A recent research paper, published in the journal One Earth, sheds light on a new tracking system to monitor threats to global rainforests. The scientists have developed a novel tropical rainforest index (TFVI) to "track vulnerability of global rainforests to climate and land use". The tracking system will play an important role in increasing conservation efforts worldwide. The study was led by the California Institute Technology. The project was funded by the National Geographic and the Rolex P...
Jul 30, 2021•2 min•Ep. 52
A recent study, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, gives insights into how shark intestines function. The scientists used a CT scanner to create 3D images of intestines. The intestines were from specimens at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. The findings show that the spiral-shaped intestines function like Tesla valve invented by Nikola Tesla.
Jul 23, 2021•1 min•Ep. 51
A team of scientists from the United States and South Africa seeks to map biodiversity in South Africa's Greater Cape Floristic Region. The project, Marine, Freshwater, and Terrestrial Biodiversity Survey of the Cape (BioScape), will use remote sensing technology from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It aims to improve the understanding of species distribution and abundance. The project is led by scientists from the University at Buffalo, the University of California, th...
Jul 16, 2021•2 min•Ep. 50
A recent report by the International Resource Panel, part of the United Nations Environment Programme, says there is an urgent need for a new integrated land-sea governance framework to address coastal pollution from land-based activities. The main purpose of the study was to "determine appropriate governance approaches to reduce the effects of land-based activities on coastal resources". The full report, "Governing coastal resources: Implications for a sustainable blue economy", is available on...
Jul 09, 2021•2 min•Ep. 49
Nearly 80 million people will be be affected by chronic hunger by 2050, and more than 50% of them are in Sub-Saharan Africa, new report predicts. The study, published by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), shows that investment in agricultural research and development is key in adapting to the effects of climate change.
Jul 02, 2021•1 min•Ep. 48
Atewa Range Forest Reserve is located in the eastern region of Ghana. It is threatened by a proposed bauxite mining project.
Jun 25, 2021•2 min•Ep. 47
The wind power project is located near the town of Dongola in the northern part of the Republic of the Sudan.
Jun 18, 2021•2 min•Ep. 46
Tasiast mine is the largest gold mine in Mauritania. It started to be fully operational in 2008.
Jun 11, 2021•2 min•Ep. 45
Phalaborwa copper mine is the leading copper producer in South Africa. It is located near the town of Phalaborwa in Limpopo Province.
Jun 04, 2021•2 min•Ep. 44
Gola Rainforest National Park is located southeast of Freetown. It was declared a national park in 2011.
May 28, 2021•2 min•Ep. 43
Abuko Nature Reserve was established in 1968. It is one of the top tourist attractions in the Gambia.
May 21, 2021•2 min
Mulanje cedar is the national tree of Malawi. It is endemic to Mulanje Mountain Biosphere Reserve. Due to unsustainable harvesting, the tree is threatened with extinction.
May 14, 2021•3 min
The Republic of Congo has signed a landmark agreement with the World Bank to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.
May 07, 2021•2 min
The Sahofika hydropower project is located on the Onive River, a tributary of the Mangoro River. It is about 100 km from Antananarivo.
Apr 30, 2021•2 min•Ep. 39
The Regional Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric Power Project is located at Rusumo Falls on the Kagera River.
Apr 23, 2021•2 min•Ep. 38
Kudu offshore gas field is located about 130 km off the south-west coast of Namibia. It was discovered by Chevron in 1974. It is estimated that the field is home to more than 36 billion cubic metres of proven natural gas reserves.
Apr 16, 2021•4 min•Ep. 37
The West African Gas Pipeline is transporting natural gas from Itoki (Nigeria) to Takoradi (Ghana), through Benin and Togo. This 678 km long pipeline was completed at a cost of nearly $1 billion. Commercial operation started in March 2011. The pipeline is owned and operated by the West African Gas Pipeline Company. Chevron has the largest stake (36.7%). It is followed by the Nigerian National Petroleum (25%).
Apr 09, 2021•2 min•Ep. 36
Equatorial Guinea is the third-largest oil producer in Sub-Saharan Africa. Over the past few years, the government has been attracting investors to develop offshore natural gas resources. The country is home to unexploited gas reserves off the coast of Bioko Island. There is Alen gas field gas development project. First gas flow was in February 2021. The project is operated by Noble Energy. The company was acquired by Chevron in October 2020.
Apr 02, 2021•2 min•Ep. 35
Two major natural gas projects are Tendrara onshore gas field development in Eastern Morocco, close to the Algerian border and Anchois offshore gas field development in the Atlantic, about 40km off the coast of the country.
Mar 26, 2021•2 min•Ep. 34
At least 90 000 Somalis have been displaced due to severe water shortage over the past few months.
Mar 19, 2021•2 min•Ep. 33
Discovery of gold-rich ore in Luhihi has brought hundreds of people into the village. Mining activities are currently suspended until further notice.
Mar 12, 2021•2 min•Ep. 32
Overfishing and poor agricultural practices are threatening fish species in Lake Malawi.
Mar 05, 2021•2 min•Ep. 31
Rosewood trees are under human threat.
Feb 26, 2021•1 min
Bulawayo is facing water scarcity due to population growth and recurring drought events.
Feb 05, 2021•2 min•Ep. 29
Eswatini is home to the oldest known mine in the world.
Jan 29, 2021•2 min•Ep. 27
Desert locusts have invaded Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.
Jan 22, 2021•2 min•Ep. 27
Africa's largest oil refinery is almost complete near Lagos, Nigeria.
Jan 15, 2021•2 min•Ep. 26
Thousands of straw-coloured fruit bats congregate in swamp forest within Kasanka National Park from October to December each year. It is regarded as the largest mammal migration in Africa.
Dec 18, 2020•2 min•Ep. 25
African forest elephants are under human pressure in central and west Africa.
Dec 11, 2020•2 min•Ep. 24
African penguins are at risk of extinction.
Dec 04, 2020•3 min•Ep. 23
