Mike Shanahan
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mikeshanahan.bsky.social
Mike Shanahan
@mikeshanahan.bsky.social
1.6K followers 720 following 270 posts
Former rainforest biologist, now freelance writer/editor focused on biodiversity, forests, climate, etc. Two newsletters: Global Nature Beat https://thenaturebeat.substack.com/ and Planet Ficus https://planetficus.substack.com
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Reposted by Mike Shanahan
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. 🌏🧪
Reposted by Mike Shanahan
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...
Nature Beat #83
Updates, stories, resources and opportunities
thenaturebeat.substack.com
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. 🌏🧪
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...
Nature Beat #83
Updates, stories, resources and opportunities
thenaturebeat.substack.com
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.
planetficus.substack.com
Reposted by Mike Shanahan
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.
planetficus.substack.com
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.
planetficus.substack.com
Reposted by Mike Shanahan
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...
Reposted by Mike Shanahan
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. 🌏🧪
Reposted by Mike Shanahan
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...
Nature Beat #82
Updates, stories, resources and opportunities
thenaturebeat.substack.com
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. 🌏🧪
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...
Nature Beat #82
Updates, stories, resources and opportunities
thenaturebeat.substack.com
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 🧪🌏
Reposted by Mike Shanahan
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 🌏🧪
Reposted by Mike Shanahan
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...
Nature Beat #81
Updates, stories, resources and opportunities
thenaturebeat.substack.com
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 🌏🧪
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...
Nature Beat #81
Updates, stories, resources and opportunities
thenaturebeat.substack.com
Reposted by Mike Shanahan
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.
planetficus.substack.com
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.
planetficus.substack.com
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.🌏🧪
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...
Nature Beat #80
Updates, stories, resources and opportunities
thenaturebeat.substack.com
Reposted by Mike Shanahan
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. 🧪🌏
Reposted by Mike Shanahan
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...
Nature Beat #80
Updates, stories, resources and opportunities
thenaturebeat.substack.com
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. 🧪🌏