<
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240223-ukraines-quest-to-save-its-nature-from-russian-aggression>
"In July 2023, I crossed into Ukraine on a night train from Poland. As usual,
my evening was spent talking to other passengers. I did not mention my interest
in environmental questions, preferring to listen to people's stories, when
suddenly my compartment neighbour, who was not an environmentalist, started
talking about the sandy blind mole-rat.
The sandy blind mole-rat (
Spalax arenarius) is an endangered species endemic
to the Lower Dnipro region of southern Ukraine. The area has been occupied by
Russia since February 2022, and, on 6 June 2023, the region's Kakhovka
Hydroelectric reservoir and dam collapsed, resulting in widespread flooding and
destruction. Ukraine's military and Nato blame Russia, and experts suggest the
damage could be either a deliberate or an unintended consequence of the Russian
occupation.
It is impossible at present to assess the full impacts of the disaster since
the area remains under Russian occupation. Yet the event, which demolished
houses and affected internationally significant nature sites, has been
proclaimed in Ukraine as the biggest environmental catastrophe since the
Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant explosion in 1986. An estimated 18 cubic km (4.3
cubic miles) of reservoir water burst through, washing pollutants and sewage
products downstream to the Black Sea, and displacing landmines. The loss of
water for agricultural irrigation also hit global food security and
biodiversity loss has been significant.
Amid this destruction, the population of the endemic sandy blind mole-rat is
thought to have fallen by 50%. For my fellow train passengers, the animal was
seen as yet another victim of Russian aggression."
Via
Positive.News
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
