SEVILLE - A bar in southern Spain has been restyled to showcase a newly unearthed 12th century hammam that was secretly preserved.
Workers uncovered the thermal baths, decorated with well preserved artwork, sculptures and wall fittings, as renovation began in Giralda, a Moorish-styled bar in Seville, Spain near a historic cathedral.
https://thearabweekly.com/well-preserved-12th-century-hammam-uncovered-seville
The planned construction of three luxury residential estates in vital wildlife refuge and popular tourist site Bokor National Park marks the latest update in a wider tale of loss for Cambodia’s native forests.
Also known as Preah Monivong Bokor National Park, the protected area in south-west Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountains region offers a refreshingly cool climate, spectacular ocean views, boulder-strewn waterfalls and poignant decay in a haunting, 1920s French hill station. In pre-pandemic times, these attractions brought in thousands of tourists each year to an area known for its abundant forests and varied wildlife.
https://news.mongabay.com/2021/02/a-disgrace-luxury-housing-plans-threaten-cambodias-bokor-national-park/
In response to climate-driven declines in global biodiversity, many nations have increased the amount of land and water they designate protected, mostly based on where affected species live. But as the climate warms, species may move out of those designated areas to search out more suitable habitats. And the species-focused designation doesn’t take into account yet-to-be-discovered species. New research suggests when designating protected zones, governments should make decisions based on land qualities instead of current species’ locations.
In a recent article in Global Change Biology, researchers outlined a more strategic way to designate protected areas. Instead of focusing solely on species distributions, the authors recommend prioritizing three area types: climate refuge areas that have been slower to experience the effects of climate change, areas with diverse landscapes that are likely to accommodate a mix of species and areas that increase connectivity between protected zones. The team analyzed what percentage of countries have designated protected areas based on these criteria in the last decade.
https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/02/should-we-reconsider-how-we-draw-borders-around-protected-lands/
