Having visited when it was still very difficult to get there, and to get around once you got there, I found myself ambivalent about news of road development on Socotra. The people there could certainly do with a couple of decent roads: there were none at all when I was there in the late 1980s, and I remember a couple of really heavy walks, carrying herbarium presses to boot. The place is beautiful, and should attract tourists, but they’re going to need roads too. On the other hand, it sounds like the road system and other development may not be as well planned as it might. The only wild relative of the pomegranate is endemic to the island, but I doubt any road is going to go anywhere near the few populations left. As I remember, they were (and hopefully still are) in really inaccessible places.
Mound builders of Norte Chico
Transitioning to agriculture on Peruvian coast 5000 years ago.
International Day of Biodiversity
Every year since 2002 there’s been an International Day of Biodiversity, each time with a different theme. This year the celebrations on May 22 will revolve around “Biodiversity and Agriculture.” We’ll have to think of something special to do here…
Farmers and hunter gatherers in Africa
The human genetics of farming transition in Central Africa. Lots more here.
Neolithic origins
The birth of Egyptian farming.