The Waggle
Issue 75
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Band of wild Przewalski/Takhi Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) bachelor stallions at, Hustai National Park, Tuv Province, Mongolia.
Nature Picture Library / Alamy Stock Photo
Rewilding Horses • Juliana Birnbaum
Two hundred years after the last wild horse disappeared from the Central Asian steppe, this month, an intrepid group of them galloped off a trailer to reclaim their ancestral habitat in Kazakhstan. The endangered Przewalski’s horse is the only remaining wild species on Earth– that is, not descended from domesticated horses. The seven horses, four mares from Berlin and a stallion and two other mares from Prague were carried by Czech Army aircraft to Golden Steppe, an area of open grasslands. This region is where horses were first domesticated about 5,500 years ago. Once abundant across Europe and Asia, Przewalski’s horses went extinct in the wild due to human activities, including hunting them for meat and development, which fragmented their population. The goal is to reintroduce forty horses to the region after breeding them at zoos in Munich and Prague. Filip Mašek, a spokesperson for Prague Zoo, noted that repopulating the horses would increase biodiversity, as their presence helps to fertilize and rehydrate the steppe. “This is the beginning of a whole new chapter in the story of the last wild horse on the planet,” he observed. And when complex interactions among factors such as light, nutrients, and vegetation are in balance, optimal grazing intensity can sequester carbon in soil.
EU Climate Action Win • Hugo Paquin & Scott Hannan
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Degraded landscape in the south of Poland.
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The Nature Restoration Law, a long-debated piece of European legislation, was narrowly passed last week in a significant victory for environmentalists. The law’s overarching goal is to restore at least twenty percent of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030 and all of its degraded ecosystems by 2050. According to the European Environment Agency, 81% of Europe's natural habitats and 63% of its species are considered to be in poor health. The regulation contains specific targets, which include improving and re-establishing biodiverse habitats on a large scale, reversing the decline of pollinator populations, preventing any net loss of green urban space and tree cover, improving the share of agricultural ecosystems with high-diversity landscape features, and restoring drained peatlands and marine habitats. The law was opposed by farmer groups and the center-right European People’s Party, who argued it would diminish livelihoods, push up prices for consumers, and disrupt existing supply chains. In the end, the proposal became law after a massive public mobilization, including a petition with over a million signatures and repeated calls from 6000+ scientists, 100+ businesses, youth organizations, and civil society members. It passed on the vote of Austrian climate minister Leonore Gewessler, who stated: “My conscience tells me unmistakably that when the healthy and happy life of future generations is at stake, courageous decisions are needed.”
Sheep and Solar Grow Together • Amy Boyer
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Sheep grazing around solar panels.
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Ranchers and developers who put solar and grazing together see multiple benefits: sheep mow the plants, reducing costs and fire risk, and the plants cool the panels, making them more efficient. The panels provide shade for sheep and plants, and condensation provides water that keeps grass growing through drought. Sheep even have better wool when raised on solar pastures. Climate change puts pressure on farmers' income, and the panels can provide steady income and buffer heat, drought, and storms. It's not easy: developers, site managers, and ranchers have different priorities, needs, and cultures. However, agrivoltaics can bring farmers a steady income and give developers more flexibility in siting projects. In Germany, where there is intense competition among possible land uses, research is generating case studies and standards that can illuminate best practices for agrivoltaics—not only for sheep grazing but also for horticulture. Suitable crops include berries, leafy vegetables, and stone fruit. Other leaders include Japan, China, France, Italy, and the US. See our Agrivoltaics Nexus for more information.
Zambian Forest Revival • Claire Inciong Krummenacher
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| A short documentary on WeForest's activities in Katanino, Zambia. (10 mins.) |
In just four years, conservation activists and farmers have been able to restore over 1,240 acres of the Katanino Forest Reserve, which had lost more than 58% of its forest cover in 2019. In collaboration with the Zambian Forestry Department, the conservation group WeForest regrew trees from stumps and intact root systems, a technique known as assisted natural regeneration (ANR). The method is particularly well-suited to the miombo forest that covers most of Zambia, given the miombo’s ability to quickly send out new shoots. It also acts faster than typical afforestation methods since it doesn’t require new seedlings. Studies have found that the carbon storage capacity of damaged miombo woodlands treated via ANR matched those of intact forests within twenty years. As a result, WeForest is working to implement the lessons learned from the Katanino Reserve in other restoration efforts across the country. In addition to the carbon sequestration benefits, Forestry Department officials have observed a significant increase in bird, reptile, and mammal sightings this year compared to before the project began. To learn more, see Degraded Land Restoration Nexus.
Towards a Plastic-Free Pilgrimage • Richa Singh
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Nighttime shot of a Hindu Temple dedicated to Shiva. Kedarnath, Uttarakhand, India.
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The world discards 400 million tonnes of plastic per year, and a study revealed that only 9% of this waste gets recycled, 12% is incinerated, and 79% accumulates in landfills or the natural environment. India, a significant contributor to this crisis, generates about 9.4 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, amounting to 26,000 tonnes daily. Despite India's improved ranking in the Mismanaged Waste Index (MWI) from 4th to 95th since 2023, over two-thirds of its plastic waste remains mismanaged, highlighting the urgent need for solutions. Kedarnath, a sacred pilgrimage site situated at an altitude of 11,755 feet, epitomizes this challenge. The three million pilgrims who visit each year generate approximately 10,000 kg of solid waste every single day. This waste threatens both the local ecology and the fragile paraglacial sediments of the Himalayas.
To tackle this issue, Kedarnath has implemented Deposit Return Systems (DRS), which incentivize the return of plastic containers by offering refunds on deposits paid at purchase. This strategy has significantly reduced plastic waste accumulation, aligning with national efforts and protecting the Himalayas' unique environment. For more on how to solve this issue, see our Plastics Nexus.
To tackle this issue, Kedarnath has implemented Deposit Return Systems (DRS), which incentivize the return of plastic containers by offering refunds on deposits paid at purchase. This strategy has significantly reduced plastic waste accumulation, aligning with national efforts and protecting the Himalayas' unique environment. For more on how to solve this issue, see our Plastics Nexus.
EVs Drive Down Oil Demand • Tobias Schmitz
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Car charging station in a parking lot in Duisburg, Germany.
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According to recent data, the increasing adoption of EVs is making a dent in global oil demand; in 2023 alone, sales surged by over fifty percent worldwide. By decade's end, they could make up half of all new car sales. A recent report by UBS highlighted that the growth of EVs could reduce global oil demand by as much as 21 million barrels per day by 2040. Market intelligence from S&P Global suggests that fuel efficiency standards, in concert with the continued expansion of the EV market, may very well sever the oil industry's grip on key markets. Ultimately EVs are only as clean as the energy source behind the plug, so their uptake is likely to increase demand for natural gas– unless renewables are deployed in time. Still, the ongoing transformation is not just a prediction. It’s a reality reshaping the energy landscape and demonstrating a significant shift towards more sustainable transportation options. Learn more in our Electric Vehicle Nexus.
Take Action on Nexus
Find out how to accelerate the breakdown of silicate minerals to improve crop productivity, reverse ocean acidification, and permanently absorb carbon from the atmosphere in our Enhanced Weathering Nexus.
Photo Credits
1. Nature Picture Library / Alamy Stock Photo
2. Panther Media GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo
3. Panther Media GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo
4. Andrey Khrobostov / Alamy Stock Photo
5. Jochen Tack / Alamy Stock Photo
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