Edition: 6 November 2025
Theme: Respecting our Oceans, Restoring Balance, Regenerating Connection
Each of these stories embodies Buen Vivir: the understanding that socio-eco wellbeing arises when we live in harmony with all life. From Antarctic waters to the Amazong, people are re-imagining progress not as extraction, but as regeneration.
- UK Retailer Ends Krill Sales for Antarctic Conservation
Holland & Barrett, a major UK health retailer, has stopped selling krill-based supplements to protect the Southern Ocean ecosystem. The move supports marine biodiversity by reducing harvest pressure on krill — the foundation of the Antarctic food web.
Source: Sea Shepherd Global – Positive Waves October 2025
Buen Vivir connection: Recognising the rights of ocean life to flourish, not merely to serve human markets.
Why it matters: Small consumer-market shifts can ripple outward to protect critical species and foster corporate accountability grounded in ecological ethics.
2. Wild Animals Officially Recognised as Critical Enablers of Climate Solutions
In a landmark move last month, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has officially recognised wild animals as essential allies for nature-based climate solutions. Thriving populations — from whales and fish that store carbon in the ocean to elephants and birds that regenerate forests — stabilise the planet’s systems.
This resolution sparks a significant turning point in international law, reframing wildlife not just passive victims of climate change, but as active participants, through seed dispersal, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem balance.
Source: Oceanographic Magazine
Buen Vivir connection: Affirms the interdependence of all life, recognising animals as holders of rights and co-creators of planetary balance.
Why it matters: Protecting animals becomes a pathway to restoring carbon cycles, regenerating ecosystems, and renewing our relationship with Earth.
3. Community-Led Ocean Protection Through “Soft Law”
Researchers at the University of Exeter show that voluntary, community-based agreements can outperform rigid regulations in protecting marine ecosystems. By respecting local autonomy and cultural context, communities sustain conservation more naturally.
Source: Oceanographic Magazine
Buen Vivir connection: Harmony through collaboration, not domination.
Why it matters: Empowering coastal communities affirms that ecological wisdom lies not only in science, but in the lived experience of those most connected to the sea.
4. Brazil: Forest Protection and Local Prosperity Intertwined
At the Instituto Arapyaú, Renata Piazzon and partners are demonstrating that healthy forests and thriving local economies can coexist. Their projects link sustainable production, community wellbeing, and biodiversity.
Source: Mongabay – Brazil Can Protect Its Forests While Growing Its Economy
Buen Vivir connection: Mutual flourishing of people and ecosystems.
Why it matters: It shows how care for land and nature can generate enduring socio-eco wellbeing.
5. Boulder, Colorado: Urban Food Security Through Nature-Based Solutions
In Boulder, community members are collaborating with local Nature-Based Solutions teams to expand urban farms, restore pollinator corridors, and build climate resilience.
Source: City of Boulder
Buen Vivir connection: Food security re-roots the idea of nourishment in place, community, and reciprocity.
Why it matters: Demonstrates how cities can regenerate ecosystems while improving food access, transforming concrete into care.
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