Species all over the world are declining at harrowing rates - driven by a mix of factors such as climate change and other human activities. But, there’s a bright light on the horizon.

WWF's latest report reveals that 234 new species were discovered by scientists in the Greater Mekong region back in 2023, including 173 species of vascular plants, 26 reptiles, 17 amphibians, 15 fishes and three mammals.

On this episode of Climate Connections, Uma Sachidhanandam, Director of Conservation & Science, WWF-Singapore explains what such discoveries mean for the Mekong region, how they’re named thereafter, and why the means through which some of these species are found reveal a more sinister plight. She also shares which three are her personal favourites!

Feature produced and edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)
Voiced by: Emaad Akhtar
Photo credits: The Earthshot Prize
Music credits: WWF-Singapore, Truong Ba Vuong, Parinya Pawangkhanant

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To protect our planet - meeting the global ‘30 by 30’ target of safeguarding 30% of oceans by 2030 is crucial. But that will not be possible without effective enforcement of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing - or IUU fishing - accounts for one of every five wild-caught fish. In fact, experts estimate that between 10 to 26 million tons of IUU-caught fish is taken out of our oceans each year, which equates to nearly 20 percent of the global reported catch.

This is contributing to the decline of certain species, which affects not just small-scale fishers, who make up 90% of the world's fishing workforce, but also jeopardises the survival of other marine species that depend on these fish species.

It has since been close to two years since the historic High Seas Treaty was signed in New York, a treaty that would allow the establishment of MPAs and other conservation efforts on the high seas - ocean areas that exist outside national borders and have previously never had a legal mechanism to cover them.

Yet, many countries struggle to make these protections a reality, even with the establishment of the High Seas Treaty.

On this episode of Climate Connections, Meaghan Brosnan, CEO of WildAid - a global non-profit organisation that is scaling marine enforcement to end illegal fishing and strengthen ocean conservation - shares her perspectives.

Feature produced and edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)
Voiced by: Audrey Siek
Photo credits: The Earthshot Prize
Music credits: pixabay & its talented community of contributors

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Leatherback sea turtles are classified by the IUCN as Vulnerable on a global level, but their subpopulation in the Western Pacific are faring far worse than others. According to scientists, that population has declined to just 1,400 breeding adults, leaving them critically endangered.

At the forefront of those efforts is The Nature Conservancy, which is partnering with the Solomon Islands government to gather data from critical nesting beaches in Isabel Province, with funding from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

And although strict gender roles dictate much of Melanesian culture, TNC is slowly shifting the tides at Solomon Islands through the recruitment of women rangers.

On this episode of Climate Connections, Pete Waldie, Solomon Islands Program Director of The Nature Conservancy shares his first-hand insights.

Feature produced and edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)
Voiced by: Emaad Akhtar
Photo credits: The Nature Conservancy
Music credits: pixabay & its talented community of contributors

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.