ecosystems
The lichen-rich tundra has proved very useful for studying the spread of pollutants around the world: the wind carries pollutants everywhere, even distances of thousands of kilometres. Lichens are good bio-indicators, i.e. they are organisms that allow us to recognise…
ecosystems
The Amazon rainforest is the largest area of tropical forests on Earth and has proven to be an important carbon sink in recent decades. The Amazon's carbon sink capacity now seems to be declining due to factors such as deforestation…
ecosystems
The Tuscan Archipelago National Park and the Casentino Forests National Park have joined the prestigious "Green list"of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The Gran Paradiso National Park has been confirmed on this list for the third time…
ecosystems
Global warming is reaching the bottom of the sea and upsetting the delicate balance of ecosystems. Rising water temperatures have a strong impact on biodiversity in marine ecosystems. A group of Australian and New Zealand researchers have identified the risk…
ecosystems
In 2020 we destroyed an area of tropical forest equal to 12.2 million hectares, slightly larger than the size of Bulgaria. Compared to 2019, this is an increase of 12%. These are the findings of the latest Global Forest Watch…
ecosystems
Forests and trees protect us in an infinite number of ways. They provide us with the clean air that we breathe and the water that we drink. They shelter and protect the biodiversity of the planet and are our natural…
ecosystems
In February 2016, Tropical Cyclone Winston, the strongest cyclone ever to hit the southern hemisphere, struck the Republic of Fiji, Oceania, causing severe damage to homes and local residents. In addition to the villages, the 'cities of the sea', i.e.…
ecosystems
2 February is World Wetlands Day, set up in 1997 to commemorate the anniversary of the "Convention on Wetlands of International Importance", signed in Ramsar (Iran) in 1971. The Convention, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, was set up…
ecosystems
Coffee is second only to water in the ranking of the most popular beverages in the world: world coffee consumption is 2.5 billion cups per day. One in three is drunk in Europe; for us Italians in particular, drinking coffee…