insert_link Africa Three new species of frogs found nestled in Madagascar’s pandan trees Guibemantis rianasoa, a new frog species from Madagascar. Image courtesy of Hugh Gabriel By Liz Kimbrough via MongaBay Scientists have described three new frog species that dwell exclusively in the spiky leaves of pandan trees in Madagascar’s eastern rainforests. Lead researcher Hugh Gabriel, from the Technical University of Braunschweig in Germany, described the frogs’ sounds as “soft clicks that sound like rain falling on leaves.” And he would know. Gabriel […] todayFebruary 2, 2024 9
insert_link Environment Building a resilient farming business By Hanks Saisai, Technical Advisor: Crops & Poultry Farmers in Namibia face numerous challenges including climate change. This is evident in the form of erratic rainfall, recurring droughts, crop, and livestock losses, which have continuously led to financial losses for farmers across the country. As we navigate through the early days of 2024, farmers are encouraged to create resolutions that can transform their farming businesses into resilient enterprises. […] todayFebruary 1, 2024 22
insert_link Business / Economics Bridging the climate finance gap through collaboration and innovation Government, labour, business, and civil society must collaborate and innovate if South Africa is to raise the R535 billion required to meet its NDC target by 2030. In light of estimates that South Africa will require, on average, R334 billion and R535 billion annually to achieve its net zero goal by 2050 and NDCs by 2030, respectively, it is clear that something radical needs to change and quickly if we […] todayFebruary 1, 2024 20
insert_link Environment Tropical forests share similar mix of common and rare tree species, study shows A flowering tree in the Amazon rainforest canopy. Photo credit: Rhett A. Butler By Liz Kimbrough via Mongabay A new study has for the first time identified the most common tree species in the tropical forests of Africa, the Amazon and Southeast Asia — and their similarities have surprised scientists. “The [study] shows some uncanny similarities among the world’s great tropical rainforests,” said tropical ecologist Bill Laurance, a co-author of […] todayFebruary 1, 2024 36
insert_link Environment Why monkeys attack people – a primate expert explains Witsawat.S/Shutterstock Tracie McKinney, University of South Wales Wildlife tourism thrives on our fascination with animals and primates are particularly attractive animals to tourists. With their human-like faces, complex family dynamics and acrobatic antics, they are a joy to behold. But recent stories have emerged that portray monkeys in a more sinister light. Reports of “monkey attacks”, “devil monkeys”, or even “face-ripping, bone-biting monkeys” have become common in the media. Have […] todayJanuary 31, 2024 14
insert_link Environment The surprising reason why insects circle lights at night: They lose track of the sky A multiple-exposure photograph of insects circling a light at night. Samuel Fabian, CC BY-ND Samuel Fabian, Imperial College London; Jamie Theobald, Florida International University, and Yash Sondhi, University of Florida It’s an observation as old as humans gathering around campfires: Light at night can draw an erratically circling crowd of insects. In art, music and literature, this spectacle is an enduring metaphor for dangerous but irresistible attractions. And watching their […] todayJanuary 31, 2024 17
insert_link Environment Ocean heating breaks record, again, with disastrous outcomes for the planet By Elizabeth Claire Alberts via Mongabay New research shows that ocean temperatures are hotter than ever in the modern era due to human-driven global warming. High ocean temperatures are placing a strain on marine life and biological processes while also increasing extreme weather events on land. The world is also seeing an escalation in the frequency and intensity of marine heat waves, events in which sea temperatures exceed a certain […] todayJanuary 31, 2024 11
insert_link Environment Farmers need to gain access to agricultural information By Erastus Ngaruka, Technical Advisor: Livestock & Rangeland Management Agriculture is by far an economic pillar in Namibia as it directly or indirectly supports all livelihoods in the form of food, employment, and income. Besides that, agricultural production faces many challenges that are associated with climatic conditions, technology, markets, and knowledge or skills amongst others. For example, potential agricultural production in Namibia is vulnerable to climate change […] todayJanuary 31, 2024 19
insert_link Africa Nigeria’s plastic ban: why it’s good and how it can work By Temitope O. Sogbanmu, University of Lagos Two weeks into January 2024, Nigerian authorities took steps to curb environmental degradation caused by plastic pollution in the country. The Federal Ministry of Environment and the Lagos State government both announced bans on single-use plastics. The Federal Ministry of Environment was the first to issue a directive. It banned single-use plastics in its own departments and agencies. The Lagos State government […] todayJanuary 31, 2024 28
