Oct 12

Ecuador, a country made up of great human and biological diversity

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A week or so after returning from visiting our China campaign managers in Kunming, I was back in the air again, this time heading west to Ecuador, a country of geological and geographic contrasts. From the offshore islands of the Galapagos … Continue reading

Sep 30

A serendipitous career in conservation leads to a doctorate at Cornell

Rare Conservation Fellow Santi “Joy” Saypanya’s nickname is well-deserved. Everyone who meets him says that he truly is a joy. In 2008, as a staff member of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Lao PDR program, he joined forces with Rare … Continue reading

Sep 28

Notes from a rare planet: And the gold goes to…Rwanda!

Rwanda has become the newest winner of the prestigious future policy award 2011 (IPS) “‘Rwanda has sought not only to make its forests a national priority, but has also used them as a platform to revolutionise its stances on women’s rights … Continue reading

Sep 26

Notes from a rare planet: Mexico will ban shark fishing as global sanctuary movement grows

Mexico will ban shark fishing as global sanctuary movement grows (The New York Times) “Conservationists estimate that about 73 million sharks are slaughtered each year mainly for acquiring their fins, and they fear that the uncontrolled and illegal fishing of … Continue reading

Sep 23

Feelings of being in a Jimmy Buffet song and a quick meeting with Yao Ming in China

I sometimes feel like a disembodied soul in Jimmy Buffet’s classic song “Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude,” for he writes: Reading departure signs in some big airport Reminds me of the places I’ve been Visions of good times that … Continue reading