Mike Shanahan
@mikeshanahan.bsky.social
Former rainforest biologist, now freelance writer/editor focused on biodiversity, forests, climate, etc. Two newsletters: Global Nature Beat https://thenaturebeat.substack.com/ and Planet Ficus https://planetficus.substack.com
Just another citizen of Planet Ficus 🌏🧪https://planetficus.substack.com/p/planet-ficus-monthly-roundup-6
November 7, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Just another citizen of Planet Ficus 🌏🧪https://planetficus.substack.com/p/planet-ficus-monthly-roundup-6
I came across this wondrous image of a giant strangler fig on the Samoan island of Upolu — drawn in 1841 by Alfred T. Agate. Look how small the people are in comparison. If strangler figs entice you, check out Planet Ficus for stories about these mind-bending plants. planetficus.substack.com 🧪🌏
October 15, 2025 at 10:12 AM
I came across this wondrous image of a giant strangler fig on the Samoan island of Upolu — drawn in 1841 by Alfred T. Agate. Look how small the people are in comparison. If strangler figs entice you, check out Planet Ficus for stories about these mind-bending plants. planetficus.substack.com 🧪🌏
Next month, eight experts will brief UK politicians and leaders from business, culture, faith and the media on what the climate and nature crisis means for health, food, national security and the economy. Check here to see if your MP is attending: www.nebriefing.org 🧪🌏
October 15, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Next month, eight experts will brief UK politicians and leaders from business, culture, faith and the media on what the climate and nature crisis means for health, food, national security and the economy. Check here to see if your MP is attending: www.nebriefing.org 🧪🌏
Since launching Planet Ficus three months ago, I’ve published 13 editions exploring fig trees from all angles — evolution, ecology, myth, religion, culture and art. This special edition brings them all together for readers old and new. planetficus.substack.com/p/discover-o... 🧪🌏 Subscribe for more.
August 6, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Since launching Planet Ficus three months ago, I’ve published 13 editions exploring fig trees from all angles — evolution, ecology, myth, religion, culture and art. This special edition brings them all together for readers old and new. planetficus.substack.com/p/discover-o... 🧪🌏 Subscribe for more.
Just published: The new edition of my newsletter for journalists (and anyone else) interested in biodiversity, the ecological crisis and nature-based solutions to climate change. It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
July 28, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Just published: The new edition of my newsletter for journalists (and anyone else) interested in biodiversity, the ecological crisis and nature-based solutions to climate change. It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
A snapshot of recent content at Planet Ficus, where my goal is to amaze you with stories about the biology, mythology and many values of strangler figs and their kin. Subscribe here: planetficus.substack.com 🌏🧪
June 6, 2025 at 12:00 PM
A snapshot of recent content at Planet Ficus, where my goal is to amaze you with stories about the biology, mythology and many values of strangler figs and their kin. Subscribe here: planetficus.substack.com 🌏🧪
When I started Planet Ficus, I already considered fig trees to be the most fascinating plants on Earth. But even I was astonished by the sheer breadth and depth of stories I came across just last month. Read and subscribe here:
planetficus.substack.com/p/planet-fic... 🌏🧪
planetficus.substack.com/p/planet-fic... 🌏🧪
June 3, 2025 at 10:05 PM
When I started Planet Ficus, I already considered fig trees to be the most fascinating plants on Earth. But even I was astonished by the sheer breadth and depth of stories I came across just last month. Read and subscribe here:
planetficus.substack.com/p/planet-fic... 🌏🧪
planetficus.substack.com/p/planet-fic... 🌏🧪
No trees are home to a more motley mix of supernatural creatures than the strangler figs — there's a biological basis to some of these beliefs 🌏🧪https://open.substack.com/pub/planetficus/p/why-strangler-figs-are-associated?r=9la8a&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
May 14, 2025 at 4:33 PM
No trees are home to a more motley mix of supernatural creatures than the strangler figs — there's a biological basis to some of these beliefs 🌏🧪https://open.substack.com/pub/planetficus/p/why-strangler-figs-are-associated?r=9la8a&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
I hope this short article inspires some of you to head out to a forest for a dose of awe.🧪🌏
open.substack.com/pub/thenatur...
open.substack.com/pub/thenatur...
April 24, 2025 at 11:58 AM
I hope this short article inspires some of you to head out to a forest for a dose of awe.🧪🌏
open.substack.com/pub/thenatur...
open.substack.com/pub/thenatur...
What are the best books about biodiversity, ecology + extinction? With 1-paragraph reviews for each, here are 5 I recommend by @elizkolbert.bsky.social, @dghaskell.bsky.social, Chris Thomas, @merlinsheldrake.bsky.social + Daniel Hudon shepherd.com/best-books/b... What would you add to the list? 🌏🧪
April 23, 2025 at 11:51 AM
What are the best books about biodiversity, ecology + extinction? With 1-paragraph reviews for each, here are 5 I recommend by @elizkolbert.bsky.social, @dghaskell.bsky.social, Chris Thomas, @merlinsheldrake.bsky.social + Daniel Hudon shepherd.com/best-books/b... What would you add to the list? 🌏🧪
Find these stories and more in Nature Beat #58 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
March 31, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Find these stories and more in Nature Beat #58 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
Global Nature Beat is on a break for Christmas, so here is something a little different — some pictures I made after signing up for an evening class in printmaking. thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-in-...
December 30, 2024 at 4:26 PM
Global Nature Beat is on a break for Christmas, so here is something a little different — some pictures I made after signing up for an evening class in printmaking. thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-in-...
Just published: The new edition of my newsletter for journalists (and anyone else) interested in biodiversity, the ecological crisis and nature-based solutions to climate change. It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
December 11, 2024 at 12:07 AM
Just published: The new edition of my newsletter for journalists (and anyone else) interested in biodiversity, the ecological crisis and nature-based solutions to climate change. It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
Global Nature Beat now has 27 jobs, grants, fellowships and other opportunities for environment journalists 🧪🌏
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/opportunit...
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/opportunit...
December 10, 2024 at 10:57 PM
Global Nature Beat now has 27 jobs, grants, fellowships and other opportunities for environment journalists 🧪🌏
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/opportunit...
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/opportunit...
Looking for gift ideas? My book takes readers on a journey to rainforests, volcanoes and ancient temples to discover the mind-blowing story of the strangler figs and their kin, which have shaped our world and our species in many extraordinary ways. 🧪🌏 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/my-book
December 2, 2024 at 5:41 PM
Looking for gift ideas? My book takes readers on a journey to rainforests, volcanoes and ancient temples to discover the mind-blowing story of the strangler figs and their kin, which have shaped our world and our species in many extraordinary ways. 🧪🌏 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/my-book
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/what-happe... What happened at the COP16 biodiversity conference -- a quick summary of key decisions adopted and those not adopted as time ran out.
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November 2, 2024 at 2:49 PM
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/what-happe... What happened at the COP16 biodiversity conference -- a quick summary of key decisions adopted and those not adopted as time ran out.
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With the COP16 biodiversity conference about to start in Colombia, I am republishing a story I wrote when I visited the country and encountered one of the rarest bird species on the planet. thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/will-the-b... 🌏🧪
October 20, 2024 at 4:17 PM
With the COP16 biodiversity conference about to start in Colombia, I am republishing a story I wrote when I visited the country and encountered one of the rarest bird species on the planet. thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/will-the-b... 🌏🧪
The daredevil, the vanishing sphinx and the plant that found a friend thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/the-darede...
August 4, 2024 at 7:59 AM
The daredevil, the vanishing sphinx and the plant that found a friend thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/the-darede...
Just published: The new edition of my newsletter for journalists (and anyone else) interested in biodiversity, the ecological crisis and nature-based solutions to climate change. It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
June 13, 2024 at 2:37 PM
Just published: The new edition of my newsletter for journalists (and anyone else) interested in biodiversity, the ecological crisis and nature-based solutions to climate change. It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
Just published: The new edition of my newsletter for journalists (and anyone else) interested in biodiversity, the ecological crisis and nature-based solutions to climate change. It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
June 5, 2024 at 1:55 PM
Just published: The new edition of my newsletter for journalists (and anyone else) interested in biodiversity, the ecological crisis and nature-based solutions to climate change. It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more. 🌏🧪 thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
Just published: The new edition of my newsletter for journalists (and anyone else) interested in biodiversity, the ecological crisis and nature-based solutions to climate change.
It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more.🧪🌏
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more.🧪🌏
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
May 10, 2024 at 3:40 PM
Just published: The new edition of my newsletter for journalists (and anyone else) interested in biodiversity, the ecological crisis and nature-based solutions to climate change.
It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more.🧪🌏
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more.🧪🌏
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
Just published: Burnt-out mammals. Invasive megafish. Tiger research. Pollinators with backbones. Conservation is working. And much more…
My round-up of new research: 🌏🧪
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/new-resear...
My round-up of new research: 🌏🧪
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/new-resear...
April 29, 2024 at 1:34 PM
Just published: Burnt-out mammals. Invasive megafish. Tiger research. Pollinators with backbones. Conservation is working. And much more…
My round-up of new research: 🌏🧪
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/new-resear...
My round-up of new research: 🌏🧪
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/new-resear...
Just published: The new edition of my newsletter for journalists (and anyone else) interested in biodiversity, the ecological crisis and nature-based solutions to climate change.
It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more.🧪🌏
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more.🧪🌏
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
April 24, 2024 at 3:26 PM
Just published: The new edition of my newsletter for journalists (and anyone else) interested in biodiversity, the ecological crisis and nature-based solutions to climate change.
It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more.🧪🌏
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more.🧪🌏
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/nature-bea...
Getting lost in a forest can be a good thing.
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/lost-in-a-...
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/lost-in-a-...
April 23, 2024 at 10:36 AM
Getting lost in a forest can be a good thing.
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/lost-in-a-...
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/lost-in-a-...
Just published: Migrant bird mortality. Conflict-stricken biodiversity. Lingering oil impacts. Ocean philanthropy. Under-staffed protected areas. Gentrification and wild mammals. Plastic perils. And much more...
My round-up of new research: 🌏🧪
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/new-resear...
My round-up of new research: 🌏🧪
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/new-resear...
April 21, 2024 at 5:23 PM
Just published: Migrant bird mortality. Conflict-stricken biodiversity. Lingering oil impacts. Ocean philanthropy. Under-staffed protected areas. Gentrification and wild mammals. Plastic perils. And much more...
My round-up of new research: 🌏🧪
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/new-resear...
My round-up of new research: 🌏🧪
thenaturebeat.substack.com/p/new-resear...