Simon Hedges
@simonhedges.bsky.social
Conservationist for >30 years most of them spent working on human-wildlife coexistence and focused on elephants (and Banteng, Dhole, et al.) with WCS, IUCN, & CITES/MIKE. Now at ZSL working to maximize impact; views my own, https://linktr.ee/simonhedges1
Pinned
Simon Hedges
@simonhedges.bsky.social
· Jul 11
Interested in human-elephant conflict (HEC)? Then see the new paper by Carly Schwarz, Juliana Masseloux, and me on predicting HEC risk, based on work by @zslofficial.bsky.social and others:
doi.org/10.1016/j.ge...
#elephants #conflict #coexistence #risk #modelling
doi.org/10.1016/j.ge...
#elephants #conflict #coexistence #risk #modelling
Reposted by Simon Hedges
Hugely disappointing, with world now on track to yet more heating & chaos, & poorest hit first & hardest. This process needs radically rethinking - meantime it’s vital that the Brazil-led coalition of the willing urgently delivers on plans to leave fossil fuels in the ground #COP30
November 22, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Hugely disappointing, with world now on track to yet more heating & chaos, & poorest hit first & hardest. This process needs radically rethinking - meantime it’s vital that the Brazil-led coalition of the willing urgently delivers on plans to leave fossil fuels in the ground #COP30
And only one vague mention of #rainforests despite being held in the Amazon! #CoP30
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
November 22, 2025 at 5:11 PM
And only one vague mention of #rainforests despite being held in the Amazon! #CoP30
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Simon Hedges
Communities living around a mountainous forest in southeastern Bangladesh, close to Myanmar, have reported cross-border incidents of elephant poaching for years but there was no confirmed evidence. A new study has now documented the first known physical signs of elephant poaching in the forest.
Researchers find evidence of elephant poaching in remote Bangladesh forest
Communities living around a remote, mountainous forest in southeastern Bangladesh, close to Myanmar, have reported cross-border incidents of elephant poaching for years but there was no confirmed…
news.mongabay.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Communities living around a mountainous forest in southeastern Bangladesh, close to Myanmar, have reported cross-border incidents of elephant poaching for years but there was no confirmed evidence. A new study has now documented the first known physical signs of elephant poaching in the forest.
Reposted by Simon Hedges
Climate breakdown is driven by a storm of lies. This lying is systemic, funded and coordinated, and operates across almost all media, old and new.
This week's column argues that we cannot fight the climate crisis without also fighting the epistemic crisis.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
This week's column argues that we cannot fight the climate crisis without also fighting the epistemic crisis.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Dark forces are preventing us fighting the climate crisis – by taking knowledge hostage | George Monbiot
The fundamental problem is this: that most of the means of communication are owned or influenced by the very rich, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:47 AM
Climate breakdown is driven by a storm of lies. This lying is systemic, funded and coordinated, and operates across almost all media, old and new.
This week's column argues that we cannot fight the climate crisis without also fighting the epistemic crisis.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
This week's column argues that we cannot fight the climate crisis without also fighting the epistemic crisis.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Simon Hedges
A quarter of Britain’s native plants are now at risk of extinction
The first update in two decades to a “red list” of plants found a substantial increase in the number of threatened species
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
The first update in two decades to a “red list” of plants found a substantial increase in the number of threatened species
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
November 5, 2025 at 9:38 AM
A quarter of Britain’s native plants are now at risk of extinction
The first update in two decades to a “red list” of plants found a substantial increase in the number of threatened species
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
The first update in two decades to a “red list” of plants found a substantial increase in the number of threatened species
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Reposted by Simon Hedges
(if anyone would like to maybe start some sort of campaigning or pressure group of and on behalf of immigrants with ILR and settled status in Britain then I would be interested in helping, or indeed trying to get it off the ground myself, email in bio, etc)
October 22, 2025 at 9:55 AM
(if anyone would like to maybe start some sort of campaigning or pressure group of and on behalf of immigrants with ILR and settled status in Britain then I would be interested in helping, or indeed trying to get it off the ground myself, email in bio, etc)
Reposted by Simon Hedges
People who have come to the United Kingdom legally, played by the rules and made it their home do not need to “go home”. This is their home.
I've written to Kemi Badenoch to give her the chance to reject these divisive calls from her frontbencher Katie Lam.
I've written to Kemi Badenoch to give her the chance to reject these divisive calls from her frontbencher Katie Lam.
October 22, 2025 at 8:32 AM
People who have come to the United Kingdom legally, played by the rules and made it their home do not need to “go home”. This is their home.
I've written to Kemi Badenoch to give her the chance to reject these divisive calls from her frontbencher Katie Lam.
I've written to Kemi Badenoch to give her the chance to reject these divisive calls from her frontbencher Katie Lam.
Reposted by Simon Hedges
A curious approach from people who don't like the concept of immigration
October 22, 2025 at 11:02 AM
A curious approach from people who don't like the concept of immigration
Reposted by Simon Hedges
Congrats to @sheldonbirds.bsky.social, who's been awarded honorary membership by @britishecologicalsociety.org, the highest honour given by the society!
A recognition of exceptional contribution to the generation, communication and promotion of ecological knowledge and solutions 👇
bit.ly/474eoAb
A recognition of exceptional contribution to the generation, communication and promotion of ecological knowledge and solutions 👇
bit.ly/474eoAb
Professor Ben Sheldon awarded Honorary Membership by British Ecological Society
bit.ly
October 22, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Congrats to @sheldonbirds.bsky.social, who's been awarded honorary membership by @britishecologicalsociety.org, the highest honour given by the society!
A recognition of exceptional contribution to the generation, communication and promotion of ecological knowledge and solutions 👇
bit.ly/474eoAb
A recognition of exceptional contribution to the generation, communication and promotion of ecological knowledge and solutions 👇
bit.ly/474eoAb
Reposted by Simon Hedges
Carbon offsets, though widely used, often fail to deliver real emission cuts. They undermine global climate goals by enabling polluters to avoid reducing fossil-fuel use.
Carbon credits are failing to help with climate change — here’s why
The idea that emissions can be offset through projects that claim to avoid releases or to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is fatally flawed.
www.nature.com
October 17, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Carbon offsets, though widely used, often fail to deliver real emission cuts. They undermine global climate goals by enabling polluters to avoid reducing fossil-fuel use.
Reposted by Simon Hedges
Overconsumption and ruin: before and after images visualise how tech could harm our planet
Overconsumption and ruin: before and after images visualise how tech could harm our planet
From Venice to the Iguazu Falls, an exhibition in London illustrates the hidden cost of our gadgets and devices
www.theguardian.com
October 17, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Overconsumption and ruin: before and after images visualise how tech could harm our planet
Reposted by Simon Hedges
Our planet faces a global #ExtinctionCrisis. Scientists predict that over 1 million species are on track for extinction.
But there’s still time to stop it — and we need your help.
Check out our current action alerts to tackle the extinction crisis from every angle.
Take action ➡️ bit.ly/4h2BWJ4
But there’s still time to stop it — and we need your help.
Check out our current action alerts to tackle the extinction crisis from every angle.
Take action ➡️ bit.ly/4h2BWJ4
October 17, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Our planet faces a global #ExtinctionCrisis. Scientists predict that over 1 million species are on track for extinction.
But there’s still time to stop it — and we need your help.
Check out our current action alerts to tackle the extinction crisis from every angle.
Take action ➡️ bit.ly/4h2BWJ4
But there’s still time to stop it — and we need your help.
Check out our current action alerts to tackle the extinction crisis from every angle.
Take action ➡️ bit.ly/4h2BWJ4
Reposted by Simon Hedges
A great article from Rachel, who really understands the heart and soul of Dad’s work.
October 8, 2025 at 9:30 PM
A great article from Rachel, who really understands the heart and soul of Dad’s work.
Maybe we really are in the End Times?
I got nothin'.
Sam Altman says ChatGPT will soon sext with verified adults
October 15, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Maybe we really are in the End Times?
Reposted by Simon Hedges
In all seriousness: why?
(And “to see if we could” is not a reason.)
(And “to see if we could” is not a reason.)
Next week will see a first in computer science, with the launch of a scientific conference in which all of the papers — and all of the reviews — have been produced by machines
go.nature.com/3J82tYH
go.nature.com/3J82tYH
AI bots wrote and reviewed all papers at this conference
Event will assess how reviews by models compare with those written by humans.
go.nature.com
October 15, 2025 at 3:47 PM
In all seriousness: why?
(And “to see if we could” is not a reason.)
(And “to see if we could” is not a reason.)
Some absolutely stunning #photographs this year!
Winning entries for #Wildlife #Photographer of the Year 2025
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Winning entries for #Wildlife #Photographer of the Year 2025
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Pictured: Winning entries for Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025
South African photographer Wim van den Heever takes the main prize for his shot
www.bbc.co.uk
October 15, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Some absolutely stunning #photographs this year!
Winning entries for #Wildlife #Photographer of the Year 2025
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Winning entries for #Wildlife #Photographer of the Year 2025
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"It’s very clear that #nature has been drastically deprioritised and we are left with a one-dimensional focus purely on carbon" - Zac Goldsmith
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
National security threatened by climate crisis, UK intelligence chiefs due to warn
Report by joint intelligence committee delayed, with concerns expressed that it may not be published
www.theguardian.com
October 10, 2025 at 9:22 PM
"It’s very clear that #nature has been drastically deprioritised and we are left with a one-dimensional focus purely on carbon" - Zac Goldsmith
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Simon Hedges
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has just been updated and now includes assessments of 1,266 species of sharks, rays, and chimaeras.
October 10, 2025 at 8:03 AM
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has just been updated and now includes assessments of 1,266 species of sharks, rays, and chimaeras.
Reposted by Simon Hedges
Plans to weaken protections for national parks will have ‘disastrous consequences’, say environmentalists
Pleased to have signed @campaign4parks.bsky.social's letter urging Ministers to drop plans to remove the Protected Landscapes Duty on public bodies 1/
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Pleased to have signed @campaign4parks.bsky.social's letter urging Ministers to drop plans to remove the Protected Landscapes Duty on public bodies 1/
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Plans to weaken protections for national parks will have ‘disastrous consequences’ say green groups
Exclusive: Letter from 170-plus organisations calls on government to drop proposed changes to planning law
www.theguardian.com
October 8, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Plans to weaken protections for national parks will have ‘disastrous consequences’, say environmentalists
Pleased to have signed @campaign4parks.bsky.social's letter urging Ministers to drop plans to remove the Protected Landscapes Duty on public bodies 1/
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Pleased to have signed @campaign4parks.bsky.social's letter urging Ministers to drop plans to remove the Protected Landscapes Duty on public bodies 1/
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Simon Hedges
We're thrilled to announce our first-ever webinar!
@hollietree.bsky.social & @pettorelli.bsky.social will be joining us to discuss how Integrated Nature-Climate Action can strengthen policy responses to biodiversity loss & climate change 🌍🧪
Learn more & register for free here 👇
bit.ly/4mJGwx2
@hollietree.bsky.social & @pettorelli.bsky.social will be joining us to discuss how Integrated Nature-Climate Action can strengthen policy responses to biodiversity loss & climate change 🌍🧪
Learn more & register for free here 👇
bit.ly/4mJGwx2
October 2, 2025 at 10:13 AM
We're thrilled to announce our first-ever webinar!
@hollietree.bsky.social & @pettorelli.bsky.social will be joining us to discuss how Integrated Nature-Climate Action can strengthen policy responses to biodiversity loss & climate change 🌍🧪
Learn more & register for free here 👇
bit.ly/4mJGwx2
@hollietree.bsky.social & @pettorelli.bsky.social will be joining us to discuss how Integrated Nature-Climate Action can strengthen policy responses to biodiversity loss & climate change 🌍🧪
Learn more & register for free here 👇
bit.ly/4mJGwx2
Reposted by Simon Hedges
In shocking: "most people want to eat competitively priced, good quality fresh food and don't care where it comes from or what Nigel Farage thinks" news.
‘Polling commissioned by POLITICO shows the government’s agri-food deal agreed in principle with Brussels is popular with Remainers and Leavers alike — even when they're told it means following EU rules.
‘Nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) of voters back the deal…
‘Nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) of voters back the deal…
October 3, 2025 at 6:44 AM
In shocking: "most people want to eat competitively priced, good quality fresh food and don't care where it comes from or what Nigel Farage thinks" news.
Reposted by Simon Hedges
Even when she saw terrible, horrible things, she kept hoping and working and fighting for a better future. May we all carry some of her spirit into the work ahead.
The naturalist Jane Goodall died today at 91. Hope, she argued, is not merely “passive wishful thinking” but a “crucial survival trait.” Revisit a conversation with Goodall, from 2021: nyer.cm/F55JtsS
October 1, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Even when she saw terrible, horrible things, she kept hoping and working and fighting for a better future. May we all carry some of her spirit into the work ahead.
Reposted by Simon Hedges
Scorpions have survived for more than 400 million years & endured five mass extinctions, but habitat destruction, climate change & overharvesting now pose significant threats to their survival.
Only five scorpion species have international trade protection, despite 350 being sold in the pet trade.
Only five scorpion species have international trade protection, despite 350 being sold in the pet trade.
Consider the scorpions
Scorpions are a marvel. Some navigate by the stars and communicate by vibrations. They fluoresce under UV light and can live for decades. Scorpions give birth to live young who cling to their backs,…
news.mongabay.com
October 1, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Scorpions have survived for more than 400 million years & endured five mass extinctions, but habitat destruction, climate change & overharvesting now pose significant threats to their survival.
Only five scorpion species have international trade protection, despite 350 being sold in the pet trade.
Only five scorpion species have international trade protection, despite 350 being sold in the pet trade.
Reposted by Simon Hedges
The world has lost its most powerful advocate for nature and hope. Yet many remain who will continue her legacy and I know she will continue to inspire generations more.
October 1, 2025 at 6:01 PM
The world has lost its most powerful advocate for nature and hope. Yet many remain who will continue her legacy and I know she will continue to inspire generations more.