What is agroecology, and why is it worth investing in it? Watch our project's video here, www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUlk... ...and join us for the upcoming online event 20.11.2025: "Cultivating Change - building policy from the ground up". Register here: www.agroecology-transect.net/events/virtu...

I used to think that it's especially in the "developed" world (Europe, N America, Australia etc) that people have devestated nature. But the Andes all around Cusco have hardly any traces of natural vegetation, apparently since Inka times. So it's not "colonialism", it's rather imperialism here.

How NGOs die - Europe’s playbook for dismantling democracy. This piece from @alemanno.bsky.social is chilling. Question is when will animal protection NGOs come under similar attack? euobserver.com/EU%20Politic...

I learn that last week the Council agreed on 90% minus 5% credits (so, de facto 85%) GHG emmission reduction by 2040. Not super ambitious but ok given the current political context. BIG THANKS to all scientists who signed the open letter: It seems our voices were heard, and not completely ignored.

Autumn

💻 If you missed LAFERIA's stakeholder #webinar, don't worry - you can now watch it on our YouTube channel! 📽️ Read about the webinar and watch the recording: laferia-project.eu/news/laferia...

...offener Brief an die europäischen Staats- und Regierungschefs von mehr als 2000 europäischen Wissenschaftler:innen, darunter knapp 50 aus Deutschland: »Die politische Diskussion bewegt sich von den wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen weg«

Dear @eucopresident.consilium.europa.eu @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu @pedrosanchezcas.bsky.social @donald-tusk.bsky.social @micheal-martin.bsky.social @kristenmichalpm.bsky.social: Ahead of 23.10, please see an open letter signed by 2,178 scientists, calling 4 ambitious 2040 climate targets. Thank you.

Open Letter by scientists to the Council: "Climate Neutrality Is Europe’s Greatest Economic Opportunity”. Ahead of the European Council meeting on 23.10.2025, 2,178 scientists urge EU Heads of States & Governments to take ambitious decisions for the 2040 targets. zenodo.org/records/1739...

As droughts become longer and more intense, their toll on ecosystems could be far greater than we thought. Our new paper in @science.org shows how prolonged & extreme droughts cause dramatic, cumulative losses in ecosystem productivity across the globe www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

In Denmark if you're left-leaning or young, you're much more likely to understand that wolves are positive for ecosystems. If you're right-wing or older, the chances diminish substantially. Why 40 wolves have shaken Danish politics. share.google/R4cSBc5DSBgX...

Global deforestation hasn’t slowed in any significant way in the four years since 127 countries pledged to halt and reverse forest loss and degradation by 2030. The newly published 2025 Forest Declaration Assessment shows that nations are 63% off track from meeting their zero-deforestation target.

1/5 "Characterizing the Global Polycrisis: A Systematic Review of Recent Literature" - newly published in Annual Review of Env. & Resources (Rakowski & Schaan et al. 2025)! We harvested all papers on the global polycrisis and analysed a) what it is, b) its components, c) drivers, and d) solutions.

In Paris an einem Fahrschein-Automaten wird man über den CO2-Ausstoß informiert.

The new European Butterfly Red List is published today, with worrying findings. Over 1/4 (28%) of Europe’s 442 species are threatened with extinction or are close to being so. The situation is far worse for our 148 endemic species, 40% are now threatened or nearly so www.bc-europe.eu/webpage.php?...

Dabei ist der Indikator: ✅billig (Monitoring gibt es schon 📉💸) ✅etabliert (z.B. EU-SDG-Indikator 🇪🇺🌍) ✅öffentlichkeitswirksam (alle mögen 🦋🦋🦋) ✅erlebbar (auch Laien können mithelfen 🕵️) ✅misst Biodiversität direkt 🦋🔍 ➡️Hier kann man das mitteilen: beteiligung.bundesumweltministerium.de/de/wiederher...

📢📉🦋Eine neue Studie des @ufz.de enthüllt den Rückgang beim "Index der Gründlandschmetterlinge". Vermutlich genau deshalb wollen Bund und Länder den Indikator des Art. 11(2) der #Wiederherstellungsverordnung lieber nicht für Deutschland anwenden. ➡️ www.ufz.de/index.php?de...

It would be very disappointing if the German government do not adopt the Grassland Butterfly Indicator just because it is going down. They should be taking up the challenge of reversing the decline of pollinators not ignoring this crucial issue to humanity

Interesting exchange today in Paris with the owner of 42Degrees, a tiny restaurant serving fabulous vegan raw food. It is at risk because customers shift back to junkfood as part of the anti-environment trend. If such businesses link to butterfly-friendly farming, could this help? We'll explore!

When someone mentioned Landscape Features in agricultural landscape, what image do you see in your mind? If we say that Landscape Features can be part of viable rural areas, what would be your vision on this? Join us on Tuesday, 14.10 at 10am to speak about it! laferia-project.eu/news/join-us...

Anyone thinking that having a car or two is ''quality of life'', should pay a visit to Paris to experience a city where a car is not only 'not necessary' but even a burden. Paris was transformed by improving public transport, extending bike lanes, and by converting streets to green spaces. Amazing.

Suriname steps up and wants to protect 90% of its #forests reports the @rainforetrust.bsky.social 🌍 #30x30 #Rewilding #HalfEarth #TropicalForests www.rainforesttrust.org/our-impact/r...

3️⃣ Marlinde Koopmans, a senior researcher at EV ILVO will lead a session showcasing examples that highlight the innovative initiatives LAFERIA is mapping. Join and discover how you can become part of the project's journey. More on the webinar and registrations here 👉 bit.ly/46wZp1u

6️⃣The final session of #LAFERIAWebinar, led by @angelalomba.bsky.social from @biopolis.bsky.social, will host breakout groups on discussing & creating approaches to successfully reintroduce landscape features as part of rural areas. More on the webinar and registrations here 👉 bit.ly/46wZp1u

4️⃣ Evelyn Underwood from @ieep.eu will focus on how the EU Biodiversity Strategy’s target for 10% landscape features in farmland has turned into more binding rules through the Nature Restoration Regulation and the CAP. More on the webinar and registrations here 👉 bit.ly/46wZp1u #LAFERIAWebinar

5️⃣ @guypeer.bsky.social, from, @ufz.de will lead session 5 of the #LAFERIAWebinar ,focusing on scaling up landscape feature initiatives, sharing LAFERIA’s approach and inviting reflections on their value, benefits, and funding. More on the webinar and registrations here 👉 bit.ly/46wZp1u

🔍#Biodiversity. Water. Food. Health. #ClimateChange. All of them interact and intersect but how? Check this new graphic from the @ipbes.net #Nexus Assessment and explore the interactions among the nexus elements. Access the Report: www.ipbes.net/nexus/media-...

Food must be taken seriously as an environmental problem. It uses ~38% of Earth’s land, drives ~70% of water use, and emits ~22-34% of greenhouse gas pollution globally. And beef and dairy alone drive a huge proportion of this. But there are solutions. Lots of them. go.ted.com/jonathanfoley24

Interesting news from Kenya: William Ruto is planning to remove 50 acres of forest in the valuable Meru region, in favour of a golf course, a luxury lodge and an air strip. In times of accelerating climate change & ecosystem collapse, this worth commenting on. www.greenpeace.org/africa/en/bl...

2️⃣Project coordinator @fmoreira65.bsky.social from @biopolis.bsky.social will lead a session on the project’s goals and how to support biodiversity by joining the LAFERIA community. 💻More on the webinar and registrations here 👉 bit.ly/46wZp1u #LAFERIAWebinar

Jane Goodall has left us. :-( She has been a truly admireable person. She could harmonize knowledge, wisdom and emotions in a way that brings people, nature and science together. She had the power to inspire people and empower them through empathy. Let us hope many people follow her ways.

A new assessment of land-use changes in Europe, accounting for small-scale changes, indicates a 50% higher loss of green spaces. euobserver.com/green-econom...

Restoring functional farmland biodiversity for biological pest control. kwnsfk27.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me/L0/https://a...

Unlocking the hidden biodiversity of Europe’s villages | EurekAlert! www.eurekalert.org/news-release...

Billions of people who eat meat, unaware thatsoya is an important feed source, do not know that they are contributing to the expansion of soy production into the Amazon, and driving deforestation. This article fails in delivering this information. www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

Pollinators such as wild #bees, #butterflies, and #hoverflies are in trouble worldwide. A major new study, published in Science, shows that the oft-quoted figure of 10% semi-natural habitat in farmland landscapes is far too little to safeguard pollinators jeffollerton.co.uk/2025/09/26/p...

While the prevalence of toxic agrochemicals in our food, water and urine tests is increasing,with known health impacts, and while the biodiversity crisis is accelerating, some agri ministers think that the best thing to do at the moment is to ease the route for approving agrochemicals.

Reminder to register for our LAFERIA event: we seek to exchange with anyone who wants to share experience on restoring landscape features in intensive agricultural lands. It's not a simple task, so let's do it together! events.pensoft.net/events/come-...

“We are facing a planetary emergency. The breach of the Ocean Acidification boundary is a stark scientific warning and a moral call to action. Without healthy oceans, peace, prosperity & stability are at risk everywhere. We must act now...to safeguard this life-support system for future generations"

„Wir brauchen keine Agrar­subventionen gegen Hunger“, sagt Agrarökonom Sebastian Lakner. Die Reform der EU-Zahlungen drohe der Umwelt zu schaden. Gewinne der #Bauern stünden im Fokus – ohne stichhaltigen Grund. taz.de/Agraroekonom... #Landwirtschaft #GAP #Klima #Naturschutz

One day to go: The US wants to cancel the law defending roadless areas. Public comment period for opposing this rollback closes Sep. 19, 2025. An open letter by SCB (@society4conbio.bsky.social) explains why this is a poor idea and how to comment. See more here: conbio.org/publications...

Have you already heard of our EU project LAFERIA? It revolves around the restoration of Landscape Features in intensive agricultural areas. Now a simple challenge! Join us to learn about the project and discuss how we can work together to acheive this. 14.10.2025, 10:00 - more details below.

Cupido argiades (short-tailed blue) used to be quite rare but became common in Leipzig in the past 2-3 years. Is this happening also in other places in Germany/Europe? If so, could it be some sort of an adaptation to changing conditions?

Morgen (16.9) um 18:00:🦋 Online-Vortrag: „Schmetterlinge im Herbst“, in Kooperation mit BUND und VHS Lage (Lippe). Erfahre mehr über ihre Entwicklung, Bedeutung für die Natur, und die Projekte VielFalterGarten und UNPplus. Anmeldung unter: www.vhs-lw.de

Choosing where we source the food that we eat makes a difference to the environment, but how much? After churning through 100s of petabytes of data, we now know the answer varies by three orders of magnitude for species extinction risks! Paper out in Nature Food: www.nature.com/articles/s43... 🌍

Polyommatus icarus (common blue), egg-laying on clover - observed during a 15min count in Budapest. The lawn was cut on the next day.

Fascinating conversation about agri yesterday with my neighbour in a Thuringia village (AfD). First he described the effectiveness of 12year investments by David Stiftung in sustainable agri. Then, on EU politics he said CAP should be abolished: We should follow New Zealand, no subsidies. 1+1 = ?.

Attention: EU Commission call for "feedback on future environmental legislation simplification, launched by 22.7, closing 10.9 (!). Noting that "simplification" is the EU word for "deregulation", inputs from science would seem important. environment.ec.europa.eu/news/feedbac...

Worth studying this. As I'm not an expert on Brazil's policies, so interested to hear opinions on the case.