An extraordinary number and diversity of fish inhabit the Amazon River basin. Many, if not all of them, are of great importance in maintaining the ecosystems found along the river and its tributaries (by the dispersal of tree seeds, for example) as well as supporting both commercial and subsistence fishing. While I was aware that there were migrations of catfish (also known as … [Read more...] about Marañón River, a source of life and energy?
Goal #13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts*
The UN Member States have agreed on a sustainable development agenda for the next 15 years, “TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD: THE 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT” and hope to pursue the path paved by the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s). The Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon qualified the text as “people-centred and planet-sensitive” and looks forward to its submission for … [Read more...] about Goal #13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts*
The benefits of drilling inland as if it were offshore
The Amazon Basin is becoming a hot spot for oil and gas exploration. New developments are mostly found in the Amazon Headwaters, extending in an arc from Venezuela through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, western Brazil, and Bolivia. These discoveries bring great promise for economic development. Yet they also pose grave threats to indigenous forest dwellers and to the incomparable … [Read more...] about The benefits of drilling inland as if it were offshore
To Hell With Citizen Consultations
Three years ago, three colleagues and I were semi-kidnapped by a crowd of irate citizens. During half an hour, they surrounded our vehicle and held us hostage until their demands were heard. Although this was not the first occasion where I found myself in the middle of such a disturbance, it was the first in which we were the focus of the social conflict. This was ironic, … [Read more...] about To Hell With Citizen Consultations
Where Does your Fish Come From?
The majority of marine capture fisheries resources are considered to be close to maximum exploitation worldwide, and nearly half are already completely exploited. Generally when you think about overexploitation, you imagine enormous international fishing fleets, but small scale fishing generates more than half of marine and inland capture worldwide, almost all of them destined … [Read more...] about Where Does your Fish Come From?