Mike Shanahan

Why Strangler Figs Are Associated With Ghosts And Goblins No trees are home to a more motley mix of supernatural creatures than the strangler figs, whose eerie aerial roots are adept at seizing imaginations in their grip.

Happy Halloween. No trees are home to a more motley mix of supernatural creatures than the strangler figs, whose eerie aerial roots are adept at seizing imaginations in their grip... There may be a biological basis to some of these beliefs. 🧪🌏 planetficus.substack.com/p/why-strang...

Why Strangler Figs Are Associated With Ghosts And Goblins No trees are home to a more motley mix of supernatural creatures than the strangler figs, whose eerie aerial roots are adept at seizing imaginations in their grip.

Happy Halloween. No trees are home to a more motley mix of supernatural creatures than the strangler figs, whose eerie aerial roots are adept at seizing imaginations in their grip... There may be a biological basis to some of these beliefs. 🧪🌏 planetficus.substack.com/p/why-strang...

In this edition: Global Biodiversity Framework — Extinction rates — Deforestation data — State of climate action — Ivory trade — CITES — Bird migration — Amazon restoration — Cooked corals — Forest happiness. Plus news from around the world, useful resources, opportunities + much more. 🌏🧪

Nature Beat #83 Updates, stories, resources and opportunities

Just published: The new edition of my newsletter for journalists (and anyone else) interested in biodiversity, the ecological crisis and nature-based solutions to climate change. It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...

In this edition: Global Biodiversity Framework — Extinction rates — Deforestation data — State of climate action — Ivory trade — CITES — Bird migration — Amazon restoration — Cooked corals — Forest happiness. Plus news from around the world, useful resources, opportunities + much more. 🌏🧪

Nature Beat #83 Updates, stories, resources and opportunities

Just published: The new edition of my newsletter for journalists (and anyone else) interested in biodiversity, the ecological crisis and nature-based solutions to climate change. It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...

How Respect for Forest Spirits Protects Borneo's Strangler Figs — and Its Biodiversity Deep in a Bornean rainforest, the antu grasi lurks among the aerial roots of a large strangler fig.

In Borneo, Iban people say a fearsome spirit can bring sickness or death to anyone who harms the strangler fig it calls home. So they leave the fig trees alone. But their taboo does more than appease unseen forces — it shapes the forest itself. planetficus.substack.com/p/how-respec... 🌏🧪

How Respect for Forest Spirits Protects Borneo's Strangler Figs — and Its Biodiversity Deep in a Bornean rainforest, the antu grasi lurks among the aerial roots of a large strangler fig.

New research in Borneo explores how an Iban community’s taboo against harming strangler figs — born of belief in forest spirits — preserves life above and below the canopy, linking belief, ecology and an ancestral sense of reciprocity with nature.🧪🌏
planetficus.substack.com/p/how-respec...

How Respect for Forest Spirits Protects Borneo's Strangler Figs — and Its Biodiversity Deep in a Bornean rainforest, the antu grasi lurks among the aerial roots of a large strangler fig.

New research in Borneo explores how an Iban community’s taboo against harming strangler figs — born of belief in forest spirits — preserves life above and below the canopy, linking belief, ecology and an ancestral sense of reciprocity with nature.🧪🌏
planetficus.substack.com/p/how-respec...

Vol. 1 of our graphic novel SWEENEY'S PROGRESS is finished. An ecological fable set in C7th Ireland, from one of the great medieval poems. Script by me, art by @zaraslattery.bsky.social.

To read the book online & help with the making of Volume 2, visit our Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/sweeneyspr...

In this edition: World Conservation Congress — Ten extinctions — Slow deforestation progress — CITES COP20 — Nigerian rosewood poaching — Feminizing turtles — China’s ivory ban — Rewilding in Mediterranean lands — Plus news from around the world, useful resources, opportunities and much more. 🌏🧪

Nature Beat #82 Updates, stories, resources and opportunities

Just published: The new edition of my newsletter for journalists (and anyone else) interested in biodiversity, the ecological crisis and nature-based solutions to climate change. It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...

In this edition: World Conservation Congress — Ten extinctions — Slow deforestation progress — CITES COP20 — Nigerian rosewood poaching — Feminizing turtles — China’s ivory ban — Rewilding in Mediterranean lands — Plus news from around the world, useful resources, opportunities and much more. 🌏🧪

Nature Beat #82 Updates, stories, resources and opportunities

Just published: The new edition of my newsletter for journalists (and anyone else) interested in biodiversity, the ecological crisis and nature-based solutions to climate change. It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...

I came across this wondrous image of a giant strangler fig on the Samoan island of Upolu — drawn in 1841 by Alfred T. Agate. Look how small the people are in comparison. If strangler figs entice you, check out Planet Ficus for stories about these mind-bending plants. planetficus.substack.com 🧪🌏

Next month, eight experts will brief UK politicians and leaders from business, culture, faith and the media on what the climate and nature crisis means for health, food, national security and the economy. Check here to see if your MP is attending: www.nebriefing.org 🧪🌏

This edition has: World Conservation Congress — Ghost trees — Zimbabwe’s vultures — Europe’s environmental health check — An armadillo-leprosy link — Mutirão — Key biodiversity areas — Mekong forests — Plus the usual mix of news from around the world, useful resources, opportunities and much more 🌏🧪

Nature Beat #81 Updates, stories, resources and opportunities

Just published: The new edition of my newsletter for journalists (and anyone else) interested in biodiversity, the ecological crisis and nature-based solutions to climate change. It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...

This edition has: World Conservation Congress — Ghost trees — Zimbabwe’s vultures — Europe’s environmental health check — An armadillo-leprosy link — Mutirão — Key biodiversity areas — Mekong forests — Plus the usual mix of news from around the world, useful resources, opportunities and much more 🌏🧪

Nature Beat #81 Updates, stories, resources and opportunities

Just published: The new edition of my newsletter for journalists (and anyone else) interested in biodiversity, the ecological crisis and nature-based solutions to climate change. It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...

Planet Ficus Monthly Roundup # Pre-human fig-eaters. Boozing chimps. Typhoon victims. Sacred fig trees in Kenya. Fig-wasps that cheat. A Vietnamese bonsai village. Krishna’s figs — and more.

New at Planet Ficus: the latest monthly roundup. In this edition: Pre-human fig-eaters, boozing chimps, typhoon victims, sacred fig trees in Kenya, fig-wasps that cheat, a Vietnamese bonsai village, Krishna’s figs — and more. planetficus.substack.com/p/planet-fic... 🌏🧪

Planet Ficus Monthly Roundup # Pre-human fig-eaters. Boozing chimps. Typhoon victims. Sacred fig trees in Kenya. Fig-wasps that cheat. A Vietnamese bonsai village. Krishna’s figs — and more.

New at Planet Ficus: the latest monthly roundup. In this edition: Pre-human fig-eaters, boozing chimps, typhoon victims, sacred fig trees in Kenya, fig-wasps that cheat, a Vietnamese bonsai village, Krishna’s figs — and more. planetficus.substack.com/p/planet-fic... 🌏🧪

Every week I scan around 250 sources to compile my Global Nature Beat newsletter. Here is the latest edition, with something for everyone concerned about our planet.🌏🧪

This edition has: Gaza’s environment — Planetary boundaries — Climate pledges — EU Deforestation Regulation — Rights of nature — Activist tourism — Urban biodiversity and health — At-risk psychedelics — Plus the usual mix of news from around the world, useful resources, opportunities + much more. 🧪🌏

Nature Beat #80 Updates, stories, resources and opportunities

Just published: The new edition of my newsletter for journalists (and anyone else) interested in biodiversity, the ecological crisis and nature-based solutions to climate change. It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...

This edition has: Gaza’s environment — Planetary boundaries — Climate pledges — EU Deforestation Regulation — Rights of nature — Activist tourism — Urban biodiversity and health — At-risk psychedelics — Plus the usual mix of news from around the world, useful resources, opportunities + much more. 🧪🌏

Nature Beat #80 Updates, stories, resources and opportunities

Just published: The new edition of my newsletter for journalists (and anyone else) interested in biodiversity, the ecological crisis and nature-based solutions to climate change. It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...

What is more endangered, the pigeon or that usage of "ruddy"?

In this edition: Plastics treaty intrigue — CITES proposals — High Seas biodiversity — Environmental defenders — Brazilian seed collectors — Vulture poisoning — Indian agroecology — Invasive fish —Exotic pets in the EU — Plus news from around the world, resources, opportunities + much more. 🌏🧪