Mike Shanahan
@mikeshanahan.bsky.social
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
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. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
Nature Beat #86
Updates, stories, resources and opportunities
thenaturebeat.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:07 PM
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. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
Reposted by Mike Shanahan
The list of countries backing some sort of “fossil-fuel roadmap” at COP30 includes large oil-and-gas producers such as Norway, Mexico and Brazil.
However, the 80+ countries reportedly supporting it so far only produce 7% of the world’s fossil-fuel energy.
However, the 80+ countries reportedly supporting it so far only produce 7% of the world’s fossil-fuel energy.
November 20, 2025 at 11:17 AM
The list of countries backing some sort of “fossil-fuel roadmap” at COP30 includes large oil-and-gas producers such as Norway, Mexico and Brazil.
However, the 80+ countries reportedly supporting it so far only produce 7% of the world’s fossil-fuel energy.
However, the 80+ countries reportedly supporting it so far only produce 7% of the world’s fossil-fuel energy.
Reposted by Mike Shanahan
In her 114 years, Saalumarada Thimmakka planted thousands of trees, loving them as if they were her children. She passed away yesterday. Here is my short account of her life and legacy. planetficus.substack.com/p/indias-mot... 🌏
India's Mother of Trees Leaves A Living Legacy
In her 114 years, Saalumarada Thimmakka planted thousands of trees, loving them as if they were her children
planetficus.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 1:05 PM
In her 114 years, Saalumarada Thimmakka planted thousands of trees, loving them as if they were her children. She passed away yesterday. Here is my short account of her life and legacy. planetficus.substack.com/p/indias-mot... 🌏
In her 114 years, Saalumarada Thimmakka planted thousands of trees, loving them as if they were her children. She passed away yesterday. Here is my short account of her life and legacy. planetficus.substack.com/p/indias-mot... 🌏
India's Mother of Trees Leaves A Living Legacy
In her 114 years, Saalumarada Thimmakka planted thousands of trees, loving them as if they were her children
planetficus.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 1:05 PM
In her 114 years, Saalumarada Thimmakka planted thousands of trees, loving them as if they were her children. She passed away yesterday. Here is my short account of her life and legacy. planetficus.substack.com/p/indias-mot... 🌏
Reposted by Mike Shanahan
This is always worth a read!
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. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
Nature Beat #85
Updates, stories, resources and opportunities
thenaturebeat.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:41 AM
This is always worth a read!
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. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
Nature Beat #85
Updates, stories, resources and opportunities
thenaturebeat.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:18 PM
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. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
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. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
Nature Beat #85
Updates, stories, resources and opportunities
thenaturebeat.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:18 PM
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. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
Five questions about the Tropical Forest Forever Facility that launched last week.
-How will it work?
-Who supports or opposes it?
-How much capital does it have?
-When will the money start flowing?
-Will it be enough to halt tropical deforestation?
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/beyond-the... 🌏
-How will it work?
-Who supports or opposes it?
-How much capital does it have?
-When will the money start flowing?
-Will it be enough to halt tropical deforestation?
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/beyond-the... 🌏
Beyond the Hype: What the Tropical Forest Forever Facility Can and Cannot Do
A new mechanism for financing forest protection is lauded as a game-changer but it cannot address deforestation alone.
thenaturebeat.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Five questions about the Tropical Forest Forever Facility that launched last week.
-How will it work?
-Who supports or opposes it?
-How much capital does it have?
-When will the money start flowing?
-Will it be enough to halt tropical deforestation?
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/beyond-the... 🌏
-How will it work?
-Who supports or opposes it?
-How much capital does it have?
-When will the money start flowing?
-Will it be enough to halt tropical deforestation?
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/beyond-the... 🌏
Reposted by Mike Shanahan
A new mechanism for financing forest protection is lauded as a game-changer but it cannot address deforestation alone. thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/beyond-the... 🧪🌏
Beyond the Hype: What the Tropical Forest Forever Facility Can and Cannot Do
A new mechanism for financing forest protection is lauded as a game-changer but it cannot address deforestation alone.
thenaturebeat.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:30 PM
A new mechanism for financing forest protection is lauded as a game-changer but it cannot address deforestation alone. thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/beyond-the... 🧪🌏
A new mechanism for financing forest protection is lauded as a game-changer but it cannot address deforestation alone. thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/beyond-the... 🧪🌏
Beyond the Hype: What the Tropical Forest Forever Facility Can and Cannot Do
A new mechanism for financing forest protection is lauded as a game-changer but it cannot address deforestation alone.
thenaturebeat.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:30 PM
A new mechanism for financing forest protection is lauded as a game-changer but it cannot address deforestation alone. thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/beyond-the... 🧪🌏
Just another citizen of Planet Ficus 🌏🧪https://planetficus.substack.com/p/planet-ficus-monthly-roundup-6
November 7, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Just another citizen of Planet Ficus 🌏🧪https://planetficus.substack.com/p/planet-ficus-monthly-roundup-6
Reposted by Mike Shanahan
In the new roundup from Planet Ficus: A curse in Kenya, nature’s lightbulbs, sacred bats in India, prayers for rain in Zimbabwe, forest restoration in Borneo, a Zulu death rite, a climber in the Costa Rican canopy — and more. 🌏🧪https://planetficus.substack.com/p/planet-ficus-monthly-roundup-6
Planet Ficus Monthly Roundup #6
Sacred bats in India. Lightbulb leaves. Fig tree rituals in Africa. Forest restoration and protection in Borneo. An adept tree climber. And more.
planetficus.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:28 PM
In the new roundup from Planet Ficus: A curse in Kenya, nature’s lightbulbs, sacred bats in India, prayers for rain in Zimbabwe, forest restoration in Borneo, a Zulu death rite, a climber in the Costa Rican canopy — and more. 🌏🧪https://planetficus.substack.com/p/planet-ficus-monthly-roundup-6
Reposted by Mike Shanahan
Rewilding as therapy and solace for Ukraine's war veterans. To bring back life to the land is to bring the self back to life.
Ukraine’s massive nature project is helping veterans and land recover
A massive rewilding project in Ukraine is proving helpful for the wellbeing of veterans as well as helping large natural areas recover.
theconversation.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Rewilding as therapy and solace for Ukraine's war veterans. To bring back life to the land is to bring the self back to life.
In the new roundup from Planet Ficus: A curse in Kenya, nature’s lightbulbs, sacred bats in India, prayers for rain in Zimbabwe, forest restoration in Borneo, a Zulu death rite, a climber in the Costa Rican canopy — and more. 🌏🧪https://planetficus.substack.com/p/planet-ficus-monthly-roundup-6
Planet Ficus Monthly Roundup #6
Sacred bats in India. Lightbulb leaves. Fig tree rituals in Africa. Forest restoration and protection in Borneo. An adept tree climber. And more.
planetficus.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:28 PM
In the new roundup from Planet Ficus: A curse in Kenya, nature’s lightbulbs, sacred bats in India, prayers for rain in Zimbabwe, forest restoration in Borneo, a Zulu death rite, a climber in the Costa Rican canopy — and more. 🌏🧪https://planetficus.substack.com/p/planet-ficus-monthly-roundup-6
The Planet Ficus monthly roundup coming later today is a bumper edition, with fascinating stories about fig trees and their ecological + cultural importance in India, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Costa Rica and more. Subscribe here: planetficus.substack.com 🧪🌏
Planet Ficus | Mike Shanahan | Substack
Astounding stories of how fig trees shaped humanity and the world about us. Click to read Planet Ficus, by Mike Shanahan, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.
planetficus.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:25 PM
The Planet Ficus monthly roundup coming later today is a bumper edition, with fascinating stories about fig trees and their ecological + cultural importance in India, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Costa Rica and more. Subscribe here: planetficus.substack.com 🧪🌏
Reposted by Mike Shanahan
This edition has: COP30 — Mercury — Environmental crime — Climate science — Vultures — Elephants — Gibbons — Vietnam’s birds. Plus the usual mix of news from around the world, useful resources, opportunities and much more.🧪🌏
November 4, 2025 at 12:40 PM
This edition has: COP30 — Mercury — Environmental crime — Climate science — Vultures — Elephants — Gibbons — Vietnam’s birds. 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. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
Nature Beat #84
Updates, stories, resources and opportunities
thenaturebeat.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:40 PM
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. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
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. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
Nature Beat #84
Updates, stories, resources and opportunities
thenaturebeat.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:40 PM
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. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
Reposted by Mike Shanahan
Happy Halloween. No trees are home to a more motley mix of supernatural creatures than the strangler figs, whose eerie aerial roots are adept at seizing imaginations in their grip... There may be a biological basis to some of these beliefs. 🧪🌏 planetficus.substack.com/p/why-strang...
Why Strangler Figs Are Associated With Ghosts And Goblins
No trees are home to a more motley mix of supernatural creatures than the strangler figs, whose eerie aerial roots are adept at seizing imaginations in their grip.
planetficus.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Happy Halloween. No trees are home to a more motley mix of supernatural creatures than the strangler figs, whose eerie aerial roots are adept at seizing imaginations in their grip... There may be a biological basis to some of these beliefs. 🧪🌏 planetficus.substack.com/p/why-strang...
Happy Halloween. No trees are home to a more motley mix of supernatural creatures than the strangler figs, whose eerie aerial roots are adept at seizing imaginations in their grip... There may be a biological basis to some of these beliefs. 🧪🌏 planetficus.substack.com/p/why-strang...
Why Strangler Figs Are Associated With Ghosts And Goblins
No trees are home to a more motley mix of supernatural creatures than the strangler figs, whose eerie aerial roots are adept at seizing imaginations in their grip.
planetficus.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Happy Halloween. No trees are home to a more motley mix of supernatural creatures than the strangler figs, whose eerie aerial roots are adept at seizing imaginations in their grip... There may be a biological basis to some of these beliefs. 🧪🌏 planetficus.substack.com/p/why-strang...
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. 🌏🧪
October 27, 2025 at 9:39 AM
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
October 27, 2025 at 9:39 AM
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...
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
October 27, 2025 at 9:39 AM
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...
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
October 20, 2025 at 11:40 AM
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... 🌏🧪
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...
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
October 19, 2025 at 10:09 AM
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...
planetficus.substack.com/p/how-respec...