All parts of a shark can be eaten. Some parts are worth a whole lot of money and that makes them hunted and endangered. Can sharks and shark eaters coexist? A freshly-caught shark is displayed for sale a traditional market in Tanjung Luar, on the Indonesian island of...
The idea of setting aside land back in 1872 has spread into a movement across the world. When a nation creates a national park, it is a gift to the globe. Yellowstone Falls in Yellowstone National Park. (Photo by Gene Gibbons) Editor’s note: In February 2025,...
As nations gather in Baku for COP29 to fight climate change, a less noticed gathering took place in Colombia to protect the myriad forms of life we might lose. An artist puts the finishing touches on a mural a day ahead of the COP16 United Nations biodiversity...
Determined not to disturb wildlife, researchers in Uganda are using a technology that dates back to 1906. A man sets up a camera trap in Uganda. (Credit: Volcanoes Safaris) In 2023, a study made headlines of how wild animals fear human voices more than the roar of...
What’s a more powerful conservation incentive — a government jail or the wrath of a nature spirit? A shady path in a sacred forest in Myanmar. (Credit: Paul Spencer Sochaczewski) This article was produced exclusively for News Decoder’s global news service. It is...
What’s a more powerful conservation incentive — a government jail or the wrath of a nature spirit? There are many ways to preserve wildlife. Correspondent Paul Spencer Sochaczewski ventures into Myanmar’s sacred forests to unearth the secret of conservation.
Exercise: Start a discussion on ways governments and communities can protect local flora, fauna and areas of natural interest. Read the article and discuss the suggested questions. Students should then undertake research to identify other examples of local folklore and community spiritual and religious beliefs affecting environmental conservation positively. Hint: Look to countries with a strong history of folklore and explore stories with links to the natural environment.