On May 9, Ecuador’s record-breaking “debt-for-nature” deal made history: The country sold $1.6 billion worth of bonds to the bank Credit Suisse, which freed up funds that will be used for conservation of its renowned Galapagos Islands. This marked the world’s largest “debt-for-nature” swap to date. The Galapagos Islands is an archipelago celebrated for its […]
In Kerala, India, a previously neglected river that was biologically “dead” has since been revived, thanks to the combined efforts of the state government, a village council, and the river’s surrounding communities. The Kuttamperoor River, a 7.4-mile tributary of the Pampa and Achencoil rivers, had long been a life-sustaining source for drinking water, irrigation of […]
From poppies springing up from cracks in the sidewalk to ivy enveloping a tumble-down building, evidence of nature’s resilience and adaptability is everywhere. But there are few places where it’s more apparent than the Leslie Street Spit, a former garbage dump-turned-wildlife refuge nestled in the heart of Canada’s biggest metropolitan area. Officially named Tommy Thompson […]
Established in 2010, World Photography Day is observed annually on August 19, celebrating the art, craft, science, and history of the visual medium. The date wasn’t chosen at random: Nearly two centuries ago, in 1839, the French government purchased the patent for the daguerreotype process, publicly presenting its details as “a gift to the world” […]
When Ronnie and Terry Urbanczyk spotted a 245-acre ranch nestled in the wooded grasslands of western Comal County, Texas, three decades ago, it was love at first sight. They put an offer on it and soon moved their family of five from a nearby subdivision into the 600-square-foot farmhouse, envisioning a peaceful life away from […]
While we land dwellers may think of the oceans as vast and ever changing, certain areas are permanent fixtures for some of its inhabitants. Case in point: green sea turtles and their seagrass meadows. Though the creatures have migratory mating and eating patterns, they certainly know where home is. According to a recent study, green […]
Yellowstone. Yosemite. The Grand Canyon. Denali. These are among the most iconic and beloved U.S. locations that might spring to mind when the words “national park” are spoken. However, these heavy hitters represent just a handful of the more than 400 sites that fall under the purview of the National Park Service. Beyond the iconic […]
The results are in for the 2023 Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards — and the competition was stiff. Judges whittled down a whopping 49,957 entries from 95 countries to select 19 category winners. They include an underwater image of a mother hippopotamus and her young in South Africa, a mystical shot of a fungus […]
For the past five years, British artist Justin Bateman has been creating intricate portraits out of pebbles and stones. His work is striking in its level of detail and scale, with pieces ranging in size from 10 square feet to over 80. And aside from a few permanent commissions, they’re all ephemeral — arranged on […]
Dogs are man’s best friend, but it turns out they need their own furry friends, too. A recent study conducted as part of the Dog Aging Project found that a canine’s social support network has the greatest influence on health outcomes, surpassing factors such as finances, household stability, and the age of the owner. The […]
In a geothermal cave in Nevada, the endangered Devils Hole pupfish is embodying a certain cartoon relative’s mantra: “Just keep swimming.” The fish species has not only endured in the ostensibly forbidding environment it became trapped in thousands of years ago, but has also recently been increasing in number. Small, silvery-blue, and iridescent, the species […]
Unlike Corfu or Santorini, Tilos likely hasn’t popped up in your social media feed. But the tiny Greek municipality in the Aegean Sea has made a big name for itself: It’s the world’s first zero-waste island. Tilos accomplished this monumental feat in early July after two years of efforts by local authorities and community members, […]