Ancient Ireland revered its trees, imposing severe penalties for felling them. Why has this profound respect for our natural woodlands diminished?

The second episode of Eco Eye 2014, published January 14, 2014, explores efforts to save and restore native Irish woodlands and the biodiversity that once thrived there.

For additional resources, see Woodlands of Ireland and BirdWatch Ireland.

The Global Ocean Commission, an independent body of international leaders, launched in London on February 12. Its aim is to reverse ocean degradation and restore its full health and productivity.

Chaired by former Costa Rican President José María Figueres, South African minister Trevor Manuel, and former UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband, the Commission brings together senior political figures, business leaders, and development specialists from around the world.

On January 1, 2013, Shell's Kulluk drilling platform ran aground on Sitkalidak Island, Alaska, amidst 40 mph winds and 20-foot seas. A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew overflew the scene, captured in a U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis.

This incident highlighted ongoing concerns about Arctic drilling. For further insight, read the Ocean Doctor blog post, "Lessons of BP Deepwater Horizon: Unlearned and Now Unleashed in Alaska."

The IPCC's April 2, 2014, "Summary for Policy Makers on Chapter Six, Oceans" report is available here.

Inspired by the World Resources Institute's Global Forest Watch, Ruth Ann Barrett of EarthSayers.tv developed OceansAdvocacy.com. This platform unites ocean advocates, offering access to databases, research, maps, and expert insights, including proponents of a circular economy. It fosters a whole systems approach to ocean sustainability.

Leaders in business, government, and conservation express support for Global Forest Watch (GFW), a dynamic online system empowering people to better manage forests.

Key supporters include Paul Polman (CEO, Unilever), Heru Prasetyo (Head of REDD+ Agency, Indonesia), and Dr. Jane Goodall (Founder, Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace).

This statement was published on Feb 20, 2014.

Ocean Elders was established to foster collaboration in ocean conservation.

Its distinguished members include Sir Richard Branson, Jackson Browne, Dr. Rita Colwell, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Dr. Sylvia A. Earle, Graeme Kelleher, Sven Lindblad, Her Majesty Queen Noor, Nainoa Thompson, Ted Turner, Captain Don Walsh, and Neil Young.

Captain Charles Moore of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation first discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an immense, floating accumulation of plastic waste.

He continues to raise awareness about the escalating and detrimental problem of plastic debris choking our seas.

Dancing Spirit presents "The Fishing Song," a captivating musical piece. This track evokes the serene yet vibrant essence of nature, blending rhythmic melodies with a profound connection to the wilderness.

It invites listeners to experience the spirit of the outdoors, celebrating the ancient art of fishing through a unique auditory journey. The song captures the quiet anticipation and joyful release found by the water's edge.

Through its evocative soundscape, "The Fishing Song" offers a moment of reflection and appreciation for the natural world, embodying the free-flowing energy of a dancing spirit.

"Breathe In," a National Geographic production, celebrated the release of the first Census of Marine Life results on October 4, 2010, in London. This monumental census, involving over 9,000 days at sea and 600 institutions, established a crucial baseline for understanding marine populations.

Explore the full findings at the Census of Marine Life website. The companion book, *World Ocean Census*, can be ordered on Amazon or found at your local bookstore.

Oceanographer John Delaney is leading a team to construct an underwater network of high-definition cameras and sensors. This project aims to transform our oceans into a global interactive lab, generating an abundance of data about the world below.

Delaney, a Professor of Oceanography at the University of Washington, is also Principal Investigator and Director of the Regional Scale Nodes Program, holding the Jerome M. Paros Endowed Chair in Sensor Networks. His innovative work is featured on TED.com.

Published December 13, 2013, this video features an introduction by Lisa Emilia Svensson, Ambassador for Ocean, Seas, and Fresh Water. It covers a two-day seminar hosted by the Swedish Ministry of the Environment, the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, and the Embassy of Sweden, in partnership with Duke University's Nicholas Institute, SIWI, and UNDP. The seminar emphasized the critical need for a collective voice on ocean issues.

Interviews include: Pawan Patil (World Bank, Global Partnership for Oceans), Lynn Scarlett (The Nature Conservancy), Kemi-Ann Joes (U.S. State Department), Claes Berglund (Stena AB), and Ghislaine Maxwell (TerraMar).

This video from the Census of Marine Life, uploaded on November 28, 2007, highlights the importance of monitoring ocean biodiversity globally, demonstrating how existing technologies can achieve this.

For more details, explore the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS).

Bob Evans of the Academy of Underwater Arts & Sciences convened ocean advocates Sylvia Earle and Jean-Michel Cousteau. They discussed the state of the ocean and actions for positive change, emphasizing that "The diver's voice is an important voice."

This conversation occurred in August 2010 at the Blue Ocean Film Festival in Monterey, California. The content was uploaded on May 18, 2011.

David Helvarg's "50 Ways to Save the Ocean" program, from the Blue Frontier Campaign, empowers individuals to protect our oceans. We've developed teaching guides for grades 9-12, featured on National Geographic's Ocean Education website, to inspire the next generation of activists. His book is available on Amazon.

We are creating K-2 lesson plans, and funding is vital to complete them, expand educator outreach, and enable presentations by Helvarg and cartoonist Jim Toomey (creator of Sherman's Lagoon).

The Blue Frontier Campaign leads efforts to protect our oceans, coasts, and dependent communities. Support our mission via our crowdfunding page.

As of Earth Day 2012, Whole Foods Market no longer carries red-rated wild-caught fish in its seafood departments. This initiative supports ocean health and helps reverse overfishing trends.

We prioritize sustainable wild-caught seafood, offering the widest selection from fisheries certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). For more on our seafood sustainability, visit wholefoodsmarket.com/seafood-sustainability-basics.

Marine Biologist Dr. Stephen Palumbi discusses how global warming is transforming our oceans. He highlights rising ocean temperature, acidity, and water levels.

These environmental changes are accelerating, with their effects projected to last for centuries. Corals are among the organisms most severely impacted by these shifts.

The survival of coral ecosystems ultimately depends on the rate at which our climate continues to change.

This Dateline story, uploaded December 31, 2008, features Julia Butterfly Hill. It documents her 14-month stay in a redwood tree, twenty stories high, to protect an old-growth Northern California forest.

Learn more about Julia at juliabutterfly.com.

Plastic and synthetic debris are silently choking our oceans, posing horrific impacts on marine wildlife and ecosystems. As an island continent, marine debris is particularly important for Australia. Creatures become entangled, drown, or ingest concentrated toxins, jeopardizing the food chain. Plastics also transport and introduce new species into environments.

To address this critical issue, the CSIRO research team spearheaded the world-first Marine Debris Survey, studying plastic pollution along Australia's coastline. This vital research was published on September 9, 2012, by ABC Catalyst.

In OCEAN HEROES, Anna Cummins and Marcus Eriksen of the 5 Gyres Institute explain: WHAT IS A GYRE?

Learn more about protecting our oceans at One World Oceans. You can also explore our special collection, "Plastics in Our Oceans," and find the 5 Gyres Institute's documentary, Plasticized.

Global Forest Watch (GFW) is a dynamic online system for monitoring forests and providing alerts, empowering people worldwide to manage forests more effectively.

It integrates satellite technology, open data, and crowdsourcing to deliver timely, reliable information. This enables governments, businesses, and communities to take action and halt forest loss.

Created by the World Resources Institute with over 40 partners, including Google and the University of Maryland, GFW receives major funding from organizations like USAID and the Norwegian Climate and Forests Initiative. (Published Feb 20, 2014)