Madagascar produces most of the world's vanilla -usually regarded as a 'basic' flavour(https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/mar/31/madagascars-vanilla-wars-prized-spice-drives-death-and-deforestation). The situation there, however, appears to be currently like the wild west, with criminality and corruption driving a rapid destruction of the country's unique forests (and their dependent wildlife- including the lemurs). The 'vanilla wars' are reportedly also being used to facilitate the illegal cutting and export of prized rosewood (a hard wood much in demand in parts of the world). Stories include environmentalists being imprisoned and extra-judicial killing of vanilla 'rustlers by farmers.
This blog may help people explore some of the 'hidden' issues involved in certain media treatments of environmental and scientific issues. Using personal digital images, it's also intended to emphasise seasonal (and other) changes in natural history of the Swansea (South Wales) area. The material should help participants in field-based modules and people generally interested in the natural world. The views are wholly those of the author.
Saturday, 31 March 2018
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