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5 Retreats to Reconnect With Nature

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Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Sign up for the Travel Dispatch newsletter.  Essential news on the changing travel landscape, expert tips and inspiration for your future trips. Hotels and glamping sites touting sustainability practices and nature-based activities have proliferated throughout the United States in the last decade, finding financial success by offering guests a let-nature-nurture-you wellness experience.But many of these destinations have targeted only luxury travelers, and focused on an ethos of self-improvement. Now a growing number of hospitality entrepreneurs are working with or employing naturalists and scientists to reinvent eco-tourism by championing an outward, altruistic kind of outdoor therapy — regenerative tourism initiatives such as trail building and oyster reef restoration opportunities — as well as climate-change education.“Having sustainability or ‘eco’ experiences perceived as ‘cool’ may help shift cultural perspectives in the long run,” said Leah Thomas, a climate justice activist and the author of “The Intersectional Environmentalist.” Ms. Thomas says engaging travelers just one time in habitat restoration work or an environmental class can teach them to care about the planet.Here are five affordable retreats that aim to inspire community activism and a more sustainable lifestyle.Thatcher, IdahoAt the Maple Grove Hot Springs & Retreat Center, in southeast Idaho, guests can enjoy a soak in one of six thermal pools, but many also sign up for invasive plant removal, trail development or tree planting.“We want guests from all walks of life to strike that perfect balance of rest, work, learning, thinking, sharing, laughing and exploring. The marriage of those creates a very transformative experience,” said Jordan Menzel, the founder of Maple Grove. Subscribe to The Times to read as many articles as you like.

From the Columbia River Gorge to the Chesapeake Bay, these retreats provide educational and volunteer experiences for travelers not only wanting to reconnect with nature, but to give back.

Sign up for the Travel Dispatch newsletter.  Essential news on the changing travel landscape, expert tips and inspiration for your future trips.

Hotels and glamping sites touting sustainability practices and nature-based activities have proliferated throughout the United States in the last decade, finding financial success by offering guests a let-nature-nurture-you wellness experience.

But many of these destinations have targeted only luxury travelers, and focused on an ethos of self-improvement. Now a growing number of hospitality entrepreneurs are working with or employing naturalists and scientists to reinvent eco-tourism by championing an outward, altruistic kind of outdoor therapy — regenerative tourism initiatives such as trail building and oyster reef restoration opportunities — as well as climate-change education.

“Having sustainability or ‘eco’ experiences perceived as ‘cool’ may help shift cultural perspectives in the long run,” said Leah Thomas, a climate justice activist and the author of “The Intersectional Environmentalist.” Ms. Thomas says engaging travelers just one time in habitat restoration work or an environmental class can teach them to care about the planet.

Here are five affordable retreats that aim to inspire community activism and a more sustainable lifestyle.

Thatcher, Idaho

At the Maple Grove Hot Springs & Retreat Center, in southeast Idaho, guests can enjoy a soak in one of six thermal pools, but many also sign up for invasive plant removal, trail development or tree planting.

“We want guests from all walks of life to strike that perfect balance of rest, work, learning, thinking, sharing, laughing and exploring. The marriage of those creates a very transformative experience,” said Jordan Menzel, the founder of Maple Grove.

Subscribe to The Times to read as many articles as you like.

Read the full story here.
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Nature in England at risk as amount of protected land falls to 2.93%, data shows

Experts are calling for ‘rapid rescue package’ for nature to improve condition of protected sitesThe amount of land that is protected for nature in England has fallen to just 2.93%, despite government promises to conserve 30% of it by 2030, new data reveals.Campaigners are calling for a “rapid rescue package for UK nature”, as government delegates head to Cop16, the international nature summit, which will take place from 21 October in Colombia. They intend to ask other countries to stick to ambitious nature targets. Continue reading...

The amount of land that is protected for nature in England has fallen to just 2.93%, despite government promises to conserve 30% of it by 2030, new data reveals.Campaigners are calling for a “rapid rescue package for UK nature”, as government delegates head to Cop16, the international nature summit, which will take place from 21 October in Colombia. They intend to ask other countries to stick to ambitious nature targets.The commitment to protect 30% of land for nature by 2030 was made in 2020 by the then prime minister, Boris Johnson. But according to a report by Wildlife and Countryside Link, the amount of land in England that can be said to be effectively protected for nature has fallen to just 2.93%, while the amount of sea protected is at 9.92%.The amount of land protected for nature is down from last year’s update, which was at 3.11%, while 8% of sea in England was effectively protected for nature in 2023. Protecting land for nature means there are clear boundaries and laws in place to ensure wildlife is not harmed or destroyed and nature is not being depleted.The figures are falling owing to declines in quality of sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs), which are changing because of the climate crisis, water pollution and overgrazing. National parks should be areas where land is in good condition, but previous reports show that nature within these sites is often no better than outside them.Currently only designated nature sites such as SSSIs within national parks count as protected for nature as the parks themselves are not specifically designed for nature but for recreation, unique views and other attributes.There are small improvements in the protection of England’s seas because of new laws to prohibit destructive fishing. In March 2024, ministers introduced bylaws prohibiting bottom-towed fishing gear across some marine protected areas (MPAs).Experts are calling on the government to set out plans for improving the condition of protected nature sites, and for bylaws to be published to halt damaging fishing activity across all MPAs by the end of 2024.Katie-jo Luxton, the global conservation director of the RSPB, said: “We welcomed the commitment to protect 30% of our land for nature, but years have passed since this was made and we’re just not seeing the urgent action that is needed for nature recovery. Meanwhile, more species are being added to the red list of conservation concern, and this will only carry on if the conditions in our protected nature sites aren’t improved. We also need to see more places, from seabird-foraging areas to our ancient woodlands and upland peat bogs given protected status so they can revive threatened species such as puffin, curlew and willow tit.”skip past newsletter promotionThe planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essentialPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotionRichard Benwell, the CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, added: “The new government is going to need to take giant strides in the next six years to meet internationally agreed 2030 nature targets. As delegates arrive in Colombia for crucial nature talks, the UK has a major opportunity to show global environmental leadership. This must be backed up by action at home. As we approach the five-year countdown to the deadline to restore nature, we’re calling for a rapid rescue package for UK nature.”A Defra spokesperson said: “Progress to restore nature has been too slow. Britain is currently one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, yet it underpins everything – the economy, food, health and society. It’s why this government has wasted no time in announcing a rapid review to deliver on our legally binding environment targets, including how we can accelerate progress to hitting our international commitments of protecting 30% of the UK’s land and sea by 2030.”

Hurricane Helene Deaths Will Continue for Years, Study Suggests

Research on hundreds of tropical storms finds that mortality keeps rising for more than a decade afterward, for reasons you might not expect.

Over the past week, the official death toll from Hurricane Helene has surpassed 100 as the vortex creeping inland from Florida submerged homes and swept away cars. But the full weight of lost lives will be realized only years from now — and it could number in the thousands.A paper published in the journal Nature on Wednesday lays out the hidden toll of tropical storms in the continental United States. Looking at 501 events from 1930 to 2015, researchers found that the average tropical storm resulted in an additional 7,000 to 11,000 deaths over the 15 years that followed.Overall during the study period, tropical storms killed more people than automobile crashes, infectious diseases and combat for U.S. soldiers. It’s such a big number — especially compared with the 24 direct deaths caused by hurricanes on average, according to federal statistics — that the authors spent years checking the math to make sure they were right.“The scale of these results is dramatically different from what we expected,” said Solomon Hsiang, a professor of global environmental policy at the Doerr School of Sustainability at Stanford University, who conducted the study with Rachel Young, the Ciriacy-Wantrup postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkeley.The pair used a technique that has also provided a more complete understanding of “excess deaths” caused by Covid-19 and heat waves. It works by looking at typical mortality patterns and isolating anomalies that could have been caused only by the variable under study — in this case, a sizable storm.Previously, researchers examined deaths and hospitalizations after hurricanes over much shorter periods. One study published in Nature found elevated hospitalizations among older Medicaid patients in the week after a storm. Another, in The Journal of the American Medical Association, associated higher death rates with U.S. counties hit by cyclones. A study in The Lancet found that across 14 countries, cyclones led to a 6 percent bump in mortality in the ensuing two weeks.

The biodiversity jukebox: how sound can boost beneficial soil microbes to heal nature

Imagine using tailored soundscapes to restore ecosystems, simply by amplifying recordings of sonic cues that attract wildlife, stimulate plant growth and rebuild relationships between species.

In a race against time, scientists are exploring new ways to restore natural systems. Alongside traditional methods such as planting trees, reducing pollution and reintroducing native species, a surprising new tool is emerging: sound. Ecologists can harness sound to bring life back to degraded ecosystems. On land and at sea, natural soundscapes are being replicated to stimulate growth, reproduction and even communication among species. Sound is already being used to restore oyster beds and coral reefs. In our new research, we found beneficial plant microbes are also receptive to sound. We used high-frequency white noise to stimulate a fungus that promotes plant growth. The noise is a bit like the sound emitted in between channels of an old-fashioned radio. This adds a new dimension to restoration projects. Imagine using tailored soundscapes to restore wetlands, forests or grasslands, simply by artificially amplifying the sonic cues that attract wildlife, stimulate growth and rebuild relationships between species. We see a bright future for this “biodiversity jukebox”, with tracks for every ecosystem. Sound as an ecological tool In healthy ecosystems, everything from animal calls to water trickling underground creates a sonic landscape or “soundscape” that ultimately supports biodiversity. Conversely, the soundscapes in degraded ecosystems are often diminished or altered. This can change the way species behave and ecosystems function. Marine biologists were among the first to explore sound as a tool for restoring Australia’s southern oyster reefs. Intact oyster reefs provide habitat for many species and prevent shoreline erosion. But pollution, overharvesting and dredging almost wiped them out more than a century ago. It turns out playing sounds of healthy reefs, namely snapping shrimp, underwater encourages baby oysters to settle and grow. These sounds mimic the natural environment of thriving oyster beds. The results have been impressive. Oyster populations show signs of recovery in areas where soundscapes have been artificially restored. Similarly, fish support healthy coral reefs by grazing on algae that can otherwise smother corals. Playing the sounds of healthy coral reefs can attract young fish to degraded reefs. This helps kickstart reef recovery. The power of sound in plant microbiology Building on these successes, we ventured into new territory. In our new research we used sound to stimulate the growth of soil microbes. These microbes play an essential role in plant health. Some promote nutrient uptake in plants, others protect against disease. But these communities of microorganisms can be diminished and disrupted in degraded soils, hampering plant growth and ecosystem recovery. We wanted to find out whether specific sounds could encourage the growth of these beneficial microbes. We ran a series of experiments, to test the effect of sound on the growth and reproduction rate of a particular fungus known to stimulate plant growth and protect against diseases. We grew the fungus in the laboratory in 40 Petri dishes and subjected half of them to treatment with sound. We played a sound recording similar to the high-frequency buzz of white noise for 30 minutes a day over five days. Then we compared the amount of fungal growth and the number of spores between the two groups. In technical terms, the frequency was 8 kHz and level was 80 dB, which is quite loud, like the sound of a busy city street or vacuum cleaner, almost loud enough to damage hearing. We used a monotonous sound for experimental reasons, because it is easy to control. But a more natural or diverse soundscape may be even better. We plan to do more research on this in the near future. We found sound stimulated the fungi, increasing the growth rate by more than seven times and the production of spores by more than four times compared to the control (no sound). Why sound works Why does sound have such a powerful effect on ecosystems? The answer lies in the way organisms interact with their environment. Sound travels almost five times faster in water than in air, making it an efficient means of communication for marine life such as oysters, fish and whales. Trees detect the soundwaves produced by running water, and their roots move towards the vibration. We already know sound influences the activity of microbes. We think it stimulates special receptors on the membranes of the microbes. These receptors might trigger a response in the cells, such as switching genes responsible for growth on or off. Is sound the future of restoration? Microbes support plant life, help maintain soil structure, hold water and store carbon. By stimulating beneficial microbes with sound, we may be able to improve large-scale restoration projects. This approach may also support regenerative agriculture, where farming works with nature rather than against it. The author, Jake Robinson, in the field. Flinders University Our next steps include refining the sound patterns that are most effective in different ecosystems. We then need to scale up our research to test different sounds in diverse environments. We envisage creating a “biodiversity jukebox” of beneficial sounds to enhance ecosystem health. It’s clear what we hear – and don’t hear – profoundly influences the environment. So we’re also interested in noise cancellation. By this, we mean barriers to protect ecosystems from potentially undesirable noises. For instance, we’re asking questions such as: do traffic and industrial noises harm the ecosystem? As ecosystems face increasing pressure from climate change, biodiversity loss and habitat destruction, sound can become a powerful tool for restoration. While the science is still in its infancy, it has huge potential. Ultimately, sound-based restoration might offer a low-impact and cost-effective approach to help ecosystems recover. The future of restoration could be as much about what we hear as what we see. Jake M Robinson is affiliated with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change think tank Resilience Frontiers. He receives funding from the National Environmental Science Program for the Restoration by Design project. Martin Breed receives funding from the Australian Research Council, National Environmental Science Program Resilient Landscapes Hub, Cooperative Research Centre for Transformations in Mining Economies (CRC TiME), Australian Academy of Science, and the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment.

Exclusive-African Countries Eye World’s First Joint 'Debt-For-Nature' Swap

By Virginia Furness and Marc JonesLONDON (Reuters) - At least five African countries are working on what could be the world's first joint "...

By Virginia Furness and Marc JonesLONDON (Reuters) - At least five African countries are working on what could be the world's first joint "debt-for-nature" swap to raise at least $2 billion to protect a coral-rich swathe of Indian Ocean, according to a global conservation group.Debt-for-nature deals are becoming increasingly popular for poorer nations to pay for conservation. Bonds or loans are bought and replaced with cheaper debt, with savings used for environmental protection.Ecuador, Barbados, Belize, Gabon and Seychelles have all made such swaps in recent years, but the African initiative would be the first to involve multiple countries sharing a distinct ecosystem.Thomas Sberna, regional head for coastal and ocean resilience at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), did not name the five African nations considering the joint swap deal. But he said those backing the broader "Great Blue Wall" conservation plan include Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania and the Comoros.First announced in 2021, the plan is backed by the U.S. and British governments and aims to protect and restore 2 million hectares of ocean ecosystems by 2030, benefiting some 70 million people in coastal communities.Thomas Sberna, a regional head for coastal and ocean resilience at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), said such ambitious deals were important for speeding up conservation."If we want to really deliver a substantial impact in the next five years we cannot just continue issuing them one by one," said Sberna, who is involved in the talks.Historically, countries have struggled to agree on issues such as fishing rights and who pays for environmental measures, so the hope is a regional deal will overcome that and attract investors.Getting more finance to help countries protect biodiversity is a central part of the next round of global talks in Colombia in October after a landmark deal in 2022 to protect 30% of the world's seas and land by the end of the decade.With many countries on the front lines of the climate crisis heavily indebted and requiring up to 20% of their GDP to build resilience, Sberna said radical measures were needed."We need to leapfrog from 1%- 2% of marine-protected or marine-conserved areas to 30% in less than 10 years," Sberna said. "There is no way we could really achieve [that] using the same business as usual model."Sberna said he hoped a blueprint for the deal could be agreed in time for a U.N. Oceans Conference next June.Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique have all lost significant portions of mangrove shoreline, coral reefs and fish stock since the 1980s, threatening loss of livelihoods, food security and income from tourism.Key details such as how much of each country's debt is brought up and who decides and monitors how and where the conservation money is spent, all require lengthy negotiation.Sberna said that to aid this process, the IUCN and others were looking at the idea of a specialist fund worth at least $2 billion, made up of $500 million of concessional funding and $1.5 billion of bond swap money.Sberna said discussions were also being held with some of the main multilateral development banks in the region about offering credit guarantees and insurance policies for the swap.These are vital as they cut the interest rates countries have to pay on the new "blue" or "nature" bonds which replace their more costly existing debt.At the same time, some of the region's ocean-reliant fishing, shipping and tourism companies were also looking at debt-for-nature swaps of their own, he said, declining to name them.Whether the African group becomes the first to issue such a swap could depend on whether some Caribbean countries, which industry sources say are also looking at a similar plan for their reefs, are quicker to act.Madagascar, whose 250 islands are home to some of the world’s largest coral reef systems and most extensive mangrove areas in the Western Indian Ocean, confirmed it was in talks although there was still a way to go."Many partners have already come forward," the country's Minister of Finance Rindra Hasimbelo Rabarinirinarison told Reuters, "but negotiations are still at the appraisal stage".Other countries did not provide a comment.(Additional reporting by Lovasoa Rabary in Antananarivo, Duncan Miriri in Nairobi; editing by Simon Jessop and Andrew Cawthorne)Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters.Photos You Should See - Sept. 2024

Prince William says make peace with nature

The Prince of Wales has issued an urgent call to end the destruction of the environment.

Prince William says make peace with natureKensington Palace"It means change," Prince William said, in a video message at the United NationsThe Prince of Wales has issued an urgent call to end environmental destruction and "make peace with nature"."We are living at odds with the natural world - and it is buckling under the pressure of our actions," he said, in a video message played at a Campaign for Nature event at the General Assembly of the United Nations, in New York.Prince William said climate change and the prospect of a million species facing extinction represented the most pressing "existential threat".His speech followed the announcement, also in New York, of the finalists for the fourth year of the prince's Earthshot awards for international ideas to improve sustainability.'Must act'"If we are to keep this planet liveable for our children and grandchildren, we must act urgently," the prince said, in a speech echoing the eco-campaigning of his father, King Charles III."We can and must change our relationship with the natural world." And such a reset in the relationship would mean economic changes, "realigning financial flows from destruction to regeneration"."It means change," the prince said, calling on international leaders "to halt the unsustainable production and consumption of natural resources". "We must act to save our rivers, oceans, savannas, mangroves and forests, as well as the communities that protect and live alongside them," he said.Drawn from 2,500 nominations, the 15 Earthshot finalists include:The five winners, to be revealed at an event in Cape Town, South Africa, in November, will receive £1m each.Meanwhile, the Princess of Wales is continuing her return to work, after the end of her chemotherapy.On Tuesday, she held a meeting in Windsor Castle, to plan her annual Christmas carol concert in Westminster Abbey.

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