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Life on a Sustainable Planet

Smithsonian Voices

CWNYC24

The Climate Crunch - Why Every Fall Feels Like a Race to Save the Planet

Every autumn, climate conferences ignite efforts in the fight against climate change. How do these gatherings inspire reflection and drive action?

Ellen Stofan | October 10, 2024

Five Spooky Species That Science Brought Back From the Brink

Need some last-minute Halloween costume inspo? These five species narrowly escaped the greatest horror story of our time: extinction.

Sarah Grace Wheedleton | October 31, 2022

In the Peruvian Amazon, drones like this one are being used to monitor and prevent future destruction of the rainforest from artisanal gold mining. Photo by Guy Loftus for Conservation X Labs.

Innovating Modern Solutions to Conservation Problems

Smithsonian's Earth Optimism and Conseervation X Labs have collaborated since the first Earth Optimism Summit.

Cat Kutz | April 17, 2020

Dr. Grant Connette trains participants on best practices in setting up wildlife cameras to ensure that high-quality data is collected.

Smithsonian scientists help put endangered Myanmar species on the map

The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) is developing animal distribution maps as part of the Smithsonian Conservation Commons’ Working Landscapes initiative in Myanmar, helping stakeholders and decision makers make better choices regarding landscape management.

Leila Nilipour | November 29, 2018
The red siskin or cardenalito is inextricably linked with Venezuela’s identity, yet it is now rare in its natural habitat.

Coffee and Chocolate Could Help Preserve Endangered Birds in Venezuela

The Smithsonian Institution and Piedra de Cachimbo coffee farmers in northern Venezuela are committing to the conservation of 400 hectares of forest for traditional shade-grown organic coffee, seeking Smithsonian Bird Friendly certification of their beans. This will help protect the habitat of the red siskin, an endangered red and black finch.

Leila Nilipour | November 5, 2018
Snail kites' migratory behavior may be driven primarily by precipitation, as the species feeds mainly on Apple snails, which in turn rely on persistent bodies of water.

The Next Frontier: Unraveling the Mysteries of Tropical Bird Migration

Scientists have started to notice that, like their counterparts breeding in temperate latitudes, tropical birds exhibit migratory behaviors. Now Peter Marra, director of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute’s (SCBI) Migratory Bird Center, and Brandt Ryder, a research ecologist at SCBI are trying to understand why, by tracking two species of Neotropical birds in Brazil: Bare-throated bellbirds and Snail kites.

Leila Nilipour | October 13, 2018
Matt Ogburn, Charles Bangley, and SERC intern Michelle Edwards (L to R) surgically implant an acoustic transmitter into a juvenile Bull Shark. Credit: Jay Fleming/SERC

Marine Migrations, Key to Climate Change Predictions and Conservation Efforts

By tracking rays, sharks and river herring, the Fish and Invertebrate Ecology lab at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center is working to figure out how marine migration data could help predict marine species' responses to climate change and aid in the conservation of endangered ones.

Leila Nilipour | September 21, 2018
Released Limosa Harlequin frog with radio transmitter. Courtesy Blake Klocke

A Second Release Trial Advances The Goal Of Reintroducing Endangered Frogs Into The Wild

Leila Nilipour | August 29, 2018
Categories
  • Animals (15)
  • Birds (6)
  • Bison (2)
  • Conservation Commons (35)
  • Earth Optimism (84)
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  • Migration (3)
  • News Roundup (22)
  • Sustainable Foods (5)
Archive
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