Half of the Worlds Wildlife Gone

The internet is lit up today with news from the recent WWF announcement that roughly HALF of the worlds vertebrate species have vanished in the last 40 years. It is a devastating figure. But it should not come as a surprise. The massive over-fishing of our oceans, rampant deforestation of forests all over the globe, and myriad other wholesale destruction of nature, have made it virtually impossible for wildlife to survive the growing influence of the Anthropocene. #LPR2014

As the Wall Street Journal writes: "The latest analysis was done by scientists at the wildlife group WWF, the Zoological Society of London and other organizations. Based on an analysis of thousands of vertebrate species, it concludes that overall animal populations fell by 52% between 1970 and 2010."

The world is becoming a quieter place. Which is exactly what Mother of God is about. What I have seen in my decade of work in tropical rainforests around the world, is that the natural world is in trouble. I have seen it with my own eyes. And it seems now more black and white than ever: if our generation does not succeed in reversing the tide of destruction, our world will lose much of its living things. 

Click Here to read the firsthand account of whats really going on in Amazonia, and the last few wild places on Earth.

BANFF Mountain Film and Book Festival - MOG!

SUPER excited to report that this week I received news from the BANFF Mountain Film and Book Festival that Mother of God has been selected as a finalist for the book competition! Check out the extreme wildlife and outdoor wildness of the BANFF festival! And don't forget you can pick up a copy of the book pretty much anywhere books are sold!

Have you read Mother of God and want to help the rainforest - here's your chance!

If you've read Mother of God you know all about the Amazing wildlife in the Madre de Dios region, and you know that the Las Piedras River is the crown jewel - the heart of the place. In the coming months an exciting project is coming together to document the indescribable beauty of this river, from its vast forests, teaming wildlife, and mysterious nomadic cultures. This is a call to arms that I hope you will join me in supporting. Check out the stunning trailer:

The Huffington Post: 8 Outrageous Nonfiction Stories You Wouldn't Believe If They Were Novels

If you were handed a novel that describes someone being carried downriver “while grasping the back of a gigantic anaconda ‘as thick as a small cow and easily well over twenty-five feet long,’ ” would you believe that writer? Probably not. Fiction that’s too outlandish feels false, but nonfiction should be verifiable. That description, by the way, appears in Mother of God: An Extraordinary Journey into the Uncharted Tributaries of the Western Amazon, one of the books in this week’s list of thoughtfully written tales you might be startled to know are true. (click on the picture to see books).

ONE DAY TO GO!

Mother of God will be out tomorrow. I can't believe it. So on the final day of anticipation here is the trailer for the book - with scenes from the story!