Latest news with #WorldWideFundForNature
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Aussie woman's remarkable discovery inside tree hollow
In a world-first, an endangered greater glider has been discovered using its tail in a way no one thought was possible. The species has undergone a rapid decline over the last 20 years, and researchers are working against the clock to understand more about them. The footage of the male glider was captured after a camera with a live-feed was set up in his den. Previously, it had been thought these massive koala-sized animals had tails that were unable to grip, but the footage challenges this assumption. It shows the doting father named Milo using his tail to carry a bundle of eucalyptus stems inside his tree hollow for his child Brimi to eat. Related: 🔦 50-night search in Aussie forest uncovers worrying greater glider find The live stream was set up by Dr Ana Gracanin, an ecologist at the Australian National University. 'This unique behaviour had never been observed before, it's also some of the first evidence for paternal care in the species. Watching the joey take its first few nibbles was adorable, with little bite marks left as it tasted leaves, one by one,' she said. Speaking later with Yahoo News, Gracinin said the discovery had left her feeling 'ecstatic'. 'I've been watching the livestream from my work desk every single day, and they tend to do a lot of the same things — sleep, groom, stretch, groom. So when I was looking back at the activities and seeing Milo bring in leaves was really exciting,' she said. The project was supported by the World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia (WWF), National Parks Association NSW, Wilderness Australia, and Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast. And it's enabled people around the world to watch the complex social behaviour of glider family. 🚁 Calls to release documents behind helicopter shooting of koalas 🌳 Controversial $350,000 culling plan for 16 Aussie parks Secret hidden beneath Australia's 'most important' parcel of land Gracinin explained that very little is known about greater glider behaviour, particularly when it comes to how they parent. 'Greater gliders are often thought of as solitary, but we've seen Pip, Milo, and Brimi grooming, snuggling, and even engaging in what looks like play,' she said after the footage was discovered. WWF-Australia conservation scientist Dr Kita Ashman said the footage highlights why it's so important for glider habitat trees to be protected. The footage was taken at a secret location on the state's south coast, close to where the NSW state government-owned Forestry Corporation NSW is continuing to log forests known to be home to the endangered creatures. 'Greater glider trees are being logged by a government-owned hardwood business that has lost nearly $90 million in the last four and a half years. Losing that much money to degrade habitat and hurt our unique wildlife is shocking,' she said. 'The NSW government needs to transition out of native forest logging to save greater gliders and other threatened species.' Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Delegates reach unprecedented agreement funding international efforts to protect wilderness: 'I come out of the meeting ... optimistic'
Global delegates have finalized an ambitious plan to raise at least $200 billion annually to protect nature. The agreement, led by negotiators from the BRICS nations — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — represents a crucial step toward preserving biodiversity and supporting environmental efforts worldwide. The deal is designed to fund efforts to halt and reverse the loss of wildlife and natural ecosystems. It builds on the landmark Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework established in 2022, which set out various environmental targets. Delegates also agreed on technical rules for monitoring progress toward these targets and committed to publishing national reports of their plans ahead of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. COP16 President Colombian Environment Minister Susana Muhamad hailed the agreement as a win for multilateralism and for nature. "From Cali to Rome, we have sent a light of hope that still the common good, the environment and the protection of life and the capacity to come together for something bigger than the national interest is possible," she said. Another key part of the agreement involves determining whether a new biodiversity fund is needed or an existing fund, such as the one run by the Global Environment Facility, is good enough. The need for action has never been clearer. Data from the World Wide Fund For Nature's 2024 Living Planet Report revealed that the average size of wildlife populations has dropped by 73% since 1970. With the agreement in place, negotiators have expressed optimism. Maria Angelica Ikeda of Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted how compromise played a role in achieving a positive result, especially for developing nations. "Everyone with the spirit of compromise made concessions, and in general for developing countries the result was very positive," she said. "I come out of the meeting happy and optimistic," she added. While there are challenges ahead, with concerns about cuts to international aid from major funders, including the U.S., this agreement marks an important step in ensuring that vital biodiversity projects receive the financial support they need. With continued collaboration, this plan hopes to empower countries to protect nature, benefiting people and the environment for years to come. Which of these environmental causes would you be most interested in supporting with a financial donation? Promoting clean energy Protecting clean air Advancing forest conservation Fighting climate change 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.
