that is upheld due to the influence of cultural traditions and values at the location of the natural feature. 

You might also like: What is the Kyoto Protocol?

Examples of Natural Monuments 

Natural geological and geomorphological features include waterfalls, cliffs, craters, caves, fossil beds, sand dunes, rock forms, valleys and marine features such as sea mounts or coral formations. Culturally-influenced natural features may include cave-dwellings and ancient tracks, whilst natural-cultural sites may include for example, waterfalls or mountains that are sacred to one or more faith groups. Cultural sites with associated ecology may include archaeological/ historical sites that are linked to a natural environment. 

Among the many identified today, examples of natural monuments are: Weltenburg Narrows, Green Belt Thuringia and Oaks of Ivenacker, all in Germany, Berd Rocks in Russia, Chocolate Hills and the Hundred Island National Park, both in the Philippines, and Ilhas Cagarras in Brazil.  

Implications Regarding Identification of Natural Monuments

Some of the identified natural monuments are not permanent or long-lasting, such as sacred trees which have existed for thousands of years which will likely die eventually. What happens to a site after a sacred tree dies and degrades, for example, remains unclear. 

Furthermore, as natural monuments and cultural sites are closely related, it is often difficult to discriminate between the two- particularly in the case where archaeological remains are concerned. This therefore brings about disagreement on how to classify such sites and maintain them.   

Additionally, some natural monuments may require the conservation of larger ecosystems in order to survive, for example, a waterfall may require the protection of an entire watershed to maintain a constant flow of water, which requires a great deal of resources and maintenance which may be hard to come by in particular localities.

Destroyed Natural Monuments – Cause for Concern

Though the main threats outlined by the IUCN is towards natural wonders, the same concerns can be raised about the maintenance and safekeeping of natural monuments. A report published by IUCN, which examined natural world heritage sites identified by the United Nations (UN), outlined that the major contributing pressures on protected natural sites include invasive species, tourism, a change in weather patterns, human activities like fishing, urbanisation, or industrialisation. With the rapid escalation of the climate crisis, the integrity of natural sites are put at a greater and more immediate risk such that destruction is eventually inevitable – without intervention, that is. 

The post What are Natural Monuments? appeared first on Earth.Org.

The climate crisis can leave many feeling helpless, as though there is nothing they can do on an individual level to affect change. However, behavioural changes go a long way in shifting to a greener society. Implementing small habits into your everyday life will help you live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. In honour of International Day of Climate Action 2020, here are 15 simple things that you can do to help the planet. 

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1. Be Vocal 

It’s important to use your voice and speak up about the harmful human activities that are destroying our planet. Become a climate activist by discussing climate-related topics with friends, family, your neighbors, your local community or even your barista- whenever, wherever and whomever. Bringing the climate crisis into the limelight will help those around you become more aware and conscious about the current environmental problems we are facing. If COVID-19 can be a frequent topic of conversation, so can the climate crisis. 

2. Travel Sensibly 

One of the most overlooked yet effective ways of becoming more environmentally sustainable is through sensible travel. When planning your route, consider whether you can reach it by foot or bicycle. Is driving necessary? Is the travel distance short enough to avoid unnecessary carbon emissions? If walking or cycling is out of the question, perhaps consider using public transportation. 

Going on holiday? A short haul return flight can account for 10% of your annual carbon emissions. Think about opting for a domestic staycation, travelling to a destination closer to home or exploring other means of transport beyond flying, such as by train or coach. 

In the case where you do choose to travel abroad, practice ethical etiquette. Avoid supporting companies or brands that do not operate in favour of the environment, visit environmentally sustainable attractions and/or support local conservation projects. Keeping yourself informed on what is and is not considered environmentally ethical at your holiday destination will help mediate your climate and carbon impact. These small changes needn’t ruin your holiday- you will still have fun, and you can help the planet as well.

You might also like: What is the Montreal Protocol?

3. Consume Sustainable Foods

Tradition and culture allows us to justify and accept consuming animal products. However, due to technological innovation and automation, society is now privileged with an abundance of plant-based alternatives that taste similar to their meat counterparts. Not only do such products spare the lives of innocent and farmed animals, but our meat consumption is a large source of greenhouse gases. 

Food production is one of the main driving forces of wildlife extinction. In fact, what we eat is liable for close to 60% of global biodiversity loss and contributes to approximately a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. Farming animals for meat and dairy requires space and resources, such as large amounts of water and feed. One of the biggest causes of forest loss is the transformation of land for animal agriculture. Animal products contribute to greater carbon dioxide production than plants and plant-based products do. Incorporating more vegetables, grains and legumes into your diet, and limiting the amount of meat and dairy consumption, will help tackle this problem. 

Furthermore, plant products tend to be cheaper- in addition to saving the planet, you will save on your weekly food bills. It is a win-win situation!

4. Reduce Plastic Usage 

Single-use plastic is one of the greatest threats to the environment. Approximately 300 million tons of plastic is produced worldwide every year, with more than 90% ending up in landfills, the ocean or simply dumped.

When ordering takeout, consider using your own reusable food containers. Going for coffee? Bring your own portable mug or thermos. Going grocery shopping? Bring reusable shopping bags. Opt for reusable products instead of single-use plastic to limit your plastic consumption. Being a bit more aware of your consumption habits will definitely help you help the planet. 

5. Be Informed 

Be environmentally aware and knowledgeable on current climate-related affairs. We have access to numerous news outlets at our fingertips- it has never been easier to stay up to date with news about the climate crisis. Staying updated will help you become more mindful of your everyday habits, and will hopefully inspire others around you to implement the same small changes to help the planet that will eventually add up. 

6. Take to Social Media 

Social media can be used as more than a tool to share your personal life. Take inspiration from Leonardo DiCaprio and post on instagram about the climate crisis, share links to news articles to educate others or follow environmental charities and organisations to help increase their audience reach.  

7. Donate or Volunteer

Donating to environmental organisations helps fund projects that fight against the climate crisis and tackle the causes behind environmental decline. 

There are many ways to donate beyond giving money. You could set up a birthday fundraiser, get sponsored to run a charity race, set up a bake sale or sign petitions- the list is endless. 

8. Burn Calories, Not Carbon

According to a publication by MHealthy, a green initiative at the University of Michigan, the average person generates approximately 6.5 kg of carbon emissions annually by using the elevator. In order to save electricity and limit your carbon footprint, think about using the stairs whenever possible, which, in addition to helping the environment, will benefit your health and fitness too. 

9. Optimise Your Voting Rights  

In most countries where citizens can vote, everyone over the age of 18 is eligible to do so. Vote for those candidates whose values align with yours and who will make the environment a priority (if that is how you politically identify). 

Politicians need to be held accountable for actions that harm the environment. Writing directly to your government will make your voice heard and help call for action.  

10. Support Sustainable Brands 

There are many brands available that add value to the environment and practice ethical regulations, from sourcing sustainable materials to ensuring fair trade practices are upheld and optimising the wellbeing of workers. 

Ethical sourcing includes finding suppliers that limit their water use, use no hazardous chemicals, limit their waste production and employ better agricultural practices (such as using no pesticides to grow cotton). 

Sustainable brands can be seen across the market, from fashion to beauty to homeware to packaging. Supporting such brands will help them gain traction in the market and because of demand and supply, will eventually limit the market power of other less ethical brands. 

11. Limit Fast Fashion Purchases 

Fast fashion brands like Zara, H&M and TopShop are among those that contribute to the climate crisis. A recent study published in the journal Nature Reviews Earth & Environment found that the fashion industry produces 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions annually, and is estimated to use around 1.5 trillion litres of water every year. The industry’s water consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, textile waste and chemical use pose both environmental and health risks, especially for those involved in the industry. 

In addition to supporting sustainable brands, limiting fast fashion purchases will further propel you towards a greener lifestyle. Other solutions include thrift shopping and donating old clothes to charity.

12. Recycle 

Recycling can help reduce the amount of new materials being produced, and upcycling is an innovative way of transforming old items into something valuable and ‘new’. This could include reusing jam jars as candle holders or using old tins as plant pots- the possibilities are endless and projects like these give you the opportunity to be creative. 

Food waste is another factor to consider when thinking about recycling. An estimated one third of all food produced in the world is lost or wasted. This is shocking, especially when considering that more than 820 million people around the world do not get enough to eat. 

Bringing excess food to homeless shelters, optimising leftovers or composting organic waste, for example, goes a long way in reducing food waste.

13. Participate in Local Clean-Ups 

There are many local projects that you can get involved with that help the planet. Beach clean-ups are one of the most popular ways to help clear litter, prevent waste entering marine ecosystems and reduce the amount of waste products polluting the environment overall. 

Devoting a morning or an afternoon once or twice a week will make a big difference in the long run, it is also a fun way to get friends and family involved in an activity that benefits the environment. 

14. Raise Awareness at School, University or in the Workplace   

Whether it be through starting a club, society or a corporate programme, any green initiative at your work environment will help increase awareness about the climate crisis. Green initiatives like these will look great on your CV or on your business plan and will help society shift to more sustainable practices. 

15. Join an Environmental Organisation  

Climate activism is important; with greater support comes greater awareness. Organisations such as Extinction Rebellion and Friends of the Earth are prevalent across the globe and are very easy to join, as they have chapters in many cities around the world. Getting involved with organisations like these will benefit the environment through raising awareness, calling for government intervention, and ultimately, shifting towards greener practices. 

Becoming more environmentally conscious seems daunting. But when broken down into smaller fragments, adopting a greener lifestyle is not as overwhelming to achieve. These 15 examples of things you can do to help the planet are within everyone’s reach, and it takes one positive action to spark a cascade of positive outcomes. 

The post 15 Things You Can Do To Help The Planet appeared first on Earth.Org.

Policy makers and scientists from China, the US and other countries recently gathered to discuss China’s plans to create a unified national park system. Supposedly taking inspiration from Yellowstone Park in the US, the system aims to limit development and protect ecosystems. China plans to complete 10 national parks by the end of 2020. 

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The conservation efforts come after a development spike in the Xining area in central China that is characterised by an increasing number of skyscrapers, highways and high-speed railways. The region, called the “rooftop of the world” and ringed by the world’s tallest mountain ranges, is now a pivotal part of China’s latest modernisation plan.

This time, however, China aims to limit the region’s growth to incorporate its own version of the US’s proudest legacy: a national park system.

Zhu Chunquan, the China representative of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, a Swiss-based scientific group, noted that China’s economy has spiked over the past 40 years, however priorities are now encompassing conservation infrastructure to protect the country’s key natural resources. “It’s quite urgent to identify the places, the ecosystems and other natural features to protect,” Zhu said.

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Chinese Version of Yellowstone

China plans to build its own Yellowstone on the Tibetan plateau. Zhu, who is also a member of the advisory committee providing input on the development of China’s budding national park system, says the plan is likely to be revealed later this year. 

Chinese officials visited US national parks, including Yellowstone and Yosemite, and sought input from numerous organisations like the Paulson Institute in Chicago.

The plan to generate a unified park system represents, “a new and serious effort to safeguard China’s biodiversity and natural heritage,” Duke University ecologist Stuart Pimm says. 

The Pilot Park

The first park will be situated in Qinghai province, a region in western China close to Tibet, and will be named the Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve. The region is home to approximately 128 000 people who live in or around the planned park’s boundaries, including many Tibetans.

The region is also home to native and endangered species like the snow leopard and Chinese mountain cat, and encompasses the headwaters of three of Asia’s great waterways, namely the Yangtze, Yellow and Mekong rivers.

Drawing Inspiration From Yellowstone

Created in 1872 and recognised as the world’s first national park, the US government forced Native Americans who lived in the area to resettle outside the park boundaries with the aim of obliging to 19th-century regulations of wilderness protection. Other countries who establish park systems today must consider the livelihoods of local populations.

In the past, China’s resettlement programs, which cleared land for large infrastructure projects like the Three Gorge Dam, left many farmers in new homes without adequate agricultural fields or access to other livelihoods.

However, in the case of developing national parks, the government is distributing conservation-related jobs to people living in or around the Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve. Locals can therefore stay and work on their land through the “One Family, One Ranger” program, which hires one person per family for 1 800 yuan (US$259) a month to collect trash, monitor for poaching and other duties.

Biodiversity and Landscape Usage

A recent “national ecosystems assessment” examined China’s land changes between 2000 and 2010 with the help of 20 000 satellite images and 100 000 field surveys. Ouyang Zhiyun, deputy director at the Chinese Academy of Science’s Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences and leader of the assessment, is currently referencing the work to map priority areas for conservation and advise park planners accordingly, with a focus on endangered species’ habitats that are endemic to China.

China’s 13th Five Year Plan

The environment and sustainability considerations have been previously stressed in China’s 12th Five Year Plan. Improvements, however, in efforts to achieve a greener society and economy is further expressed in the 13th Five Year Plan, that includes adjustments to previous ambitions, and added targets and goals to accelerate green goals.

One of China’s major objectives in the 13th Five Year Plan is to ‘achieve an overall improvement in the quality of the environment and ecosystems’. Specifically, this objective outlines an ambition to transform current modes of production and ways of life to become more eco-friendly. In order to achieve this, China plans to improve energy efficiency, control land used for construction, reduce energy and water consumption and reduce emissions of major pollutants.

Chapter 43 aims to control ‘the amount of additional land designated for construction projects and bring under effective control the disorderly expansion of new cities, new districts and development areas’.

Chapter 45 outlines a slew of biodiversity conservation projects, including nature reserves and protection of ecosystems, species, genes and landscape diversity. This will be achieved with the help of background surveys and evaluations and improvements to biodiversity observation systems. The government says, “We will ensure the proper planning and development of facilities and parks for the biological resources protection and promote the development of gene banks and artificial breeding centers for wild fauna and flora species.”

The plan also includes a circular development target, with the hopes of upgrading 75% of national industrial parks and 50% of provincial-level industrial parks.

Furthermore, in regards to traditional culture and natural heritage, the plan outlines a target of building national cultural parks and to improve facilities for their protection and utilisation.

The national park system falls in line with the goals of the 13th Five Year Plan, and demonstrates the sincerity and seriousness of China achieving the outlined environmental objectives.

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Hidden behind its urban facade, Hong Kong is home to numerous nature reserves. In fact, 75% of Hong Kong land is actually rural and nearly pristine- making the stark contrast between skyscrapers and nature even more alluring. Here are 10 nature reserves and natural landmarks in Hong Kong that you need to visit. 

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1. Tai Mo Shan Country Park

Tai Mo Shan, Hong Kong’s highest mountain, has a height of 957 meters and its surrounding country park holds the record for the highest rainfall and coldest temperatures in the region. The country park is also home to the city’s tallest waterfall, at 35 meters in length. 

The park is also home to more than 100 species of birds and butterflies, as well as snakes, like the bamboo snake, which occasionally makes an appearance along the hiking trails. 

2. Kam Shan Country Park

Known as a monkey haven and located in the North of Kowloon, Kam Shan Country Park is the perfect habitat for macaque monkeys, who are notorious for stealing food straight from visitors’ hands. The park includes four reservoirs, all of which were built and completed in the early 1900s- namely, Kowloon Reservoir, Shek Lei Pui Reservoir,  Kowloon Reception Reservoir and  Kowloon Byewash Reservoir. 

The country park also holds historic value. A section of the former British military defence system, Gin Drinker’s Line, intercepts Kam Shan and runs along the mountains of the Kowloon Peninsula, spanning a total length of 18 kilometers. Built in the late 1930s, the defensive line is in fact a series of defence bunkers linked together by paths featuring concrete fortified machine gun posts, trenches and artiliterry batteries.

3. Tai Po Kau Special Area

An ideal area to spot local species of flora and fauna, the less recreational and more preserved forest allows visitors to seek refuge from the dense city. Tai Po Kau Special Area is recognised by the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society as one of the best places to observe rare birds and insects.

4. Lion Rock Country Park

Not far from Kam Shan Country Park sits Lion Rock Country Park in the New Territories, spanning an area of 557 hectares and including two famous peaks: Lion Rock and Amah Rock. The hiking trail is challenging and steep, however the views along the way and at the top are worth the exertion. Amah Rock is the first peak and smaller rock formation in comparison to Lion Rock, the second and taller peak.

5. Hong Kong Wetland Park 

Hong Kong Wetland Park is located in the New Territories and has become a hub of conservation, eco-tourism and education due to the efforts taken to protect a variety of species that roam there. Among many of the animals residing in the region is Pui Pui the crocodile, Hong Kong’s lovable reptilian mascot, who attracts many tourists and locals alike.

Also considered a reserve, Hong Kong Wetland Park specialises in ecological monitoring and habitat management, and provides information on different species in order to increase awareness on the importance of biodiversity conservation. 

The stream walk, mangrove boardwalk, the bird hideouts and fish ponds make this wetland park an all-encompassing wildlife conservation site. 

6. Mai Po Nature Reserve 

Managed by WWF Hong Kong since 1983, the 380 hectare nature reserve is home to thousands of migratory waterbirds and a variety of wetland habitats including gei wais, mangroves, intertidal mudflats and reedbeds. 

Because of the biodiversity, the Mai Po Nature Reserve and the surrounding Inner Deep Bay wetlands are examples of the successful conservation efforts in Hong Kong.

7. Kiu Tsui Country Park

Resembling Thailand for its tropical scenery, the Kiu Tsui Country Park in Sai Kung includes beautiful white sandy beaches that resemble those typically seen at holiday destinations. A private ferry service along the Sai Kung promenade transports visitors to Hap Mun Bay or Kiu Tsui, also known as Sharp Island, where a day out in the sun can be enjoyed.

8. East Dam of High Island Reservoir 

One of the most popular sites within the Hong Kong Geopark is High Island in Sai Kung Peninsula, known for its spectacular rock formations which formed around 140 million years ago. 

The High Island Geo Trail tours the region and leads to the shore, where a sea cave lies at the water’s edge. From there, a wooden boardwalk leads to a lookout point that shows visitors the beautiful region devoid of human settlement.

Completed in the 1970s, the East Dam is located on the east side of the Kwun Mun Channel and encompasses a forgotten fishing village that is now submerged.

9. Lantau South Country Park

One of the two country parks on Lantau Island, Lantau South Country Park spans approximately 56 square kilometres and borders with Lantau North Country Park.

Lantau peak, the highest summit on the island in Lantau South Country Park, is known for being the perfect spot to watch the sunrise and sunset, and attracts locals and tourists alike for this very reason. 

The park also includes activities such as camping, fishing, swimming and biking, making it an adventurer’s paradise.

10. Tai Tam Country Park

Tai Tam Country Park is the largest park on Hong Kong Island and comprises one fifth of the Island’s land mass, spanning a total area of 1 315 hectares. 

The Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage Trail includes 21 historic waterworks, including aqueducts, dams and masonry bridges, of which many have been declared monuments. The trail spans 5 kilometers, is family-friendly and takes approximately two hours to complete. 

In addition to the waterworks trail, the country park includes an array of other hiking trails that vary in difficulty levels. 

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Hong Kong has more to offer than what meets the eye. Known as one of the business epicenters of Asia, and regarded for its tall skyscrapers, Hong Kong also maintains beautiful nature reserves, with mountainous landscapes, beautiful wetlands, country parks, historic sites and more- making the city a diverse concrete jungle. 

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Startup company Colorifix has created a sustainable dyeing process that offers a solution to current harmful industrial dyeing practices used by the fashion industry. The scientists behind the technology believe that this will help generate a greener, more sustainable society and improve fashion’s water pollution problem.

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In 2013, a team of Cambridge University scientists visited Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley to explore the region’s waters and trial run a device that measures water pollution. 

After speaking to local people, who are reliant on the contaminated streams and rivers for their water supply, and conducting several analyses, the scientists discovered the culprit behind the polluted water: waste from textile factories.

“We were shocked,” said Orr Yarkoni, one of the researchers of the investigation. Being one of the most water-abundant countries in the world, Nepal also has extensive water pollution, which makes its way into the clean water supply. In fact, more than 85% of the population no longer has access to safe drinking water. 

Colorifix 

In 2016, Yarkoni and two Cambridge University colleagues, Jim Ajioka and David Nugent, co-found Colorifix, developing a new method of dyeing clothes without the associated negative environmental effects, eliminating the need for toxic chemicals.

Yarkoni explained that the technology also uses close to 90% less water and nearly 40% less energy than the conventional dyeing process. 

The breakthrough finding offers a promising solution to the textile industry’s vast use of toxic dyes and pollutants that are harming the planet and its most vulnerable inhabitants. 

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Quinine and Purple 

In 1856, William Henry Perkin discovered the first synthetic dye. While trying to produce quinine, a substance used to treat malaria, Perkin created a vivid purple substance which easily transferred onto cloth. This discovery revolutionised fashion, however it coincided with an array of environmental problems that persist today.

The dyeing industry uses more than 8 000 chemicals to colour garments- including sulfur, arsenic and formaldehyde- all of which are detrimental to wildlife and human health.

Due to weak regulation enforcement in less developed countries across Asia, where most of the world’s clothes are produced, many textile manufacturers discard toxic substances directly into local waterways. 

The dyeing process utilises enough water to fill 2 million Olympic-sized swimming pools annually, making the dyeing industry responsible for close to 20% of industrial water pollution.

Microorganisms as a Solution

The device Yarkoni and his research team developed to test water pollution in Nepal used genetically modified bacteria that change colour when exposed to toxic chemicals. Yarkoni and his business partners decided to harness the bacteria’s colour-changing reaction to develop their dyeing innovation: Colorifix.

Based in Norwich, England, Colorifix produces dyes inspired by ‘nature’s blueprints’. The company is in a laboratory, where the bacteria reproduce and replicate the DNA sequence that codes for colour in an organism- rather than deriving colour dyes from plants or animals, like traditional dyeing methods do.

Using genetic code from plants, dragonflies and gorillas, for example, from scientific studies, the process leaves animals unharmed and the pigments sustainable: “we don’t like bothering animals,” Yarkoni explained. 

Colorifix inserts the genetic information that directs the colour-making process into a bacterial cell, which copies itself every 25 minutes This cell is placed in a fermenting machine, where cells are able to rapidly multiply, each one making more pigment. The bacteria are nourished with sugar molasses and nitrogen by-products of the agricultural industry.  

A Booming Innovation 

A German-Israeli firm, Algalife, is another company using biotechnology to create sustainable dyes with the help of algae. 

Pili, a French startup, uses a similar fermentation process to Colorifix to generate colour. Jeremie Blache, CEO of Pili, says the process- which is still at the trial stage- is expected to use 80% less water and produce 90% less carbon emissions than conventional dye-making methods.

Yarkoni however claims that Colorifix is the only biotechnology startup that aims to transform both dye production and application- which is key to integrating the new method into society, especially the fashion industry. 

Other dye innovations rely on water and chemicals to isolate pigments from bacteria, and make and apply the dye, but Colorifix places the bacteria directly onto the fabric to colour it. Once the fabric is heated, the microorganisms’ membranes burst and release the colour, which chemically binds to the fiber. The remnants of bacteria cells are then washed off, leaving a clean and coloured garment. 

Reduced Carbon Footprint 

Another benefit of the Colorifix technology is lower transport pollution, which is an added sector fuelling the large carbon footprint of the fashion industry.

Instead of transporting copious quantities of dye, Colorifix is able to send just five grams of colour-packed bacteria to a dyehouse. Yarkoni explains the microorganism will multiply and after 10 days, the factory will have the resources to produce approximately 50 tonnes of dye solution a day. 

This ‘grow your own’ approach has limitations: dyehouses will need to adapt by purchasing fermenting equipment and investing in training from Colorifix to correctly integrate the process.

Blache from Pili argues that ready-to-use pigments are far more likely to succeed due to their simple integration. 

Georgia Parker, Innovation Manager at startup accelerator Fashion for Good, claims that transporting live microbes safely is another obstacle the industry faces. “There is specific legislation around the transportation of living organisms across different geographies,” Parker said. “As a dyehouse, you would need to get government signoff to import these organisms.”

Despite this, Parker believes that bacteria-based dyes will become cost effective in the long-term and will be widely implemented in the industry “in the next couple years.”

A Promising Future Beyond Greenwashing 

Already in high demand, Yarkoni says Colorifix has more customers in the fashion industry than it can currently handle, and has garnered support from brands including H&M, which invested in the company in 2018 and continues to pilot the technology within its supply chain. 

H&M is one of the many fast fashion brands attempting to adopt ambitious goals to reduce their environmental and chemical footprint. 

Francois Souchet, who leads the Ellen Macarthur Foundation’s Make Fashion Circular initiative, explained that “increased scrutiny from policymakers” and “expectations from the consumer for better solutions” are pushing the fashion industry to become more sustainable.

Though still in the beginning stages of production, Colorifix launched its first industrial trial at a dyehouse in Portugal in July. Yarkoni says, “I truly believe that in the future, a very large proportion of our industry- if not all of it- will be based on these biological principles.”

Featured image by: Adityamadhav83

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New research has shown that the fecal waste of seabirds- namely seagulls, pelicans and penguins- could be worth nearly half a billion US dollars annually. 

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Seabirds’ fecal waste, also called guano, can be used as commercial fertiliser and is essential for providing nutrients to marine ecosystems. Researchers of a new study want to raise awareness about the importance of seabirds and conserving their habitats by quantifying their contributions and demonstrating the cost of declining seabird populations by valuing their waste. 

Guano’s value is estimated at more than US$473 million annually, a conservative estimate that is likely to be higher, according to the study published in the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution. The study outlines how monetising biodiversity contributions can best assist with calling for public attention, and in this respect, increase awareness on the importance of seabird conservation. 

“Guano production is an ecosystem service made by seabirds at no cost to us- I can go to an island, collect the guano, and sell it at market price as fertiliser,” study co-author Marcus Cianciaruso, an ecology professor at the Federal University of Goiás in Brazil, says.

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Beyond Commercial Value: Ecosystem Services  

Guano from seabird species, which is currently commercialised in places like Peru and Chile, contributes to providing vital nutrients to marine ecosystems and is also essential for coastal economies. 

The researchers of the study stated that the bodily functions of seabirds assist in nutrient recycling and pumping nutrients ‘between marine and terrestrial habitats’: “They release high concentrations of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) through their feces, causing important environmental changes in these ecosystems.”

Furthermore, the researchers outlined how the nutrients deposited in coral reef ecosystems from guano can increase reef fish biomass by up to 48%- which is important for fisheries and natural marine wonders of the world like the Great Barrier Reef.

The annual value of the nitrogen and phosphorus deposited into these ecosystems from guano was estimated by calculating the cost to replace them with artificial nutrients. 

“We made a very conservative estimate that 10% of coral reef fish stocks depend on seabird nutrients,” said co-author Daniel Plazas-Jiménez, a doctoral student at the Federal University of Goiás. “According to the United Nations and the Australian government, the annual economic returns of commercial fisheries on coral reefs is over $6 billion. So, 10% of this value is around $600 million per year.”

The study noted that the inclusion of such functions- nutrient deposition, marine ecosystem and biodiversity, coral reef maintenance- could easily raise the value of seabird N and P deposition to US$1.1 billion. 

In light of this, the monetisation of ecological functions expresses the ‘importance of biodiversity in similar terminology to that used in the economic and political sectors’. Such an approach therefore appeals to masses as the public is driven by monetary incentives. Additionally, the study explained that the monetisation of ecosystem services acts as a preventative measure against ‘misinterpreting conservation efforts as a luxury’.

Why is Seabird Conservation Important?

Seabirds also impact other habitats beyond their immediate environment. Some species, like penguins in Antarctica, significantly influence nitrogen and phosphorus levels at the local and global levels.

Plazas-Jiménez says, “A huge amount of nutrient deposition happens in Antarctic ecosystems: penguins contribute half of the nitrogen and phosphorus deposited by seabirds every year,” Plazas-Jiménez added. “However, 60% of this contribution is made by penguin species with declining populations, and these contributions will decrease in the future if no conservation activity is taken.”

Seabirds are already under threat: “We found that the main threats to seabirds- climate change and bycatch and overfishing- have a higher effect on nutrient deposition than in the number of seabird species. Climate change threatens 80% of the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus deposited by seabirds, but only 44% of seabird species,” Plazas-Jiménez says. “Potentially, the effect of these threats on the contributions that seabird nutrient deposition made to our well-being is greater than previously thought.” 

According to BirdLife International, a global partnership of conservation organisations devoted to protecting birds and global biodiversity, approximately half of seabird species’ populations are declining and a third face potential extinction.

“The depletion of fish through overfishing and climate change has caused rapid declines in widespread and much loved seabirds such as Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica and Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla- both are now considered vulnerable to extinction,” according to BirdLife International’s 2018 report.

The organisation stresses that immediate efforts are needed to conserve seabirds as they are ‘one of the world’s most threatened groups of vertebrates’. 

The researchers of the study also noted that seabirds offer more than just their fecal waste. Tourism and birdwatching are important industries in many parts of the world, and the value of seabirds’ contributions to marine ecosystems would experience a larger increase if all their other functions in ecosystems were quantified.

The study concluded that the data can be used as a starting point for seabird conservation initiatives involving consumers, fisheries, governments and non-governmental organisations alike. The researchers noted that further quantification could potentially increase the value of seabird contributions and is therefore worth investigating.

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