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21
Dec

Carbon sinks: How nature helps fight climate change

    Forests, soils and oceans are the unsung heroes of our climate, storing the greenhouse gases that cause global heating. But they could perform even better with a little help.   Smoking industrial chimneys, exhaust fumes, fires in the Amazon — yearly carbon emissions recently swelled to 12,000,000,000 tons (12 gigatons).And as carbon increases, so do temperatures.   Around half of emissions released remain in the atmosphere. Nature absorbs the rest, holding it in carbon sinks, such as soil, oceans and vegetation.
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    31
    Oct

    Wetlands International at COP26

      The 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)  takes place in Glasgow, Scotland, on 31 October – 12 November 2021 to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.   What is COP26?   Every year, Parties to the UNFCCC meet to assess progress on the different streams of the Convention, enhance action, and agree on different rules, guidelines, implementation, among
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      2
      Feb

      World Wetlands Day 2021: wetlands are the freshwater sources

        Less than 1% of water on Earth is usable freshwater and much of it is stored in wetlands. This World Wetlands Day we celebrate how wetlands are essential for water and provide for life.   The world is facing a growing freshwater crisis that threatens people and our planet. This year’s World Wetlands Day shines a spotlight on wetlands as a source of freshwater and encourages actions to restore them and stop their loss. Wetlands are the water systems in the
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        17
        Sep

        World’s largest tropical wetland ablaze: our statement

          This year, the Pantanal – the world’s largest tropical wetland – has seen three times as many fires as 2019, exacerbated by climate change and likely started by humans. The BirdLife Partnership is calling on the Brazilian and international governments to urgently increase action.   Last summer, the news of the burning Amazon rainforest captured mass media attention and sparked worldwide outcry. But the worrying truth is that these fires never completely went out. In fact, this year, it seems that
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          30
          Jul

          ‘Everything is burning’: Argentina’s delta fires rage out of control

            Cattle ranching and drought have turned the Paraná River grasslands to tinder, threatening disaster for the area’s wildlife   A raging fire described as “completely out of control” is threatening one of South America’s major wetland ecosystems. The fire has been burning for months now, and is visible from the balconies of luxury apartments along the shoreline of the Paraná River in Argentina’s central city of Rosario.   Continue reading complete article
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            22
            Apr

            Earth Day 2020: Why global reforestation will restore the earth’s health

              Today marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. It arrives during a global health crisis that scientists have long predicted. Suddenly, we find ourselves in a real nightmare scenario that science warned us about, with human and social tragedies unfolding globally. The economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic will stay with us for years.   Science has of course also warned us about the unfolding climate and environmental crises. For example, we know that:   75% of terrestrial ecosystems are “severely
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              16
              Apr

              Act now to build back the bond between people and nature

                Today we may survive by ‘breaking the chain’ of infection of COVID-19, but our future will be defined by our ability to build back a close bond with nature. Nature can no longer be taken for granted, and pandemics like this one are an indication of tipping points being reached across our planet.   The response to the devastating COVID-19 pandemic demands swift and focused humanitarian action. But it is also critical to define the root causes and to start to
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                31
                Mar

                What are Wetlands?

                  If rainforests are the lungs of the planet, then wetlands are the lifeblood. They’re essential for all life. Their beautiful landscapes will take your breath away, and their rich variety of wildlife will inspire you.   Wetlands are incredible, but historically we’ve undervalued them. Now they’re disappearing at a rate three times faster than forests. Explore this amazing yet underrated habitat:   https://www.wwt.org.uk/our-work/why-w…  
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                  2
                  Feb

                  The Global Wetland Outlook

                    The Global Wetland Outlook provides a current overview of global wetlands: their extent, trends, drivers of change and the responses needed to reverse the historical decline in wetland area and quality.   THE GLOBAL WETLAND OUTLOOK – STATUS AND TRENDS 2018   The Ramsar Convention is the only international treaty focused on wetlands. It provides a platform of 170 Contracting Parties working together for wetland conservation and wise use, and to develop the best available data, advice and policy recommendations to
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