March 2013 Blog Posts (5)

Photo by John Kabubu

The sound of a saw cutting deep into the kiaat tree (Pterocarpus angolensis, also called “bloodwood”) in a forest in Kisangi village fills the air. Sweat drips from the body of 56-year-old Rafii Hashim as he pushes the saw rhythmically back and forth to ensure a smooth cut. The birds are chirping,…

Aquafil (www.aquafil.com), the ECNC Group (www.ecncgroup.eu) and Star Sock (www.starsock.nl) have together established the ‘Healthy Seas, a Journey from Waste to Wear’ initiative.

The main objective of this Healthy Seas initiative is to remove waste, in particular fishing nets and other marine litter from the seas and oceans for the purpose of…

Last year I brought you the story of Lambir Hills National Park, a Bornean forest in which I used to live and work, where hunting and other pressures have forced into extinction much of the biggest wildlife species (see The near empty forest that proves conservation is failing).

It describes how recent surveys had failed to find 20 percent of the park’s resident bird species and…

Photo by: John Kabubu

The Western Indian Ocean State’s efforts to help bring about improved marine fisheries reforms and governance in the South West Indian Ocean range states are beginning to bear fruit following a recent decision to reform the South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission from an advisory body to a full management…

Overfishing threatens the magnificent and prized ‘Ali Maduwa’, writes Malaka Rodrigo�

A giant “maduwa”, or manta ray, was netted last week by fisherman in Welipatanwila, Ambalanthota, on the South coast. The ocean creature was pregnant and weighed 1,500 kilograms. A week earlier, another manta ray was caught by fishermen in Akkaraipattu, on the East coast. Both sea…