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A line of people standing in a line holding out their arms

Park versus highway in Delhi

Plans for a six-lane highway across a biodiversity park near New Delhi threatens wildlife and has residents up in arms.  

Video shorts
Watch video 01:18
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01:18 mins.

Indonesia: The sinking capital

The Indonesian capital of Jakarta is sinking. In the settlement of Tongkol, people now take action.  

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Indonesia: The sinking capital

Green pumps for Jordan's water

Environmental friendly houses – new home in Moldavia

Indien Nomaden mit Kamelen (DW/Cornelia Borrmann)

Saving Rajasthan's Camels

DW Global Ideas | Energy from the Heavens (DW)

Philippines: Energy from the Heavens

The Seaweed Invasion

The Mosquito Factory

Treating trash in the Dominican Republic

Green Technology
Light in a bottle for a village in Brazil

Light in a bottle for a village in Brazil

In Kalunga villages, light usually comes from diesel and kerosene lamps. Now bottled light could replace them.  

Environmental issues in images
  • A ciénaga, a unique wetland in Columbia (DW/Juan Zacharás)

    Protecting the biodiversity of Colombia's unique wetlands

    A unique wetland

    It might look like a lake from above but it is actually a ciénaga, a hillscape with fields and forests that transforms into a wetland when the river bursts over its banks. This area is a unique habitat and home to many diverse species. In Colombia alone there are around 1900 ciénaga. The biggest of them, the Zapatosa, is under threat.

  • Palm oil production (DW/Juan Zacharás)

    Protecting the biodiversity of Colombia's unique wetlands

    Palm oil production squeezes natural resources

    There are many reasons driving this threat. The forest is being cleared to make space for fields and palm oil production, which guzzles water resources and disturbs the natural balance of the environment. There are increasingly regular droughts, which destroy the trees that provide shade to the river bank.

  • The water hyacinth - (DW/Juan Zacharás)

    Protecting the biodiversity of Colombia's unique wetlands

    Toxic newcomer: the water hyacinth

    More invasive plants, like the water hyacinth, thrive in these conditions. The plant spreads quickly and prevents light reaching plants beneath, resulting in those in the water dying and fish unable to find enough food. The thick green coverage of plants slows down the flow of water, causing silt to gather on the banks.

  • Horses eating plants in the water (DW/Juan Zacharás)

    Protecting the biodiversity of Colombia's unique wetlands

    Refined taste

    There is a good reason why the horses stand in the water like this. Aside from cows, they are the only animal able to stomach the toxins in the water hyacinth.

  • Local fishermen and animals in the water (DW/Juan Zacharás)

    Protecting the biodiversity of Colombia's unique wetlands

    A local source of life

    The people living in this area often fish in the river without interference from any big fishing companies. They’ve introduced special measures in order to maintain the levels of fish: nets are big enough to allow smaller fish to slip away, and protected areas have also been created.

  • Reforestation in Columbia (DW/Juan Zacharás)

    Protecting the biodiversity of Colombia's unique wetlands

    Keeping the trees alive

    Reforestation is also an important part of protecting the environment here. Seeds have been collected in the region and planted in tree nurseries by locals.

  • Bäume stehen im Uferwasser und spenden Schatten (DW/Juan Zacharás)

    Protecting the biodiversity of Colombia's unique wetlands

    Life in the shade

    Trees like these offer fish shade and food by the river bank. Animals also benefit from eating the fruit that falls into the water. A steady food source results in lots of offspring, which in turn means a good catch for the fishermen. Through the care of newly planted trees the locals are taking control of their futures.

  • People grow food in their back gardens (DW/Juan Zacharás)

    Protecting the biodiversity of Colombia's unique wetlands

    The thriving back garden farms

    Locals are also growing food in so called “family gardens”, to prepare themselves to survive the dry periods. Many of the houses already have a little piece of land which previously lay uncultivated. Today they are full of fruit trees, vegetables and herbs.

  • Locals also keep food like this bird (DW/Juan Zacharás)

    Protecting the biodiversity of Colombia's unique wetlands

    Curious creatures

    Some locals also keep animals to provide them with meat and eggs. The neighbors organize among themselves who grows what to ensure a good diversity of food and so they can later trade with each other.


Climate change hits the Bavarian Alps

In prison for a pebble

Inside an attempt to live without plastic packaging

Human impact
A horseshoe crab seen from below (Imago/OceanPhoto/R. Dirscherl)

Life-saving 'crabs'

The horseshoe crab is an odd-looking creature, but it might just be the most remarkable animal you've never heard of.  

Conservation
People walking on the beach beside piles of brown seaweed

Combatting a seaweed assault in the Caribbean

Could a protective barrier fight back the foul-smelling seaweed overwhelming the picturesque Caribbean?  

Animated explainers
Watch video 02:44
Now live
02:44 mins.

Could soil save our climate?

Soil is second only to the ocean in its ability to store CO2, but large storage areas have been lost due to land misuse.  

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Could soil save our climate?

Superfood DW (DW)

Is 'superfood' really all that super?

Is climate change making us ill?

Global 3000 - Infofilm Stadt (DW)

Video explainer: Green cities, better climate

Jaenschwalde Braunkohlekraftwerk Symbolbild CO2 (dapd/O. Lang)

Can CO2 be stored?

Why do oceans turn acidic?

How climate-damaging is a climate summit?

Was ist Wald? ( DW)

What is a forest and what is it for?

Plastic pollution
Plastic bags at teh supermarket checkout

How green is bioplastic?

Bioplastic is meant to be safe and biodegradable. But it's not as green as it seems.  

Learning packs
Global Ideas Lernpaket Logo

Global Ideas

In Focus Learning with Global Ideas

Are you looking for engaging ways to explain complex environmental issues to high school children? Global Ideas learning packs are full of ideas and guidance.  

Join our Global Ideas community

Belgien demonstration against climate change (Reuters/F. Walschaerts)

Get involved and keep up to date with the latest Global Ideas stories on our social media platforms. 

Interactive specials
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Soldiers and conservationists stand together in the field

War and conservation

The CAR is synonymous with violence and war, but people are still fighting for nature. A look inside a torn land.  

Biodiversity
An Indian nomad with a camel

Milking camels to save Indian nomads

There's more to the humble camel than its hump. Its milk for one thing.  

My favorite
Watch video 01:56
Now live
01:56 mins.

The steppe

Like the ocean, the steppe seems endless and sometimes empty. But it's surprisingly full of life.  

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Kasachische Steppe (DW)

The steppe

Afrika Pinguin Brillenpinguin (picture-alliance/dpa/M. Woike)

My favorite: The African penguin

My favorite: The polo pony

Flamingo Deutschland Bayern Chiemsee (Imago)

My favorite: The flamingo

globalideas Teaser – Saiga1_ohne Logo (Axel Warnstedt)

My favorite: The saiga antelope

My favorite: The howler monkey

25.05.2016 DW GLO Favorit Didos (DW)

My favorite: The didos

My favorite: The potato

Special: Into the forest
Photo: Lush green forest (Source: DW/T. Walker)

Learning to love the forest

When you live in Germany, you may as well cultivate a love of the forest.  

Global Ideas explainer

At Global Ideas, we focus on "best practice" climate and biodiversity protection projects that offer solutions and inspire others to take action. Each week, an international team of television and online reporters produce films and features that offer an insight into how developing and emerging countries are dealing with the impacts of climate change. Global Ideas is supported by the German environment ministry within the framework of its International Climate Initiative. 

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