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Recycling Wood: How Circular Economy can Save the World

Photo Credit: flickr | Alan Levine

Edited with Permission by Frontier

The circular economy is a regenerative system in which waste doesn’t exist. While we are fundamentally used to dispose of our products and thus deplete finite resources, the core of circular economy is to remove waste from industrial processes. The idea is that biological and technical components of a product can be designed to be dismantled and reused to guarantee sustainable development and minimise negative impact. The term, coined by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, refers to an innovative system of recycling that aims at redesigning products and services to minimise waste. While the so-called linear model follows a ‘take-make-dispose’ pattern of production, the circular economy is a system that regenerates itself. By extending the life of a product, refurbishing it and, consequently, reducing waste, the circular economy promises a new economic model and a real opportunity for sustainability.

Video Credit: YouTube | Ellen MacArthur Foundation

A long-term shift, this new economic system sets itself against linear economy. Rather than designing short-lived products, the circular economy rethinks the way products are designed. Things can be ‘made again’, that is, the production chain keeps the same materials. Together with the employment of renewable energy, the circular economy ensures the ‘value circle.’  All components and materials in use are optimised so that the systematic dissipation of resources is virtually reduced to zero. Reuse and redistribution are keys to sustainable production. The employment of standardized and recyclable components can create a ripple effect: the more one exploits reusable materials, the more ‘new products’ will actually be recycled and recyclable. What can we learn from wood recycling? One example of this promising model is wood recycling. The EU Project for Circular Economy expects the EU to recycle 75% of wood packaging by 2030. Wood is a special material. Valuable and versatile, it is employed in a wide range of activities, from construction to packaging. It has become increasingly important to protect our forest resources, both with immediate normative interventions and by spreading the culture of circular economy. Potentially, wood can be an everlasting material. Even wood packaging like fruit boxes can be recovered, made into chipboard and then recycled as new wood pallet.

Photo Credit: pxhere | CC0 Public Domain

Being durable and requiring less energy than other building materials, wood has become the material choice for the circular economy. The economic return of this recycling process is surprisingly efficient, starting from the collection phase to the transportation to wood recycling facilities. Many organisations, such as UK Wood Recycling, are now committed to wood recycling. Italy is a great example of tangible success: although the country produces 2.7 tons of wood waste, 60.3% of the recovered waste is recycled thanks to an efficient network of pioneers of the circular economy. Consorzio Rilegno, among others, fosters the virtuous circle that goes from wood recycling to the production of new goods. Sustainable design The rationale behind it is simple: waste doesn’t exist. Products are designed with the explicit intention of recycling each of their components. Modularity and adaptability guarantee that these components can be dismantled and reassembled as a whole new product. This way, within the circular economy, products are specifically designed for closed recycling loops, which cater to the idea of a “cradle to cradle” design rather than “cradle to grave’’. Focusing on long lasting products, developed for their upgrade, maintenance and refurbishment, the circular economy looks beyond immediate cost-effectiveness and efficiency.

Photo Credit: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

What to expect from the future Employing materials that are highly recyclable and that can be maintained so to prolong their life implies a change in perspective both in terms of designing process and business strategies. Shifting from linear economy to circular economy clearly requires innovative production technologies, but it also creates room for new, profitable business models.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia | Catherine Weetman

A successful model of circular economy can and will challenge the role of money and finance in our current economic system and socio-economic development. If our tools and metrics of evaluation for economic performance are shaped around a new concept of production and consumption, this will generate a new holistic understanding of one’s relation to products and services.

By Erika Mastrorosa - Online Journalism Intern

#circulareconomy #sustainability #recycling #wood #pollution #climatechange #responsibility #gogreen #economy #economic system #profits #sustainable models #technologies #design #sustainable design #future

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Science Online: Education, Entertainment and Fake News

In the era of social media, science seems to be within easy reach. Scientists can inform about results of their research on their social sites and communicate with their followers directly. YouTube hosts several informative channels that deal with the greatest science mysteries and share them with their audience in a highly entertaining form.

Social Media is a great democratic tool for science that opens an much more accessible door to the world of science, making it easier for scientists, science lovers and the wider general public to get their daily dose of latest scientific news. Many of these start their own YouTube channels or blogs to spread the word yet further.

One of them was Marco Zozaya, a boy from Mexico who made his first viral science video at the age of 12. His dramatic and visually appealing denial of connection between vaccinations and autism gained more than eight million views on Facebook and was featured in several online newspapers.

Education or Entertainment?

Despite the staggering numbers of followers, many of the science communicators express some doubts about its educational value. The main reason is that the videos or memes have to be highly engaging, striking and noticeable to gain the attention of wide audience.

The basic rule to create an engaging science-based content is to make people feel like they’re talking to their friends, rather than being in a chemistry class. Popular science blogger Yvette d’Entremont criticizes that there is a lot of bad science online. Successful scientific content must be “information-light and punchline-heavy”. Accessibility is important without dumbing down or providing misinformation.

Video Credit: YouTube | SciShow

Even Marco Zozaya expressed some disappointment with social media as he stated that the scientific aspect is not what people loved the most about his videos. It’s rather the entertainment and controversy that makes scientific content look appealing. Zozaya also said that when he started focusing on more informative and less entertaining content, the popularity of his videos dropped noticeably.

For instance, YouTube channel SciShow includes in its list of the most popular content videos answering the question “Why Do We Have Butt Hair?” and following up the viral photograph of the dress that unleashed the wave of popularity as people were arguing whether they are black and blue or white and gold. Although they use scientific knowledge to prove their points, the topic must be striking and the video visually appealing to gain the popularity.

Science in media and fake news

The internet is an unregulated space which can be easily accessed by anyone, which might be another problematic issue for online science. In comparison to printed media, online sources are not categorized by their value, accuracy or truthfulness as authors don’t have the responsibility to follow a specific methodology in order to be published. In search engine, all the links appear equal and credibility of sources and facts leave a lot more room for error.

In a book or a printed magazine, there is an editor in charge of the content order who helps us decide what is worth reading and which issue is more significant than others. On the internet, this responsibility lays on the audience themselves. The fairly inexpensive access causes a high competition and as science communicators state, it’s the drama rather than science that makes us click.

These are ideal conditions for the rise of fake news. Soroush Vosoughi, Deb Roy and Sinan Aral conducted an experiment in which they spread false news on Twitter and found out that they were more successful than the true ones. They reached more people and spread much faster. The scientists observed that it was the novelty and emotions of false news that made them viral.

Finding the balance

The social media affairs are often featured in the traditional media which can make even bad science relevant and debatable. Although most of us don’t believe that the Earth is flat, Flat Earthers are occupying the agenda and people go out of their way to prove them wrong.

Video Credit: YouTube | CNN

Popular science communicator Bill Nye said in the interview for CNN that even the non-tabloid media are to blame for the spread of bad science. The media logic requires journalists to keep their articles balanced and objective, although these ideal states are unreachable in online. Journalists tend to put the information in context. If they don’t have the sufficient scientific background themselves, they engage the opposite opinions to create a seeming balance and use expert or credible sources of opinion or facts.

However, this practice allowed climate change deniers to enter the public sphere as they serve as the media opposition in interviews with scientists. Bill Nye criticizes that this seeming balance between two people in the studio doesn’t reflect the reality where 97% scientists agree on the climate change existence.

How to tackle fake news?

Even the accessible and entertaining form of science on social media requires responsible use. The crucial thing is to pay attention to sources. A few seconds of googling can reveal what pages are likely to share such information and whether the communicator’s background is reliable. It’s also unnecessary to question the intention of the message. Who might be interested in spreading this to the wide public? Does it support any business interests? Only after this small personal research should we  share the content without contributing to the fake news expansion.

This is far more achievable with a topic like science where things can be backed up by proof and evidence. Facts about climate change for example speak louder and are more usable than opinions about it, so be sure to double check what you read!

By Eliška Olšáková - Online Journalism Intern

Frontier runs terrestrial & marine conservation, community, teaching and adventure projects in over 50 countries - join us and explore the world!

#science #fakenews #cnn #news #flathearth #information #false #truthfulness #entertainment #youtube #twitter #facts #climatechange

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Top 5 Eco-Friendly Makup Brands

Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons | Tiffany Bailey (Edited with Permission by Frontier)

Consumers are becoming increasingly conscious about the environmental impact of the everyday products which they use and cosmetics are no exception. Makeup isn’t exactly essential, so it’s particularly hard for us to justify causing long-lasting harm to the planet just so that we can have longer-looking lashes.

There are many things to think about when it comes to evaluating a makeup brand’s environmental responsibility – from the ingredients used and how these are sourced, to the sustainability of the packaging. Of particular concern in the cosmetics industry is the use of palm oil – the harvesting of which, as we are all aware by now, is wreaking havoc in rainforests. In this article we’ve selected five top makeup brands that are responding to these environmental issues. 1. PHB Ethical Beauty - www.phbethicalbeauty.co.uk

PHB is a family run business based in the UK. They sell a range of ethical, vegan beauty and makeup products and use only 100% naturally derived ingredients – meaning no synthetic chemicals are washed into our oceans when you take your makeup off. The company is also strictly against palm oil and they use recycled packaging that can also be recycled again. The minerals used in their cosmetics are ethically mined and the owners of that mine fund schools and day-care centres for their staff’s families. To round it all off, PHB also donates 20% of their net profits to charity.

‘But is the makeup actually any good?!’ I hear you ask. Well, their mascara won the award for ‘Best Natural Mascara’ at the Green Parent Beauty Awards 2013 and was included as one of Vogue’s Best Kept Beauty Secrets in 2014. At £15.95 a piece, the price is also decent for a natural, eco-friendly product. 2. Axiology - www.axiologybeauty.com

If lipstick is your thang but you want a clean conscience as well as a pretty pout, take a look at Axiology. Their lipstick line is all natural and largely organic too and the packaging is sourced from a woman-run recycling facility in Bali  – this centre is helping to prevent paper waste from ending up on the island’s paradisiacal beaches, whilst also providing employment opportunities to local women.

The brand is totally palm-oil free and on top of this they donate a percentage of their profits each year to Orangutan Foundation International, which helps to protect wildlife endangered by irresponsible palm oil practices. They also donate to PETA, which has certified the company as vegan and cruelty free.

The lipsticks are toward the higher end of pricing, at around £23-25 per stick, but they seem to be getting positive reviews.

Photo Credit: flickr | Elena Schevardo

3. Kjaer Weis - www.kjaerweis.com

Kirsten Kjaer Weis grew up on a farm in Denmark, so when she decided to create her own makeup line she knew she had to keep things natural and sustainable. All of her products are free from ‘parabens, silicones, petrochemical emulsifiers and synthetic fragrances’ and almost all of them are Certified Organic or Natural by the certifying body in Italy (where the cosmetics are manufactured).

The most environmentally attractive feature of this brand however is the packaging. Kirsten has developed a refill system whereby outer packaging such as lipstick tubes, eye palettes and mascara bottles are kept permanently and every time you reorder you simply refill these with replacement cartridges. This helps to reduce waste and also means that the outer casing is of a high quality, since it is designed to last indefinitely.

The products definitely fall into the ‘luxury’ category – you’ll be set back around £32 for your first eyeshadow order – but subsequent refill cartridges drop to £20. 4. Eco Glitter Fun - www.ecoglitterfun.com

As festival season approaches, scores of young women (and some men!) across the country will no doubt be stocking up on all things glitter. The problem with this is that the sparkly stuff poses a potentially very serious threat to the environment - like other microplastics it’s possible that it can end up in waterways and oceans and ultimately in the food chain.

Thankfully, we needn’t sacrifice our festive fun for the sake of the planet! UK based company Eco Glitter Fun has created a biodegradable alternative to plastic-based glitter. It’s produced mainly from eucalyptus trees – sourced from sustainable, FSC approved plantations. The product meets the requirements to be officially classified as ‘compostable’ by both European and American standards, and will break down when in soil or an ocean environment (not whilst it’s still on your face!)

The glitter is reasonably priced at £4-£4.50 per vial and one of our very own interns can attest to its quality.

5. The Body Shop - www.thebodyshop.com

Last but not least we had to include The Body Shop in our top five. This internationally famous brand has been leading the way in natural, eco-friendly beauty and cosmetic products since its founding in 1976.

The Body Shop does use palm oil in their products but they source it from suppliers certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Being a multinational giant also gives this firm the ability to lead successful, large-scale initiatives - for example their well-known campaign against animal testing - and they have pledged a number of environmental and ethical goals to reach by 2020. Their Bio Bridges Mission aims to regenerate 75 million square metres of key wildlife habitat and they’re hoping to power all of their stores with renewable or carbon balanced energy by the same date. They are also developing new sustainable packaging and plan to start publishing information about the green chemistry and biodegradability of their products. These five cosmetic brands are dedicated to being as environmentally friendly as possible, without having to sacrifice the quality of their products. The next stage is on us as consumers though - take that extra second in Boots to make sure what you buy is environmentally friendly wherever possible. Of course, you could forgo makeup altogether; but who wants to do that?!

By Tess Hanneman - Marketing Assistant

Frontier runs terrestrial & marine conservation, community, teaching and adventure projects in over 50 countries - join us and explore the world!

#makeup #ecofriendly #responsibility #environmental #pollution #climatechange #beauty #cosmetics #blog #blogger #gogreen #environmentalism #top5 #peta #animals #environment #nature #respect

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Wildlife On Social Media: Top 5 Clever Campaigns For Conservation

Do you feel like you’re spending way too much time on social media? You’re not alone, and organizations that work to protect wildlife are making huge efforts to use this potential. In this list, we present five clever and innovative uses of Twitter, Instagram, Tinder and Snapchat that raise awareness for endangered species.

The Most Eligible Bachelor in the World

In 2017, the last male northern white rhino called Sudan joined a dating app to save his bloodline. The bio on his Tinder account highlighted his “advantage” in being “one of a kind”. He even shared some personal facts with prospective matches - “I like to eat grass and chill in the mud. 6ft tall and 5,000lbs if it matters.” If Sudan stole your heart, you could swipe right to make a donation and support the rhino breeding program. The bold combination of humour, irony and seriousness of the message provoked a large interest in northern white rhino conservation among the public. Unfortunately, as you probably know Sudan passed away this year. However, scientists are still working to save the species.

Do you really need to see #SlothSelfies? There is one thing that always gains the attention of internet audiences and is highly probable to become viral. Yes, we are talking about cute animals. Scientific researchshows that cat videos are not only entertaining, they are actually beneficial to our health as they boost our positive emotions. Messages containing iconic animals such as polar bears or big cats have the potential to raise awareness about conservation; however not all of the animal content is harmless to wildlife. Selfies with wild species can cause suffering as the animals are often stolen from their natural habitat to make money from tourists. To alert the internet community to this issue, World Animal Protection has started a partnership with Instagram. Now, when users search for hashtags like #koalaselfie and #slothselfie, the platform shows them a warning that the hashtag “may be associated with posts that encourage harmful behaviour to animals or the environment.” Try it yourself!

#EndangeredEmoji

A clever initiative invented by WWF has made it possible to support wildlife conservation simply by tweeting. Their campaign #EndangeredEmoji encourages people to use their set of 17 emojis that represent 17 endangered species. Every time you include one of them in your tweet, you make a small donation of £0.10 which supports efforts to save these animals and their natural habitats.

Don’t let this be my #LastSelfie

It might be unpleasant that pictures on Snapchat disappear too quickly, but it is truly devastating that populations of endangered species are wiped off the planet just as fast! To illustrate this rapidity, WWF uploaded several images of endangered animals on Snapchat and encouraged users to screenshot them and share them with their friends before they disappeared. They also had the opportunity to adopt the animal or donate.

Can you run as a tiger?

Successful online campaigns often go beyond the internet sphere and encourage people to participate in offline activities. The WWF campaign #Run4Tiger serves as a great example. Its main message is that people have always competed with tigers as they have been poaching them or destroying their natural habitat. However, now comes the time to change these rules and make the competition fair. The amur tiger is your challenger. It can run up to 20km a day. Can you beat him? WWF placed a GPS tag on a tiger in the wild to track his position. When you go jogging, you can log into your running app and see if you can outrun him. If you lose, the idea is to give a donation to your challenger!

By Eliška Olšáková - Online Journalism Intern

Frontier runs conservation, development, teaching and adventure travel projects in over 50 countries worldwide - so join us and explore the world!

#wildlife #conservation #ngo #social media #media #campaign #environment #sustainability #intothewild #gapyear #blog #blogger

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Into The Wild Wins Best Travel Blog 2018

Last Friday, three members of the online content team here at Frontier attended the 2018 UK Blog Awards ceremony after our blog, Into the Wild, was nominated for prizes in two categories – Travel and Green & Eco.

The evening started out fairly sweaty as London was in the midst of its first (and potentially last) heatwave of the year. But it was still exciting to get all dressed up and head on down to the exclusive Marriott Hotel on Grosvenor Square. There was a buzz in the air as bloggers from far and wide congregated in the entrance hall, sharing polite conversation and taking photos before eventually wandering on through to the bar.

After claiming a complimentary flute of prosecco each we sidled into the main function room, and managed to find some seats only a few rows from the front. It wasn’t long before the ceremony began – with TV presenter Hayley Marie-Sparkes and Dean McCullough, presenter of Gaydio, hosting the evening.

There were nineteen categories in total – in areas such as Arts & Culture, Education, Sports & Fitness; and including the two categories in which we had been nominated – Green & Eco and Travel. Each was then split into a further two categories – one for individual bloggers and one for business-associated blogs such as Frontier’s Into the Wild. For each one, Hayley and Dean summoned an industry representative to the stage to read out the nominees, and then announce the winner as well as the ‘highly commended’ runner up.

When the turn came for the first of our two categories – Green & Eco – we all three sat with bated breath and fingers crossed under our chairs, and were delighted when our name was called out as ‘highly commended’ (although couldn’t deny feeling a little disappointed at not having won the overall category!)

After a short break, everyone returned to their seats and the ceremony continued. The next category was Travel – our second chance! Again we sat in tense silence, watching the nominees’ names appear on the big screen. We were absolutely thrilled when Into the Wild was read out as the category winner, and floundered about excitedly for a moment before remembering we had to make our way onto the stage and collect our prize.

Our sense of jubilation stayed with us throughout the night, as we met other bloggers, spotted Instagram celebrities and eventually headed on over to the afterparty. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Of course it was wonderful to win an award but even aside from that it was great to meet the authors of such a wide variety of influential and innovative blogs, and to celebrate this creative industry with a fantastic group of people.

We’d like to thank the organisers and panel of the UK Blog Awards 2018 for a terrific evening, as well as extending our congratulations and thanks to all of our journalists, field staff, guest bloggers and other contributors who helped to bring home the award of Best Travel Blog 2018 for Into the Wild.

By Tess Hanneman – Deputy Online Content Editor| Frontier

Frontier runs conservation, development, teaching and adventure travel projects in over 50 countries worldwide - so join us and explore the world!

Get more from us on social media with Facebook, Twitter , Instagram and YouTube.

#blog #blogger #frontier #intothewild #travelblog #ukba #winners #gapyear

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Curbing Your Carbon Footprint During Festival Season

Summer is fast approaching and people around the world are going the extra mile, be that sculpting their summer bodies or saving up their cash for the ultimate summer blowout. Festival season is just around the corner.

The variety of festivals that we have at our disposal in today’s world is remarkable. We have been spoilt by the wealth of talent on display catering to all audiences.

For many of us festivals deliver some of our most cherished summer memories. But it is important to bear in mind whilst you’re buying that overpriced pilsner, prancing around in a dark tent with a glow stick or holding on to your last intact shred of dignity - what you’re leaving behind once you exit the campground you’ve called home for the last 4 days.

Flickr | Veld Music Festival

Once the dust has settled and the ground has stopped shaking, nature can begin to reclaim the land. However it is an environment drastically different from 4 days before. The annual festival goer’s quest to seek refuge, locate the nearest shower and sleep for 24 hours uninterrupted is prioritised over a conscious thought for the mini landfill that they and their peers have created. The majority of materials discarded are non-recyclable and destined for landfill sites but we can eradicate this practice by adopting the actions of several global institutions pioneering a new and green festival experience - called eco festivals.

This movement has taken off in the past decade with a greater number of people every year being more environmentally conscious. In this timeframe as a species we have witnessed atrocities of the plastic industry being exposed and truths revealed about global agricultural practices. This has consequently birthed a revolt against such industries, placing demands on corporations to provide more sustainable and ethical products and practices. Institutions have listened to these requests and now more eco-friendly festivals can be enjoyed and experienced spanning the globe. Below are just a few examples of these events.

We Love Green (France)

This music festival, which takes place just few a minutes by train from the centre of Paris, offers a program that contains not only amazing musicians such as Björk, Charlotte Gainsbourg or American hip hop trio Migos; but also discussions and workshops to raise awareness about environmental issues. Its Think Tank located right in the heart of the festival aims to encourage the exchange of ideas and therefore invites eminent scientists, activists and artists to lead the round tables and conferences.

We Love Green puts special emphasis on dining as its organizers claim that at festivals, catering services are the second highest producer of greenhouse gasses. Their food suppliers are required to serve organic, local, and vegetarian dishes that can even include donated or unsold products.

Coachella (California)

In a valley between two Californian National Parks resides the world-famous festival Coachella - hosting stars like alt-J, Beyoncé, The Weeknd and Eminem. This two-weekend event has come up with several sustainable innovations to meet its effort to be more thoughtful. To tackle littering, Coachella’s recycling store accepts cans, cups and bottles found on the festival ground and exchanges them for tees, sweatshirts or refillable bottles.

Visitors can also support wildlife conservation with the “Saving Nature Claw Machine” or charge their phones on the Energy Playground while burning some calories on seesaws that generate power. However, eco-innovations aren’t limited to the festival’s grounds. The event’s initiative called Carpoolchella encourages drivers to share their vehicle with at least three other persons to lessen the number of cars coming to Indio and consequently curb their carbon footprint.

Colours of Ostrava (Czechia)

In 2008, the initiative called Clean Festival was established in Czechia. It started as a single stand on one festival that encouraged visitors to collect waste and exchange it for some merchandising products. However, the initiative evolved and became prestigious. If festivals meet the criteria, they can gain its certificate and join the network of Czech clean festivals.

One such festival is Colours of Ostrava that takes place every summer in a former industrial city. The festival ground can be considered as a symbol of ecological success itself. In its past, Ostrava’s economy and lifestyle used to be bound to coal mining and the steel industry. However, as the city is fast changing into a modern and greener place, the old factories are becoming out of use. Fortunately, the buildings were saved as a part of cultural heritage and host many cultural events nowadays.

The music festival Colours of Ostrava invites a vast diversity of artists from various parts of the world. As a part of the Clean Festival network, it offers recycling bins, recycling store and also uses Nicknack cups for the majority of beverages. Festival participants pay a deposit for the cup which they can reuse, return to get their money back or even take home as a souvenir. The cups can be used at various events as they are printed with an original design, so many people even set up their own festival cups collection.

Wikimedia Commons | MMO

The Show Must Go On

According to The Show Must Go On report, UK festivals create 23,500 tonnes of waste annually - only 32% of this is recycled and 68% ends up in the landfill. The report also found that a major contributor to festivals’ carbon footprint is travel - as it constitutes 80% of their CO2 emissions. The Powerful Thinking group, which stands behind the report, believes that festivals, as important cultural and community events, have the power to inspire people to think about their responsibility to the planet and their environment. If you are interested in more stats and figures, click here to view the full report.

So whatever your plans are for this summer, you shouldn’t need to sacrifice fun for environmental conscientiousness. These initiatives show that the two can go hand-in-hand!

By Matt Couldwell and Eliška Olšáková - Online Media and Journalism Interns

Frontier runs conservation, development, teaching and adventure travel projects in over 50 countries worldwide - so join us and explore the world!

Get more from us on social media with Facebook, Twitter , Instagram and YouTube.

#carbon footprint #sustainability #music festival #festival #summer #environment #travel #intothewild #gapyear #blog #blogger #ecofriendly #lifestyle #greeneco

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Salmon Is More Than A Sushi Ingredient

Salmon are an incredible species. Besides their pivotal role in the ecosystem and matter cycling, they are an important cultural symbol of some aboriginal communities where they bear spiritual meaning. However, wild salmon populations are declining due to habitat loss, overfishing and interbreeding with genetically modified fish escaping from farms.

Salmon’s essential role in the ecosystem

Salmon are not like any other fish. Being a keystone species, they represent an essential part of their local ecosystem and are a crucial food source for local people as well as wildlife that depend on their high nutritional value. Thanks to the annual salmon migration, populations of killer whales, bears, eagles, and other iconic predators flourish.

Salmon are an anadromous species, which means that they spend part of their lives in fresh water and part in salt water. A salmon will be born in a river where it gathers its strength. In its teenage years, once the fish is strong enough, it leaves its home and swims downstream to the sea. Before it reaches the open water, it has to undergo the process of smoltification to adapt its body to salt water. The fish spends its mature life in the sea and once the time for breeding comes, it sets out for an incredible journey back home.

To reach the river, a typical salmon has to travel up to 1,000 miles upstream. Hundreds of fish fight with the river flow, jump through waterfalls and let their senses navigate them to the stream where they were born. This “salmon run” takes place during autumn and has become a motive for various celebrations of local communities.

By being anadromous, salmon play a significant role in matter cycles as they return essential nutrients from oceans back to the freshwater system. After spawning, mature fish die in the river and their carcasses release precious marine nutrients, particularly phosphates, into the water. Moreover, thanks to wild animals that prey on salmon, the nutrients are spread to the surrounding forests and enrich the soil and trees with nitrogen.

Salmon as a spiritual animal

For centuries, salmon have been a primary food source and important part of the economy of aboriginal communities. This iconic fish represents the cycle of life and the laws of nature. It has also become a part of some religious ceremonies - its annual return is connected to various traditional activities and rituals. Due to its nutritious value, the appearance of salmon means life and therefore it is honoured and celebrated.

Flickr | Wonderlane

A study conducted by Catherine Moncrieff examines the importance that local communities ascribe to this species. As a population of Chinook salmon in the Yukon River in Canada was declining, authorities made its fishing illegal. However, this ban was very harmful to local communities. Not only did the people lose a significant source of nutrients and have to replace it with expensive and less nourishing supermarket food - they also had to sacrifice their cultural traditions. Fishing is an important activity that connects generations and teaches the youth about their way of life. Therefore, its ban threatened community wellbeing.

Why we are losing these incredible animals

Salmon are an indicator of healthy rivers and environments. Their population decline speaks for itself. One of the major factors affecting the species is habitat loss caused by industrialization, deforestation, farming and pollution. This goes hand in hand with hydropower dams that pose an obstacle for salmon migration. To overcome this problem, scientists constructed special “salmon cannons” that literally shoot the fish over a dam.

Another factor that is contributing to salmon decline is overfishing. Salmon is considered an exceptionally nutritious food recommended for a healthy diet. Whilst salmon farms could seem to be a decent solution, they can be in fact harmful to the wild populations. Frequent escapes from farms lead to interbreeding with native salmon - weakening populations. Moreover, the farms generate pollution in the rivers and use an unnecessary amount of resources. The salmon is a predator itself, which means it must be fed by other fish. In fact, producing 1 kilogram of farmed salmon requires 3 to 4 kilograms of anchovies and mackerel.

Farmed salmon might even be unhealthy for human bodies because of the toxins coming from artificial colouring and high levels of carcinogens that are contained in their feed. Furthermore, Greenpeace included Antarctic salmon (both farmed and wild) to their list of unsustainable seafood which conscious consumers should avoid. Large farms also threaten the local economy of aboriginal communities that use salmon as their main source of income.

Contributing to salmon conservation requires reconsideration of our consumption. We should be aware of where the fish is coming from, whether it is wild or farmed and if the fishing or farming is sustainable. We can also support organizations that focus on salmon protection. However, as habitat loss and climate change are major contributors to salmon population decline, the solutions might be more complex. Guido Rahr warns that the last strongholds in the Pacific Rim are threatened by the logging industry. He says that instead of restoring the populations of salmon that are nearly extinct, we should put more effort into protecting those.

By Eliška Olšáková - Online Journalism Intern

Frontier runs conservation, development, teaching and adventure travel projects in over 50 countries worldwide - so join us and explore the world!

Get more from us on social media with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

#salmon #sushi #wildlife #fish #protection #conservation #nature #environment #ecosystem #sustainability #blog #blogger #intothewild #gapyear #climatechange

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Three Ways In Which Drones Are Good For The Environment

Image adapted from original by Don McCullough

Are they good? Are they bad? Are they the future? Drones have been under the spotlight for quite some time now. We are witnessing an incredible technological advancement that won’t slow down and the employment of drones in the most heterogeneous of fields.

However, growing concern over the use of drones has raised some questions that have contentious answers. While, for example, the farming industry has benefited from the introduction of drones, others are worried about privacy invasion or the ethical implications of drone warfare. Certainly powerful tools, drones provide a new perspective on several of what were formerly purely human activities.

One critical question to address concerns a pressing issue of today’s global challenges: are drones good or bad for the environment? In the face of legitimate concerns over the use of drones, here are three ways in which their employment is actually environmentally responsible.

Reducing carbon emissions

Drone delivery may sound like a thing from the future, but that perception couldn’t be more wrong. Amazon, UPS and other well-known delivery companies have already updated their transportation systems to include drone delivery. The service has great potential: for instance, with Amazon Prime Air you can get your parcel delivered in 30 minutes by an unmanned drone.

Besides customer satisfaction, this delivery system achieves another goal: it has a lower environmental impact than delivery via land. The fuel used to power the trucks that transport our packages is one of the greatest threats to our environment, whereas drone delivery uses less energy - thus reducing carbon emissions.

One might be sceptical about the carbon footprint of the energy used for air delivery and wonder whether it actually reduces emissions. A 2018 study on the greenhouse gas emissions of drones for package delivery showed that a drone does use significant less energy than a truck that runs on fuel. On the other hand, while a truck can carry large numbers of packages, a drone has limited capacity. Additionally, the bigger the drone is, the more electricity it needs to deliver a package.

Despite these drawbacks, the application of drone technology for delivery does indeed provide a potentially sustainable model. Of course, further steps can be taken to ensure the use of as little energy as possible: studies on the life cycle impact of drone delivery suggest that limiting both the size of drones and the space their warehousing requires can and will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Reducing the use of chemicals

With drones becoming a more accessible technology, their application in agriculture has been increasingly spreading - to the benefit of the environment. From planting to monitoring, the deployment of this new technology has helped reduce the environmental impact of farming.

Thanks to the employment of drones, farmers can map and assess the land, thus planting in the most efficient way possible. While monitoring the crops might have taken valuable time and energy before, now drones can do so with more precision and in less time. The positive outcome of better control over the land is twofold: firstly, if the starting conditions of the crops are improved, farmers will need fewer chemicals to maximise revenue. Secondly, the overall use of fertilizers and pesticides will be minimized thanks to a renewed way of spraying crops: drones are able to spray chemicals more accurately than what planes have been able to do so far. It has been shown that by using drones for crop spraying, the nitrogen released into the environment is reduced by 20%.

Image adapted from original by Herney

The use of drones in the farming industry is incredibly broad: their employment can go from 3D mapping to monitoring crop health, water levels and livestock. Some may even want to replace sheepdogs with drones!

Helping with wildlife conservation

While many environmentalists have explored the most dangerous and inaccessible areas of the world in an effort to safeguard wildlife, access to a significant portion of targeted areas remains problematic. That is when drones come in: they can easily monitor these areas with virtually no invasive intervention, thus minimising the impact on the environment.

Not only do drones allow easier monitoring, but they also provide a more comprehensive assessment method. As drones can potentially produce a constant stream of data, scientists can efficiently compare the transformation of any site over time. Coastal mapping, deforestation evaluation and other conservation activities are certainly made easier by the employment of drones.

Their positive contribution to wildlife conservation does not end here. Drones are being used to track animals as well. They can produce high-quality data on endangered species, including dangerous animals.

An example of this is astro-ecology, which combines astronomical detection tools with drones to create imagery and video footage of animals. The innovative technique has been effective so far, although it is still in a developing phase. The astro-ecology method was first tested in South Africa last year to monitor riverine rabbits - one of the most endangered species of mammal in the world. An employed drone was able to fly very close to the ground and provided five sightings of the rabbits – quite an impressive number, considering there have only been around 1,000 in total. Drones are also being deployed in the protection of the environment and animals against illegal practices. Air monitoring offers a broader supervision and allows for faster intervention against endangering activities than other methods.

Image adapted from original by freeegooo

Measuring, photographing, monitoring: the possibilities are vast. On an environmental level, we have just started to explore the virtually infinite applications of drone technology. The fight against climate change could benefit from the employment of drones - especially in vulnerable areas - and the scientific community seems open to this idea. Certainly, there are many ways in which drones are already helping to protect the environment. It seems they may be indispensable tools in helping us ‘save the planet’.

By Erika Mastrorosa - Online Journalism Intern

Frontier runs conservation, development, teaching and adventure travel projects in over 50 countries worldwide - so join us and explore the world!

Get more from us on social media with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

#blog #blogger #intothewild #gapyear #drones #technology #conservation #animals #climatechange #pollution #agriculture

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Earth Day 2018: An Opportunity To Befriend The Planet

Image adapted from original by NASA/NOAA/GSFC/Suomi NPP/VIIRS/Norman Kuring

It’s no surprise that the motto of this year’s Earth Day is ‘End Plastic Pollution’. The scientific concern about more plastic than fish in the sea by 2050 is being voiced more often than ever before. Plastic waste has become a media newsbeat and even supermarkets are reacting to the trend. The movement #BreakFreeFromPlastic is currently tracking unnecessary packaging in stores, organizing beach cleans and educating the public about the harmful effects of plastic in the ocean. Meanwhile, zero waste stores are popping up around the world to tackle plastic pollution. If you have been avoiding this issue so far, this year’s Earth Day is an ideal opportunity for you to join the movement and make a contribution to save our oceans.

How it all started

The idea of Earth Day was born in 1970, following the grassroots environmental movement formed after the publication of Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring. Until that time, the ideology of the industrial modern era dominated public discourse and only conservationists, activists and enthusiasts were concerned about its negative influence. Carson’s groundbreaking book published in 1962 brought  environmental awareness to mainstream attention. Ten years later, Arne Næss introduced his idea of deep ecology to the world - the idea that all living beings have inherent value, irrespective of their usefulness to humans.

Inspired by the student-led anti-war protests of the 1960s, the founder of Earth Day - Gaylord Nelson - decided to work with this powerful energy possessed by the public to raise an environmental agenda. During that time, the world witnessed a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, which also contributed to public outrage. On April 22, 1970 - the date intentionally selected to land between Spring Break and final exams - large demonstrations took place in US streets to fight against oil spills, a polluting industry, pesticides and the reduction of wilderness areas. Since then, this one day in April reminds us of the importance of paying attention to our environment and the influence we have on the planet.

One day to think about the Earth

Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring influenced the media as well as raising the popularity of environmental journalism. News rooms in the US were extended to include environmental departments with journalists specifically focusing on these kinds of issues. However, for many reasons, environmental journalism is still marginalized in the news. Especially with the rise of digital media and consequential financial cuts, news rooms can hardly afford to maintain a special environmental department.

Moreover, environmental topics are difficult to cover as news is event-driven and requires striking visuals to be accompanied with. Therefore, it takes less effort to report on a hurricane or flood than to cover long-lasting, gradual, and nearly invisible environmental changes. For these reasons, environmental news relies on natural catastrophes, law changes or special anniversaries and events. In this sense Earth Day provides an invaluable opportunity to raise awareness among the public and media.

Be the change

Each year, Earth Day reminds us of the huge changes that environmental movements have accomplished in the past, and gives us an opportunity to become a part of these in the future. Even if not on any other day of the year than on April 22nd, we should take some time to appreciate the planet and contribute to its well-being. NGOs provide countless activities to engage in and join in with a billion other active Earth citizens.

For instance, Czech Greenpeace organizes The EcoChallenge. Its participants integrate one change into their lifestyle to make it more eco-friendly and maintain it for one month, whilst writing a blog about how they deal with new emerging difficulties and the reactions of their close ones. They can choose from various challenges such as eliminating palm oil, adopting a vegan diet, reducing water usage and zero waste lifestyles. In accordance with this year’s topic, the official Earth Day website offers a toolkit that can help you to calculate and reduce your plastic waste. Through this website, you can even organize your own event that contributes to tackling plastic pollution.

Another way to help the environment is to become a Frontier volunteer. Frontier runs marine conservation projects in Cambodia and Thailand – countries that are currently dealing with major problems caused by plastic pollution. If food waste is one of your main concerns, you might find our new project in Portugal interesting. Or if you prefer to combat climate change, check out our conservation project in Costa Rica or our internship in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

By Eliška Olšáková - Online Journalism Intern

Frontier runs conservation, development, teaching and adventure travel projects in over 50 countries worldwide - so join us and explore the world!

Get more from us on social media with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

#gapyear #frontier #intothewild #blogging #blogger #earthday #earthday2018 #pollution #plastic #waste #sustainability #environmental #responsible

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Could You Climb Mount Everest Blindfolded? The Story Of Andy  Holzer

Image adapted from original by Papa Lima Whiskey 

28,848 meters high, Mount Everest is the dream of every climber. Climbing Everest sounds like an impossible challenge for amateur mountaineers and hikers, but not for Andy Holzer. Although many have now summited Everest, Andy is one of the only two people who have made it to the top facing the hardest challenge: he is blind. Andy reached the summit in May 2017, but, as things stand, a ban on people with disabilities like blindness would bar him from climbing the mountain again.

Andy’s story

When we talk Everest and world records, Andy Holzer’s name stands out. On the 21st of May 2017, Andy completed the greatest of challenges for any climber: he reached the top of Mount Everest, together with his friends Wolfgang Klocker and Klemens Bichler.

He wasn’t the first and won’t be the last to get to the top of Everest – 4,833 peoplehave now succeeded – but for the second time in history, a blind person has made it to the summit. Second only to Erik Weihenmayer, who climbed the mountain on the south side, Andy is the second blind mountaineer to conquer the top and the first one to do so on the north side.

Blind since birth, Andy has always pushed his boundaries and has never let his disability stop him. On his third attempt at climbing Everest, he has succeeded and has become a source of inspiration for fellow disabled mountaineers.

During an interview preceding the last expedition, Andy admitted his life has been constantly preparing him for further challenges. Andy isn’t new to success: before tackling Everest for the third time, he had already reached six of the Seven Summitsand he even has plans to return to Everest in 2019. Nepal’s ban However, Andy’s plans might be threatened by a new law introducing a ban on people “unfit for climbing”. Following the announcements made by many disabled climbers that they intended to tackle the mountain in 2018, Nepal’s government has decided to implement new restrictions which would bar solo mountaineers and disabled mountaineers from climbing Mt. Everest. Nepal’s Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has justified its decision as a step towards making Everest safer.

Flickr | Gunther Hagleitner

But many, like Andy Holzer himself, are sceptical and have accused the government of having a different reason behind the move. They claim that rather than being concerned with climbers’ safety, the government’s agenda follows a purely economic perspective. And as Andy rightly points out, if Nepal’s government had analysed the statistics fully, it would have realized that incidents seldom involve experienced climbers. Rather, inexperienced tourists and ‘wannabe’ climbers are the main victims of inefficient safety measures. The latter are brought to Everest by tourist agencies that have no concern for the actual experience of the travellers - but the larger the group the more money it brings. Meanwhile climbers or disabled, experienced mountaineers bring their own equipment and do not need aid.

Climbing Everest has indeed become a mainstream adventure and figures show that far too many are trying to climb the mountain. Unqualified Sherpa guides and decreasing costs are causing dangerous overcrowding as well as littering. Whether Nepal’s restriction over climbing Everest is legitimate or money driven, it is undeniable that making expeditions safer is a number one priority. However, it is up for discussion whether or not Nepal’s government has addressed the right source of the issue.

By Erika Mastrorosa - Online Journalism Intern

Frontier runs conservation, development, teaching and adventure travel projects in over 50 countries worldwide - so join us and explore the world!

#blog #blogger #intothewild #adventure #climbing #hiking #environment #nepal #mountains #everest #records

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Don’t Krill My Vibe: How Human Demand For Krill Is Threatening Antarctic Ecosystems

Recent demand for krill based products has alerted the attention of environmental organisations such as Greenpeace who are determined to curb the trend. Krill are crucial players in the Antarctic food chain; feeding primarily on algae they support a vast web of life from Adélie penguins to blue whales. Among Greenpeace other notable naturalists have joined the campaign; Chris Packham’s article for the Guardian summarises the fishing for krill as an ‘eco-disaster’.

Fishing operations have been occurring in ‘pristine’ Antarctic waters since the beginning of the 21st Century. Krill products have become a prized and sought after commodity. In the past the industry’s ‘sustainable’ practices have been able to slip under the radar. However a recent report published by Greenpeace provides substantial evidence that suggests a very different reality.

Tracking data revealed that vessels had anchored specifically in marine protected areas despite the potential impact on both wildlife and the geology. The team also observed ‘risky fishing practices’ consisting of the transfer of catches to ships with a history of infringements, poor safety records and low standards in pollution prevention in relation to oil and sewage. This type of fishing - ‘transhipping’ - is often associated with human exploitation and the breaching of human rights. In addition the potential environmental impact of oil spills, fires and groundings would disrupt the balance of trophic structures and alter the chemistry of Antarctic waters.    

Flickr | Health Gauge

Krill products have flooded the market in recent years in the form of omega 3 supplements and as a main ingredient in commercial fish foods (ironic right). The sheer variety of krill based products has increased demand which has accelerated harvesting in the Southern Ocean. The demand coincides with the advancement of new maritime technologies, allowing fisheries to locate larger catches more efficiently, and therefore increasing their overall yield.

Fisheries are harvesting inside the historical feeding grounds of whales and other marine species, increasing the overall competition for food. Vessels with a dominating presence in these areas may force species to travel further to find adequate feeding grounds. For nesting penguins this poses a major problem as they cannot travel too far to forage when raising their young. Evidence collected by Helena Herr of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover in Germany states that fin and humpback whales of West Antarctica forage in different areas. This limits interspecific competition for krill however populations foraging in the same area would potentially still face competition from krill fisheries.

So why are krill so important?

Without an adequate supply of krill, many species of whale such as humpback and fin whales would lose a key source of food. But this is not the only reason why we should protect krill – these small crustaceans are vital in supporting oceanic health due to their relationship to other marine organisms. Oceans act as carbon sinks; phytoplankton in the water sequesters over 2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, and the polar waters of Antarctica hold one of the largest ranges for phytoplankton. These microorganisms also act as the foundation for many oceanic food chains.

Flickr | Siyavula Education

Iron is a micronutrient required for phytoplankton growth and photosynthesis, and its availability in the water is governed by physical, chemical and biological processes. Scientists have recently studied the symbiotic relationship between whales and krill, and believe whales to be responsible for a crucial stage in biogeochemical cycling - the consumption of nutrient rich krill and subsequent defecation.  

This relationship between krill biomass and whale faeces is a relatively new discovery, but evidence would suggest that after eating krill, whales’ defecation releases iron into the water, which supports the growth of phytoplankton.  In order to conserve the Southern Ocean ecosystem, conserving krill stocks is therefore imperative.

Plans to increase the commercial industry of krill and the climate change related effects on krill biomass are unpredictable. Herr states ‘’direct surveys that target both krill and their predators, such as baleen whales need to be undertaken concurrently .This is to monitor and ensure that habitats in the Southern Ocean will continue to support a humpback whale population that has just touched pre-exploitation numbers.”

By Matt Couldwell - Online Media Intern

Frontier runs conservation, development, teaching and adventure travel projects in over 50 countries worldwide - so join us and explore the world!

Get more from us on social media with Facebook, Twitter , Instagram and YouTube.

#marine #conservation #ocean #protection #environment #sustainability #ecosystem #krill #krilloil #whales #penguins #antarctic #blog #blogger #intothewild #gapyear

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Great Animal Escape Stories - And What They Mean To  Us

“Cow escapes on way to slaughterhouse, smashes through metal fence, breaks arm of man trying to catch her then swims to safety on island in lake.” This title introduced The Independent’s readers to the heroic story of a Polish cow that changed her destiny and found freedom on a land in the middle of a lake.

Besides, she won the hearts of hundreds of people, which prevented her owner from capturing her and sending her back to the slaughterhouse. Animal escape stories are extremely popular among the public and provide precious content for news coverage. Animals as a topic are generally in favour with journalists as they balance hard news and attract more readers. Thanks to their accessible and entertaining form, they are highly profitable for the media. But why are we so enchanted with stories of farm animal escapes in an age where meat consumption is growing constantly and petrifying methods of factory farming account for 99% of the world’s meat production? Jonathan Safran Foer in his book Eating Animals raises this question when he quotes a blog entry written by a meat distributor: “I am perfectly comfortable eating meat, yet there is part of me that wants to hear of a pig that made it out and maybe even settled down in the forest to start a colony of free feral pigs.” So what is it about these escape stories? Do they have anything in common? First, let’s take a look at some of them.

A Swim Away

Following up the story from the introduction, the Polish cow who escaped the abattoir in February was portrayed as brave and strong - even gaining the nickname ‘Hero Cow’. The Polish public admired her fight and pressured the farmer to give her her freedom. Keeping in mind that only in the UK, almost 300 cows are killed every hour, these words of admiration coming from a local politician sound almost ridiculous - “if all citizens could show such determination as this cow then Poland would be a much more prosperous country. I am not a vegetarian, but fortitude and the will to fight for this cow's life is invaluable,” said Pawel Kukiz to the media. The ‘Hero Cow’ didn’t enjoy the island life for too long as she died when rescuers attempted to move her to a sanctuary. She was probably too stressed about being caught again and passed away during the rescue mission. The Washington Post journalist Avi Selk captured the whole event in a heart-breaking story, which he concluded with the touching words “her life on the island was hard, and brief. But at least she lived free, to the end”.

A Wild Rebel This true story also comes from Poland. Whilst wandering in Bialowieza National Park, ornithologist Adam Zbyryt spotted an extraordinary member of a bison herd. It was smaller with much brighter hair. It turned out not to be a bison at all, but a cow who had escaped from a farm in October 2017 and spent half a year in the forest. Her actions question the artificially created category of ‘domesticated’ animals as they prove that even farm raised beings are able to survive in and even crave the wilderness. The media pointed out the heroic act of the bison herd that saved the cow from a pack of wolves and the unusualness of the inter-species friendship. However, they also highlighted scientific concerns that the cow could eventually breed with the bison which would contaminate their precious endangered genes. But who drove the species nearly to extinction?

The Legend of the Tamworth Two This story is probably familiar to you. In January 1998, two pigs ran away from an abattoir to the countryside while crossing the River Avon. These pigs got names - Butch and Sundance - and became a newsbeat. The two animals that were previously destined to become somebody’s dinner, transformed into memes, soft toys and even the BBC movie The Legend of the Tamworth Two. Due to the public pressure, they were saved and spent the rest of their lives in a sanctuary.

50 is not a Heroic Number In comparison, one story you might not have heard of: in October last year, a herd of 50 cows was deliberately set free. This wasn’t framed as a heroic act but “a prank”. The cows weren’t presented as individuals but as interchangeable animals that caused damage to the nearby village. The local people “helped” by capturing them to stop the catastrophe, and restored balance after the incident by kindly returning them to their field.

Wikimedia Commons | Richard Crof

From an Object to a Hero

So what is the moral of these stories? Media representation of a hero requires an individual and likeable animal whose escape resembles epic stories from human history and culture (e.g. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid). Claire Molloy, who discusses this topic in her book Popular Media and Animals, believes that one of the reasons why heart-breaking escape stories don’t challenge the current status quo is the entertaining form of soft news that doesn’t question our lifestyle. And she’s right - none of these stories mention the scary practices of factory farming, the dangerous effects of meat overconsumption or the impacts on the environment.

However, Molloy also points out that it’s the context in which the animal is portrayed that influences our perception. An individual being that can cause almost no harm in her escape to a deserted island is much more likely to be presented in a positive narrative than a herd of 50 cows destroying private property in a populated village.

Flickr | Rockin'Rita

We could never eat an individual, but a piece of steak coming from an anonymous mass meant for human consumption is something different. Some extraordinary heroic acts resembling human behaviour catch our hearts but otherwise, the purpose of cattle on this world is to feed us, right? The death of the strong, moral-worthy ‘Hero Cow’ has the power to move us to tears and is therefore very inconvenient. That’s why we need the less upsetting discourse of farm animals as commodities and components of the meat industry. The existence of two different images allows us to get moved by the escape story whilst still enjoying our lunch.

If you are interested in more animal escape stories, check out the book by Barbara G. Cox called Great Animal Escape Stories: True Adventures of Farm Animals. Further exciting thoughts about animal representation and discourses are to be found in the collection of essays by Matthew Chrulew and Dinesh Joseph Wadiwel called Foucault and Animals.

#blog #bloger #intothewild #gapyear #cow #farm #animals #animalwelfare #frontier #wildlife

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Meet Bob Gilbert, Author Of The Green London Way - A Guide That Teaches Us To Appreciate Urban  Walking

Image adapted from original by donchili

“Our concern for the environment and for what we are doing to it should stem not from a sense of guilt or from fear, but from a positive celebration of the world around us and a joy in it” – these are the inspiring words of Bob Gilbert, author of The Green London Way - a book that describes a walking route of over 110 miles connecting different parts of the city.

In contrast to other guides which tend to focus on rural trails, it pays tribute to urban walking and teaches us to look at the city with new eyes. It also tracks the relations of the social and natural history of London and gives an insight into urban wildlife. In this exclusive interview with Frontier, Bob Gilbert discusses topics including the differences between the appreciation of urban and natural spaces, the connection between our attitudes to local and global environmental problems and the reasons why London stands out from other cities.

You run campaigns to protect urban open spaces. Why are these areas important?

Open spaces in urban areas are the pores through which the city breathes. They are part of our natural and historical heritage and even if we are not aware of them, or do not use them, they are ecologically, socially and psychologically important. They reduce noise and pollution and stress; they contribute to sustainable drainage and to ecological diversity; and most of all they provide spaces to play and access to the outdoors for a generation that is increasingly cut off from the natural world and from the environment which sustains us.

In earlier generations the greatest threat to our open spaces was that of enclosure and development. Today we are facing a more insidious problem. The decades of austerity and cuts to local authority budgets mean that many of our parks are suffering from a serious deterioration of their infrastructure, from cuts in maintenance budgets and from the loss of skilled, horticultural staff. We are witnessing the decline of a once great and still essential heritage and the need to campaign for their protection is as great as ever.

Have you always enjoyed living in the city or did you experience moments when you wanted to move to the countryside?

I have always been a bit ambivalent about where I live. I was born and brought up a Londoner and I find it an interesting and exciting place. I have longed sometimes to live amongst trees or within sight of mountains or the sea, but as a community worker or an educationalist, my work has always been here in the inner city. Much of it has been about helping children and young people enjoy the experience of growing things or appreciate the natural environment, so I feel a bit as if I’ve had a calling to stay here. And now my wife is a priest in the inner city and has the same sense of vocation.

My compensation has always been to notice, explore and enjoy the wildlife of the city; the mistle thrush that sings in the morning, the moss that grows on top of a wall, the cherries flowering in the local park. I try to remain constantly alert to what is around me in even the most unlikely and unpromising locations.

Photo courtesy of Bob Gilbert

Why should people set out for urban walks?

Because we should always start by ‘digging where we stand’ and by appreciating what is immediately around us. Since the city is where most of us now live we should have an appreciation for it; for its history, its natural history, its culture and its people. And there is always so much to look at; interesting buildings and diverse building styles, parks and open spaces, canals and abandoned railways, street life and street trees and a surprising diversity of wildlife.

This is particularly true of London which is actually a collection of centres, small towns and urban villages, each of them with a character and an interesting story of their own.

You say that urban walking requires a different sort of appreciation. How does it differ?

Many urban walks that are now being produced treat it as an urban version of the rural walk, a sort of scaled-down equivalent of the countryside. My view is that urban walking is of a different order and requires a different sort of sensibility. Approached without preconceptions it offers constant surprises and unexpected rewards, uncovering unsuspected routes and magnificent yet little-known buildings. More than this, it reveals hidden facets of history and a surprising wealth of wildlife. And even in the most squalid surroundings there can be a strange beauty that is completely unconventional.

Do you think there’s a connection between our attitude to the local environment and current global ecological problems?

Our concern for the environment and for what we are doing to it should stem not from a sense of guilt or from fear, but from a positive celebration of the world around us and a joy in it. And that can only begin from noticing what is around us in our local environment and from a constant alertness to it and an excitement in it. The causes of environmental degradation are pretty much the same wherever you encounter them - particularly excessive consumerism and the unequal distribution of wealth and power - but we should begin where we are. If we’re called to go on to campaign for the elephant and the panda, that’s fine, but it starts from the trees on our streets, the insects that visit our gardens, the sparrows that nest in the gutter.  

Flickr | Henry Hemming

Do you think that an urban lifestyle can be sustainable and eco-friendly?

I do not only think it is possible, I think it is essential. By 2050 two thirds of the population of the globe is expected to live in cities. As the cities come to occupy more of our lives and more of our land, it has become essential that we find a radically different approach to designing the townscape - thinking of it not as a sterile setting stripped of all species but our own, but as a shared space, a place where humans can spend their time, more happily and more healthily, alongside other living things.

We must stop thinking of nature as something that is permissible ‘out there’, in some bucolically imagined countryside, on a beautifully filmed TV documentary or on a specially managed reserve - but as something that is welcome, here, among us, in an integrated city. We have the tools and knowledge enough already for this; for green roofs and living walls, for parks which permeate estates, for wild areas in our open spaces, for dykes and ponds and sustainable urban drainage, for trees on our streets, for the encouragement of invertebrates, for homes for starlings and swifts, house martins and hedgehogs. As Gary Snyder put it, ‘Civilisation is permeable and could be as inhabited as the world is’.

How can urban residents restore or maintain their connection to nature?

By walking with their eyes open.

Flickr | Paul Hudson

It took you several years to connect various urban trails and subsequently form the Green London Way. What have you learnt during your city walks?

Two things. First that London has not just one historical and cultural centre but many. It is an amazing collection of small towns and urban villages with their own history and natural history, interesting buildings and open spaces, local stories and cultures. Walking London looking for a connecting and circular route led me to places I might not otherwise have discovered, from Brentford Butts in the west to Charlton House in the east. There are so many unexpected gems to be discovered right across this great sprawling city. And secondly that just about every park, common, heath or wood in London has had to be fought for at some time in its history, whether to get it established in the first place or to save it from subsequent development.  The creation and preservation of London’s open spaces is a result of the struggles of the city’s people and almost every inch has been lobbied over, campaigned about and demonstrated for. The stories of these struggles is one of the most exciting and inspiring aspects of the Green London Way.

How did you collect material for your book? What were your sources?

I am an inveterate book buyer and have a large collection both on London and on wildlife, but beyond this I had two main sources. The first was walking and looking, and taking and recording notes. There is no substitute for seeing things; for noticing trees or buildings or street names or contours of the land that need explaining. This is my real raw material. And beyond that I owe a debt of gratitude to all of the local history libraries and archives across London. I visited one for every London borough that the route passed through and that was where most of my best stories came from. They were, and are, an invaluable resource, but they are another one that is under threat as local authority finances tighten year on year.

WikiMedia Commons | Acabashi

What does London miss in comparison to other cities? And inversely, what is in your opinion special about London?

My eldest son recently went to live in Milan and in one of our first telephone conversations he told that it had made him realise just how green London was as a city, lined with trees and dotted with open spaces. This is a very special aspect of London which has a virtual urban forest and I support the campaign to declare the city an urban National Park. This is a resource we must conserve, unlike in Sheffield, for example, where they are chopping down mature trees and replacing them with smaller species in order to save on maintenance costs.  

As for what London misses, we seem to have lost control of development. In Paris, for example, high rise buildings are restricted to certain parts of the city, whilst the skyline and townscape of the rest of the city is protected. In London, following the removal of height restrictions in the City of London, high rise development seems to be going on everywhere with whole districts being demolished to make away for bland mega-projects. It is a destruction of culture, of character and of community.

A huge thank you to author and environmental campaigner Bob Gilbert for this inspiring interview.

By Eliška Olšáková - Online Journalism Intern

Frontier runs conservation, development, teaching and adventure travel projects in over 50 countries worldwide - so join us and explore the world!

Get more from us on social media with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

#urban #natural #environmental #green #blog #blogger #travel #gapyear #gapyeartravel #intothewild #london

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Tackling Fast Fashion With Zero Waste Design

The number of people that are concerned about the consequences of their consumption is growing and it is no surprise that the fashion industry is attempting to respond to this trend. Even global chains like H&M and Zara, which are often blamed as symbols of spendthrift fast fashion, are taking small steps to assure their customers that the environment is one of their main concerns. Following up the concept of sustainable art, the fashion industry is reconsidering its ways of production and discovering a new source of inspiration - zero waste design. The vast negative environmental effects that fast fashion causes are more frequently pointed out by NGOs and the media. Their criticism is based on the fact that the industry uses an immense amount of resources and toxic chemicals, causes water pollution and contaminates agricultural lands. Last but not least, it’s a source of enormous textile waste. Clothing manufacturing creates more than 15% of textile leftovers. And there is also another aftermath of this system. Fast fashion forces consumers to want more. Our insatiable demand costs us money, time and even happiness as we are losing the connection to our possessions and tend to be wasteful. With new trends coming out in short periods of time, we can hardly appreciate one particular piece in our wardrobe. Reversing this trend became a part of a minimalistic agenda and brushed up the concept of the 10-item wardrobe.

In December 2016, a trend forecaster Li Edelkoort declared that the current fashion is old-fashioned as it fails to reflect the demands of today’s society, which is becoming more conscious about the environment and human rights. Fashion should no longer profit off of low-income countries and the enslavement of workers. Edelkoort’s speech has inspired a New York based designer Daniel Silverstein who is running his Zero Waste Daniel store. “I was sick of making cocktail and evening dresses. I was so stressed out designing all the time and I just thought like this isn’t helping anybody,” explains Silverstein. Zero Waste Daniel aims to make social and environmental change in the fashion industry. The company believes in fair wages for workers, thoughtful design and that “putting energy into reusing wasted materials is better than creating new ones”.

Fast fashion and zero waste fashion are based on fundamentally different ideas. While fast fashion builds on speed and low costs, the zero waste method requires thoroughness, creativity and a personal approach to every piece of clothing. This seemingly insurmountable contradiction might have been part of the reason for Estonian designer Reet Aus’s lack of success.

The documentary Out Of Fashion (2016) by Jaak Kilmi and Lennart Laberenz follows the ambitious designer on her mission to convince large fashion corporates that the sustainable upcycling production of clothes is not incompatible with their ideology. She travels to Bangladesh and with a help of local clothes producers tries to incorporate the upcycling principle into mass production. Although she proves that it is possible to use textile waste in this environment, complicated designs and the need for creative solutions slow down the whole process and the initiative was ultimately rejected by H&M management. Nevertheless, Reet Aus still tries changing the fashion industry with the method of upcycling. Her Up-Shirts are made of textile waste and apparently save 91% of water and 87% of energy. She also started the project Trash to Trend based on her doctoral research on upcycled fashion and aims to connect the community of young designers that are interested in this more eco-friendly method.

Designer Mark Liu admits that creating zero-waste designs is incredibly difficult, especially if the final results are supposed to fit the body. Every piece of fabric has its function in the final design. In his PhD research, Liu combined fashion techniques with scientific principles. He believes that with more funding, this combination could be ground-breaking. For instance, we mustn’t merely rely on cotton to create fabrics. Our world is full of alternative materials such as seaweed, banana and coconut waste.

Zero waste designers prove that there are countless possibilities to turn our environmentally harmful consumption into something eco-friendly and original. We only need to be creative and look for the potential in seemingly valueless things that surround us. Second hand stores might be a good place to start your design career. Getting inspired by DIY upcycling ideas is, thanks to social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest, easier than ever.

By Eliška Olšáková - Online Journalism Intern

Frontier runs conservation, development, teaching and adventure travel projects in over 50 countries worldwide - so join us and explore the world!

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#fashion #ecofriendly #zerowaste #design #gogreen #gapyear #environmental #sustainability #sustainable #intothewild #blog #blogger

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Creating Man-Made Wildlife Corridors

As the world’s population continues to expand, so does the volume of infrastructure and land required to support it. This can have a negative impact on wildlife species whose habitats can become separated by acres of inhospitable land.

What are wildlife corridors?

Wildlife corridors are habitats that connect fragmented larger patches of habitat. They may differ greatly in their size, shape and composition however they all function in the same way. The purpose of corridors is to assist the movement of species through dispersal and migration, ensuring gene flow, and species diversity is maintained between local populations. By consequently linking these populations through corridors, it lowers the probability of extinction and supports greater species richness.

Anthropogenic activities such as urbanisation, agriculture and forestry fragment patches of natural habitat therefore reducing species’ richness and genetic diversity. Animals and plants use natural corridors for migration and dispersal. Human dominated habitats create barriers for species to cross, and areas such as these pose more threats such as a higher abundance of predators, lack of resources and reduced shelter.

Wikimedia Commons | BMC Ecology image competition 2014: the winning images

Corridors however present opportunities and access for species movement across these fragmented patches, by providing a safe passageway for species to travel with minimal threat, especially when they are passing through areas dominated by agriculture and urbanisation.

Types of wildlife corridors

Wildlife corridors can occur naturally such as riparian corridors that connect two different populations dependant on isolated wetlands, but they can also be constructed through management practices.

Corridors can be created artificially to facilitate species’ movements, such as overpasses and underpasses on highways. These management techniques have proven to be very successful in both North America and Africa with the main purpose being to limit instances of anthropogenic interactions and threats. Corridors have also been implemented in aquatic systems to provide migration and dispersal. Stream corridors consist of a network of protected watersheds allowing fish to travel without the hindrance of road blockages and damns.

Examples of Man-Made Corridors

Banff National Park - Alberta, Canada

The TransCanada Highway dissects itself through one of the country’s most iconic national parks which boasts a wealth of flora and fauna. The highway fragments critical habitat which the park’s resident wildlife are dependent on. Numerous overpasses and underpasses were created to facilitate the movement of large species that demand large home areas such as elk, grizzly bear and wolverines.  The intention of these structures was to provide free movement and to funnel species from one side of the park to the other. Despite some species taking time to be become accustomed to the new structure it has ultimately provided connectivity between fragmented forests; promoting gene flow.

Natuurbrug Zanderij Crailo - The Netherlands

The Netherlands holds over 600 artificial corridors consisting of underpasses and overpasses along highways, the longest of which is the Natuurbrug Zanderij Crailo which is 50m wide and 800m long. Completed in 2006, it spans a rail line, business park, river and sports complex. The corridor provides access for numerous species including roe deer, wild boar and the endangered European badger.  

Christmas Island National Park – Australia

An overpass for crab migration? Surely not! Believe it. The annual migration route of millions of crabs on Christmas Island crosses roads, golf courses and beaches. To assist the migration an overpass was created and 20km of barriers were implemented to navigate the crabs away from roads and into the 31 crab underpasses. The infrastructure also includes a 5m high bridge that crosses one of Australia’s busiest roads.    

Mt. Kenya National Forest – Kenya

The underpass was opened in 2010 in Mt Kenya National Park to allow elephants to easily move between forest systems. The underpass re-establishes the only existent connection between Kenya’s 2nd largest elephant population in Samburu with the ones located in Mt Kenya.

Underpasses specifically designed for elephant movement have also been constructed in China’s Menyang Nature Reserve and South Africa’s Addo Elephant National Park, with proposed infrastructure planned for India’s Hosur Krishnagiri section too.

By Matt Couldwell - Online Media Intern

Frontier runs conservation, development, teaching and adventure travel projects in over 50 countries worldwide - so join us and explore the world!

#nature #environment #wildlife #animals #crossing #overpass #corridors #infrastructure #construction #highways #protection #conservation #intothewild #gapyear #blog #blogger

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Fairytales About Animals From Five Continents

The role of fairytales is much greater than being children’s bedtime stories. Traditional tales and legends are important cultural artifacts that can reveal interesting information about ways of thinking and living in various societies. They do not serve only to entertain people but also as bearers of ethical values and moral compasses. Needless to say that stories, which we’ve listened to from childhood, immensely influence the way we perceive the world around us which reflects, for example, in our relationship to the non-human realm. For that reason, a look into other cultures can help us extend and question our perceptions of reality.

Galah and Oolah (Australasia)

Australasian fairytales have their roots in aboriginal culture. They are often involved in spiritual practices. The continent is home to many emblematic animals such as koalas, dingoes, snakes and kangaroos. These species are often cast as main characters in Australian legends and symbolize relations between the human and non-human world. For example, the story about Bahloo the Moon explains why people can never kill all the snakes in Australia despite their efforts.

Another tale about Galah and Oolah explains why some Australian lizards are coloured red. One day when Oolah the lizard was bored, he started playing with his boomerangs. To show off in front of Galah, he threw the boomerang with all his might but when it came back, it hit the bird in the head. “So to this day, underneath the Galah's crest you can always find the bald patch which the bubberah of Oolah first made. And in the country of the Galahs are lizards coloured reddish brown, and covered with spikes like bindeah prickles.”

Flickr | Robyn Jay

The Origin of the Robin (North America)

In North America, fairytales are based on the culture of Native Americans and lead their readers to the time when human and non-human worlds were interconnected.  A beautiful story about the origin of the robin includes a moral for parents that are too strict on their children. The main character of this story is a father who wanted his son to surpass all the others and complete the longest fast. He didn’t listen to his son’s requests and forced him to continue beyond his strength. When the father decided to finish his son’s fast, it was too late. He destroyed his son’s life as a man, however, he helped him to become a robin. The son left his parent in his new body with these words of happiness: “although I could not gratify your wishes as a warrior, it will be my daily aim to make you amends for it as a harbinger of peace and joy. I will cheer you by my songs.”

Tale of the Mandarin Ducks (Asia)

In Asian countries such as Korea, China and Japan, the mandarin duck is a symbol of lifelong relationships, fidelity and peace. The narrative of the long-lasting commitment of mandarin ducks appears in a story about a feudal lord, who captures one such duck for its beautiful colours. He can’t see the suffering he causes the bird and its mate. However, his maid and her lover realize what harm the lord does to the animals and release the mandarin duck from captivity despite having to face his anger.

Flickr | Jannes Pockele

How The Ostrich Got His Long Neck (Africa)

African stories often explain an appearance of animals that occupy the continent or capture a relationship between hunters and lions. Even though animals are the main characters, they often possess human personality traits and serve as analogies to human relationships. For example, the danger that women can pose to men.  In the story “The hunter and the lion”, the lions realize that the only way to beat the best hunter in a nearby village is to seduce him. One of the lions transforms into a woman and steals the hunter’s heart. The poor boy decides to meet his love’s parents but when he steps into the woods, the girl changes back into her lion form and kills him. Another legend warns about the consequences of jealousy as it tells a story of a male ostrich that agreed to guard their eggs so his wife could take a rest from her duty. However, he was as jealous as he was solicitous. The whole night he spent listening to his wife’s laugh and stretching his neck to see who she was talking to. At the break of day, he found his head much further from his legs than ever before.

Little Red Hat (Europe)

Various European countries have their version of Little Red Hat, the girl who was eaten by an evil wolf. The wolf is an important symbol in European culture. While it can be an emblematic animal for wilderness and conservation efforts, it is also frequently presented as a criminal - a terrifying and malicious beast. Roots of this wolf image are linked up to the bloom of agriculture. As farming lands expanded, wolves lost a significant part of their natural habitat and started to prey on livestock. During this era, the narrative of the bloodthirsty beast threatening innocent lambs was created to justify the culling of wolves that resulted in the threat of their extinction in European wilderness.

By Eliška Olšáková - Online Journalism Intern

Frontier runs conservation, development, teaching and adventure travel projects in over 50 countries worldwide - so join us and explore the world!

#fairytales #legends #stories #culture #travel #intothewild #blog #blogger #gapyear

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How Public Perceptions Of Hostels Have Changed

Hostels – A Changed Industry ‘Youth hostels’ have always existed since 1912 playing second fiddle to hotels due to their lack of luxuries. Although they struggled to appeal to the masses hostels have always been popular among backpackers because of their cheap, no hassle accommodation. Since 1912 the term ‘youth hostel’ has become obsolete and outdated. Today hostels have re-established themselves as serious contenders for budget travellers. Most travellers will compromise on cheap accommodation if it allows them to stay on the road for longer. Hostels have long been associated with unsanitary, grungy backpackers seeking refuge. Now these institutions are flipping the script, many offering a luxurious and inexpensive alternative to hotels. Over the last 5 years hostels have really transformed the backpacking game. Hostels have become more organised and business focused, adhering to stricter regulations in terms of hygiene and amenities. Major players already existent in the hospitality industry have invested, bringing their marketing and business expertise to rival the hotel industry. The travel bug has revolutionised the hospitality industry, with millennials prioritising social interactions and shared adventures with newfound friends over expensive hotel suites. In a new study 9 out of 10 hostels are now equipped with private rooms. The report also found that 72% of US backpackers travel solo, seeking social connections and that hostel travellers are likely to spend more on trips. Hostels have become serious competitors for hotels with many such as YHA, Base and Nomads operating as chains.

Ottawa Jail Hostel is indeed a former prison. The accommodation includes a tour full of spooky stories.

My Personal Experience of Hostels

As a backpacker I was naïve to the progression and quality of hostels in the 21st Century. During the summer of 2016 to the spring of 2017, I spent 10 months traversing the globe.  As I was planning the first leg of my trip I enlisted the assistance of my now ex-girlfriend who when I told her I was planning to travel for 10 months and stay at hotels, looked at me dumbfounded.   A totally logistical reaction but mildly patronising. My perception of hostels was one shared with many virgin backpackers as cheap, grungy and unhygienic but through first-hand experience and her guidance this negative attitude soon vanished. Whilst every hostel you visit won’t drip luxury and glamour (because they are hostels at the end of the day) thousands can offer a more comfortable and inexpensive way of traveling than previously thought. I was flabbergasted by the array of amenities and facilities on offer. Services to rival some boutique hotels. Such as free WIFI, bars (sometimes with free drinks tokens), safes, free bike hire, cooking facilities and some now even include swimming pools and fitness centres. If you’re backpacking what more do you need? As a single backpacker or traveling with company, hostels offer something that is incomparable to hotels - this being a pure, unadulterated immersion into culture and diversity. These structures create encounters, environments, and engagement that harbour cultural interactions between travellers.  

With its temple-like appearance, the Azores Youth hostel makes you feel like you've already started your sitheghtseeing tour without leaving the accommodation.

Hostels provide an environment where backpackers from all multi-cultural backgrounds can congregate in large groups, something that I had previously not been fortunate enough to witness. Interactions may vary from playing cards, watching a movie or sharing a drink. The majority of hostel-goers share the same wanderlust and excitement to travel and sample a culture alien to their own.  Therefore I found people that stayed in hostels to be a lot more approachable, friendly and more interesting to talk to compared to a hotel or local bar from your hometown. This might sound obvious I know but it may surprise you. For me hostel life creates an atmosphere of unity and comradery. This might be a refreshing sight if you’ve been travelling with the same person for an extended length of time or if your interests are different, as there are plenty of people to interact with where you may share a mutual interest. Having spoken to multiple friends undergoing a similar experience they have shared this attitude.  If you are open to socialising with other travellers the sheer abundance of cultural diversity may provide you with fresh cultural insights. Although you both may be thousands of miles from ‘home’ you undoubtedly share one common interest which is to travel. The stories and experiences you share will develop into lifelong memories long after you both depart and lead your separate lives. Successful conversers may even be given open invitations to visit in the future. Or the really lucky ones may begin a new romance.  At the end of the day it’s always cool to tell your friends you now have a network of friendships that span the globe. Some of whom you may talk to more regularly than people from home. So if hostel life is something that you think you can handle and you can happily live out of your rucksack, then what are you waiting for?! Don’t bother spending unnecessary money on mini bars and room service; exchange it for rounds of pool and skydiving!

By Matt Couldwell - Online Media Intern

Frontier runs conservation, development, teaching and adventure travel projects in over 50 countries worldwide - so join us and explore the world!

#travel #tourist #traveller #explore #world #accommodation #backpacking #hostels #intothewild #gapyear #blog #blogger