Today, April 22, is International Mother Earth Day.　　

Mother Earth is currently facing various crises. The oceans are covered with plastic residue and are in danger of acidification. Extreme weather events such as heat waves, forest fires, floods, and record-breaking hurricanes are affecting the lives of millions of people. Above all, the threat to the health of the ecosystem is behind the global pandemic of COVID-19.

Climate change, anthropogenic alteration of nature, deforestation and land-use change, intensified agriculture and livestock production that use excessive amounts of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, and illegal wildlife trade are all destructive actions against biodiversity that accelerate the destruction of the planet.

This year's theme is Invest in Our Planet. Action is needed to promote a transition to a sustainable economy that is friendly to both humanity and the planet.

The JIRCAS Open House 2022 started on April 18 (Mon) and is now online until April 24th. On the last day of the Open House on Sunday, a panel discussion on the theme "Changing Africa: Field researchers' views on food and agriculture in Africa" will be streamed live on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvFdk5qZWNY) from 1:00 PM JST.
 

Contributor: IIYAMA Miyuki (Director, Information Program)