Friends of Nature and Biodiversity

19/04/2026

2026 logo unveiled!

Grounded in the theme of the International Day for Biological Diversity 2026, “Acting locally for global impact,” the logo created for the global celebration pays tribute to local actors around the world who are doing their share to advance the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework – the universal blueprint to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.

Working alongside governments and other actors, these efforts help shift the needle towards the shared vision of living in harmony with nature.

Through its visual identity, the logo reflects this collective endeavour, illustrating how action taken at the local level can contribute to impact that reaches far beyond, while global progress in turn supports people and nature on the ground.

As the world works towards achieving the 23 targets of the Framework by 2030, all are encouraged to use the logo as a symbol of their engagement and contribution to a global movement rooted in local action.

19/04/2026

The Nile Crocodile possesses one of the strongest bite forces of any living animal, estimated at up to 5,000 PSI, yet uses those same jaws to transport its newly hatched offspring to water with a gentleness that produces zero injuries. When hatchlings call from inside their buried egg shells after the 90-day incubation period, the mother excavates the nest and gently cracks open any eggs that have not opened on their own using her jaws, carefully extracting the hatchlings. She then fills her mouth with up to 15 hatchlings simultaneously and carries them to the water's edge where she opens her jaws and releases them. This carrying behavior requires precise control of jaw pressure maintained at a level that holds the hatchlings firmly without causing any injury to their soft bodies, demonstrating fine motor jaw control in an animal whose powerful bite is used for killing large mammals. The mother guards her hatchlings in a nursery pool for several weeks after hatching, responding to distress calls from offspring and attacking any predator that approaches. Hatchlings that stray are retrieved and returned to the group. Male Nile Crocodiles take no role in parenting.

09/04/2026

The National Validation Workshop of Nigeria's Country Package with the theme "Securing Nigeria's Forest Future (SNFF)" is a crucial event aimed at strengthening sustainable forest management in Nigeria.

The workshop focuses on enhancing Nigeria's forest monitoring capacities, supporting the implementation of REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), and improving the country's ability to meet international climate reporting and carbon standards.

The workshop is part of the AIM4Forests project, which seeks to address technical and functional gaps in Nigeria's forest monitoring system. By doing so, it will enable the country to access carbon finance opportunities and promote sustainable forest management.

Some key areas the workshop addressed include:
- *Forest Monitoring and MRV Capacity*: Strengthening Nigeria's forest monitoring and Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) capacity.
- *Sustainable Forest Management*: Supporting sustainable forest management and REDD+ implementation.
- *International Climate Reporting*: Enhancing Nigeria's ability to meet international climate reporting and carbon standards.

The workshop brings together stakeholders from federal and state government agencies, civil society, academia, and development partners to contribute expertise in areas such as forest policy, remote sensing, and climate change reporting.

08/04/2026

In the 1970s and 80s, vultures were the unofficial kings of the Nigerian sky.

They didn’t hide; they perched fearlessly on our rooftops, patrolled the dustbins, and took bold strolls right into our compounds.

Back then, seeing a vulture was as normal as seeing a neighbor.
Nobody blinked an eye.
Fast forward to today, and the story has changed completely.

Most Nigerians under the age of 30 have never seen a vulture in real life.
These once-powerful "cleaners" of our environment have performed a disappearing act that many of us didn't even notice until the skies went quiet.

The reality is heartbreaking.
They’ve been hunted, poisoned, and pushed to the very edge of extinction.
From the destruction of their habitats by urbanization to the demand for their body parts in traditional medicine and rituals, these birds have paid a heavy price.

Today, our environment is less alive because we’ve lost the natural sanitation crew that kept our surroundings clean for free.
It’s a loud reminder of how fast nature can vanish when we aren't paying attention.

We shouldn't wait for the next generation to ask, "What is a vulture?" before we start caring.

Nature is disappearing right before our eyes, it's time we protect what's left.

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07/04/2026

I am honored to join the 2026 cohort of the African Wildlife Foundation Wall Youth Leadership Program, Policy Fellowship track.

Selected from over 1,000 applicants, this opportunity strengthens my role in connecting field experience with policy and decision making.

Over the next nine months, in collaboration with United Nations Environment Programme, I will build skills to drive real impact in conservation.

Grateful for the opportunity. Ready for the work ahead.

06/04/2026

Important: If you’re passionate about climate action, ESG, and creating impact, this list is for you. These free certified courses can help you gain practical knowledge and strengthen your professional profile.

1️⃣ Diploma in Environmental Management (Alison)
🔗 https://lnkd.in/etzmYX-3

2️⃣ Monitoring Air Pollution Effects (UN CC:Learn)
🔗 https://lnkd.in/ewMnKEch

3️⃣ Net Zero 101: What, Why and How (UN CC:Learn)
🔗 https://lnkd.in/dspdgDFA

4️⃣ Introduction to EMS – ISO 14001:2015 (Alison)
🔗 https://lnkd.in/eXVYVxhS

5️⃣ Consommation et production durables en Afrique (UN CC:Learn)
🔗 https://lnkd.in/eDUBNhk3

6️⃣ Environment & Natural Resources in Peacekeeping (UNITAR)
🔗 https://lnkd.in/eZHjekDg

7️⃣ Energy in Buildings (The Open University)
🔗 https://lnkd.in/ecZVrn_9

8️⃣ ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System (The Knights of Safety™️)
🔗 https://lnkd.in/d5tfEpjd

9️⃣ Climate Change and Health (World Health Organization)
🔗 https://lnkd.in/esCVgZQu

🔟 Circular Economy: Sustainable Materials Management (FutureLearn)
🔗 https://lnkd.in/eDjKyhm4

Start learning today and invest in a more sustainable future. Repost for my continue work.

03/04/2026

"What a big, beautiful motorway in the middle of this city" (no one said - ever).

Nor has anyone ever visited a city to marvel at its overflowing cement structures.

Cities thrive with green, inclusive public spaces. Here’s why investing in nature in cities is a game changer 👇

💚 Health & well-being

Access to green spaces reduces stress, improves mental health, and encourages physical activity. Studies show that exposure to urban nature directly supports healthier lifestyles and overall well-being

🌡️ Cooling our cities

Trees, parks, and green corridors help lower urban temperatures - critical as heatwaves intensify. Nature-based solutions act as natural air conditioners in dense urban areas.

🌍 Climate resilience

Green spaces absorb rainwater, reduce flooding risks, and restore ecosystems - key for adapting to climate impacts. Cities worldwide are already scaling these solutions to build resilience

🤝 Stronger communities

Public spaces bring people together, fostering inclusion, social cohesion, and safer neighborhoods. They are essential for equitable urban development.

🚶Liveable, people-centred cities

Well-designed public spaces promote walkability, reduce pollution, and improve quality of life - making cities more attractive and sustainable.

Investing in nature is far from a luxury. We're much better off understanding it as a core urban infrastructure for healthier, more resilient, and more inclusive cities.

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Join us at the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13)- where global leaders, urban planners, and communities converge to co-create inclusive, safe, and resilient cities for everyone.

To register, search "World Urban Forum" or head to

Held every two years, the World Urban Forum is the premier global conference on urbanization convened by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). It brings together a wide range of participants from around the world to discuss major urban challenges facing the world today.

03/04/2026

🌍🌱 Africa takes a bold step toward sustainable growth!

What if forests and agriculture didn’t have to compete but could thrive together? That’s exactly what 10 African countries are aiming to achieve with the launch of the Addis Action Roadmap. 🚀

Here’s why this matters 👇

🔍 Key highlights

🌳 Forest protection meets food security: countries are aligning policies to protect forests while boosting agricultural productivity, no more trade-offs.

🤝 Regional collaboration: A unified effort across nations strengthens impact, sharing knowledge, tools, and strategies for long-term sustainability.

💡 Smart land use planning: The roadmap promotes better land management, reducing deforestation while supporting farmers and local communities.

🌍 Climate action in motion: This initiative directly contributes to global climate goals by reducing emissions and preserving biodiversity.

🚀 Why It’s a big deal: Africa is leading with a forward-thinking model that shows economic growth and environmental protection can go hand in hand. It’s not just a plan, it’s a blueprint for the future.

For more detailed information, check out the full story here: https://www.un-redd.org/post/10-african-countries-launch-bold-addis-action-roadmap-sustainable-forests-and-agriculture

Sustainable agriculture and forests are mutually reinforcing pillars that support Africa’s long-term development. With agriculture central to the continent’s economies and projected population growth, strengthening agriculture–forestry linkages is increasingly recognized as a key transformatio...

31/03/2026

29/03/2026

With its tiny face and permanent smile, the quokka has earned a title no one argues with… the happiest animal on Earth 😊. Native to Western Australia, especially Rottnest Island, these small marsupials naturally have facial features that make them look like they’re always smiling, even when they’re simply relaxed or alert.

Their friendly appearance and calm nature have made them a global internet sensation, with tourists often amazed by how approachable they seem in the wild. But behind that cheerful look is a resilient survivor. Quokkas have adapted to harsh environments with limited water and food, storing fat in their tails and thriving where many animals struggle.

Scientists explain that their “smile” isn’t an emotional expression like humans, but a result of their jaw structure. Still, that doesn’t stop people from feeling an instant connection. Sometimes nature accidentally creates something that looks like pure joy, and the world can’t help but love it 🐾

26/03/2026

🌿 Join the 4th Summer School on Adapting Forests to Climate Change with a special focus on Assisted Migration! 🌿

Bundesforschungszentrum für Wald (BFW), the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, EVOLTREENETWORK, and IUFRO units 2.02.00 and 2.02.05 invite you to an exciting summer school to be held at the:

📍Austrian Research Centre for Forests, Vienna, Austria
🗓️20-24 July 2026

Details at ➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/summer-school-adapting-forests-climate-change-debojyoti-chakraborty-lcytf/

25/03/2026

Hot off the press/Mark your agendas:

UN Biodiversity just announced that COP17 Finance Day is taking place on October 26 at COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia! A dedicated space for dialogue on aligning financial flows with National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), strengthening public–private collaboration, and translating global commitments into bankable action on the ground.

COP17 will not be a routine biodiversity summit. It will be a stocktake moment — assessing progress on the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and, crucially, scrutinising delivery on resource mobilisation towards the countdown to 2030.

Finance is no longer peripheral to biodiversity policy. It is central. The Resource Mobilization Plan agreed at the resumed COP16 negotiations set clear expectations: public finance must increase, but private finance must scale dramatically. The pressure is shifting from ambition to implementation. UN Environment Programme State of Finance for Nature 2026 report finds that for every $1 invested in protecting nature, $30 is spent on activities that destroy it.