Natural Resource Today Podcast
Episodes
Episode 55: The effect of light pollution on flesh fly species.
20 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A new study, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, shows that increasing temperatures and light pollution affect hibernation patterns i...
Episode 54: Study suggests a multi-stakeholder Conservation Management Plan for dolphins.
13 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A study, published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, reveals that there is an urgent need for conservation action to save the Indian Ocean h...
Episode 53: Projected population decline of the emperor penguins.
06 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A recent research paper, published in the journal Global Change Biology, shows that climate change is threatening the survival of the emperor penguins...
Episode 52: New rainforest tracking system to improve conservation efforts.
30 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A recent research paper, published in the journal One Earth, sheds light on a new tracking system to monitor threats to global rainforests. The scient...
Episode 51: Understanding how sharks digest food.
23 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A recent study, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, gives insights into how shark intestines function. The scientists used a ...
Episode 50: International research project to map biodiversity in the Western Cape of South Africa.
16 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A team of scientists from the United States and South Africa seeks to map biodiversity in South Africa's Greater Cape Floristic Region. The project, M...
Episode 49: Urgent need for a new integrated land-sea governance framework.
09 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A recent report by the International Resource Panel, part of the United Nations Environment Programme, says there is an urgent need for a new integrat...
Episode 48: Millions of Africans face chronic hunger by 2050.
02 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Nearly 80 million people will be be affected by chronic hunger by 2050, and more than 50% of them are in Sub-Saharan Africa, new report predicts. The ...
Episode 47: Bauxite mining project threatens Atewa forest in Ghana.
25 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Atewa Range Forest Reserve is located in the eastern region of Ghana. It is threatened by a proposed bauxite mining project.
Episode 46: Sudan's first commercial wind farm.
18 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The wind power project is located near the town of Dongola in the northern part of the Republic of the Sudan.
Episode 45: The largest gold mine in Mauritania.
11 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tasiast mine is the largest gold mine in Mauritania. It started to be fully operational in 2008.
Episode 44: The story of South Africa's largest copper producer.
04 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Phalaborwa copper mine is the leading copper producer in South Africa. It is located near the town of Phalaborwa in Limpopo Province.
Episode 43: Sierra Leone's first rainforest national park.
28 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Gola Rainforest National Park is located southeast of Freetown. It was declared a national park in 2011.
Episode 42: The Gambia's first protected area.
21 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Abuko Nature Reserve was established in 1968. It is one of the top tourist attractions in the Gambia.
Episode 41: Saving the cedar tree of Malawi.
14 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Mulanje cedar is the national tree of Malawi. It is endemic to Mulanje Mountain Biosphere Reserve. Due to unsustainable harvesting, the tree is threat...
Episode 40: The Republic of Congo's landmark agreement to reduce deforestation.
07 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Republic of Congo has signed a landmark agreement with the World Bank to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.
Episode 39: Madagascar's largest hydropower project.
30 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Sahofika hydropower project is located on the Onive River, a tributary of the Mangoro River. It is about 100 km from Antananarivo.
Episode 38: Regional Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric Power Project.
23 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Regional Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric Power Project is located at Rusumo Falls on the Kagera River.
Episode 37: Namibia's Kudu offshore gas field.
16 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kudu offshore gas field is located about 130 km off the south-west coast of Namibia. It was discovered by Chevron in 1974. It is estimated that the fi...
Episode 36: Facts you should know about the West African Gas Pipeline.
09 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The West African Gas Pipeline is transporting natural gas from Itoki (Nigeria) to Takoradi (Ghana), through Benin and Togo. This 678 km long pipeline ...
Episode 35: Equatorial Guinea's offshore natural gas development.
02 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Equatorial Guinea is the third-largest oil producer in Sub-Saharan Africa. Over the past few years, the government has been attracting investors to de...
Episode 34: Major natural gas projects in Morocco.
26 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Two major natural gas projects are Tendrara onshore gas field development in Eastern Morocco, close to the Algerian border and Anchois offshore gas fi...
Episode 33: Severe water shortage in Somalia.
19 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At least 90 000 Somalis have been displaced due to severe water shortage over the past few months.
Episode 32: Gold rush in Luhihi, DRC.
12 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Discovery of gold-rich ore in Luhihi has brought hundreds of people into the village. Mining activities are currently suspended until further notice.&...
Episode 31: Lake Malawi fish species crisis.
05 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Overfishing and poor agricultural practices are threatening fish species in Lake Malawi.
Episode 30: Overharvesting of rosewood tree in Africa.
26 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Rosewood trees are under human threat.
Episode 29: Bulawayo's water scarcity.
05 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Bulawayo is facing water scarcity due to population growth and recurring drought events.
Episode 28: World's oldest known mine is in Africa.
29 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Eswatini is home to the oldest known mine in the world.
Episode 27: Desert locusts are causing a lot of problems in East Africa.
22 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Desert locusts have invaded Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.
Episode 26: Africa's largest oil refinery.
15 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Africa's largest oil refinery is almost complete near Lagos, Nigeria.
Episode 25: Zambia's fruit bat migration.
18 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Thousands of straw-coloured fruit bats congregate in swamp forest within Kasanka National Park from October to December each year. It is regarded as t...
Episode 24: Human pressure threatens the survival of African forest elephants.
11 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
African forest elephants are under human pressure in central and west Africa.
Episode 23: Major threats to the survival of African penguins.
04 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
African penguins are at risk of extinction.
Episode 22: Oil and gas drilling project in Zimbabwe.
27 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Australian energy company Invictus Energy is planning to drill oil and gas wells in Zimbabwe. The project is expected to start in October 2021.
Episode 21: East Africa's major crude oil pipeline project.
20 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nearly 15 years ago, there was a major oil reserve discovery in Uganda. In September 2020, Uganda and Tanzania finally signed an agreement for a const...
Episode 20: South Africa's Vhembe Biosphere Reserve.
13 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
According to UNESCO, biosphere reserves provide local solutions to global challenges. Biosphere reserves include terrestrial, marine and coastal ecosy...
Episode 19: The ghosts of Madagascar are threatened with extinction.
06 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Lemurs are only found in Madagascar. There are an estimated 112 species and more than 98% are facing extinction due to deforestation and overhunting. ...
Episode 18: White gold (salt) mining in the northern part of Ethiopia.
30 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Danakil Depression is regarded as one of the main sources of salt in Ethiopia. It is an active geological depression due to the pulling apart of t...
Episode 17: The forgotten precious gemstone of Madagascar.
23 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world. More than 80% of plants and animals are endemic. With a population of under 30 million, Madagasc...
Episode 16: Poor country which is home to the world's largest bauxite reserves.
16 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Republic of Guinea is home to the largest reserves of bauxite in the world. The touching story is that it remains one of the poorest countries. Th...
Episode 15: Who is controlling platinum resource in South Africa?
09 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
South Africa is the largest producer of platinum in the world. It is home to more than 80% of the global reserves. Three main players in the productio...
Episode 14: The unbreakable marriage between South Africa and coal
02 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
South Africa is the largest producer of coal in Africa and 7th in the world. Over the last two years, the country produced between 250 to 260 million ...
Episode 13: What is the interest of foreign powers in Mali?
25 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Foreign interference has been happening for many years in Mali. It is a fact that foreign powers are interested in natural resources.
Episode 12: Complexity of the conflict in Libya
18 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Oil-rich Libya has been experiencing political instability since the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Two rival governments are battling for the c...
Episode 11: Lake Chad is drying up
11 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Several accounts have reported that Lake Chad has shrunk by about 90% since the early 1960s. They are claiming that the following are among the main d...
Episode 10: What we know about African lion population decline
04 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We have less than 40 000 lions in the wild across Africa. Significant population decline has been recorded since the late 1990s. The following are lis...
Episode 9: Wildlife ranching
28 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wildlife ranching is the management of wildlife on private land. Is it an effective biodiversity conservation tool?
Episode 8: Africa's largest tropical rainforest protected area.
21 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Salonga National Park is Africa's largest tropical rainforest protected area.
Episode 7: Most trafficked mammal in the world
14 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Pangolin is the most trafficked mammal in the world. There are 8 species (4 live in Africa and 4 are found in Asia). Pangolin scales are used for medi...
Episode 6: Untapped solar energy resource potential in Africa.
07 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Solar is one of the fastest-growing energy resources. Africa still lags behind the rest of the world. However, few countries are making progress.
Episode 5: Major natural resources in North Africa
31 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode looks at an overview of the main natural resources in North Africa.
Episode 4: Major natural resources in West Africa
24 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode gives an overview of the main natural resources in West Africa.
Episode 3: An overview of the main natural resources in Eastern Africa
17 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode gives an overview of the main natural resources in East Africa.
Major natural resources in central Africa
10 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode gives an overview of the main natural resources in central Africa.
An overview of the major natural resources in southern Africa
03 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode gives an overview of the main natural resources in the south region of Africa.
Introduction to Natural Resource Today
26 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This is an introduction to Natural Resource Today podcast.