South-East Asia is a melting pot for biodiversity, as the flora and fauna of South and East Asia converge with Australasia and Oceania to produce some of the most vibrant, eclectic and unique species in the world. The warm tropical climate of the region alongside the abundant freshwater sources and rich, fertile lands have lead humanity to settle across South-East Asia and for millenia live in relative peace with the abundant biodiversity. For centuries South-East Asia has played host to waves of colonisation which has depleted natural resources and decimated its biodiversity and in the decades since independence every nation in the region has commenced plans to protect the natural world whilst balancing a need to develop and bring their populations out of poverty. Today, South-East Asia has reached a critical point as numerous species come close to extinction and natural water sources choke with the world’s waste. The coming months and years will be critical for the survival of South-East Asia’s biodiversity.

As we cross the snow capped peaks of the Himalayas and head out into the staggered rice paddies, raging rivers and great metropolises of China the staggering level of biodiversity in East Asia really comes into view. Across the sea a string of islands where cranes dance in the snow, monkeys relax in hot springs and deer bow to temple visitors, Japan offers a glimpse of ecology in an East Asian Island and exhibits how nature exists alongside the fast-paced development of humanity. Just to the North stands the last vestiges of communism and one of the world’s most significant biodiversity question marks. North Korea, a nation notorious for shutting out the world could prove to be either a safe haven for nature or it could have wiped out some flora and fauna before we even knew it existed. Biodiversity in East Asia is amongst the most unique, most threatened and most diverse in the world. The endearing nature of the regions curious creatures have led to some, such as the panda bear, becoming global symbols of conservation with millions being spent to ensure their continued survival, providing evidence that when humanity truly cares for biodiversity it can bring even the most critically endangered species back from the brink.

Southern Asia is a region infamous for its outstanding natural beauty and abundant biodiversity. From the great flowing river Ganges to the Himalayan mountains to the dense jungles of the Western Ghats to the brilliant coral reefs of the Indian Ocean, Southern Asia is a paradise for naturalists, scientists, conservationists and tourists alike. The regions capacity to sustain life and to produce societies and cultures which have found ways to work in harmony with nature has been something to behold, unfortunately, South Asia is fast losing its balance and today the fight is on to rescue and preserve biodiversity across the region. This mini report provides an overview of how our presence in Central Asia is impacting on the natural world and presents three regional case studies; India, Bhutan and the Maldives to illustrate biodiversity in a national context.

The vast expanse of Central Asia holds some of the world’s largest untouched spaces. The grasslands, semi-deserts, and high mountain ranges which make up the majority of the regions ecosystems have given rise to some of the most weird and wonderful species on earth, such as the Saiga antelope pictured above. Central Asia has in some ways managed to fall off the map, as mainstream international press coverage, with the exception of Afghanistan, is limited to the occasional snippet on strange regimes, military build-ups punctuated by the intermittent arrival of naturalists and wildlife filmmakers. Beyond the borders of the various ‘stans’ that make up Central Asia little is really known of the region after being hidden behind the iron curtain for much of the 20th Century and only recently transitioning into a mixture of authoritarian regimes that are almost as insular. This has left environmentalists and naturalists scrambling around trying to figure out the state of biodiversity in nations that to this day are not always willing to take in visitors with open arms. However, looks can be deceiving as nations which were once so reclusive are beginning to open the doors just a crack and with that we can gain a glimpse into how the indigenous wildlife is faring and what the various challenges are to their survival. This mini report provides an overview of how our presence in Central Asia is impacting on the natural world and presents three regional case studies; Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Afghanistan to illustrate biodiversity in a national context.

If you were to conjure up an image in your mind of the Middle East you might picture camels, lush green oasis, rolling sand dunes and Bedouin nomads trekking through the desert in search of elusive water sources. An image like this can feel more like the backdrop to a Lawrence of Arabia style film than a true representation of the modern day Middle East where the contrasts are sharper than ever. From traditional subsistence to luxury lifestyles the Middle East has it all and the transformation of the region has happened in the blink of eye. Yet, with this rapid change there has also been a marked decline in biodiversity across the Middle East and this is naturally cause for concern. The region has been home to some of the most significant empires in history and has in many ways transformed our understanding of the world around us as great Arab scholars have researched and produced works in mathematics, science and literature. Today, they must channel their efforts into a new field of work; the conservation of the natural world, particularly those fragile ecosystems in the Middle East which are hanging on by a thread. This mini report will provide an overview of how our presence is impacting on the natural world and present four regional case studies; Saudi Arabia, Iran, Israel and Palestine to better illustrate biodiversity in a national context.

When we discuss biodiversity, it is only natural to start picturing the immense, magnificent, distinctive, and diverse flora and fauna of the African continent. Over such a vast area the challenges posed by climate change, a sharp increase in consumption both in Africa and beyond, and a boom in urbanisation and population size can seem insurmountable. The face of Africa is changing, as cities fill with skyscrapers, industry is expanding and cultures and cuisines from across the continent have gained new found popularity across the globe. Yet, whilst African nations are finding their feet on the international stage and continuing to contend with the damage done by decades of colonisation and oppression, followed by sporadic civil wars, violence, further civil unrest, and a high number of fragile economies it is easy to see how biodiversity took a backseat. In the pursuit of modernisation and development African governments and businesses, like so many others across the globe, have either been forced or were willing to trade in the health of the natural world for monetary gain. Today this is changing, as many nations see the importance of the natural world and have in numerous regions become leaders in conservation and innovation linked to protecting biodiversity. This mini report will provide an overview of how our presence is impacting on the natural world and present four regional case studies; Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, and Madagascar to better illustrate biodiversity in a national context.

As the BBC comes under fire for censoring David Attenborough’s new series ‘Wild Isles’ which documents the destruction of nature across the UK we thought it about time we produced a short summary of the state of biodiversity in both the UK and Europe. This mini report will provide an overview of how our presence is impacting on the natural world and present three regional cases studies; the UK, Germany and Ukraine to better illustrate biodiversity in a national context.

The gendered aspects of climate change are often discussed by international organizations, policy makers and researchers and yet there is a clear chasm between recognizing the disproportionate effect climate change has on women and girls versus implementing and seeing through policies or actions which would help to close this gap.

2022 marked a year of hope as numerous nations continued to speak out on climate change and the need for sustainable development. The Cop26 agenda appeared to be in full force as not just international governments but entire communities were dedicated to making changes that would positively benefit our planet. Six months later and the progress we have made leaves much to be desired.

For centuries cobalt ore was not usually mined for the cobalt content, rather, it was often recovered as a by-product of mining for various other ores such as silver, iron, nickel, copper, zinc, manganese and arsenic. Due to the complex processing required to concentrate and extract the cobalt from these oars this metal has been considered precious throughout history, from being used for jewellery in ancient Persia, to porcelain in Ming dynasty China, humanity has long admired this malleable and at times beautiful substance. However, during the 20th and 21st centuries its uses have expanded to areas such as cancer therapy, radioactive tracers, magnetic alloys and battery materials for electric cars (Gregersen, 2022) making it one of the most in demand metals around the world. Unfortunately, as is so often the case when certain resources come to be considered as valuable, exploitation and destruction is never far behind…

This edition hopes to take you, our reader, on a trip around the world with stories ranging from Japanese carbon tax proposals, to India's searing heat waves, to the future of emperor penguins in the Antarctic, and these stories shine a light on some of the most concerning and questionable behaviours of governments and businesses around the world. We strike a balance by also including stories of hope and promise such as the upcoming Australian elections and the innovations being made by Cassava breeders in Nigeria. Our global community is the prevailing theme of this edition in recognition of how globalisation and the willingness to work together can be a powerful force for change. In our sustainability spotlight we have included an incredible project which aims to rewild our natural spaces and rediscover those species we believed to be lost forever.