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.

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 territories of the world’s 370 million Indigenous peoples cover 24% of land worldwide and contain 80% of the world’s biodiversity. The Indigenous population of our planet are truly the gatekeepers of our knowledge and understanding of those ecosystems and life cycles upon which we all rely. In recent years we have seen a change in the portrayal of and discourse surrounding Indigenous people. As a global society we are beginning to move away from the victimization and stereotypes that have historically defined how Indigenous people have been viewed and the narrative is changing to reflect the resilience, power, and strength of these communities as well as their transformation into critical agents of environmental conservation.

Cop15 2022 put biodiversity on the map for many in the financial and investment world and with it came a reminder of how crucial biodiversity and the natural world are to our ability to survive and thrive. US$41.7 trillion of economic value generation is either all or in part dependent upon nature, making the protection of our wild spaces and the various flora and fauna which reside within them of the upmost importance. However, the key to securing a balance between biodiversity and human development is not to look upon the value of the natural world in solely monetary terms. Instead, we must remind ourselves of how our survival as a species is deeply interconnected with those ecosystems on which we rely for food, fresh air, water, and raw materials.

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…

Climate news can often leave one feeling despondent about the future of our natural world. As great tree's that have seen more of history than a mere human could ever hope to are felled to meet the short-term needs of a greedy society and plastic chokes our oceans, destroying ecosystems which have existed untouched for thousands of years, the consequences of our presence on this planet continue to be truly catastrophic and yet hope remains as is evidenced both in the small and larger acts that can be identified if we look hard enough.

Cop26 is less than six months behind us and already we are seeing that the agreements made are not evergreen. Instead, autumn has come early as each pledge, like a leaf turned brown and weakened by the retraction of energy, falls from the tree, leaving the branches bare and waiting for another spring to grow back into full, but temporary glory. With Cop27 a year away the climate news of the last few weeks should create great cause for concern. Whilst pledges are being implemented, many are facing challenges and we must be patient in allowing both the private and public sector to find new solutions to the age-old issues that plague sustainability and net-zero aims.