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An introduction to the artist El Anatsui.

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An Animated Story of African Artist El Anatsui - ARTtv ARTOONZ

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An initiative to protect coral reefs in South East Asia.

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Spanning 6 million square kilometers (2.3 million square miles) of the archipelagic waters of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, the Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste the Coral Triangle has the highest coral and reef fish diversity globally and provides vital spawning grounds for whales, turtles and other charismatic species. And one third of the people depend on these waters for their livelihoods.

These abundant and valuable marine and coastal resources are under threat from unsustainable fishing, rapid population growth and the effects of climate change. The Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) is an agreement forged between the countries of the Coral Triangle to work together to combat these threats and sustain this extraordinary environment and all it provides to human well-being.

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The Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) is an agreement forged between the governments of the Coral Triangle to work together to combat unsustainable fishing, rapid population growth and the effects of climate change.

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Beauty and trauma in the natural world photographed by Daniel Beltrá.

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Daniel Beltrá captures the profound beauty and vulnerability of the natural world in his photographs of natural landscapes and wildlife. Primarily a landscape photographer, Beltrá combines painterly abstraction with the haunting details of an earthly paradise in peril.

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Read about an initiative to protect and replant the Amazon rainforest sustainably.

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Xingu Seeds Network: harvesting native forest seeds - Partnerships For Forests

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Supporting the largest seed network in Brazil to become a profitable enterprise, providing quality seeds for Brazil's ambitious reforestation initiatives.

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How to make good choices about what you eat and protect the planet.

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When we think about agriculture and the process of growing and producing food, the image usually includes lush, green fields, fertile soil, and nature working in harmony to create the things we like to eat. There is a long-held concept that farming is one of the most natural practices on earth, however, in modern times this is not the case.

Where traditional agriculture favors growing a diverse set of crops and rotating them according to soil needs, our current system of food production is centered around monoculture crops that rely on chemical fertilizers and pesticides to grow. This process is certainly not great for the environment, but in addition to biodiversity loss and the proliferation of toxic chemicals, deforestation to make room for certain "commodity" crops is a rising concern.

Many of the foods we enjoy every day are produced in faraway regions of the world, making it nearly impossible to draw the connection between mass deforestation to grow ingredients and the finished products in our hands. As conscious consumers and Green Monsters, learning about how the foods we purchase impact native environments across the world is the first step to making more compassionate choices.

So take a look at these common foods that are driving deforestation and consider the downstream impact that your diet might be having on the planet.

1. Palm Oil

Palm oil is one of the most common processed food ingredients on the planet, but there is a good chance you have never even heard of it! While it might appear to be an unassuming vegetable oil, palm oil is actually responsible for mass deforestation across Indonesia, Malaysia and now Africa as well. Palm oil can be found in around 50 percent of all consumer goods, so the demand for this oil is extremely high.

Palm oil plants thrive in tropical climates, namely rainforest environments, which sadly lose out to this agricultural commodity. Around 300 football fields of forests are cleared every hour to create palm plantations. In one year alone, Indonesia lost 8,000 square miles of rainforest to palm production and there is no sign that this rate of deforestation will slow anytime soon. Palm oil production has been especially devastating to the world's orangutan population. Nearly 90 percent of their native habitat has been lost to palm plantations. It is estimated that the orangutan species will only be able to survive in the wild 10 more years if the state of their habitat does not improve.

Luckily, as consumers, we can help to slow the damage being done to the planet and the orangutan species by removing palm oil from our diets. This ingredient is commonly found in processed foods, the tricky part is that it is not always clearly labeled as "palm oil," to learn what to look out for. For planet-friendly alternatives to all the different items palm oil shows up in, click here.

2. Coffee

You know how you can't make it through the morning without at least three cups of coffee? Well, the bad news is neither can millions of other people across the world and sadly, this comes at a cost to the planet. In the U.S. alone, the coffee industry is worth $100 billion. Producing enough coffee beans to meet global demands requires a whole lot of space for crops which typically, means converting forest lands into plantations. It is estimated that nearly 11 million hectares of agricultural land worldwide are dedicated to coffee cultivation.

While coffee plants used to grow in three cup a day coffee drinker needs at least harmony with surrounding rainforests, in the 1970s a hybrid plant was introduced that required full sunlight and agrochemicals to grow (Ah! Modernity.). This plant is largely responsible for the environmental concerns associated with coffee today. To put all this in context, consider the fact that the average 18 coffee trees to sustain this habit. Now think about how many native forest trees and plants need to be replaced to grow 18 coffee trees for you and millions of other coffee drinkers of the world, yikes!

The good news is, there is a rather simple way to avoid deforestation in your cup of joe. First things first, get to know what all the fancy labels and stickers on the coffee you purchase mean. If your coffee is "Also look out for " shade-grown" that means that it was grown within the forest itself and is less likely to have caused deforestation of other native plants. Rainforest Alliance Certifications ," signified by a little green frog. Rainforest Alliance works closely with coffee farms, educating them on the most environmentally friendly ways to grow coffee crops, taking into account the health of soil, impact on local wildlife and management practices that actually promote carbon sequestration. To learn more about the ins and outs of planet-friendly coffee, click here.

3. Cocoa

Chocolate or cocoa, is another fan favorite, that tragically is driving deforestation across the world. The majority of cocoa plants are cultivated in West Africa, where this commodity crop sadly takes precedence over the native ecosystems. It is estimated that between 50 to 60 percent of biodiversity loss across Papua New Guinea and Madagascar can be linked back to habitat destruction for cocoa production.

Like coffee, cocoa can grow under forest cover, but the development of "efficient" hybrid plants that require full sun exposure has lead to a rapid increase in the amount of deforestation associated with cocoa.

Thankfully, you don't have to swear off chocolate just yet. Many farmers are switching back to the shade-grown method of cocoa production that enables plants to be grown in collaboration with others. Rainforest Alliance is working to integrate these sustainable methods across West Africa. Coffee farms that earn the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal," protect shade trees, plant native species, maintain wildlife corridors and conserve natural resources." These farmers also actively work to decrease their use of agrochemicals, further mitigating the damage of cocoa cultivation. So next time you're in the need of some chocolate, look for the Rainforest Alliance green frog to ensure that you're not supporting deforestation with you sugar fix.

The trifecta of deforestation: meat, dairy, and eggs. Unlike the other items that made it onto this list, these three are not solely directly responsible for deforestation, but rather their feed is. Soy is often given a bad rap for fueling deforestation across the world, but what many people don't realize is that over 70 percent of the cultivated soy goes to feed livestock, not people.

As the demand for meat, dairy and eggs increases across the world, more land is needed to cultivate crops that will become livestock feed, thus fueling deforestation. Around 33 percent of land, globally, is dedicated to growing livestock feed. The current area of land devoted to soy production is the same size of France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands combined. The South American rainforest regions have been the hardest hit by soy production for livestock feed. These areas are also subjected to deforestation related to grazing cattle for beef production. An estimated 80 percent of deforestation in Brazil can be credited to cattle ranching and 29 percent of deforestation in the Amazon can be tied to agriculture.

No bueno. The best way to remove yourself from the deforestation associated with livestock production is to simply switch to plant-based options instead. Not only are plant-based options way more planet-friendly, but they're also much better for your health (the U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee even says so!).

Conscious Consumption Habits

We rarely get to peek into the processes that make our favorite foods possible, but when we peel back to wrappers and see how our choices impact the planet, suddenly some of these items aren't so appetizing. We all have a choice when it comes to our diet and consumption habits and when we are armed with the facts, we can make much better decisions. While it might be painful to admit that your favorite cheese is driving deforestation, when you begin to make more sustainable selections, you'll feel all the better for it!

To learn more about how you can make a positive impact on the world with your food choices, check out One Green Planet's #EatForThePlanet movement.
Image source: Georgie Pauwels/Flickr

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4 Foods That Are Eating the World's Forests And How to Choose Better

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When we think about agriculture and the process of growing and producing food, the image usually includes lush, green fields, fertile soil, and nature working in harmony to create the things we like to eat. There is a long-held concept that farming is one of the most natural practices on earth, however, in modern times this is not the case.

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Find out about the impact of deforestation from National Geographic.

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Climate 101: Deforestation | National Geographic

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Sign up to become an Insect Champion for the People's Trust.

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Become an Insect Champion - People’s Trust for Endangered Species

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Sign up today to become an Insect Champion. Receive your free e-pack on how you can help us prevent the threats facing our pollinators and other insects.

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Introducing contemporary artist Chris Ofili.

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Created by Chris Ofili as a tribute to murdered teenager, Stephen Lawrence

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Exploring why this painting was so shocking when it was made.

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Why is this painting so shocking? - Iseult Gillespie

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George the Poet performs a spoken-word poem about an African work of art – a Benin bronze.

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This video explores some of the controversial objects in the British Museum.

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The British Museum is full of stolen artifacts

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Visit this link to find out more about Haida Culture and the Haida Totem Pole in Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford.

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This wonderful helmet featuring a bear and an octopus, with human faces caught in the tentacles of the latter, was probably made for inter-group warfare. Nothing is known about its maker or origins. It was in General Pitt Rivers’ own collection by 1878. The three-dimensional image on the left allows us to see the carving strokes on the inside of the helmet, as well as details of the creatures and formline design on the outside.

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An introduction to why we have museums and what you might find inside them.

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An introduction to why we have museums and what you can find in them.

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Are you an aspiring activist or a curious community member? Then this is the perfect guide for you!

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We Are All Greta: Be Inspired To Save The World

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We Are All Greta: Be Inspired To Save The World

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Encourages the reader to help make a difference in saving our planet from the effects of climate change.

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The Most Important Comic Book In The World

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The Most Important Comic Book In The World

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A collection of short comics and cartoons to highlight the call for climate change and the preservation of the planet's natural resources.

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A family becomes unwittingly involved with protesters when a runway extension is planned on their street.

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A teen boy moved to Florida encounters a bare-footed boy and joins in a daring environmental rescue.

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A biographical novel of cultural icon Muhammad Ali. Before he was a household name, Cassius Clay was a kid with struggles like any other. Kwame Alexander and James Patterson join forces to vividly depict his life up to age seventeen in both prose and verse, including his childhood friends, struggles in school, the racism he faced, and his discovery of boxing.

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Boy, Everywhere chronicles the harrowing journey taken by Sami and his family from privilege to poverty, across countries and continents, from a comfortable life in Damascus, via a smuggler's den in Turkey, to a prison in Manchester.

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Follows the romance between Romanian refugee Nicu, and Jess, whose home life is overshadowed by violence.

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A look at works of 26 Black artists from all around the world.

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An accessible, engaging and essential introduction to the British Empire. This book answers all the important questions about Britain's imperial history and how it still affects our lives today.

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In an alternative London in which the British Empire still exists and foreigners are segregated, a young boy and girl work with the mysterious being called Tyger to open a mythical gateway and bring about social change.

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A young Jamaican boy arriving in Britain with his parents in the late 1940's tries to make the best of things despite of the racism he encounters.