Latest news with #U.N.DevelopmentProgramme
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Experts celebrate as trail camera captures rare footage of elusive species in forest: 'Spotting and identifying them is a rarity'
A trail camera recently captured an incredibly rare sight: a snow leopard roaming through the Arshaty forestry area in Kazakhstan's Katon-Karagay National Park, according to Kazinform International News Agency. The sighting is a promising sign that conservation efforts in the region are working. Snow leopards, listed as endangered in Kazakhstan's Red Book, are famously elusive. Found mostly in rugged alpine terrain, these big cats are incredibly difficult to spot in the wild, with less than 7,000 remaining globally, making each confirmed sighting valuable for researchers working to protect the species. The latest image is more than just a picture to share on social media; it's a key data point in understanding snow leopard behavior and population trends. Trail cameras are helping scientists gauge the health of endangered species and measure the success of rehabilitation efforts across remote ecosystems. In 2018, Kazakhstan launched an ambitious conservation program supported by the U.N. Development Programme, deploying nearly 300 camera traps, thermal imaging equipment, drones, and GPS collars across protected snow leopard habitats. Researchers also track individual leopards through DNA samples and their distinctive fur patterns, all with the goal of monitoring their movement and population structures as well as improving long-term species survival. The effort appears to be working. According to the Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the country's snow leopard population has grown by 20% since 2019, with an estimated 150 to 190 individuals — more than double the population from three decades ago. But the return of snow leopard populations offers more than just an environmental win; it's also a boost to humanity's well-being. Mountain ecosystems supported by these apex predators can provide essential resources for nearby communities and people around the world, including clean water, medicinal plants, and materials such as lumber. By helping regulate prey populations, snow leopards protect those ecosystems from overgrazing and degradation, which can lead to fewer available resources and increased risk of natural disasters including landslides and drought. Maintaining this balance supports food security, public health, and long-term economic stability for rural and urban communities alike. "This is important evidence that the measures we've taken to protect nature are working. Monitoring of wildlife is ongoing," the ministry said. "Let's work together to save the snow leopard!" Added Alexey Grachyov, head of Kazakhstan's snow leopard monitoring center: "Studying them is a formidable challenge. Spotting and identifying them is a rarity." Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Epoch Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Global Human Development Slows to 35-Year Low, UN Says
Human development has declined to a 35-year low, according to the latest report by the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP). The UNDP defines human development as a measurement of people's freedoms and opportunities and ability to improve their wellbeing. Every year, the UNDP calculates the Human Development Index (HDI) for each country using three key factors—life expectancy, years of education, and gross national income. This year, the report titled 'A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI),' noted that the small increase in global human development expected in 2025 is the lowest since 1990, when the measurement started. Since the series' inception in 1990 to 2023, the Asia-Pacific region has shown some of the fastest improvements in human development, with both East Asia and the Pacific and South Asia increasing their HDI values by over 50 percent. However, the latest HDI reveals a global trend: progress is slowing across every region, and, for the fourth year in a row, the gap between low and very high HDI countries has widened. Related Stories 5/9/2025 5/8/2025 'For decades, we have been on track to reach a very high human development world by 2030, but this deceleration signals a very real threat to global progress. If 2024's sluggish progress becomes 'the new normal,' that 2030 milestone could slip by decades—making our world less secure, more divided, and more vulnerable to economic and ecological shocks,' said Achim Steiner, UNDP administrator. Countries with the lowest HDI scores are facing challenges, driven by escalating trade tensions, a deepening debt crisis, and the rise of jobless industrialisation—factors that severely hinder their development prospects. UN Turns to AI The UNDP's survey shows that 50 percent of respondents worldwide assume that their jobs are at risk of being automated, while 60 percent believe that AI will create new jobs. On the other hand, 13 percent are worried about job losses due to AI. Meanwhile, 70 percent of those surveyed in countries with low to medium HDI think that AI will enhance their productivity. 'As AI continues its rapid advance across so many aspects of our lives, we should consider its potential for development. New capabilities are emerging almost daily, and while AI is no panacea, the choices we make hold the potential to reignite human development and open new pathways and possibilities,' said Steiner. Two thirds expect that it will be used in education, health, or work by next year, emphasising the need to close electricity and internet gaps. One in five survey participants said they are already using AI. 'The choices we make in the coming years will define the legacy of this technological transition for human development,' said Pedro Conceição, director of UNDP's Human Development Report Office. Moreover, the report underscores the need to modernise education and healthcare systems to meet the demands of the 21st century.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Officials approve bold plan to protect coastal region from mounting threats: 'This would far exceed ... the past millennia'
A British firm was recently awarded a contract to oversee a major infrastructure project in Belize as part of the country's efforts to realize its ambitious climate goals. As detailed by Environment+Energy Leader, Offshore Marine Subsea International, headquartered in Bristol, specializes in undersea engineering projects. OMSI will connect San Pedro and Caye Caulker to the mainland power grid. San Pedro is a town on Ambergris Caye, the largest of Belize's coastal islands, while Caye Caulker is a tiny island popular with tourists. The move is part of Belize's ambitious plan to get 75% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030, based on the nation's 2023 Energy Policy, reported on recently by the World Bank. It will help by reducing the reliance on locally sourced dirty fuels and providing more resilience against increasingly common and severe extreme weather events. Belize imports about half its energy from neighboring Mexico, according to the World Bank, and much of that comes from hydroelectricity. While hydroelectricity is indeed renewable, it does have drawbacks, namely the habitat destruction involved. Belize is also reportedly exploring solar and geothermal energy as part of a multifaceted approach. Though responsible for just 0.01% of planet-warming pollution worldwide, per the U.N. Development Programme, Belize is more vulnerable to the effects of the worsening climate than most nations. For example, Hurricane Lisa caused massive disruptions to power and water supplies in 2022. According to a study of storms that have passed over Belize's Great Blue Hole, there has been a steady increase in storms over millennia, but the researchers predicted a significant increase within this century tied to climate change. As Goethe University Frankfurt's Eberhard Gischler, one of the study's authors, explained: "Our results suggest that some 45 tropical storms and hurricanes could pass over this region in our century alone. This would far exceed the natural variability of the past millennia." The Great Blue Hole is part of Belize's barrier reef reserves system, a "biodiversity hotspot," per UNESCO, and is home to nearly 1,400 species. Infrastructure projects such as the one to be overseen by OMSI will play a key role in safeguarding Belize's natural treasures for generations to come. "The Belize Government will do all it can to ensure this treasure is ours to enjoy, not only Belizeans but the rest of the world," former Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber said in the UNESCO report. Should the government be paying people to hunt invasive species? Definitely Depends on the animal No way Just let people do it for free Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers discover unusual factor influencing bird divorce rate: 'Complex, non-linear relationship'
Kissing in the rain is a well-worn romantic movie trope, but it seems bird couplings can be curtailed if the heavens open up. A study published in the Journal of Animal Ecology — and summarized by Sydney's Macquarie University — has found that pair bonds among Seychelles warblers might be affected by environmental factors, with rainfall noted as one of the main reasons that mates "divorce." The research, conducted by a team of international academics, focused on birds found on Cousin Island in the Seychelles. The findings detailed how shifting global weather conditions are altering reproductive activity and harming conservation efforts. "We analyzed 16 years of data and found a complex, nonlinear relationship between rainfall patterns and divorce rates, with divorce being more likely during years of both low and high rainfall," the university's Frigg Speelman, who was involved in the research, said. "This relationship was notably influenced by an extreme climatic event — the 1997 El Niño-induced rainfall spike." According to Speelman, the study provides evidence that environmental conditions can impact the "stability of socially monogamous species." The Seychelles warbler is endemic to the Seychelles islands, and conservation efforts for the bird have already proved challenging. Increasingly unpredictable weather conditions could further impact the species' survival and reduce breeding activity. "This research not only enhances our understanding of animal behavior in the face of climate variability, but it also provides valuable insights that could inform conservation efforts for species vulnerable to the effects of climate change," Speelman said. Human-caused pollution is dramatically shifting global weather patterns. Heat-trapping gases cause temperatures to rise, and this increases the strength, length, and regularity of extreme weather events and also leads to large fluctuations in rainfall. According to the U.N. Development Programme, climate projections for the Seychelles indicate further irregular rainfall patterns. Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Definitely Only in some areas Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "Much of the precipitation is falling in sharp bursts, creating heavy flooding in the wet season, while imposing extended period of drought during the dry season," the organization said. BirdLife International lists the Seychelles warbler as "near threatened," with habitat destruction and the presence of introduced predators among the major risks it faces. The warblers can now add rising divorce rates because of unusual rainfall to the list of complications impacting their future survival. While monitoring and research of the species continues, there are things we can do to make a difference in the warblers' prospects, such as reducing the production of pollution that exacerbates fluctuating temperatures. No matter where you are in the world, taking steps to be more sustainable can be felt all over the globe. Whether it's investing in renewable energy or ditching your gas-guzzling car, these changes can have a profound impact on our planet — and help the Seychelles warbler thrive. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
