host: welcome to “global 3000”" getting the ball rolling on rainforest protection. the former gold miner turned soccer club president, out to save the amazon. an underwater paradise. how seagrass beds are helping protect the maldives from erosion. and the growing hunger for meat. can selective breeding or genetically modified animals make our food production more sustainable? whether barbecued, fried, or smoked, our global appetite for

meat is stronger than ever. and each year, some 80 billion animals are slaughtered to satiate it. but the amount we consume varies greatly from one country to another. in india, an average person eats around five kilos of meat annually. in the usa, it's over 128 kilos. and in germany, people consume an average of 76 kilos of meat each year. our increasing production of meat is taking a big toll on the climate. there are ways to make it more sustainable. but not all of them are ethically so straightforward. reporter: they are large, they are muscly, and they're the pride and joy of their breeders. we are squeezing as much as we can out of our animals. the world is getting ever hungrier for meat and milk. but by pushing animals to their limits, we're doing the same to our planet. but if we can turn our animals into food-production machines, couldn't we also breed them to

be more environmentally friendly? suzanne: there's hardly any ecological niche where genetics or genomics can't come up with a solution. reporter: scientists are working on designing more sustainable animals, by selective breeding or even by artificially changing their genetic code. revolutionary ways to make food production more sustainable, or a dangerous manipulation of nature? for more than 10,000 years, we humans have optimized corn and rice harvests, and engineered zucchinis to be non-toxic, sheep stronger, and wolves more obedient. john: we've been doing this very successfully. reporter: this is professor john dupré. he's an expert on the ethical aspects of animal breeding. john: i mean, if you compare the growth rates to the sizes of animals just over the last few decades, i mean, there's been enormous increases in productivity. reporter: the hunger for more and cheaper

meat and milk has led to chickens that seem fully-grown at 20 days, uble-muscled cattle, and pigs borwith four extra ribs. in 1961, a single cow in the u.s. produced nine liters of milk per day. today's cows produce an average of 28 liters. that means that through breeding, the carbon footprint of one glass of milk is a third of what it was many decades ago. cows still burp and fart greenhouse gases, but they also produce much more milk. however, a far higher milk consumption worldwide negates these savings in emissions. and there is a brutal flipside to such food production, too -- animals that live in horrific conditions or grow far faster or heavier than their bodies can cope with. and one factor is driving this to ever greater extremes. g around the world. while the global population has roughly tripled in the past 60 years, meat production has increased fivefold, with richer countries devouring most of it.

livestock farming requires enormous quantities of water and agricultural land for animal feed, and contributes more than 14% of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions. and regardless as to how productive our livestock is, the way we produce our food is disastrous for the planet. that's why some researchers are trying to improve livestock sustainability, either by selective breeding or artificially changing. the company aquabounty promises that their genetically modified fish is more sustainable than traditionally produced salmon. they introduced genes from other wild fish to create what they call “aquadvantage” salmon. these super salmon are supposed to grow twice as fast as usual salmon and require up to 25% less feed. dana: this is not about sustainability. this is not about producing better animals.

this is about producing a genetically engineered product for the profit of the company. reporter: this is dana perls from the ngo friends of the earth, who advocates against this practice. dana: and we can't see the data. there's a lot of data that is confidential business information. rorter: we asked the company for a statement and access to their scientific data, but hadn't received an answer by the time we made this video. the u.s. food and drug administration approved the fish as safe to eat in 2015. but the decision saw heavy backlash from civil society and environmental groups. they took the company to court. dana: there is scientific evidence highlighting the risks that if genetically engineered salmon breed with wild salmon, that within a couple generations, wild salmocould go extinct. reporter: and not only ecosystems are at risk. the potential benefits of artificial genetic engineering can come at a price -- undesirable mutations and side effects. in 2020, a u.s. court ruled that the fda had

failed to sufficiently investigate the environmental consequences of approving genetically engineered salmon. but what about less invasive selective breeding? that's when animals with the desired features are cross-bred with each other to boost or disable certain traits. their genes are not directly modified. this sheep has won an award. or rather, its creators were honored for their contribution to mitigating climate change. and wherelse could this sheep have been bred than in new zealand, where sheep outnumber humans six-to-one. greater sustainability in its meat and wool industries is key for the country's own net zero target. suzanne: we've basically discovered that we can breed for less methane. reporter: this is dr. suzanne rowe. for years, she's looked at how sheep could burp out fewer climate-damaging gases. suzanne: we can change the bugs that are in the stomach that break down the feed.

and we can change the amount of methane that's emitt. reporter: evy generation of sheep bred here emits slightly less methane than the previous one, an effect that accumulates over time. dr. rowe says that apart from burping and farting less methane, the sheep are as healthy and productive as their high-emitting companions, and even meet the criteria for organic farming. to selectively breed the low-methane sheep, the scientists first had to find the less gassy ones. so, they put the sheep into a special high-tech chamber and let them get windy. the sheep here are only used for research purposes. they are not sold. the institute is travelling the country, measuring the methane levels of sheep, regardless of breed. this means farms can select the more sustainable animals themselves. the so-called "fart chamber" could potentially also be used for other grazers, too. currently the only genetically engineered animals approved for consumption are found in the u.s. and canada. the eu is still far from making

such a step, but enviroentalists d consumer rights' advocates fear that could one day change. meanwhile, the u.k. government has already proposed legislation allowing for the commercial development of gene-edited livestock. john: it seems to me likely that this these could be on some of our plates in the next few years, let's say within the next five years. reporter: genetic intervention raises questions about potential risks to the environment, as well as undesirable side effects. selective breeding could be a safer and more viable alternative, but would demand more effort and time. what's also clear is that the problems that come with milk and meat production won't be solved by simply alterinour animals. host: the bright world of plants is losing color. two out of five species are at risk of extinction, according to an annual study by botanists. it's largely humans who are responsible for the dramatic

biodiversity losses. with our increasing use of land for agriculture, destruction of forests for wood, and ever-expanding cities. but there are also other reasons for species loss, such as disease or, increasingly, plant poaching, as our next report from south africa reveals. reporter: namaqualand is a semi-desert in northwestern south africa, with extreme heat and barely any rain. anything that grows here needs to be hardy. like these unusual looking succulents, known as "living stones." their limited water source comes from dew that forms between the quartz stones and mist from the air. they grow slowly, some living for hundreds of years. wynand: this is a plant that really can withstand a great deal. it can survive with very little

water, with almost no rain. this one is under stress -- you can see by the markings and colors. it's all about survival in this dry environment. reporter: the rangers in knersvlakte nature reserve are responsible for an area the size of berlin. they're trying to protect and preserve this unique ecosystem. because of the 190 species that grow only here, around 80% are at risk of extinction by poachers. they come in ever greater numbers, uprooting thousands of plants to sell to an international market that is constantly growing. zanne: it's something that people want, they want that, they want to see that plant that grows naturally and suffers, so to speak, within the environment. and it's special, it's a story that can be told with regards to that plant. so it's something that's increased over the last three years, i would say, drastically. reporter:

their ability to survive in the most adverse conditions is what makes them so attractive. few people live in this barren stretch of land. the farms here are spaced very far apart. kobus visser is a sheepfarmer. if you want to farm here, he tells us, you need to keep your eyes on the ground. see what's growing. make sure there aren't too many sheep too close together, pulling plants out of the ground rather than just eating them. visser farms sustainably, and he knows the importance of these succulents to the ecosystem. if they disappear, the whole system could collapse, the soil will erode, the land will turn to desert. the poachers are putting everything at risk. kobus: there are people who say that the poaching of rhinos or abalones is nothing compared to what's happening here. it's so bad that it will change

that way that people live here. my closest neighbor lives 14 kilometers away. the poachers are threatening my safety. we're usually out here all alone on our land. reporter: armed poachers are becoming more common, says visser. police are also armed, to protect the plants and the farmers. but there aren't enough of them to cover such a vast area. here in springbok, police are planning a roadblock this evening. we head into the heart of the semi-desert. the poachers used to come from abroad, but since the covid travel restrictions, more locals have taken over. they know the area better, and how the police work. things are not going well this evening for karel du toit and his team. the trap didn't detect a single vehicle. after a few hours, they call off the operation. but they're still determined. karel: the members are positive.

the ones stopping the poaching are really members like the k-9 people who were here, and members from my unit. they're really positive, you can see the effort they put in. they're not successful every night but they're really willing to combat the poaching. reporter: a few kilometers further south, his colleagues have had better success. they'd made two arrests by 9:30 a.m., seizing bags containing thousands of plants. a poacher is waiting to be questioned. outside, the captain is already on the phone about the next case. and karel du toit has been summoned to trial as a witness, where the perpetrators could face prison. karel: we'll testify grievant circumstances to see what maximum punishments we will get. we're hoping to get imprisonment, direct imprisonment, to just give a message out to the people to

say, really, it's not worth the poachings. reporter: it's mostly local poachers who are caught and convicted. those behind the scenes in europe and asia usually get away scot free. succulent smuggling has become a business worth billions. unlike endangered african animals, plants don't have a strong lobby behind them. the damage to the region's biodiversity and ecosystem is irreparable, an issue that still attracts far too little attention. host: plants that grow underwater also need protecting. like seagrass meadows. anchored to the sea floor, this valuable ecosystem also absorbs carbon dioxide. for our series global ideas, we dived into the fascinating underwater world of the maives. reporter: the island atolls of the maldives are known worldwide for their crystal-clear waters and coral reefs.

they're also home to another incredibly biodiverse and important ecosystem -- seagrass meadows. shaha hashim is a maldivian ocean conservationist working to bring this overlooked ecosystem to light. shaha: it looks like there's a big, a huge patch of seagrass, actually. so i'm going to jump in, have a look first, and then we'll do a rapid assessment of the meadow. this is to understand what kind of species there are, the species composition, and whether the patch is healthy to do more in-depth surveys. reporter: very little scientific work has been done on the country's seagrass meadows, and new sites are still being explored. seagrass meadows play an

important role for the climate, as carbon reservoirs. there are eighdifferent species of seagrass found throughout the maldives. the root system of these plants, closely related to orchids and lilies, helps bind the sand together and prevent erosion, a major challenge for an island country like the maldives. a number of resorts in the maldives actively remove seagrass meadows. but in laamu atoll, shaha hashim has helped bring about a change in strategy. the resort has stopped removing seagrass and begun educating its guests through talks and guided snorkeling tours with marine biologists, to showcase the environment's natural biodiversity. seagrasses are incredibly efficient at storing carbon.

some studies show that they capture carbon 35 times faster than tropical rainforests. the maldives underwater initiative is currently involved in a global study looking at exactly how much carbon the maldives' meadows could sequester. philippa: once we've split our sediment core into the different depth profiles, we will weigh it, dry it, and then weigh it again, and then we'll send it off to a lab for analysis. and they will be looking for the organic carbon content inside each of the depth samples. this is really important because it help us understand how much carbon these marine ecosystems are storing, which would help mitigate against climate change. reporter: seagrass meadows also act as a nursery for small fish, including economically targeted ecies such as snappers and groupers. by educating local communities about seagrasses, shaha hashim

hopes that both nature and the communities relying on these ecosystems will benefit in the long term. abdulla: now we know how important is agrass, because the small fish, they live in the seagrass and they will get some food, and we have to keep the fish until they get big. so then the fishermen can catch the big fish and eat it. and it is very important for the reef fishermen, also the seagrass. so we have to protect the seagrass. reporter: the government now plans to put seagrass meadows under protection, and many of the country's resorts have also pledged to protect over one million square meters of seagrass across the maldives. this could mean less drastic interventions in the future. it is thought that up to 30% of seagrass habitats have been lost over the last century. but it also seems that these

ecosystems are resilient. the maldives underwater initiative has tracked the meadows at the resort, and identified that they've increased in size by over 20% in the last three years alone. shaha: seagrasses are absolutely essential to for future of the maldivian islands. together with coral reefs and mangroves, seagrasses play a really important role in protecting the island from outside forces, eroding forces. reporter: thanks to increased awareness of the importance of seagrass for the survival of the maldives in times of climate change, the researchers hope action will be taken to better protect these beautiful marine meadows. host: the amazon rainforest is

crucial for biodiversity and the earth's climate system. but it's being torn down at an ever-faster pace. environmentalists fear the destruction of this vital rainforest could reach a new high in 2022. but there are some small initiatives providing hope. reporter: in the middle of the lush forest of the amazon delta lies belém. a special kind of soccer club has recently begun playing in the jungle metropolis. it was founded by walter lima and is called the amazônia independente. the club is dedicated to the environmental protection of the amazonian rainforest. the teams' jerseys are made from recycled plastic bottles. the muiraquitã, an ancient frog symbol from the myths of the indigenous amazon inhabitants, is emblazoned on them. the club is financed by grants from the regional government and ethical sponsors.

walter: i've said no to sponsors who didn't meet my ethical standards. they were shady. for example, there was a timber exporter who i didn't want as a sponsor. reporter: amazônia independente is a successful, professional team that has aspirations to move up to the top league in the amazon region. walter lima's environmental concerns stem from seeing firsthand how quickly brazil's nature is being destroyed. walter: i used to be a gold miner myself. then i caught malaria and stopped. since then, i've seen how much environmental destruction is increasing. reporter: tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of gold miners scour the amazonian soils for deposits. deforestation is rampant. fires are eating deep into the ecosystem.

nevertheless, in many places, the amazon still looks enchanting. like further upstream, in the tranquil provincial capital of santarém. it is from here that walter lima will embark on his own personal mission. to do this, he first has to buy lots of soccer balls, gifts for an indigenous village. walter: i plan to go upstream on the amazon tributary arapiuns. i want to donate soccer materials to an indigenous community there and establish a base for my soccer club, amazônia independente. reporter: although lima doesn't have much money, he still wants to help, when he's not playing or working as club president. he would like to distribute personal donations and those of sponsors to river communities.

his family accompanies him on the trip on the wooden steamer jucunaré, up the river that's several kilometers wide. they're taking with them not only soccer balls and jerseys, but also a message of environmental protection. walter: amazônia independente is supposed to be more than just a soccer club. for me, it's about triggering a new awareness in people about the preservation of this incredible treasure, our wonderful nature. reporter: since his time as a gold miner, walter has been worried about the destruction of the amazon. that's why he's visiting the indigenous village of lago da praia. donations only usually arrive here in the run-up to elections when politicians are vying for votes. walter: i can assure you that i have no political agenda whatsoever. the donations we have with us only come from me, my wife, and

friends of the family. reporter: the people who live by the river are suspicious. they're worried about corporations that want to exploit their land. ligiane: many loggers are invading here. mining companies also want to mine bauxite on our territory. we're fighting against it and have already submitted our protest in writing to the public prosecutor's office. reporter: the villagers have gathered to hear walter lima explain the purpose of his journey. walter: i'm not here for anything other than to make friends with you. i want to establish a connection between us. reporter: shortly after, he distributes the donations -- soccer balls, clothes, and food. ligiane: i think it's good that he wants to set up a soccer club here. it's fun for our kids and will make them strong. reporter:

as a thank you, the locals perform a dance. this means the ice is broken. and walter lima's project can begin. walter: i want your children and grandchildren to experience an unspoilt amazon rainforest. in real life, and not just in old photos. reporter: walter lima wants to start holding regular training camps here. he hopes that more sponsors will jump on board. and that he'll discover new talent, from the amazon, and for the amazon. host: that's all from us here at “global 3000.” thanks for

joining us. we're always open to hearing your thoughts on the program, whatever they may be. so do get in touch. just send an email to global3000@dw.com. or check out our facebook page, dw global ideas.

nicole: this is dw news live from berlin. britain mourns its longest reigning monarch, queen elizabeth ii. ♪ hundreds packed st. paul's cathedral in london for a memorial service. her son giving his first address as king charles iii