Contributed By DCEFF

DC’s Environmental Film Festival returns March 16-26 with an exciting line-up of events.

The Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital (DCEFF) gears up for its much anticipated return of in-person events after a three year pause on live screenings due to the pandemic. Entering its 31st year, the festival will resume its public screenings from March 16-26 across multiple venues in D.C., including the Naval Heritage Center, Landmark E Street Cinema, the National Geographic Society, various Smithsonian Museums, Embassies and other cultural organizations. Festival-goers are already inquiring about this year’s film lineup and special events.

The Festival opens with an exciting D.C. premiere of Deep Rising (Matthieu Rytz, narrated by Executive Producer Jason Momoa), fresh from its world premiere at Sundance which tells a riveting story about a destructive secretive organization empowered to extract massive amounts of metals from the deep seafloor. Other film highlights include Oscar nominated All That Breathes (Shaunak Sen) centered around protection of the black kite bird of prey, Geographies of Solitude (Jacquelyn Mills) acknowledged by NY Times for its contemplative presentation of the rich ecosystem of Sable Island, and many other multicultural selections that feature stories from around the globe which will be screened at local embassies throughout D.C.

DCEFF has long been known for its lively programming and dedicated partnerships which entertain and educate about a wide range of environmental topics. This year’s highlights include a return of The Forum, a thought-provoking talk-series that explores critical themes, issues and trends such as Storytelling During Times of War: A View from Ukraine. This particular panel will feature two guest filmmakers from Ukraine to discuss the power and importance of visual storytelling in times of crisis as well as the prospects of a “green” post-war reconstruction for Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

DCEFF also introduces for the first time a live pitch contest which offers emerging BIPOC filmmakers the opportunity to win a $12,500 grant towards the production of a short or their first feature film. Finalists will have a unique opportunity to be mentored by Judith Helfand (co-founder Chicken & Egg Pictures, award-winning filmmaker).

As public interest in environmental stories continues to grow, DCEFF will continue virtual programming in a hybrid festival model to allow for enjoyment outside of the local area. Audiences who cannot attend in-person screenings can look forward to a diverse selection of themes with films that challenge environmental threats and support proactive and sustainable action.

For more information and the full-season program, visit dceff.org.

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Feature Destination

Cape Verde Ocean Conservation

Ocean conservation is critical for the preservation of our planet’s natural resources. With over 70% of the Earth’s surface covered in water, the ocean plays a vital role in regulating the global climate. Read more…

Cape Verde Scuba Diving

Cape Verde is a cluster of islands situated in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of West Africa. Known for its idyllic beaches, clear waters, and diverse marine life, Cape Verde has emerged as a top destination for scuba diving enthusiasts from across the globe.  Read more…

The Cape Verde Archipelago

Cape Verde is a beautiful archipelago located off the coast of West Africa. Made up of 10 volcanic islands, Cape Verde offers tourists an array of natural wonders, cultural experiences, and stunning beaches. Read more…

NEWSROOM

New Insights Published Into Ecological & Human Influences on European Fisheries

SEAwise, a collaborative project working to break down barriers to Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM) in Europe, has published a new set of key findings. The latest insights add important knowledge on the social, ecological, and economic factors that feed into sustainable fishing. Read more…

Global Warming Reaches Central Greenland

A temperature reconstruction from ice cores of the past 1,000 years reveals that today’s warming in central-north Greenland is surprisingly pronounced. The most recent decade surveyed in a study, the years 2001 to 2011, was the warmest in the past 1,000 years, and the region is now 1.5 °C warmer than during the 20^th century. Read more…

An Environmental Nightmare: Why Is Nothing Being Done to Prevent Plastic Pellet Pollution?

n January 2023, plastic pellets – or ‘nurdles’ – hit the headlines as the French government pledged legal action in response to several waves of small, lentil-shaped plastic pellets washing up on its beaches. Read more…

Aquarium Scientists React to Death of Critically Endangered North Atlantic Right Whale

Scientists at the New England Aquarium are reacting to the death of a North Atlantic right whale as the critically endangered species continues to face human-caused threats. Read more…

Before Global Warming, Was The Earth Cooling Down or Heating Up?

Accurate climate models play a critical role in climate science and policy, helping to inform policy- and decision-makers throughout the world as they consider ways to slow the deadly effects of a warming planet and to adapt to changes already in progress. Read more…

Marine Heatwaves Decimate Sea Urchins, Molluscs & More at Rottnest

Curtin University researchers believe rising sea temperatures are to blame for the plummeting number of invertebrates such as molluscs and sea urchins at Rottnest Island off Western Australia, with some species having declined by up to 90 per cent between 2007 and 2021. Read more…

Tupinambás Ecological Station and Alcatrazes Archipelago Wildlife Refuge Earn Blue Park Award at IMPAC5

Representatives from the Blue Parks Science Council, an international council of marine conservation experts that determines which marine protected areas meet the award criteria, and President of Marine Conservation Institute, Dr. Lance Morgan, presented the award to Kelen Luciana Leite, Head of Tupinambás Ecological Station and Alcatrazes Archipelago Wildlife Refuge. Read more…

Gitdisdzu Lugyks MPA Named a Blue Spark in Growing Network of Highest Quality Marine Protected Areas

The Blue Spark designation for this Indigenous-led protected area reflects the leadership and commitment of the Kitasoo Xai’xai Nation and indicates that the protected area is making progress towards earning a prestigious Blue Park Award for conservation excellence. Read more…

Cordillera de Coiba Managed Resources Area Earns Blue Park Award at 5th International Marine Protected Area Congress

Representatives from the Blue Parks Science Council, an international council of marine conservation experts that determines which marine protected areas meet the award criteria, and President of Marine Conservation Institute, Dr. Lance Morgan, presented the award to José Julio Casas, National Director of Coasts and Seas of the Ministry of Environment of Panama. Read more…

Pitcairn Islands Marine Protected Area Earns Blue Park Award for Outstanding Conservation Value

Representatives from the Blue Parks Science Council, an international council of marine conservation experts that determines which marine protected areas meet the award criteria, and President of Marine Conservation Institute, Dr. Lance Morgan, announced the award for Pitcairn Islands MPA. Read more…

SEVENSEAS Beach Cleanups

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Curtin University researchers believe rising sea temperatures are to blame for the plummeting number of invertebrates such as molluscs and sea urchins at Rottnest Island off Western Australia, with some species having declined by up to 90 per cent between 2007 and 2021.

Lead author Adjunct Professor Fred Wells, from Curtin’s School of Molecular and Life Sciences, said the west end of Rottnest Island had suffered a “catastrophic decline” in biodiversity.

“Since 1982, we have monitored biodiversity of marine molluscs and echinoderms including sea snails, clams, starfish and sea urchins on rocky reefs at Rottnest Island, Cottesloe, Trigg Point and Waterman,” Professor Wells said.

“Despite being sanctuary zones with the highest level of protection from human activities, we found that Radar Reef and Cape Vlamingh at Rottnest Island had suffered a catastrophic decline in biodiversity between 2007 and 2021, likely due to exposure to the warm Leeuwin Current.

“By contrast, the metropolitan coastline, which is not under the influence of the Leeuwin Current, was found to have well-preserved biodiversity and species richness.

“Overall, at the west end of Rottnest Island, the rocky reefs are badly depleted with a decline of 90 percent or more in biodiversity and density of molluscs.”

Professor Wells said a number of marine heatwaves on the west coast of WA in recent years that caused abnormally high ocean temperatures had impacted the area’s marine plant and animal populations.

“Our surveys in 1982 and 2007 showed Radar Reef and Cape Vlamingh had a mixture of tropical, temperate and WA endemic species. With increased sea temperatures we expected to see the proportion of tropical species increase, but this did not happen at the West End of Rottnest where all three groups declined substantially,” Professor Wells said.

“These findings demonstrate that even with the high degree of protection from direct human activities, these areas are not immune to the effects of global climate change.

“As far as we know, molluscs and echinoderms on other rocky reefs at Rottnest and other areas off the metropolitan coast are in reasonable numbers and we hope that in the near future these can provide larvae for repopulating Radar Reef and Cape Vlamingh.”

Published in Frontiers in Marine Sciences, the research is titled ‘Responses of intertidal invertebrates to rising sea surface temperatures in the southeastern Indian Ocean and is available online here.

About Curtin University

Curtin University is Western Australia’s largest university, with close to 60,000 students. In addition to the University’s main campus in Perth, Curtin also has a major regional campus in Kalgoorlie, and a campus in Midland, as well as four global campuses in Malaysia, Singapore, Dubai and Mauritius. Curtin staff and students come from Australia and over 120 other countries around the world, with half our international students studying at Curtin’s offshore campuses.

Curtin is ranked in the top one per cent of universities worldwide, with the University placed 9th in Australia according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2022 and has achieved a QS Five Stars Plus rating, the highest available for a tertiary institution, and one of only five to do so in Australia.

The University has built a reputation around innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit, being at the forefront of many high-profile research projects in astronomy, biosciences, economics, mining and information technology. It is also recognised globally for its strong connections with industry, and for its commitment to preparing students for the jobs of the future.

For further information, visit curtin.edu.au.

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