14 Diseases You Almost Forgot About (Thanks to Vaccines)

Health News

Facing South Florida for March 24: The Republican Party of Florida's New Chair

Jim DeFede goes one-on-one with the new chairman Evan Power on various topics.

Facing South Florida for March 24: One-on-One with Rep. Jared Moskowitz

Jim DeFede goes one-on-one with the South Florida Congressman for his reaction to the comments by former President Donald Trump.

Facing South Florida for March 17: Legislative Mental Health

After ignoring the issue for years, the Florida legislature began to address the mental health crisis in the criminal justice system in its 2024 session.

Facing South Florida for March 17: One-on-One with State Rep. Danny Perez

Jim DeFede interviews State Representative Danny Perez, whose district includes portions of Miami-Dade County. Perez, a Republican, will be the next Speaker of the Florida House.

Facing South Florida for March 10: One-on-One with Brent Urbanik

Jim DeFede goes one-on-one with the president of the Miami-Dade Education Coalition, a group trying to replace the teachers union in Miami-Dade County.

Why Rewilding And Biodiversity Are No Longer Just 'Nice-To-Haves'

WEST SUSSEX, UNITED KINGDOM. JUNE 23. Aerial photograph of Knepp Castle, home to Burrell family for ... [+] over 200 years, on June 23, 2010. This castelated Gothic mansion, designed by John Nash dates back to 1812, set in a 3500 acre estate, it is located 6 miles South of Horsham. (Photograph by David Goddard/Getty Images)

Getty Images

When it comes to ESG priorities, topics like biodiversity and rewilding often struggle to get the prominence they deserve and frequently end up on the "nice to have" list.

But a new study may help reframe how people see nature restoration projects, particularly in terms of their potential to sequester carbon.

Spearheaded by global sustainable development consultancy Arup and nature recovery experts Nattergal Ltd, the study examined the rewilding work carried out at the Knepp estate in West Sussex, England.

The estate has been running one of the U.K.'s most successful rewilding programmes for the last 20 years, with an emphasis on using natural processes to regenerate degraded ecosystems.

The findings in the report indicate that the rewilding of scrub and grassland, sequester and store large volumes of atmospheric CO2 over at least their first 20 years, with most carbon sequestration initially below ground in the soil.

In fact, the study concludes carbon sequestration rates in rewilding projects are as fast as deciduous woodland planting over the first 20 years when measured using the woodland carbon code.

Ivan de Klee, the project initiator at Nattergal, said in an interview because the Knepp rewilding project is primarily about restoring and creating biodiversity, the added benefit of carbon sequestration has always been a secondary outcome.

He added researchers have also traditionally isolated different pools of carbon and treated any sequestrations in trees and soil as separate, rather than considering the overall amount as an entire eco-system.

"Most carbon models are associated with trees and woodland in the U.K.," said de Klee.

"They came from productive timber systems, but scrub, grassland and little trees do not have any timber value, so no one has ever really studied them, and they have a great biodiversity value."

According to the report, its findings could encourage investors and private sector actors to invest in a greater diversity and scale of habitat restoration projects.

It argues a diverse range of process-led nature restoration projects could help expand the voluntary carbon market, particularly in Britain.

"A lot of people in sustainability used to refer to biodiversity as a "nice-to-have" but that is changing," said de Klee.

"What this report does is demonstrate something anyone who works within the natural world knows already, namely that a healthy ecosystem is likely to be good for the climate and sequestering carbon. Carbon investment can now be focussed on biodiversity-led projects."

Arup's nature director, Tom Butterworth said in an interview interest in rewilding and nature restoration has shifted in recent years as researchers gain a greater understanding of how eco-systems can work and how they impact on a number of levels, such as mitigating climate change and improving mental health.

"It's that ironic that just as we realise how we are fundamentally linked to nature, we have also realised we are losing it faster than at any time in human history," he told me.

"A system-led approach to regenerating ecosystems is critical," he added. "People and nature, co-creating places, is something that could be incredibly powerful."

William Theisen, chief executive of climate consultancy EcoAct North America said in an email treating biodiversity as a "nice-to-have" is like saying water resources or food production are "nice-to-have".

"Biodiversity and Nature provide essential ecosystem services like pollination, clean water, climate regulation, and food production, valued at an estimated $125-140 trillion per year," said Theisen.

"Businesses must take note as regulations like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive emphasize biodiversity conservation, while non-compliance poses legal, financial, and reputational risks as seen in the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures," he added.

"Business resilience relies on both climate actions and biodiversity protection."

Why Taking A Bath Is Fantastic For Your Health

A long, hot soak in the tub is a well established part of any good self-care routine, but it has more wellbeing clout than you might realize. "The mind and body are intrinsically linked, constantly exchanging information, and responding to one another as we move through the world," explains Sarah St John, energy healer and founder of Grey Wolfe. "Our emotions affect our bodies, and our bodies affect our emotions. One way to face and release those negative energies from our bodies is with healing ritual baths." Here's why a long, hot soak may be just what the doctor ordered, and Vogue's pick of the best products to add to yours.

It can reduce stress and anxiety

Irregular fluctuations in circadian rhythm–the daily biological changes that affect our body and brain and tell us when it's time to wake up and when to sleep–often occur in people suffering from depression and anxiety. Changes in these rhythms also mean changes in core body temperature. Bathing, as well as being a relaxing ritual in itself, is a great way to raise body temperature and in turn kick start the body's circadian rhythm to get it back on a more regular footing. A study conducted by the University of Freiburg found this to be the case when they assessed 45 people with diagnosed depression. "Floating in the bath can also replicate the feeling of being in the womb, making you feel safe and comforted," adds St John. If you're constantly feeling in a state of stress, your cortisol levels are likely to be elevated. As well as causing disruptions to your sleep patterns, too much cortisol can negatively affect everything from skin and digestion to a dysregulated nervous system. "Most of us feel so relieved after emerging from a nice, long bath, because it naturally lowers our cortisol levels," adds St John. "Cortisol is the so-called stress hormone, so when there's less in our system, we feel more at ease."

It increases feelings of happiness

In addition to lowering cortisol, a warm bath can calm the nervous system by encouraging the body to release neurotransmitters like serotonin, which contribute to feelings of contentment and wellbeing. "Your skin releases endorphins in response to the soothing warm water the same way that endorphins are released when you feel the sun on your skin," adds St John. Bathing is also believed to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for helping you to feel calmer and more relaxed. One study even reported that two baths a week were enough to produce a moderate but persistent mood lift, a result that's comparable to physical exercise.

It soothes inflammation

As well as a relaxing moment for your mind, a bath is a full-body heat treatment that can help with a number of physical ailments. A hot bath causes blood vessels to expand which increases blood flow to your muscles, helping them to relax, while the heat of the water is also important for increasing the flexibility of collagen fibers, which helps reduce stiffness that often comes after exercise and improves mobility. Boosted blood flow can also support better heart health as it reduces blood viscosity, which enables better movement around the body.

It can help you breathe easier

The impact of a warm bath isn't limited to sore muscles or aching limbs, it can also improve lung function, so is a particularly good habit for asthmatics or anyone with a chronic lung disease to get into. An improvement in blood flow means that oxygen is able to flow more freely through the body, helping to improve lung capacity and helping us to breathe deeply and more easily. It can also be a great remedy for a cold. "The steam produced in a warm bath can lessen the icky symptoms you have when you catch a cold," adds St John. "It frees up your nasal passages and helps clear the chest and sinuses."

It can support immunity

An increase in body temperature is a vital tool in helping the body fight off infection. Recent studies have shown that just bathing for 20 to 30 minutes is enough to produce more infection-fighting white blood cells, which are a crucial part of the body's immune defense. Adding natural germ-fighting essential oils can further boost your bath's potency; eucalyptus, rosemary and peppermint are all anti-bacterial and will scent your water beautifully too.Vogue's picks to supercharge your soak

---