Op-ed

Opinion: A Wildlife Awakening

The World Wildlife Fund’s recently published Living Planet Report 2014 brings some alarming news: wildlife numbers have halved over the last four decades.

04 November 2014

Opinion: Renewable Energies – a Double-Edged Sword

Two United Nations bodies appear to be on collision course over the development of renewable energy. Bradnee Chambers, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Migratory Species, explains that, while renewable energy has advantages, there are some pitfalls to be avoided.

25 October 2014

Opinion: Man Bites Shark

Sharks have long been portrayed as man-eaters, a menace to any swimmer brave (or foolish) enough to share the water with them. But this perception could not be further from reality.

17 October 2014

Meinung: Artenschutz: Wie Meeresmüll seltene Tierarten bedroht

Einige der fragilsten tropischen Paradiese der Erde werden durch die Nebenerscheinungen der Moderne verunstaltet: Kunststoff-Flaschen, Plastiktüten und im Meer entsorgte Fischereigeräte werden tonnenweise an den Stränden der Inseln angeschwemmt oder treiben vor ihren Küsten. Nur ein winziger Bruchteil des Mülls stammt allerdings von den Inseln selbst, sondern aus den großen Industrienationen. Der Rest stammt von Passagier- und Frachtschiffen und Fischtrawlern, deren Besatzungen die Meere oftmals als eine riesige Müllhalde nutzen.

18 June 2014

Opinion: Climate Change Threatens the Wild Beauty of Small Islands

Dr. Bradnee Chambers, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Environment Programme's Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, describes ahead of World Environment Day (5 June), how small island states are vulnerable to sea level rises and other effects of climate change.

03 June 2014

Opinion: The Ugly Truth about Garbage and Island Biodiversity

This year’s International Day of Biological Diversity (May 22) focuses on islands. Bradnee Chambers, Executive Secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals discusses the impact of the growing problem of marine debris on islands’ wildlife and the economic and environmental consequences.

21 May 2014

Opinion: Cutting-Edge Conservation

A small airplane makes its final approach to land. But there is no airport, no landing strip, nor even a pilot to guide it down. This is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle returning from its mission: not hunting down terrorists or spying on foreign lands, but monitoring populations of rhinos and scouting for tiger poachers.

07 May 2014

Opinion: Climate Change May Affect Your Travel Plans – and Those of Millions of Animals

In this column, Dr. Bradnee Chambers, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Environment Programme's Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, describes the effects that climate change-related extreme weather events will have on the travels plans of both people and animals.

10 April 2014

Opinion: Protect Elephants and Gorillas to Sustain Our Forests

With 21 March designated by the United Nations as the “International Day of Forests and the Tree”, Bradnee Chambers, the Executive Secretary of the U.N. Environment Programme Convention on Migratory Species, explains why he sees forest and species conservation as two sides of the same coin.

20 March 2014

Opinion: Let's get sustainable development goals right

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under negotiation within the United Nations are set to become the next major driving force for poverty eradication and development.

18 March 2014