Re:wild’s Post

#BREAKING: Today, beef industry group, Cattle Australia, has released its Land Management Commitment Information Paper for consultation. The paper proposes various options for an industry-wide response to increasing demand for deforestation-free products. Unfortunately, the proposals create exemptions for agriculture that leave a bulldozer-sized door open for the destruction of threatened species habitat. For example, the paper advocates for regenerated forest up to 34 years old to be excluded from the definition of deforestation. It also attempts to make use of ‘agricultural land use’ loopholes—meaning more than 126 million hectares of forest (an area over twice the size of France) would be at risk of being bulldozed while still claiming to be deforestation-free. “Cattle Australia’s blatant attempt to create deforestation loopholes will not get the beef industry any closer to solving its deforestation problem," said Hannah Schuch, Queensland Campaigns Manager for the Wilderness Society. “Beef retailers–like Coles and Woolworths–have a social and financial responsibility to align their companies’ deforestation-free targets with international best practice and nothing less. They must not be fooled by Cattle Australia’s marketing exercise to continue bulldozing koala habitat.” Read the full media release: https://lnkd.in/gCRqixbf #deforestation #beefindustry #landclearing #koalas #australia #environment #conservation

The #LIFESafeforVultures project achieves another milestone in #GriffonVultures conservation in Italy.  Together with #AsinaraNationalPark, the project built the first farm feeding station within a National Park in Italy. 🥇 The feeding station guarantees the food needs of the growing Griffon Vultures population and supports the local economy.  Livestock farmers will soon be able to cut the costs of carcasses disposal, which are particularly high on a small island. Moreover, since the carcasses will no longer be incinerated, the greenhouse gas emissions connected to the process will also be reduced.   The feeding station will become part of the nature-based tourism circuit of the island, creating new opportunities for the local community to showcase their products excellence.  In conclusion, it actively includes local communities in the conservation process, and it reinforces the idea that nature and human activities are strongly interconnected.  #GriffonVultures #Lifeprojects #LIFESafeforVultures #vultures #Sardinia #sardegna #italy #lifeproject #lifeprogramme #conservation https://lnkd.in/dj29xRTy

In response to a growing demand for deforestation-free products, beef industry group, Cattle Australia, has released its Land Management Commitment Information Paper for consultation. The paper pushes for regenerated bushland and forest grown after 1990 to not be counted as #deforestation, as well as advocating for ‘agricultural land use’ exemptions, including land for grazing. 126 million hectares of forest is located on grazing land in Australia, an area over twice the size of France. Under these definitions, all of this and more would be at risk of destruction...all while claiming to be deforestation-free. “Cattle Australia’s blatant attempt to create deforestation loopholes will not get the beef industry any closer to solving its deforestation problem," said Hannah Schuch, Queensland Campaigns Manager for the Wilderness Society. “Beef retailers—like Coles and Woolworths—have a social and financial responsibility to align their companies’ deforestation-free targets with international best practice and nothing less. They must not be fooled by Cattle Australia’s marketing exercise to continue bulldozing koala habitat.” Read the full story via The Guardian https://lnkd.in/gARbxi4p #beefindustry #agriculture #logging #beef #cattle #environment #climateaction #Australianbeef

https://lnkd.in/gdscURHz Love this use of story maps by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) to deliver the brutal message of deforestation for commercial beef farming. Cattle Australia says clearing such land should not count as deforestation and therefore any future labels or rules about deforestation used by supermarkets or regulators must exclude large sections of forest land on cattle properties. The practice of cutting down native trees is deforestation, and one of the biggest contributors to climate change. Period.

We’ve learned that as tourism’s relationship with wildlife evolves, some businesses are pivoting to support changing values. In Ecuador, farmers are doing just that—turning their land into nature reserves that benefit both local bird populations and the economy. By balancing profitability with environmental stewardship, these farmers are expanding the potential of their land beyond traditional farming. https://lnkd.in/e8ScEhbh

A new report from the Australian Conservation Foundation reveals alarming levels of deforestation linked to beef production. 🚜🌳 Over the past four years, 16,000 hectares of forest across NSW and Queensland have been cleared, often in areas home to threatened species. This has major implications for biodiversity and the climate. With beef farming driving deforestation, Australia is now the only developed nation on the World Wildlife Foundation's deforestation hotspot list. Despite calls for clearer definitions, one thing is certain—unchecked land clearing poses a serious threat to our environment. The future of our forests depends on bold action from both industry and government. It’s time for stricter deforestation policies and a shift towards sustainable farming practices. 🌿🌏

Factory farming is a major source of emissions that is often overlooked in the climate debate. It also imposes pain and suffering on animals and causes unthinkable environmental damage - 80% of global deforestation and habitat loss is the result of intensive agriculture. 🐖🐄🐑 It was great to work with World Animal Protection on this important issue, including looking at how Indigenous Peoples are the frontline protectors of crucial habitats like the Amazon Rainforest, which is being cleared to make way for intensive farming. In the article below, Lisa Gunn, Executive Director of World Animal Protection Brazil, argues that, by putting Indigenous groups at the centre of their strategies, philanthropists can tackle factory farming, safeguard animal species, and protect the planet’s precious remaining biodiversity at the same time. #biodiversity #climatechange #Brazil #comms4good

"Maasai pastoralists are having to start farming in fixed locations because, as their communal land is privatised, they have limited space to graze their livestock. For the Maasai, Nyekweri forest has a high ecological and socio-cultural value. Losing it leads to greater risk of soil erosion, flooding during the rain season and increased severity of droughts during dry season, but also the loss of local Maasai heritage." https://lnkd.in/ecqfqdAY

Can birding be more profitable than farming? Yes, it can! Especially if you live in rural Ecuador. This article by Stephen Moss introduces many great birding projects that started as farms. Today, these former farmers and their families attract birds for the enjoyment of birdwatchers like myself (and maybe you too?), while protecting native habitats essential for their survival.

Deadly neonicotinoids ban must bring overdue respite for bees, say The Wildlife Trusts The UK Government has announced its intention to bring forward a “complete ban on bee killing pesticides” with “legislative options that would legally prevent the future use of three specific neonicotinoids – clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam.” The Wildlife Trusts welcome this decision and highlight the devastating impacts of using neonicotinoids in recent years. Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, says: “We welcome UK Government’s recognition that there is no place in British agriculture for toxic bee-killing pesticides. Ending the use of deadly chemicals is fundamental for both food security and nature recovery, because farming relies on a healthy natural world. “Bees and other insects contribute hundreds of millions of pounds to the UK economy each year through natural pollination. We know that responsible farmers don’t want to use these chemicals, so industry needs to provide better support to transition to chemical-free alternatives: https://lnkd.in/eyaQekwe" #pesticides #pollution #environment #neonicotinoids #agriculture #wildlife #habitat #savethebees