It could be a potentially devastating loss for global biodiversity: we’ve caught word over at Huffington Post that the world’s largest collection of fruit and berries, housed in one of the world’s oldest seed banks outside St. Petersburg, Russia may be demolished later this year for a housing … Read the full story on TreeHugger

Tempting fate is never a good idea. I was so busy gloating about how many lengths I could do that I didn’t see it coming. As Oxford’s finest were leaping off the Magdalene Bridge in a tradition that dates back to the dawn of alcopops, I was preparing to take a road trip. Though, not by road you see, because that wouldn’t be very eco. I took a train to the coast to dive into the depths of Dover harbour. And despair.

Swimming in the sea is nothing like swimming in a pool. I know that because I’ve read it several times since undertaking this challenge. And because … Read the full story on TreeHugger

Fabien Cousteau, grandson of the ocean explorer Jaques Cousteau, has a mission to empower communities to “re-plant” important marine species in their local habitats. From oysters in New York Harbor, to sea turtles in El Salvador, to corals in the Maldives, the ocean advocate is hoping to spark a worldwide effort of rehabilitating our marine ecosystems. To do so, he’s started up a non-profit called Plant a Fish, and the efforts are starting at the edge of Brooklyn. … Read the full story on TreeHugger

Critically endangered Leatherback sea turtles must feel like humans have it out for them. As they cope with the massive BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, the least we could do is keep one of their most important nesting areas safe. Yet if Puerto Rico Governor Luis Fortuño has his way, that nesting area could soon be covered with luxury housing, hotels and golf courses…. Read the full story on TreeHugger

What would the world be like without oceans? What does it feel like to be in the ocean? How does the ocean affect your life on a daily basis? These are some of the prompts given to participants in an extraordinary new sound project called Ocean Voices. Last week, the California Academy of Sciences hosted the premiere of Ocean Voices, a project that collects people’s thoughts, experiences, impressions and musings on our oceans. It’s a powerful listening experience, with layers of sound creating an i… Read the full story on TreeHugger

Guest blogger Caroline Chisholm, head of marketing and communications globally for Earthwatch Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to a sustainable environment, is swimming the English Channel in August to raise funds for Earthwatch initiatives.

You may think that because I work in PR, I am prone to exaggeration. But when I said I wasn’t much of a swimmer, I really wasn’t selling myself short. When I began my training last autumn, it was mostly of the dry kind. Going to the swimming pool is akin to having an Read the full story on TreeHugger

Wildflower Week NYC celebrates its 3rd Anniversary in New York City this week with a bunch of events that will make you think differently about wildflowers, or at least make you stop and smell them! Some of my favorite places in the five boroughs are the designated sites for tours for wildflower week, such as: Battery Park, Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Queens Botanic Garden, Liz Chrystie Community Garden, along with several others. Ever wondered about how plants survive on th… Read the full story on TreeHugger

This just in from our friends at Wild Wonders of Europe: “Lake Skadar is one of the most unique Wild Wonders of Europe. Seldom has a signature been so important.”

Dam plans threaten the lake. A facebook petition has been started to force a review of whether alternative energy sources could alleviate the need for a dam, or if a dam is unavoidable, to improve the ecological study and minimize the impact of blocking the main feed to Lake Skadar. More about the lake, and the petition, over t… Read the full story on TreeHugger