Japan’s seawall dilemma Paid Members Public
After the devastating 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, Japan increased the construction of seawalls to protect coastal communities. Today, nearly 50% of Japan’s coastline is lined with concrete barriers. But Katoku Beach—home to ancient ecosystems and a nesting place for sea turtles— is the only beach without a
Community-run Water ATM helps locals in Kenya Paid Members Public
Run by the people of the Lelen village of Baringo County in Kenya, this water-ATM is an attempt to make lives a bit easier for the people of the region, struggling with prolonged periods of drought. Recurrent droughts threaten livelihoods, leading to food shortages, malnutrition, and even conflict over scarce
Climate change makes potato farming more difficult in the Himalayan region Paid Members Public
Local potato dishes like rilduk and aloo roti are popular among trekkers who pass through the Namche Bazaar of Nepal before setting out for the Everest Base Camp. While the hardy and versatile potato has provided the mountain communities with year-round nutrition, it is becoming harder to grow due to
Scaling Everest gets riskier due to climate change Paid Members Public
Risks for climbers who wish to scale Everest are growing as climate change is reshaping Everest, melting glaciers, creating unstable terrain, and threatening the iconic Khumbu Glacier. Overcrowding at Base Camp is worsening the crisis, accelerating glacier retreat and impacting the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. These glaciers are lifelines for millions
When AI Meets Conservation Paid Members Public
Setting up a network of camera traps in the thick jungles of Gabon isn’t easy. Reaching the cameras just to gather SD cards and replace batteries can take days of trekking in the humid, harsh and hazardous terrain of these forests. There’s the threat of contracting malaria or
Concrete Forests in the Ocean Paid Members Public
Coral reefs, the "rainforests of the sea," support 25% of marine life but face grave threats like rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, and human activities. These dangers lead to coral bleaching and the loss of vibrant ecosystems. But artificial reefs—human-made structures like concrete reef balls designed to
Livelihood of cardamom farmers of Kerala at risk due to climate change Paid Members Public
As rising temperatures impact cardamom cultivation in Kerala, over 20,000 farmers face an uncertain future, threatening both livelihoods and exports. The beloved spice that Indians use in various curries as well as desert is also a lucrative crop for farmers of the region but as extreme heat and erratic
The life and times of squabs (aka baby pigeons) Paid Members Public
Why don't we ever see baby pigeons? That's a pretty common question on the internet. And we're here to answer it, thanks to the decision of a pigeon pair to raise their chicks (aka squabs) on our balcony. For over a month, we documented
