Two Women Cycle The Silk Road For Transboundary Conservation

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These women began their epic 10,000 mile biking for transboundary conservation journey in Istanbul. Following their own footsteps down an entirely different path, best friends Kate Harris and Melissa Yule left Istanbul to continue a year-long tour of transboundary protected areas (TBPAs) along the Silk Road. With concern that these outlaying ecosystems are especially vulnerable […]

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Jordanian Environmentalists to Fight Ajloun Forest Construction

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Jordanian environmentalists have launched a new campaign against planned construction in a nature reserve. Jordanian environmentalists have launched a new campaign against plans to build a military academy at Bergish, in the Ajloun Forest nature reserve in north-western Jordan. The plans will, says campaigners from Halt Ajloun Deforestation, destroy an estimated 2,200 trees – some […]

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The Surprising Impact Of Dust On Climate Change

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Dust in the atmosphere can mitigate the heating effect of trapped greenhouse gases. If climate science were simple, perhaps we could design a quick fix that would suck out the carbon trapped in the atmosphere, and restore weather to it’s pre-freaky ways. Unfortunately, that’s not how nature works. To further add to the complexity, The […]

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“Spy Vulture” Cleared Of Espionage Charges

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The vulture (which may actually be a bald eagle) captured in rural Saudi Arabia will be released. Following widespread (and embarrassing) news coverage, the vulture captured in Saudi Arabia and reportedly “arrested” on charges of espionage will be released. Israelis told Sky News that associating the migrating vulture with Mossad – one of Israel’s intelligence […]

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How Fair Is That Rose, Dear Egypt?

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Before you pick up your sweetheart’s flowers this years, check first to find out where they come from. Only one month before Valentine’s day, when thousands of women are expected to swoon over after a last minute pitch to be romantic, Egypt will host the world’s leading flower producers at a three day long exhibition. […]

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One Vulture’s Tagged Migration or Zionist Plot?

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A vulture fitted with Tel Aviv University tags was “arrested” in Saudi Arabia. The charge? Espionage. Fitting migratory birds with tags and GPS transmitters allows ornithologists and other researchers to track their migration. Important questions are answered: where do the birds fly?  Where do they rest? How far do they travel. Dubai researchers recently tagged […]

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Why One Should Linger in Sebastia, Near Nablus

Wander off the beaten trail in the West Bank, and find a treasure of a guesthouse in Sebastia, near Nablus The little town of Sebastia, near Nablus in the northern West Bank, was one a major city. Home to successive civilisations from its Canaanite founders to its modern-day Palestinian inhabitants (via Israelites, Crusaders and Alexander […]

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Mediterranean Countries Shut Down Coral Protection

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For the sake of trade in red coral such as this, several Mediterranean countries opposed a measure that would have protected precious coral. Already plagued by a bucketful of ecological maladies, the Mediterranean faces further degradation of its precious coral, Bikya Masr reports. In December several Mediterranean countries were among those that shot down a […]

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Where Abu Dhabi’s Flamingoes Roam

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Fitted with a satellite device, this flamingo, Yasmeena, will help Abu Dhabi researchers track the bird’s migratory routes. Abu Dhabi’s Environment Agency (EAD) has been busy this year. In addition to rescuing endangered baboons and hyenas from a private home, and caring for coral reefs one disc at a time, they have played a pivotal […]

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What Happens When Hyenas Pee On Bedouins?

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Because of an enduring myth, Bedouins in Jordan kill hyenas and owls; The Badia Center for Ecological Education is trying to educate locals and relieve pressure on wildlife. The desert area north of Amman, Jordan (the site of the King Hussein Park) which engulfs roughly 75% of the entire country, is under strain. In addition […]

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