Indigenous peoples manage or have rights to more than a quarter of the world’s surface, and their territories host a significant proportion of Earth’s remaining biological diversity. As such, they play a critical role in the conservation of landscapes and wildlife.
Rapid economic development, urbanisation and population growth in the last 50 years has accelerated human-wildlife conflict across many parts of the African continent. But, grassroots solutions thrive.
In a country where 60% of people are under 25 years of age, capturing and transferring traditional knowledge across generations that can improve conservation actions is a race against time. A glimpse at three projects illustrates how Malagasy conservationists are addressing this challenge.
Löwe. León. Simba. Løve. Lion. Panthera leo. These are just some of the many names for one of the world’s most famous species. Depicted frequently across traditional and modern culture, the Lion is often associated with bravery, courage and royalty earning it the title ‘King of the Jungle’.
The fundamental importance of conserving freshwater biodiversity cannot be underestimated. According to IUCN, over 140,000 described species - including 55% of all fishes – rely on freshwater habitats for their survival.
