Most recognised conservationists come from a strictly scientific and westernised background. Not so Dr. Sam ʻOhu Gon III. He was born and raised in Nuʻuanu, on the island of Oʻahu, in Hawai’i and even gained his first scientific qualifications using the Hawai‘i language.
Gabrielle Morley: Sustainable Beekeeper
A would-be market gardener planted a paddock with palms to sell to locals. Then she found out that men in some Arab countries thought the pollen would help them stay virile. So she started keeping bees to turn the pollen into honey, and became a successful exporter. But all along, she just wanted to keep the plants and bees happy. A story on sustainable beekeeping.
Yishan Wong: Tree Solutions
Ex-Silicon Valley CEO Yishan Wong says that using technology to combat climate change is not a realistic solution. He is convinced that trees are the simplest, most obvious and logically proven answer to CO2 pollution. One that needs a worldwide approach to be viable – and he has the answer to that too.
Claire Ellis on Strengthening Ecotourism in Australia
After three decades, Ecotourism Australia keeps reinventing itself to be relevant to the changing needs of the ecotourism industry. Chairperson Claire Ellis spoke to Mallika Naguran on why Australia’s new sustainable destination certification is very much needed and on working with WWF to advance the interests of Australian ecotourism operators while rebuilding disaster affected areas.
Masaru Takayama: Ecotourism After Coronavirus
With COVID-19 putting a pause or stop to tourism and travel globally, can ecotourism survive if not spring back stronger than before? Masaru Takayama, Chair and Founder of the Asian Ecotourism Network, shares with Mallika Naguran his thoughts on the positive and negative impacts of the coronavirus on tourism, and how ecotourism players should adapt to “the new normal”.
Victor Steffenson: Country Fireman
Lewis Hamilton: Veggieburger Missionary
Albert Teo: How to Sustain Community Building in Ecotourism
Jeff Goodell on Climate Change: The Water Will Come
Harry Morris: Davao Reef Saviour
Ian Rosenberger: Trash for Dignity
Katherine Connor: Sustainable Elephant Rescue
Andrew Sebastian: On Malaysia Ecotourism & Ecology
No stranger to bird lovers and forest trekkers in Malaysia, guide Andrew Sebastian has more tricks up his sleeves in promoting ecotourism and habitat conservation than anyone can imagine. Gaia Discovery’s Mallika Naguran catches up with the bird expert to find out more about the Wallace Project through Sebastian’s own NGO - Ecotourism & Conservation Society Malaysia, and about his views on how tourism can help raise ecological awareness.
Jin of Chickenfeet Travels: Adventure with Positive Impacts
Alexander Yee: Overcoming Turtle Conservation Challenges
It took vision, persistence and wisdom for conservationist Alexander Yee to be able to release his 30,000th turtle hatchling into the South China Sea after five years this March. He spoke to Mallika Naguran about how this highly effective turtle conservation programme came about but more importantly, how obstructive village practices were overcome to boost this aspect of marine life and ecotourism in Sabah.
Michael Davis: My Role as a Responsible Installation Artist
Bio-Resin, reusable metal in bar chimes… these are just a couple of materials that are surprisingly part of the Illumaphonium, a musical structure that stands tall, colourful, entrancing and strong at the I Light Marina Bay 2018 festival in Singapore. Gaia Discovery’s Mallika Naguran gets on the same bandwidth as its British creator Michael Davis as he speaks about his musical interest, beliefs, style and role as a responsible artist.
Paul Luke Murphy: Natural Artist
Masaru Takayama: A Stronger Asian Ecotourism Network for 2018
Hitesh Mehta: On Ecotourism Trends in Asia from 2017
Hitesh S. Mehta, the president of HM Design, is a pioneer in the field of authentic ecotourism and a well sought-after ecotourism landscape architect, environmental planner and architect. Here, Mehta speaks to Mallika Naguran, the founder of Gaia Discovery, of his views on how ecotourism is likely to shape Asia in the years to come and about his next book - the second volume of Authentic Ecolodges.
Prof Lye Lin-Heng: Why Attend the Sustainable Development Goals Conference 2016 in Singapore?
In an exclusive interview with Gaia Discovery, Assoc. Prof Lye Lin-Heng, Director of the Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law (APCEL) and chairperson of the organising committee and highlights the significance of the first-of-its-kind conference on "Attaining the UN Sustainable Development Goals - Environmental Law, Policy and Management" in Singapore.