Andrew Griffiths’ Post

Have you got a question? Chances are, many others would appreciate knowing the answer! That's why the FAQ section in BASC's Shooting and Conservation magazine is so popular. Here is a little preview of what's in the current September/October issue. Share your opinions, experiences and questions: https://orlo.uk/TkVMy

Dear Peat Experts, please let us know your arguments if you disagree! Ingrid Gercama, Nathalie Bertrams, and Tristen Taylor have investigated the workings of the peat industry with the help of the Journalismfund Europe, published recently in the Süddeutsche Zeitung on two full pages (see here the English translation: https://lnkd.in/efcWkePR). The authors uncovered tricks of the peat industry, like delaying re-wetting by extending exhausted peat mines. We´ve heard that the peat industry is unhappy with the article and finds it poorly researched and one-sided. However, despite several requests from my side to clarify this grumbling, we didn´t get any concrete statements from them about the article's weaknesses. So, let me ask the question: please let us know what´s wrong with the article; otherwise, we can´t have a rational debate. Image courtesy of Nathalie Bertrams and Tristen Taylor. #peatlands #openpitmining #climatecrisis

Below is part of my text for Svalbard Posten newspaper that wasn't published as it is, during an interview about the new regulations on the island. "As Svalbard and Norway commit to such a change in rules, I believe there should be a genuine commitment to protecting nature in its entirety, not in a superficial way that typically benefits large corporations that exploit and degrade our planet. The delicate balance of the Arctic ecosystem must be preserved, as polar bears depend on seals, and seals on fish, therefore, it is critical to ban mass industrial fishing around the island, avoid deep-sea mining, and halt oil exploitation in the Arctic. In 2024 alone, 62 offshore oil and gas exploration permits were awarded, with an increase of 25 permits including for drilling in the Arctic Barents Sea. This raises significant concerns and doubts about the true commitment to protecting the Arctic. These corporate and political decisions often pose a greater threat to the environment than the efforts of those documenting its beauty to inspire global awareness and a connection to nature. Sharing the pristine wilderness of Svalbard with the world helps foster a deeper appreciation for the natural world, which is fundamental to the survival of our species as we depend entirely on Nature." However, the photographer is not surprised, on the mainland, strict regulations limit the ability to document nature’s beauty, while activities such as hunting wolverines, lynx, bears, and wolves are permitted, and encouraged. "We must strive for policies that prioritize the preservation of our natural world and love for it."

WOW! Check out the opening of this paper....multiple evolving paradigms! "Recently, the Māori People of Aotearoa, Cook Islands, and Tahiti supported a resolution to endorse their ancestors, the whales, as Ocean Ambassadors to the United Nations and to protect their legal personhood. This historic move aims to help protect the whales against dangers such as ship strikes as they migrate through their South Pacific waters. This paper explores how markets can further strengthen this declaration by providing incentives that reward responsible behavior of maritime vessels as they navigate Māori waters. Legal steps needed to engender market support and extend protection to other cetaceans and localities are also discussed. By combining personhood declaration with legal actions and market-based incentives, we show how this novel approach can enhance conservation outcomes and reshape the market in favor of protecting whales, nature, and its stewards." Mere T. Sian Prior You need to meet! https://lnkd.in/g4N5Yqir

Don't miss this op-ed in Scientific American by Ocean Conservancy's Meredith McCarthy Moore on the recent #SCOTUS Chevron ruling: "Without Chevron deference, the door is wide open for legal challenges to the clean air and water regulations that erased the nightmares of the past—rivers on fire, waste in unmanaged piles, cancer clusters, and more. Different judges will most likely make different decisions across the U.S., creating a patchwork of loopholes and rollbacks. The courts will no longer defer to experts. Industry-funded studies that appeal to a particular judge might influence their decisions more than the years and decades of research showing why well-regulated systems serve the greater good. Faced with the possibility of endless lawsuits, federal agencies could cease to take on the critical challenges of the present day, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions to give us a livable future, tackling the challenges of microplastics polluting our ocean and our body or even keeping us safe from the next pandemic."

"GUERREIROS DA NATUREZA" IN ENGLISH ---------------------------------------------- Very soon our "Nature Warriors" will be released and made available in English. The whole world will be able to learn how the Federal Police determined itself to start a systematic confrontation with environmental crimes that affect Brazil's natural resources. The book will be also available on all ebook platforms, including libraries. (from the Preface by Fernando Gabeira) This book tells the story of the awakening of an environmental awareness within the Brazilian Federal Police and the effort to build a structure to enable the force to combat natural devastation. […] Jorge Pontes’ book is an excellent opportunity for Brazil to understand its own grandeur and recognize the pivotal work of those who have endeavored to protect it. It is also a platform from which we can fly higher and further—especially now that environmental awareness is spreading globally—and aim for a more ambitious nature-protection and sustainable-development program.”

📢 New tutorial coming 16 September: the 100 WORDS of conservation. It will be available in English and in French, it is free of charge and self-paced. ➡️ Learn more and enrol: https://lnkd.in/dUt5-Aeh

Humans and Nature can be a harmonious combination!! Planting native lawns in our gardens requires less water and care than the traditional ones, and fosters the much desired biodiversity. https://lnkd.in/evYrQrQ3

The International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem is celebrated every year on 26 July. The State of the World’s Mangroves 2024 was released. Authors: Marice Leal and Mark Spalding - The report highlights the tremendous advances that have been made on multiple fronts to safeguard these ecosystems. - It showcases progress in: science and understanding; collaboration and information sharing; practical management interventions; and the many policy, legal, and financial tools that will help to secure a better future for these ecosystems. Full report attached.

https://lnkd.in/eX-Q7D2T It's Earth Day! 🌎 Litigating to Protect the Rights of Nature: Case Studies from around the World 🗺 In light of Earth Day today, take a look at some of the case studies from around the world that have taken place regarding 'Rights of Nature'.