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Tag: conservation international

  • Apple Announces $200 Million ‘Restore Fund’ to Remove Atmospheric Carbon

    Apple Announces $200 Million ‘Restore Fund’ to Remove Atmospheric Carbon

    Apple and its partners have launched a $200 million “Restore Fund” aimed at removing carbon from the atmosphere.

    Apple has been working for years to reduce its carbon footprint, committing last year to have its entire supply chain carbon neutral by 2030. The company, along with Goldman Sachs and Conservation International, is taking it a step further with the Restore Fund initiative.

    Restore Fund’s goal is to naturally address climate change by investing in forestry projects that will remove at least 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year. Apple also wants to prove the endeavor can be a viable financial success, something that will provide incentive for other companies to invest in climate change.

    “Nature provides some of the best tools to remove carbon from the atmosphere. Forests, wetlands, and grasslands draw carbon from the atmosphere and store it away permanently in their soils, roots, and branches,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives. “Through creating a fund that generates both a financial return as well as real, and measurable carbon impacts, we aim to drive broader change in the future — encouraging investment in carbon removal around the globe. Our hope is that others share our goals and contribute their resources to support and protect critical ecosystems.”

    The Restore Fund builds on an existing working relationship between Apple and Conservation International. Apple has been using 100% responsibly sourced fibers for its packaging for the last three years. The company has also been working with Conservation International to protect and restore forests, grasslands and wetlands.

    “Investing in nature can remove carbon far more effectively — and much sooner — than any other current technology. As the world faces the global threat climate change presents, we need innovative new approaches that can dramatically reduce emissions,” said Dr. M. Sanjayan, CEO of Conservation International. “We are excited to build on our long-standing partnership with Apple and believe the groundbreaking approach with the Restore Fund will make a huge difference and benefit communities around the world with new jobs and revenue that support everything from education to healthcare.”

  • Walking Shark: Great for Science, Great for Conservation

    Science freaked out the laymen a couple of days ago when a new shark species was discovered in Indonesia. Oh yeah, and also…it walks. The new species, called Hemiscyllium halmahera, is a type of epaulette shark described in the journal Aqua: the International Journal of Ichthyology. The shark lives off the coral reefs along the coast of Halmahera, a remote Indonesian island.

    Incredibly, this is not the first time a walking shark has been observed. This is the third known species of walking shark known to have appeared. The ReefQuest Center for Shark Research tried to explain in a statement just how this “walking” could be:


    “The wriggling gait of the Epaulette Shark has been studied as a model of the probable limb movements used by the first tetrapods (four-footed vertebrates) to clamber from the sea onto land. This research provides evidence supporting the evolutionary theory that the paired limb movements necessary for terrestrial locomotion predate the first amphibians.”

    Epaulette sharks, so named for the dramatic badge-like spot behind the pectoral fin, apparently use their fins to help navigate the uneven environment of a coral reef. Check it out:

    The finding of the new Epaulette shark is not only an amazing discovery for science, but could be a huge boon to conservation efforts fronted by a group called Conservation International. Conservation International, whose scientists discovered the shark along with colleagues from the Western Australian Museum, added that it happened to come at a time when Indonesia was increasing its efforts to protect shark and ray species.Conservation International has been trying to turn the tide on the export of shark products from Indonesia, such as dried shark fins and shark meat.

    Ketut Sarjana Putra, Indonesia country director for the group, said the Hemiscyllium halmahera shark could “serve as an excellent ambassador to call public attention to the fact that most sharks are harmless to humans and are worthy of our conservation attention”.

    Image courtesy of Channel News Asia