141: Is it too late to save the Japanese giant salamander?

With the United Nations Biodiversity Conference taking place in Montreal this week, we thought it would be a good opportunity to look at how Japan is handling issues involving biodiversity here. Environmental journalist Mara Budgen comes on the show to talk about the Japanese giant salamander, which has been designated a "special natural monument" under Japanese law but is still vulnerable to extinction. 

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Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. 

On this episode: 

Mara Budgen: Articles | Twitter

Read more/Watch more: 

Battle to stop Kagoshima seawall highlights divide over coastal engineering (Mara Budgen, The Japan Times)

Save the Japanese giant salamander campaign (The Japan Channel, YouTube)

Sustainable Daisen

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Photo: 

The Japanese giant salamander’s biology has changed little over the past 23 million years, so when you see one it’s like looking at a dinosaur. | TOPOUTIMAGES/ YUKIHIRO FUKUDA