Living Planet | Deutsche Welle

This week we hear stories about different species in the animal kingdom: nutria, pangolins, the golden lancehead pit viper. According to the United Nations, one million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction, many within the coming decades. But as famed primatologist and conservation advocate Jane Goodall explains, animals aren't so different from us humans.

Dangerous heat waves and raging wildfires across Europe and Alaska have destroyed huge areas of land. Droughts in other parts of the world have pushed people to the brink of their existence and led to climate migration. As temperatures are soaring, so is the demand for air conditioning which creates its own vicious cycle. One solution: harvesting wastewater to help cool down buildings.

This week on the show, we visit the Pescadero Basin off Mexico's Pacific coast and shipwrecks in the cold waters of the Baltic Sea. Exploring the oceans – from tube worms to sea turtles – we look at the rich life they sustain. We'll also be asking what impact we humans have on our seas.

Bolivia has been dealing with torrential rains and landslides, but is suffering from a lack of drinking water as glaciers melt away. That's why the mostly indigenous people of the highland cities decided to take matters into their own hands and start their own local water supplies. Thomas Kruchem went to explore and began his quest in the metropolis of El Alto. His report is presented by Sue Cox.

The Amazon Basin is the largest rainforest area in the world. Countless animal and plant species are at home here as well as several indigenous peoples who still avoid any contact with the outside world. But the Amazon region is under threat from deforestation and development. The situation has become even more critical since the election of Brazil's new President, Jair Bolsonaro.