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Madagascar’s famous baobab forests have been badly damaged and threatened by expanding agriculture. Every year, 4,000 hectares are destroyed. Tropical ecologist Seheno Andriantsaralaza tells us about the success of restoration project which draws help from local communities.
Thirteen-year-old Salamatu Jalloh, from Sierra Leone, had her whole future to look forward to, but she bled to death after participating in a secret initiation into womanhood. At its core was a violent act: the cutting and removal of her external genitalia. Female genital mutilation is on the rise in Africa and there are alarming new trends behind this. More procedures happen in secret or are “medicalised” to give a veil of legitimacy. Feminist academic Tamsin Bradley writes that these shifting trends need to be understood so that the terrible practice can be eliminated.
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Seheno Andriantsaralaza, Université d’Antananarivo
In Madagascar, communities and scientists are growing tens of thousands of baobab seedlings to restore the 1,000-year-old forests.
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Tamsin Bradley, University of Portsmouth
To eliminate female genital mutilation by 2030, progress would need to be 27 times faster. Understanding shifting trends behind this practice is a start.
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Nicola Pitchford, University of Nottingham
Child-directed educational technology can deliver high quality education for millions of marginalised children worldwide.
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Rehana Cassim, University of South Africa
South Africa’s laws and regulations aren’t clear about the role of the chair of a company. This carries huge risks for individuals and companies.
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From our international editions
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Robert James Nicholls, University of East Anglia
Cities can take action to stop subsidence – or else they need to adapt.
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Samantha Holmes, University of York
Children’s rights are often violated in times of war.
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Colin Davidson, University of Central Lancashire
It’s estimated that sex headaches occur in 1-1.6% of the population at some time in their life – but the real figures could be higher as they often go unreported due to stigma around discussing sex
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Abigail McQuatters-Gollop, University of Plymouth
Explore the incredible underwater world of plankton.
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Mend Mariwany, The Conversation
Katherine Browne and Margaret Angula talk to The Conversation Weekly podcast about a UN pilot in Namibia that’s pioneering community-led climate adaptation.
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