Living Planet - Reports | Deutsche Welle

Economic growth is often the main measure for human progress and development. But Achim Steiner, head of the UNDP, says that's a narrow view that fails to take into account the impact of environmental damage. In an interview with DW, he lays out how we can get to the green economy of tomorrow.

A symbol of fertility and prosperity, the stork has been making its summer home on European fields and rooftops for millennia. European white storks typically migrated to Africa when the seasons turned to winter up north — but warmer winters due to climate change, along with a steady new food source are convincing the birds to stay put in Europe over the winter.

People from all over the world come to observe the striking African crowned crane in its native habitat. Worldwide, birding is a multi-billion-dollar industry, and a vital source of income in many communities. The bird lives across East Africa — but it is declining in Kenya. And some volunteers have made it their business to take care of grey crowned cranes — starting with the local community.

Scavenger birds like the vulture play a critical role in ecosystems, eating decaying flesh and returning that energy to the food web. But the fact that these birds rely on eating dead animals also puts them at risk. Though vultures don't exactly capture the hearts and minds of the general population, some people have made it their mission to lobby for these undesirables.

Eagles and hawks have found themselves a new competitor for their prey: Well-to-do hunters on the Scottish moors. A threat to human hunters of red grouse, these raptors have become targets themselves. The problem has gotten so bad that new laws are being brought in to restrict hunting, while new technology is helping pinpoint where those protected predatory birds are being illegally killed.

It's no secret that flying isn't great for the environment. Those who don't want to give it up and still feel guilty about it can choose to "offset" the carbon emissions from their flights. But what does this actually entail? Where does the money go and how can you be sure it’s doing anything useful? We follow one couple's offsetting donation all the way to Kenya to find out.

A new UN-led deal — nicknamed CORSIA — is designed to stop the aviation sector's emissions from rising. But instead of limiting flights or imposing a carbon cap, it gets countries to buy credits for carbon offsetting schemes once they reach a certain level of emissions. But DW found no one will have to pay up for another six years and it will cost airlines less than 1% of operating costs.

Wild salmon, the so-called king of fish, is fighting for survival across much of the Northern Hemisphere. Many salmon populations are in steep decline in the face of dams, fish farming and climate change. And in Scotland, one project is focusing on forests to ensure survival of wild salmon at a crisis point. As it turns out, forests feed salmon just as salmon feed the forests.

Sometimes, what appears dead is merely dormant. In an interview, award-winning agronomist Tony Rinaudo describes "farmer-managed natural regeneration," a special tree restoration technique he pioneered it in the arid Sahel of Africa in the 1980s. The method has restored around 200 million trees in the region, bringing increased resilience and prosperity to local farmers.

Romania is home to the largest area of primary forest that's left in Europe. But apart from the old-growth forests being valuable for biodiversity, those large trees are also valuable to the timber industry. In Romania, a "wood mafia" is being described, involving corrupt networks that enable illegal logging. And forest campaigners trying to save the trees have sometimes become targets themselves.

The Eurasian lynx, vital to the health of forests, is protected in the EU. And though lynx may be hunted in Latvia, conservationists are sounding the alarm since accurate numbers for the wild cat population there are not clear. The hunting lobby seems to be exerting undue influence over species management in Latvia. DW hears from all sides, including hunters — while they shoot down an elk.

With all the anxiety and restrictions, who could be blamed for imagining getting away from it all? As people put their holidays on hold, many have used lockdown to explore their local surroundings. Ecotourism, typically involving smaller groups in open spaces, is gaining fresh appeal during the pandemic. In Spain, where tourism is central to the economy, the coronavirus is spurring a rethink.

While we've been holed up during various lockdowns throughout 2020, new generations of locusts have been breeding. Heavy rains created ideal conditions for the insect, which is having a field day. Locusts can eat their weight in vegetation — and in arid regions of East Africa, this can devastate the land.

When we talk about waste, we usually think of household trash — the stuff we throw in the bin. But that pales in comparison to all of the waste generated to make the stuff we buy. So what makes up this waste stream that's invisible to most of us?

In recent years the internet has been crucial in organizing climate activism. Movements like Fridays for Future have utilized social media to spread awareness about climate change and connect across the world. But from the Philippines to Brazil to Germany, activists are reporting increased online abuse. So what impact is this online harassment having on their work, and on them personally?

It's the biggest shake-up to English agriculture in a generation. As millions of pounds of EU farming subsidies come to an end, English farms will now have to apply for grants to help with carbon capture, improved animal welfare and implementing environmentally-beneficial projects. But will the new scheme work?

In many parts of Africa, insects such as termites and grasshoppers are an important source of protein in people's diets. But in South Africa, edible bugs are facing increasing threats due to changes in their environment. Now, scientists are racing to log the DNA barcode of these insect species before they disappear.

Botswana's government has promoted beekeeping as a strategy to combat poverty and loss of biodiversity. But climate change including many years of drought mean beekeepers are facing an uphill battle to keep their hives healthy.

Asian giant hornets — also known as murder hornets — have invaded parts of the northwestern United States. According to Chris Looney who vacuumed out a nest earlier this year, that's bad news for the hornets' main prey: honeybees. He says that unless the invaders are contained, it's just a matter of time before they spread across the US. They could even reach Europe.

In Germany, the Greens have been gaining momentum and political power in recent years. With Chancellor Angela Merkel stepping down next year, might the Green Party have an even bigger role to play in shaping Germany's future?