One Planet Insights is a docu-series that shines the spotlight on the Cayman Islands longstanding history of environmental protection and conservation, as well as exploring the overarching theme of biodiversity and interconnectivity, and understanding how this all fits into the global eco-system. Produced by the Cayman Islands Government Office – UK, the series was launched in 2022 as part of the official London Climate Action Week programme with the first instalment: Sentinels in the Fight Against Climate Change. The second instalment was released as part of the official London Climate Action Week 2023 programme and focused on the blue iguana; a species only found on Grand Cayman: Saving the Blues.

Once numbered in the tens of thousands, by 2001 there were fewer than 30 blue iguanas estimated to be living in the wild and the species was listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). As a result of the local conservation programme, the blue iguanas were downgraded from the IUCN’s “red list” to endangered in 2012. Today there is evidence of natural breeding in the wild.

Through interviews, remarks, and a panel discussion the one-hour episode will showcase the blue iguana as an “ecosystem engineer”, dispersing seeds and playing a crucial role in the terrestrial ecosystem. Experts will discuss the ongoing challenges to saving the blue iguana and make the case, from a biodiversity perspective, for the importance of preserving planetary species more broadly.

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