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The announcement on Monday of events celebrating Mozambique’s National Administration of Conservation Areas’ eighth birthday on Saturday, June 1, formed the backdrop for the revelation that Niassa Special Reserve, the country’s largest, is also celebrating a milestone – a year without a single elephant dying at the hand of poachers.

The ANAC noted in the statement a “significant reduction in elephant poaching in the country, especially in the Niassa National Reserve, which has completed one year without elephants being slaughtered by poachers”.

The ANAC celebrations come at a time when the institution is focussing on “improving management capacity, combating poaching, promoting self-sustainability in the management of conservation areas, and sharing economic benefits with local communities”.

The celebrations will take place at the Maputo Ponta do Ouro Special Marine Reserve, where the organisation will host gatherings of elementary school students for rides and lectures on wildlife.

“ANAC hopes these celebrations will increase the level of awareness of society in general, and of the communities who live in and around conservation areas in particular, of the importance of protecting biodiversity,” it announced.

ANAC figures indicate that, since 2009, the country has lost at least 10,000 elephants. In the Niassa Reserve, the country’s largest protected area, the total number of elephants fell from 12,000 to 4,400 in the three years between 2011 and 2014.

More recent reports indicate that, between 2011 and 2014, Niassa National Reserve lost almost 60% of the elephant population. In a countrywide basis, the loss was of 48%, risking the country being banned from international trade in animal products, due to lack of clarity in wildlife management.

A team of the Police Rapid Intervention Unit (UIR) was deployed to the Niassa Reserve to support public prosecutors in combating wildlife poaching, at the request of the Ministry of Land, Environment and Rural Development (MITADER) to the President of the Republic.

After visiting Niassa Reserve in November 2018, President Nyusi supported the presence of the UIR special forces for a further year, within which they should play a role training the rangers of the Reserve to continue the protection of elephants.

The Special forces (UIR) work hand to hand with the rangers in various locations and have created a very strong alliance to combat poaching.

The ANAC manages seven Mozambican parks, an equal number of reserves, and four cross-border joint management areas, which together account for 5,500 plant species, 220 mammal species and 690 bird species.

A new Filipino law requires all graduating high school and college students to plant at least 10 trees each before they can graduate.

The law formalises a tradition of planting trees upon graduation, which is also hoped to simultaneously combat global climate change.

The proponents of the law say the legislation could result in as many as 525 billion trees planted in a generation if it is properly adhered to.

The Philippines’ Magdalo Party representative Gary Alejano, who was the principal author of the legislation, said: “With over 12 million students graduating from elementary and nearly five million students graduating from high school and almost 500,000 graduating from college each year, this initiative, if properly implemented, will ensure that at least 175 million new trees would be planted each year.

“In the course of one generation, no less than 525 billion can be planted under this initiative,” Mr Alejano said in the bill’s explanatory note.

“Even with a survival rate of only 10 per cent, this would mean an additional 525 million trees would be available for the youth to enjoy, when they assume the mantle of leadership in the future.”

The trees will apparently be planted in mangroves, existing forests, some protected areas, military ranges, abandoned mining sites and selected urban areas, according to CNN’s Philippines news service.

The government said the species selected for planting must be appropriate to each location, climate and topography of the area and there will also be a preference for indigenous species.

In addition to the immediate carbon-absorbing impact of the trees, it is hoped the legislation will help bring environmental understanding to future generations and lead to further ecological initiatives.

The country’s Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education will together implement and ensure compliance with the bill.

The Philippines is one of the world’s most severely deforested countries with total forest cover dropping from 70 per cent to just 20 per cent during the 20th century. Illegal logging remains a problem for the country and the lack of trees in some areas has exacerbated the risk and the impacts of floods and landslides.

Humanity’s ongoing destruction of wildlife will lead to a shrinking of nature, with the average body size of animals falling by a quarter, a study predicts.

The researchers estimate that more than 1,000 larger species of mammals and birds will go extinct in the next century, from rhinos to eagles. They say this could lead to the collapse of ecosystems that humans rely on for food and clean water.Advertisement

Humans have wiped out most large creatures from all inhabited continents apart from Africa over the last 125,000 years. This annihilation will accelerate rapidly in the coming years, according to the research.

The future extinctions can be avoided if radical action is taken to protect wildlife and restore habitats, and the scientists say the new work can help focus efforts on key species.

Animal populations have fallen by 60%since 1970, suggesting a sixth mass extinction of life on Earth is under way caused by the razing of wild areas, hunting and intensive farming. Scientists said this month that human society was in danger from the decline of the Earth’s natural life-support systems, with half of natural ecosystems now destroyed and a total of a million species at risk of extinction.

“It is worrying that we are losing these big species when we don’t know their full role,” said Robert Cooke, at the University of Southampton, who led the new research. “Without them, things could begin to degrade quite quickly. Ecosystems could start to collapse and become not what we need to survive.”

Chris Carbone, of the ZSL Institute of Zoology in London, said: “This study predicts extinction rates that dwarf those recorded between recent ice ages and suggests that larger species are the most vulnerable. I wouldn’t be surprised if the situation for many larger animals is worse than the researchers suggest as their decline is exacerbated by selective poaching and the illegal wildlife trade.”

The research, published in the journal Nature Communications, analysed five traits of 15,500 species of mammals and birds, including body mass, breadth of habitat, diet and the length of time between generations. They combined these with data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list of threatened species, which estimates the likelihood of extinction.

The results showed the survival of far more small, highly fertile and adaptable animals, such as rodents and songbirds, than larger creatures such as rhinos, tigers and eagles. “If all these extinctions [of larger animals] take place, we are fundamentally restructuring life on this planet,” said Cooke.

Research in 2018 showed that the average size of wild animals has fallen by 14% in the last 125,000 years, as behemoths including mammoths and giant sloths were exterminated by humans. The new study predicts a further shrinking of 25% in just 100 years.

Larger animals are particularly vulnerable to humans as they are more frequently targeted and need much more wild space to survive. Their loss has big knock-on effects as they are vital in creating stable and productive ecosystems. Elephants distribute large plant seeds, for example, while vultures dispose of big carcasses before they rot and harbour disease.

Songbirds, which tend to be smaller and require less habitat than plant-eating and predatory birds, do relatively well in the new analysis. However, most songbirds eat insects, and huge reported declines in their prey could lead to further extinctions in this group, the scientists say.

A Canadian amateur photographer says he is “overwhelmed” by the worldwide response to a photograph he took of a bald eagle.

Steve Biro snapped the image of Bruce the bald eagle at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy and first posted it on some Facebook photography groups.

The image of the bird of prey “staring daggers” at the photographer with its piercing eyes has since gone viral.

The photo is one of several hundred Mr Biro took of the bird that day.

“He’s squared up perfectly, both wings are touching the water,” he told the BBC. “That [photograph] was the one that struck me as as little more special than the others. But I still didn’t even know how it would resonate with people.”

The photograph eventually made it to the front page of Reddit and has since been picked up by media around the world.

Birds are usually undisturbed by photographers visiting the Canadian Raptor Conservancy in Ontario. But Mr Biro says the eagle seemed irked at where he was positioned with his camera.

“He was actually trying to brush me away from where I was perched,” he said.

“I could feel the breeze from his wings as he flew over me. The other people who were there were gasping as he came over my head. It was really quite exhilarating.”

Mr Biro said as soon as he got up off the rock where he had been sitting, Bruce the eagle flew over and claimed the spot.

The amateur photographer began taking photos about 10 years ago as a hobby – “nature pics, landscapes, city pics, I love it all”.

But he says he has a soft spot for capturing images of birds.

“There’s something about birds that to me is captivating,” Mr Biro said.

“The way they hunt, the way they interact. Sometimes you’ll see them do things. They’ll be playful, just like children. It’s amazing how you’ll see aspects of humanity in birds – and in animals overall.”

Mr Biro says photography challenges him to see the world “like I’m a child again”.

“I try to look at it like I’m in awe of it all the time, and in wonder of it.”

Bald eagles are widely distributed across North America.

In the United States, where the bird is the national emblem, it nests in more than half the country. In Canada, it’s more commonly found in British Columbia, across the prairies and in parts of Ontario.

Stories by Demola Ojo

Late last year, a family of elephants turned up in Zaria Kala-Kala village, Kebbi State. At the report of their sighting, the governor of the state, Atiku Bagudu, ordered their protection pending when they would be handed over to the appropriate authority.

As you can imagine, this was an initially difficult task as the elephants destroyed farms across some local governments while foraging.

According to the state’s commissioner for Agriculture, it was the first time in the state’s history that elephants would besiege their farms. Their issues had always been with the hippopotamus.

However, the governor’s assurance that farmers would be compensated not only avoided a clash with the elephants, but made them welcome guests who have now decided to make the state home.

Recently, the governor hailed farmers living along the fringes of the River Niger in Koko/Besse and Bagudo Local Government Areas for protecting the stray elephants. Apart from protecting the endangered animals, the largest land mammals in the world, the farmers also provide them with feeds from their farms.

“I urge all communities in the state to continue to provide information and support until the animals return to their rightful location,” the governor said.

He used the opportunity to warn the public against poaching of wild animals, adding that whoever inflicted injury on animals would face the full wrath of the law.

But if statements by the First Lady of Kebbi are anything to go by, the elephants are there to stay.

Zainab Bugudu said last week on Twitter: “These awesome elephants that strayed into Kebbi last year are safe and thriving. The mama and baby stay at ‘home’ whilst papa elephant roams the land. He always comes back. Typical.”

She revealed that the elephants had established a range and knew their bounds, negating the need for curtailing their movement.

“The elephants have created a natural ‘zoo’ for themselves,” she said. “They don’t go beyond certain limits; always return. The host community in Zaria Kalakala protects them and can always tell you where they are. They have feeding points. It’s really quite interesting.”

From her comments, you can sense her excitement and her appreciation.

“Indeed, we thank Nature, His Excellency and the receptive host community. I just ooh and aah and share amazing pictures with you.”

The coexistence between the elephants and humans in Kebbi is worth the excitement it generates. Unlike other instances where the animals are either kept in a zoo or have a reserve demarcated for them, this is a natural relationship built on mutual trust which may help resuscitate the dwindling elephant population in Nigeria.

Elephants are a cornerstone of the $34 billion tourism industry across Africa. They play a critical role as ecosystem engineers, providing a way for important soil nutrients to be spread around on a massive scale.

Following recent invasion of Cross River state’s reserved and other areas by unknown timber merchants, a greater part of Nigeria’s remaining tropical rain-forest reserve is being threatened.

Environmental experts estimate that Nigeria may have lost as much as 90per cent of her original forest cover due to human activities. A significant portion of Nigeria’s remaining tropical forest is found in Cross River State. However, this forest is threatened by increasing deforestation due to unsustainable agriculture and illegal timber exploitation.

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Cross River State Forestry Commission (CRSFC) have raised an alarm over the rate of deforestation in the Afi River Forest Reserve (ARFR), which covers approximately 380 sq. km, arguing that if care is not taken the areas may be completely lost in the foreseeable future.

The Afi River Forest Reserve is one of the largest remaining relatively intact forest reserves in Cross River State and an important corridor linking the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary to the Mbe Mountains and the Cross River National Park, which are home to the Critically Endangered Cross River gorilla.

Sadly, the Afi River Forest Reserve located in Boki Local Government Area as well as other forest areas in the state such as Ukpon River Forest Reserve, Iko-Esai, Ekuri, and Agoi community forests are lavishly being degraded as more logging is taking place and lots of timber are being taken out unchecked.

In a letter to the Cross River State Forestry Commission dated April 4, 2019 and signed by the Director, Cross River landscape, WCS Nigeria programme, Dr Inaoyom Imong said, “I write to bring to your attention massive deforestation of parts of the Afi River Forest Reserve that is currently taking place.

“In March 2019, the WCS received reports of the bulldozing of large tracts of intact forest in the southeastern axis of Afi River Forest Reserve, purportedly to establish a cocoa plantation by a group whose identity and affiliation is yet to be determined. The reports indicate that work started after holding discussions with Abo Ogbagante village which appears in support of the bulldozing that has continued unhindered since early March 2019”.

The letter further explained that, “ WCS is concerned by the ongoing deforestation which threatens to destroy this critical forest corridor. The loss of this corridor will have severe consequences for the long term conservation of the population of critically endangered Cross River gorillas and other endangered species in the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary”.

Accordingly, “the WCS called on the Cross River State Forestry Commission to take measures urgently to stop this illegal activity and save ARFR from further destruction”.

Commenting on the deforestation, the Country Director WCS, Mr. Andrew Dunn, said, “the remaining gorillas in Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary and the Mbe Mountains are endangered by the current deforestation going on inside Afi River Forest Reserve, at Abo Ogbagante village.”

Dunn said, “We fully support government policy on agriculture but feel very strongly that new cocoa should be planted on areas that have already been degraded and not on the state’s remaining forest”.

Equally reacting to the level of deforestation in the state, the Chairman of the State’s Forestry Commission, Mr. Bette Obi said, “Our reserves are no go area but I cannot assure you that they are still 100 percent the way they should be. As far as that place is not de-reserved whatever they are doing there is illegal. We are on top of the matter and we are summoning the community to come here with those that are concerned so that we interact with them.”

In a related development, the Federal Government has announced plans to review its forest management policy to check indiscrimate felling of trees.

The anticipated policy is expected to promote equitable, and enhance the nation’s forest assets in a way that the felling of trees does not have any adverse effects on the biodiversity, productivity as well as ecological process.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote made the revelation when a delegation of the Association of Charcoal Exporters of Nigeria led by its president Dele Fagbola paid her a courtesy visit in Abuja.

She also stated that government was aware that certification will add economic value to the products been exported and this would in turn add to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“This realization has made government to carefully structure the guidelines to be mutually beneficial to everyone as well as promote sustainability, transparency and accountability in out national assets.”

She therefore commended the efforts of the Association aimed at mitigating the effects of deforestation, stressing that if adequately managed; the forest can be both economically viable and socially beneficial to the citizens and country.

The permanent secretary, however urged them to mobilize membership in supporting government efforts at boosting afforestation and forest cover in the country saying, “As we cut down a tree today, we should replace it by planting at least three new ones.”

Earlier, Legal Secretary to the Association, Lola Idowu, said that they were in the Ministry to solicit support in the passage of the draft bill for an Act for the establishment of the National Timber and Forest product Certification Council before the National Assembly.

She also stated that the Association has put in place several measures geared towards the sanitization of charcoal exportation in the country, revealing that the establishment of some plantations in Oyo, Ogun and Kwara states was to fulfill the government’s policy of ‘cut –one-plant-two.’

Equally, she disclosed that the Association has written letters to 36 state governments and FCT, to donate parcels of land for development of forest sites to enable them have control over the activities of its members within confined areas.

According to Idowu, if the requests made are granted, the Association would embark on training the locals on the best techniques to be used for better yields as part of its corporate social responsibility.

BREAKING NEW: Vietnam seizes 5.26 tonnes of #pangolin scales hidden in cashew containers from Nigeria, 9 days after authorities in the northern Vietnamese city of Haiphong seized 8.3 tonnes of pangolin scales (link: https://reut.rs/2HPvBQV) reut.rs/2HPvBQV via @Reuters #WildlifeCrime

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Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton