A growing number of rewilding projects across Britain are reporting significant ecological improvements, prompting calls for greater recognition of the approach within national nature recovery strategies.

One of the projects highlighting those gains is Heal Somerset, a rewilding site in southwest England that has documented increases in wildlife populations and habitat diversity since restoration efforts began three years ago.According to Heal Rewilding, the charity behind the project, monitoring data show measurable changes in biodiversity across the site.

The number of small mammal species recorded has increased from three to five over the period, while a range of habitats has developed as former agricultural land has been allowed to recover.The project is supported by more than 250 volunteers who contribute to ecological surveys, removal of barbed-wire fencing and other restoration activities.

Community engagement forms a central part of the initiative, with the charity working alongside 15 underserved groups involved in managing and maintaining the site.Participants include people living with dementia, individuals with additional needs and those experiencing financial hardship.

Schools and youth organizations also take part in educational and conservation activities.The site has become an increasingly popular destination for visitors seeking access to natural landscapes undergoing ecological recovery.

Heal Rewilding founder Jan Stannard said many older visitors describe the experience as a reminder of landscapes that were once more common in Britain before decades of agricultural intensification.“An increasing number of people are coming either as visitors or camping and if they are older they are being transported back to a childhood experience of abundance that they will not get in the farmed countryside,” Stannard said.

She said visitors frequently report hearing insects and bird species that have become less common in many agricultural areas.“They are hearing grasshoppers and crickets in the day and birds such as linnet or greenfinch, which are much less common now,” she said.

The ecological transformation has also been evident to staff working on the project since its early stages.Dan Hill, a 25-year-old rewilding ranger who joined Heal Somerset three years ago, recalled arriving when large areas of the site were dominated by rye grass.“I remember seeing the monoculture of rye grass swaying in the wind and thinking, crikey, it’s desolate,” Hill said.He said the pace of ecological change had exceeded his expectations.

“Three years has flown by and so much has changed. It’s incredibly exciting. I’m learning so much,” he said.Hill described the project as evidence of the capacity of ecosystems to recover when human intervention is reduced and natural processes are allowed to re-establish themselves.“Seeing what nature wants to do – it’s very hopeful,” he said.

He added that public response has been an important part of the project’s success.“When you get people coming to the site and they say: ‘I just want to keep coming back, I’ve never seen a site like this before,’ it really puts a smile on your face,” Hill said.Among the features attracting attention are natural wetland systems created by beavers.

The rodents have become increasingly common across eastern Somerset and are widely viewed by conservationists as important ecosystem engineers because of their ability to create ponds and wetlands that benefit a range of species.Heal Rewilding said its latest report was motivated in part by what it viewed as limited coverage of rewilding initiatives in the 2023 UK-wide State of Nature report.

The charity argues that while rewilding has expanded rapidly across Britain, evidence documenting outcomes has not always been systematically collected or incorporated into broader assessments of biodiversity recovery.

“We were struck by how little attention was given to rewilding, despite the extraordinary growth of the movement,” Stannard said.“There are now hundreds of rewilding projects across Britain and many report seeing remarkable ecological changes.”She said the sector must increasingly rely on scientific monitoring and measurable outcomes if rewilding is to become a more prominent component of environmental policy.

“Stories alone are not enough,” Stannard said. “If rewilding is to be fully recognised within national nature recovery strategies, we need robust evidence of its impact.”

The report forms part of a broader effort by conservation groups to demonstrate how rewilding projects can contribute to biodiversity restoration while also delivering social and educational benefits through community participation and public access to recovering landscapes.

A growing network of Black mushroom enthusiasts, cultivators and researchers across the United States is contributing to the expanding field of mycology while exploring the cultural and historical connections between fungi and the African diaspora.Their work comes as interest in fungi has accelerated globally, driven by ecological research, culinary trends and the rise of citizen science.

Amateur researchers and independent cultivators have increasingly played a central role in identifying fungal species and documenting ecosystems, partly because professional mycology remains a relatively small scientific field.

Maria Pinto, a Jamaican American naturalist and writer based in Newton, Massachusetts, traces her fascination with fungi to an encounter in 2013 with an American yellow fly agaric mushroom while walking through nearby woods. The poisonous fungus, notable for its vivid yellow coloring and metallic sheen, immediately captured her attention.

“It forced me down on my knees to examine it further, because it didn’t look real,” Pinto said. “It looked like it was from another dimension.”

That experience eventually led Pinto deeper into mycology, the study of fungi, and toward researching the relationship between Black communities and fungal traditions throughout the Americas. In her recent book, Fearless, Sleepless, Deathless: What Fungi Taught Me about Nourishment, Poison, Ecology, Hidden Histories, Zombies, and Black Survival, Pinto documents Black mushroom growers, foragers and researchers working across North and South America and the Caribbean. Fearless, Sleepless, Deathless: What Fungi Taught Me about Nourishment, Poison, Ecology, Hidden Histories, Zombies, and Black Survival

Scientists estimate that Earth may contain roughly three million fungal species, though only a small percentage have been formally identified.

Fungi, which include mushrooms, molds and yeasts, were not formally recognized as a distinct biological kingdom until 1969, making the field comparatively young relative to other biological sciences.

Pinto said Black participants in mycology often remain geographically isolated despite growing interest in the field.“We exist, but in isolation around the country,” she said. “I think there are definitely efforts to mitigate that, or to actually get us together, but not a really concerted one.”

In Oregon, Elan Hagens has spent decades working with fungi through foraging, cultivation and education. Her interest began during childhood while attending environmental and nature-based programs in the Portland area.

Later, after appearing on the 2008 CBS reality television series Greatest American Dog, she learned that dogs could be trained to locate truffles, underground fungi valued in high-end cuisine.At the time, Oregon’s commercial truffle industry was still emerging. In 2011, Hagens founded temptresstruffles.com⁠, a company focused on truffle foraging and mushroom education. She later shifted from dog training toward workshops on mushroom cultivation and fungal identification.

One of her most memorable discoveries came in 2020 while walking beside a river in the Portland metropolitan area. She spotted a massive oyster mushroom growing high on a tree trunk.

“People were walking and jogging in front of me, and nobody is seeing this mushroom,” Hagens said. “It’s like the biggest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”After returning later with equipment to harvest it safely, she prepared the edible portions as potstickers.

Hagens has also organized guided mushroom walks aimed at introducing Black, Indigenous and other underrepresented communities to fungal ecology.

During one event in Oregon, participants encountered sulphur tuft mushrooms, known for faint bioluminescent properties and their ability to glow under ultraviolet light.

“That’s something that people love to see, because it’s more than just: ‘Oh, that’s a poisonous mushroom,’ or: ‘That’s an edible mushroom,’” Hagens said. “It’s something that makes them think outside the box.”

Hagens frequently collaborates with William Padilla-Brown, a Pennsylvania-based ecological researcher and fungi cultivator who has become a prominent figure in independent mycology education in the United States.

Padilla-Brown founded mycofest.net⁠ in 2015 as an annual festival focused on ecology, fungi research and public education. Held in central Pennsylvania, the event combines scientific presentations, guided foraging walks, workshops and fungal identification services using DNA testing technology.

“I don’t even know that many Black mycologists,” Padilla-Brown said. “I’m just waiting for more folks to show up for real.”The 2026 edition of MycoFest is scheduled to take place from July 31 to August 2 at Four Quarters Interfaith Sanctuary.

The same year he launched the festival, Padilla-Brown established mycosymbiotics.com⁠, a business focused on cultivating fungi such as cordyceps and producing mushroom extracts.

Largely self-taught through books and mentorships, Padilla-Brown said his interest in fungi began during adolescence after experimenting with psychedelic mushrooms.At 17, he was arrested on cannabis-related charges. After becoming a parent several years later, he redirected his interests into legal mushroom cultivation and educational work.

His business now includes mushroom farming, workshops and fungal product development. He recently completed a documentary on truffle culture and helped establish the mycosymbiotics.com⁠, an agricultural cooperative supporting fungi producers.

Padilla-Brown also received a two-year grant worth $26,000 from the United States Department of Agriculture to study the potential for cultivating native truffles in the northeastern United States.

Much of his recent work has focused on preserving fungal biodiversity through cultivation and storage techniques.

“I’ll be freezing them all in the final preservation here to preserve sensitive organisms into the future,” Padilla-Brown said. “I just want to hold on to them. It’s like a modern Noah’s ark kind of vibe.”

For Pinto, fungi also provide a framework for understanding cultural continuity and survival across the African diaspora. In her writing, she traces linguistic and culinary links connecting Black communities and mushrooms, including the Jamaican patois term “junjo” for fungus and “djon djon,” the name for prized edible black mushrooms used in Haitian cuisine.

She also references the Butiko clan in Uganda, whose symbolism and oral traditions incorporate mushrooms.These discoveries, Pinto said, challenged assumptions that mushrooms held little significance within Black cultural histories.

“The more I learn about the ancient origins and tantalizing futurity of fungi, about their centrality to healthy ecosystems and their adaptability, about their potential for earthly and mental remediation, the more I’ve realized that my kinship lines feel more mycelial than tree-like,” she wrote in the introduction to her book.

“Like fungi, the stuff I’m made of has the power to move in darkness, to thrive undetected, to quietly work until such a time as there’s nothing left to do but fruit.”

A rapidly growing population of peacocks roaming through the Adriatic seaside town of Punta Marina has become the center of an increasingly divisive debate among residents, prompting local authorities and animal welfare groups to intervene with educational campaigns, cleanup teams and plans for an official bird census.

The birds, which wander through residential streets, perch on rooftops and occupy abandoned gardens near a disused military barracks, have become a defining feature of the small coastal town near Ravenna.

For some residents and visitors, the peacocks are an attraction that adds character to the area. Others complain about noise, hygiene concerns and property disturbances during the breeding season.Federico Bruni, who owns a holiday home in Punta Marina, said he views the birds as part of the town’s identity.

“It’s no different to seeing a cat, really, they’re part of the fabric of the town,” he said while watching several peacocks roam near a public bench.The birds are especially active during mating season, when male peacocks emit loud calls and display their iridescent tail feathers in courtship rituals.

Some residents say the noise has become disruptive.“There are too many of them,” said Francesco, a local resident who declined to provide his surname.

He said the birds frequently enter private balconies and leave droppings around apartment entrances.“The main issue is the mating the screams are keeping people awake,” he said.

Another resident, Marco, described the growing amount of peacock excrement around residential buildings as unhygienic and argued the birds should be contained.Peacocks are native to the Indian subcontinent but have existed in parts of Europe for centuries.

Historians have linked their arrival on the continent to ancient trade routes and military campaigns associated with Campaigns of Alexander the Great. Today, established peacock populations can be found in several European countries, including England and Spain.

In Emilia-Romagna, peacocks also hold cultural significance. The birds appear in Byzantine mosaics throughout Ravenna, where they historically symbolized immortality and prestige. Ravenna Byzantine Mosaics

Residents say the origins of Punta Marina’s current peacock population remain unclear, though local accounts suggest a resident may have introduced them as pets more than two decades ago.“I heard that a male peacock, left to his own devices after the woman died, crossed paths with a female one in the old military barracks,” said Ilaria Sansavini, who runs a fresh pasta shop in the town.

“They mated and it all began from there.”For years, the birds primarily stayed within the pine forest surrounding Punta Marina. Local observers say their movement into residential areas accelerated during Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020, when reduced human activity allowed them to roam more freely. Residents also began feeding them more regularly during that period.

There is no official census of the population, but estimates cited by local groups suggest the number of peacocks increased from around 10 birds in 2018 to approximately 40 in 2023 and roughly 120 today.

Rosario Balestrieri, an ornithologist at the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station, said the nearby pine forest provides suitable nesting and shelter conditions for the birds, while supplemental feeding by residents has contributed significantly to population growth.

“The pine forest serves as a preferred habitat and nesting refuge,” Balestrieri said, adding that human feeding practices encouraged the birds to remain in populated areas.

Public attention intensified after a social media video featuring a local resident imitating peacock mating calls went viral, drawing national media coverage and prompting exaggerated reports about a so-called “invasion” of birds disrupting daily life.

A local police officer described some of those portrayals as overstated, saying there was no evidence of a public health emergency linked to the birds.

Still, the issue has placed pressure on Ravenna’s municipal authorities, who have struggled for several years to balance wildlife management with public concerns. An earlier attempt to relocate peacocks in 2022 faced opposition from animal rights advocates and some residents.

The city later partnered with Clama, a volunteer animal welfare group tasked with promoting coexistence between residents and the birds.Clama volunteers have distributed informational leaflets and installed signs across Punta Marina instructing residents and tourists not to feed the peacocks. Under local regulations, people caught feeding them may face fines.

“If they know it’s easier to come and snack on a sandwich in the town rather than having to forage for their own food in the pine forest, then of course they will keep coming back,” said Cristina Franzoni, a volunteer with Clama.

To reduce tensions, local authorities and volunteers have also introduced so-called “peacock rangers,” who respond to complaints by cleaning bird droppings from streets, private properties and vehicles.Municipal officials are now preparing the town’s first formal peacock census to better assess the scale of the population and determine future management measures.

According to Franzoni, several other Italian regions have informally offered to relocate or “adopt” some of the birds. However, she argued relocation could traumatize the animals and would fail to address the broader issue of human responsibility for their presence.

“We need to try to live with the animals instead of making them victims of our choices,” Franzoni said. “They didn’t choose to come here, we brought them here and so must respect them.”

Millions of people living in forest-dependent communities continue to face extreme poverty despite the global forest sector generating an estimated US$1.5 trillion annually, according to a new United Nations assessment that warns progress toward eliminating poverty among forest populations is falling behind international targets.

The findings were published in the Global Forest Goals Report 2026, released during the 21st session of the United Nations Forum on Forests on May 11. The report evaluates progress toward the United Nations General Assembly Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030, adopted in 2017 to strengthen the environmental, social and economic contribution of forests worldwide.

Under the framework’s second Global Forest Goal, member states committed to eradicating extreme poverty among forest-dependent people by 2030. However, the report concluded that the target is “off track,” citing persistent structural barriers that continue to prevent forest communities from benefiting fully from forest-based economies.

The global forest sector currently accounts for roughly 1% of worldwide employment, according to the assessment, yet many of the world’s poorest populations continue to reside in heavily forested regions. Large sections of these communities survive on incomes near or below US$3 per day despite forests serving as a primary source of food, fuel, income and subsistence.

The report said forestry has not significantly contributed to long-term poverty reduction among vulnerable populations because communities remain concentrated at the lowest end of supply chains with limited access to markets, processing infrastructure and commercial opportunities.

According to the UN assessment, weak market connectivity and insufficient value-added processing particularly affect producers of non-wood forest products, commonly referred to as NWFPs, which include goods such as medicinal plants, resins, nuts, fibres and wild foods. The report estimated the global value of NWFPs at approximately US$9.4 billion in 2020.

The document stated that nearly three-quarters of the global population uses some form of non-wood forest product, underlining forests’ continued importance to livelihoods and household economies, especially in rural areas across developing countries.However, the report identified major obstacles preventing forest producers from capturing greater economic returns.

These include inadequate transport infrastructure, limited access to business services, weak product standards, insufficient commercialization mechanisms and logistical bottlenecks that isolate producers from national and international markets.“Forest producers and communities remain at the low-value end of supply chains,” the assessment said, adding that infrastructure deficiencies continue to increase operational costs and reduce competitiveness for remote communities.

The report also noted a decline in forest-sector employment over the past decade. According to UN data cited in the assessment, the share of employment linked to the forest sector fell by approximately 3.1% between 2011 and 2022, further limiting income opportunities in forest-dependent regions.

The findings carry broader implications for global development targets beyond forestry itself. The UN assessment said progress in the forest sector directly affects multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including poverty reduction, food security, access to clean water, affordable energy, economic growth and sustainable consumption.

The report linked forest-based livelihoods particularly to SDG 1 on ending poverty and SDG 2 on eliminating hunger, while also identifying connections to sanitation, energy access and rural employment generation.

Sub-Saharan Africa emerged as the region facing the greatest challenge. The report said extreme poverty rates in the region remain close to 46%, with little measurable improvement despite global declines in poverty levels over recent decades. Many of the world’s forest-dependent poor reside in Sub-Saharan Africa, where rural economies remain heavily reliant on forests for daily survival.

By comparison, several countries in Asia and Latin America showed what the report described as “partial recovery” following increases in poverty triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Global extreme poverty rose sharply during the pandemic period before gradually declining from 11.4% in 2020 to approximately 10.3% in 2024, according to figures cited in the assessment. The report stated that forests played only a modest role in this recovery process.

It pointed to localized income gains generated through community forestry, agroforestry systems and payment-for-ecosystem-services programs, often referred to as PES schemes. These initiatives provided limited support for participating households but did not produce significant global reductions in poverty among forest communities.

“Data suggest that while forests continue to buffer rural livelihoods and contribute modestly to poverty reduction, there is no substantial global evidence of a significant post-2020 increase in the contribution of the forest sector to poverty eradication,” the report said.

The findings underscore a growing debate among policymakers and development agencies over how to integrate forest conservation with economic inclusion. International organizations have increasingly promoted community-led forest management and sustainable commercialization of forest resources as mechanisms for both protecting biodiversity and supporting local economies.

Environmental economists have argued that forests provide substantial indirect economic benefits through water regulation, climate stabilization and ecosystem services that are often not reflected in conventional income measurements. However, the UN assessment focused primarily on direct livelihood and poverty indicators tied to measurable household income and employment.

The report warned that without stronger investment in infrastructure, market integration and value-added forest industries, the benefits generated by the global forest economy are likely to remain concentrated away from the communities most dependent on forest resources for survival.

Four decades after reactor number four at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded on April 26, 1986, the exclusion zone surrounding the site remains one of the most closely studied landscapes in the world for understanding how wildlife responds to long-term radioactive contamination.The explosion, regarded as the world’s worst nuclear disaster, released radioactive material across large parts of Europe.

Winds carried radioactive dust as far as the United Kingdom, Norway and parts of North Africa. The immediate area surrounding the plant in northern Ukraine received the heaviest contamination, prompting the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents and the establishment of a 60-kilometre-wide exclusion zone where human activity sharply declined.

In the decades since, scientists have documented a landscape transformed not only by radiation but also by the near-total absence of people. Wolves, bears, bison, deer, wild boar and elk now move through forests and abandoned settlements that were once heavily populated.

Yet researchers say the question of whether radiation itself has changed wildlife through adaptation, mutation or selective survival remains unresolved.Pablo Burraco, an evolutionary biologist at Doñana Biological Station, part of Spain’s National Research Council, has spent years studying tree frogs in and around Chernobyl.

During his first field trip in 2016, he captured a male tree frog near the abandoned reactor site and noticed it was darker in colour than similar frogs found farther from the exclusion zone.That observation led to broader fieldwork involving more than 250 tree frogs.

In 2022, Burraco and his colleagues published findings showing that frogs inside the exclusion zone were, on average, darker than those outside it, particularly in areas that experienced the highest radiation exposure immediately after the 1986 accident.

The researchers proposed that the darker colour, linked to higher levels of melanin, may offer some protective advantage against ionising radiation. Melanin is known to play protective biological roles in many organisms, and the team suggested that darker frogs may have had better survival rates after the disaster.

Burraco has stressed that this remains a hypothesis rather than established proof. He argues that radiation levels today differ significantly from those immediately after the explosion, and that the frogs were sampled across habitats that were otherwise comparable.

Timothy Mousseau, a biologist at the University of South Carolina who has conducted extensive research in Chernobyl, has questioned the strength of that conclusion. He argues that the frog sampling was not broad enough to establish a clear distinction between frogs inside and outside the exclusion zone and says melanisation does not clearly correlate with present-day radiation levels.

Carmel Mothersill, professor emeritus of radiobiology at McMaster University, described the 2022 study as methodologically sound and noted that its authors were careful not to overstate their conclusions. She said the disagreement reflects a broader scientific challenge in Chernobyl research: separating the direct effects of radiation from other environmental pressures.

Heavy metals and other pollutants also remain present in the area, complicating efforts to isolate radiation as the sole cause of unusual biological traits. Similar debates surround studies of feral dogs living near Chernobyl, where researchers have observed genetic differences but have not established definitive evidence linking those changes directly to radiation exposure.

Bank voles have also become a focus of study. Research has shown that voles living in contaminated areas carry higher levels of genetic diversity in their mitochondria compared with those from uncontaminated regions. Scientists say these differences may reflect mutations caused by radiation exposure, though other ecological factors may also contribute.

Mothersill notes that the landscape itself changed dramatically after the accident. Pine forests, which are highly sensitive to radiation, suffered extensive die-off following fallout exposure. In some areas, birch trees replaced them, creating different habitats and altering the ecological balance.

“It’s teeming with trees and wildlife but it’s not the same as it was before the accident,” she has said, arguing that species responses may reflect habitat transformation as much as radiation exposure.The absence of people has also played a major role.

Species that were once rare or absent have returned. Brown bears, not recorded in the region for more than a century, were captured on camera traps inside the exclusion zone in 2014. Eurasian lynx have reappeared after disappearing long before the nuclear disaster.Wolf populations are estimated to be significantly higher inside the exclusion zone than in nearby protected reserves, likely supported by abundant prey and reduced human disturbance.

Groups of dogs descended from pets abandoned during the evacuation also continue to live in the area, often cared for informally by security personnel stationed around the zone.The question of whether some organisms have evolved true adaptations to survive radiation remains one of the most contested areas of research.

A 2012 study found evidence that soybeans grown in contaminated parts of Chernobyl had adapted to cope better with both radioactivity and heavy metal stress. Bank voles have also shown greater resistance to DNA damage, raising the possibility of inherited protective traits.Mousseau points to the black fungus growing inside the damaged reactor building as one of the strongest examples supporting this theory.

The fungus appears to benefit from increased melanin, which may provide resistance to ionising radiation.He says this supports the idea that melanin offers biological protection, though he rejects claims made by some researchers that the fungus has evolved to use radiation itself as an energy source for growth.

Experiments conducted aboard the International Space Station have also shown that some fungi become darker in response to radiation exposure, reinforcing the idea that melanisation may be adaptive.For Mothersill, the critical issue is whether mutations triggered immediately after the disaster have persisted across generations even as environmental radiation levels declined.

A 2006 study found that chromosomal abnormalities in bank voles continued through successive generations, even after the animals were moved to contamination-free laboratory conditions for reproduction.Not all species have benefited. Recent research suggests that barn swallows living around Chernobyl face increasing strain from the combined effects of radioactive heat exposure and rising global temperatures linked to climate change, reducing their resilience.

The radioactive legacy of Chernobyl also extends far beyond Ukraine. Small amounts of radionuclides linked to the disaster have been detected in edible mushrooms in Poland, blueberries sold in the United States and firewood burned in Greece, demonstrating the long reach of contamination decades after the explosion.

Jonathon Turnbull, a geographer at Durham University, says the exclusion zone should not be viewed simply as either a thriving wildlife refuge or a damaged wasteland.

He argues that the reality is more complex, shaped by radiation, ecological succession and the disappearance of human pressure.The Chernobyl zone, he says, is not evidence that nature has fully recovered or collapsed, but a place where multiple forces continue to reshape life long after the reactor fire was extinguished.

The global push for clean energy is intensifying pressure on lithium-rich regions of northern Chile, where Indigenous communities warn that large-scale extraction risks undermining fragile ecosystems, water resources, and traditional ways of life.

Chile, one of the world’s leading producers of lithium, has become central to the energy transition as demand for electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems accelerates. However, in the high-Andean salt flats where much of the mineral is found, local communities say the costs of extraction are being borne disproportionately at the territorial level.

In the Atacama region, the Colla Indigenous community of Pastos Grandes lives near the Salar de Maricunga, a high-altitude ecosystem characterized by salt flats, wetlands, and limited freshwater sources. The environmental balance in the region depends on underground aquifers and scarce water flows that sustain both human livelihoods and biodiversity.“Living in our territory today means resisting,” said Zulema Mancilla, a member of the Colla community.

She described growing concerns over water depletion linked to lithium extraction, noting that the pumping of underground aquifers has reduced water availability in downstream areas where communities live and work.“We have serious problems with water,” she said, adding that while extraction projects are advancing, local populations face increasing environmental stress.Further north, in the highlands of Tarapacá near the Bolivian border, Aymara communities rely on pastoralism and subsistence agriculture, including llama and alpaca herding and quinoa cultivation.

These activities depend on high-altitude wetlands, known locally as “bofedales,” which are particularly sensitive to changes in water availability.“If this lithium project goes ahead, it will become an enormous ‘sacrifice zone’ for our people,” said Juana Mamani Flores of the Panavinto community, highlighting concerns over the long-term viability of local livelihoods.

For many Indigenous residents, the issue extends beyond environmental impact to encompass cultural and spiritual dimensions. Eva Mamani, also from Panavinto, described the territory as intrinsically connected to community identity and belief systems.“The waters have spirit, the shrubs have spirit, the mountains have spirit,” she said, framing environmental protection as both a practical and cultural imperative.

United Nations human rights officials say such perspectives underscore the need to reframe discussions around the energy transition. Jan Jarab, Regional Representative for South America, noted that areas targeted for lithium extraction are not uninhabited resource zones but living territories shaped by long-standing social and cultural systems.

While communities acknowledge the importance of addressing climate change and transitioning to cleaner energy sources, they emphasize the need for clearer information and stronger safeguards. Samuel García, an Aymara leader, said there is a lack of reliable data on the potential environmental impacts of lithium extraction.“We do not have a specific and reliable study of the damage,” he said, pointing to uncertainty surrounding long-term consequences.

The debate, according to observers, is shifting from whether lithium extraction is necessary to how it is conducted and who bears its costs. UN Human Rights has facilitated dialogues among Indigenous leaders, governments, and industry stakeholders across the “lithium triangle,” a region spanning Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia that holds more than half of the world’s lithium reserves.

These discussions focus on aligning extraction practices with international human rights standards, particularly the principle of free, prior, and informed consent for Indigenous Peoples. Jarab emphasized that affected communities must be involved in decision-making processes and have the opportunity to influence project outcomes.“Communities themselves best understand their needs and know how to care for the environment,” he said, adding that consultation mechanisms should enable equitable participation and benefit-sharing.

The UN has framed the issue within the concept of a “just transition,” warning that without adequate safeguards, the shift to renewable energy could replicate historical patterns of extractive industries, where economic gains are concentrated while environmental and social costs are localized.The role of both governments and corporations is central to this process.

Under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, companies involved in lithium extraction are expected to conduct due diligence, assess environmental and social impacts, and establish mechanisms to address harm. States, in turn, are responsible for regulating these activities and ensuring compliance with human rights obligations.

Jarab noted that state-owned enterprises, in particular, are expected to uphold higher standards of accountability, given their direct link to public policy and governance.The broader debate reflects a tension between global climate objectives and local realities. As countries accelerate decarbonization efforts, the extraction of critical minerals such as lithium has become essential.

However, the Chilean case illustrates the complexity of ensuring that environmental goals do not come at the expense of vulnerable communities.For Indigenous groups, the stakes extend beyond economic considerations to the preservation of cultural identity and long-term sustainability.

Decisions made in the coming years are likely to shape not only environmental outcomes but also the future of traditional ways of life in the region.The discussion, UN officials say, is ultimately about ensuring that the benefits of the energy transition are distributed equitably, and that its implementation does not undermine the rights of those living in resource-rich territories.

Across large parts of Asia, rising temperatures, rapid urban expansion, and environmental degradation are contributing to a measurable increase in human-wildlife conflict, according to conservation groups and environmental researchers.

From snakebites in rural India to elephant incursions in agricultural zones and leopard sightings in urban peripheries, experts say these incidents reflect deeper ecological disruptions linked to climate variability and land-use change.

Data compiled by the World Health Organization indicates that snakebite envenoming alone remains a major public health issue, with millions of cases reported annually worldwide, disproportionately affecting rural populations.

Environmental scientists note that warmer climates are altering reptile behavior, extending active seasons and expanding habitats into areas with higher human density.India has recorded a steady stream of incidents involving venomous snakes entering residential zones, particularly during unusually warm or erratic weather patterns.

Researchers attribute this to both habitat encroachment and climatic shifts that influence prey availability and breeding cycles. Similar patterns have been observed in parts of Southeast Asia, where deforestation has forced wildlife into closer proximity with human settlements.

Beyond reptiles, large mammals are also increasingly involved in conflict scenarios. Reports from eastern India and parts of Sri Lanka show that elephant populations, traditionally migratory, are encountering barriers such as highways, railways, and expanding farmland. This has led to crop damage, property destruction, and fatalities on both sides.

Conservationists argue that fragmented habitats are disrupting established migration corridors, intensifying interactions.Urbanization is another significant factor. Expanding cities are absorbing forest fringes, creating transitional zones where wildlife adapts to human presence. Leopards in India, for example, have been documented navigating densely populated outskirts, often surviving on stray animals.

While such adaptation demonstrates ecological resilience, it also raises safety concerns.According to United Nations Environment Programme, human-wildlife conflict is emerging as a critical issue globally, driven by population growth, infrastructure development, and climate change.

The agency has emphasized that these interactions are not isolated incidents but part of a broader trend affecting biodiversity and human livelihoods.Government responses have varied. In India, state authorities have implemented measures such as rapid response teams, compensation schemes for affected families, and awareness campaigns aimed at reducing panic and promoting coexistence.

However, experts argue that these measures often address symptoms rather than underlying causes.“Mitigation strategies must include habitat restoration and the preservation of ecological corridors,” said a conservation researcher involved in wildlife tracking programs. “Without addressing land fragmentation, conflicts will continue to escalate.”

Technological interventions are also being explored. Early warning systems using GPS tracking, drone surveillance, and community-based monitoring networks are being deployed in select regions. These systems aim to alert residents to the presence of large animals, reducing the likelihood of surprise encounters.

At the same time, public health systems are under pressure to respond to the medical consequences of these interactions. Snakebite treatment, for instance, remains unevenly distributed, with rural areas often lacking access to timely antivenom. This gap highlights the intersection between environmental change and healthcare infrastructure.

Experts stress that wildlife itself is not the primary driver of these conflicts. Animals typically avoid human interaction and are forced into contact due to shrinking habitats and resource scarcity. From an ecological standpoint, many of these species play essential roles, such as controlling pest populations or maintaining ecosystem balance.The challenge, therefore, lies in balancing development with conservation.

Policymakers are increasingly being urged to integrate environmental considerations into infrastructure planning, particularly in biodiversity-rich regions. Failure to do so could exacerbate both ecological damage and human risk.

As climate models project continued warming and population pressures persist, the frequency and intensity of human-wildlife encounters are expected to rise.

Researchers emphasize that long-term solutions will require coordinated efforts across sectors, including urban planning, conservation policy, and public health systems.

The release, organized by the Ukrainian Center for Chiropteran Rehabilitation, drew more than 1,000 attendees on Saturday evening, including families, off-duty soldiers and wildlife enthusiasts.

The event coincided with the onset of spring following a winter marked by subzero temperatures, repeated Russian drone and missile attacks, and widespread power disruptions.Volunteers opened cloth bags at dusk, allowing the bats to take flight as onlookers observed and applauded.

Many of the animals had been rescued from eastern regions affected by fighting, where destruction of buildings has disrupted natural habitats.Anastasiia Vovk, a volunteer with the rehabilitation center, said all 28 bat species in Ukraine are listed as protected due to declining populations.

She said conservation efforts were critical, noting that the animals are included on endangered species lists.Experts say the war has compounded threats to bat populations. Explosions and structural damage have destroyed traditional roosting sites, while disturbances during winter hibernation can be fatal.

Bats reproduce slowly, typically bearing one or two offspring annually, limiting population recovery.Alona Shulenko, who led the release, said habitat loss has forced bats into urban areas, where they shelter in buildings and balconies.

Repairs or demolition of such structures can destroy entire colonies, she added.Ukraine lies along an important eastern European migratory route for bats, all of which in the country are insect-eating and legally protected.

The rehabilitation center said it has rescued more than 30,000 bats overall, including around 4,000 during the past winter.Attendees described the event as a rare opportunity for normalcy amid the conflict.

Oleksii Beliaiev, a Kyiv resident attending with his family, said the gathering provided a temporary distraction from wartime pressures, though he noted the conflict remains the central concern for most Ukrainians.

Shulenko said the organization would continue its work despite the challenges posed by the war, emphasizing that halting rescue efforts could result in significant losses to already vulnerable bat populations.

Wearing a helmet fitted with a headlamp and a protective mask, molecular biologist Raúl da Silva Armando Chomela moves through the confined, low-light interiors of cave systems in central Mozambique, examining bat populations and their byproducts as part of a broader scientific effort to understand subterranean ecosystems.

Chomela, originally from the port city of Beira, has spent two years conducting research inside caves located in and around Gorongosa National Park, a 4,000 square kilometre conservation area recognized for its biodiversity.

His work focuses on bats and guano, a substance formed from accumulated bird and bat excrement that serves as a complex biological environment.“Guano is far more than just bat droppings,” Chomela said in an interview, describing it as a dynamic ecosystem.

According to his observations, guano supports a wide range of cave-dwelling organisms, including beetles, amphibians and microorganisms that have adapted to life in conditions without sunlight.

The caves in Gorongosa represent highly specialized environments. Organisms found within them have evolved to survive in stable, low-light conditions with distinct microbiomes that differ significantly from surface ecosystems.

These systems are characterized by limited external input and reliance on internal nutrient cycles, often driven by organic deposits such as guano.Chomela’s research involves entering narrow passages and descending into enclosed spaces using ropes and ladders, often without full knowledge of the terrain or species present.

According to the park’s science department, the cave networks in the region extend across approximately 183 square kilometres, forming interconnected underground systems.

More than 100 bat species have been identified in Gorongosa, although there is no precise data on how many inhabit these caves. One site, known as Tombo Aphale 5, has been extensively studied and hosts an estimated population of over 10,000 bats.

The cave is also the site of an active archaeological excavation, indicating its broader scientific relevance beyond ecological research.Gorongosa National Park was established in 1960 during Portuguese colonial administration.

Following Mozambique’s independence in 1975, conservation was not prioritized under the ruling Frelimo party. Two years later, the park became a strategic location during the country’s civil war, which involved government forces and the insurgent group Renamo.

Renamo, initially formed with support from the Rhodesian government under Ian Smith and later backed by apartheid-era South Africa, operated within the park’s terrain. During the conflict, armed groups relied on wildlife for sustenance, leading to widespread depletion of animal populations.

By the end of the war, which lasted more than 15 years, approximately 95% of the park’s wildlife had been lost, including nearly all of its estimated 5,500 hippos.The effects of the conflict extended beyond environmental damage.

Local communities experienced forced recruitment and other human rights abuses during the war, contributing to long-term social and economic challenges in the region.

In the decades since the conflict ended, Gorongosa has become the focus of sustained conservation and restoration efforts. These initiatives have involved partnerships between international institutions and Mozambican researchers, aiming to rebuild ecosystems and support local development.

One such initiative is the Paleo-Primate Project, established in 2018 as a collaboration between the University of Oxford and Gorongosa National Park. The project is led by Susana Carvalho and integrates research in archaeology, ecology and geology.

It also provides training and employment opportunities for local researchers and students.Carvalho said the broader Gorongosa Restoration Project has become a significant employer in the region, contributing to economic stability.

The project supports scientific research while also engaging local communities in conservation efforts.Chomela joined Gorongosa’s biodiversity laboratory in 2022 before becoming part of the Paleo-Primate Project in 2025.

His research spans multiple disciplines, including the use of environmental DNA to reconstruct historical ecosystems and metabarcoding techniques to analyze genetic material from bats and primates.

He is currently a first-year doctoral student at the University of Porto in Portugal, with his research based at the EO Wilson Laboratory in Chitengo, located within the park. In addition to his academic work, he leads the genetics laboratory at the facility, contributing to ongoing studies of biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics.

Chomela has also raised concerns about the potential overexploitation of guano resources. While the material is valued for its agricultural and economic uses, he noted that excessive harvesting could alter the composition of cave ecosystems.

“When they see the guano, they see money,” he said, adding that unsustainable extraction could disrupt the balance of species that depend on it.He emphasized the importance of building a scientific foundation to inform conservation practices and community engagement.

“We want a scientific base to convince the community,” he said, referring to efforts to align local economic interests with environmental sustainability.

The integration of scientific research, conservation policy and community involvement remains central to ongoing work in Gorongosa, as researchers continue to document and restore one of Africa’s most ecologically significant regions.

This strategic decision highlights the Kingdom’s growing commitment to preserving its natural heritage and achieving the Vision 2030 goal of protecting 30 percent of its land and sea areas.

The two new reserves are vital for maintaining marine biodiversity and supporting ecosystems that thrive along the Red Sea coast. These areas are known for their rich marine life, coral reefs, and stunning underwater landscapes that attract both scientists and nature enthusiasts.

The announcement marks another positive milestone in Saudi Arabia’s efforts to safeguard its environment while promoting sustainable tourism.

Located northwest of Jeddah, Ras Hatiba spans over 5,700 square kilometers of diverse habitats.

It includes extensive coral reefs, mangrove forests, and seagrass meadows — all crucial ecosystems that support endangered species such as green turtles, dugongs, dolphins, whales, and sharks.

The reserve’s pristine environment also plays a vital role in carbon absorption and coastal protection, making it an essential part of the country’s ecological balance.

Meanwhile, the Blue Holes marine reserve is a natural wonder of geological and biological significance. These rare circular formations, found along the southern Red Sea coast, were first identified in 2022.

Scientists have discovered more than 20 of these formations, each hosting unique ecosystems teeming with marine life including colorful fish, invertebrates, and sea mammals. Their discovery has opened a new chapter for Saudi marine research and ocean conservation.

By designating these two areas as protected zones, the Kingdom is moving closer to its target of 30 percent protection coverage by 2030.

Currently, nature reserves cover over 16 percent of the country’s total area — a significant leap from just a few years ago.

This increase underscores the government’s commitment to advancing sustainable development goals, promoting eco-tourism, and ensuring the long-term health of the nation’s marine resources.

These conservation efforts are aligned with Vision 2030’s Green Initiative, which emphasizes biodiversity protection, renewable energy, and reducing the impacts of climate change.

Protecting Ras Hatiba and the Blue Holes will not only preserve marine ecosystems but also help create eco-friendly opportunities for tourism, research, and community engagement.

Saudi authorities have also emphasized that local communities will play a role in maintaining these reserves. Through education and involvement in sustainable practices, citizens and visitors will be encouraged to contribute to marine conservation efforts.

This collaborative approach ensures that economic growth, tourism, and environmental responsibility coexist harmoniously.

The Kingdom’s bold environmental steps send a strong message of leadership in marine conservation across the region.

By protecting coral reefs and blue holes, Saudi Arabia is setting a global example of how economic progress can go hand-in-hand with nature preservation.

These efforts also enhance the country’s reputation as a forward-looking nation investing in both its people and the planet.

In the coming years, experts expect the Ras Hatiba and Blue Holes reserves to become global centers for marine research, biodiversity education, and eco-tourism.

With world-class scientific studies and carefully planned management, Saudi Arabia’s marine reserves could become models of sustainability for other coastal nations.

The inclusion of these two stunning marine reserves reflects a hopeful vision — one where development and conservation work together for the benefit of future generations.

By protecting these rare ecosystems, Saudi Arabia reaffirms its commitment to nurturing its natural treasures while moving steadily toward a greener, more sustainable future.