As spring arrives in the mountains, the first flowers appear with the sun, and the chamois descend the slopes in search of the first few blades of fresh grass. The ravens are feeding a brood of noisy youngsters, and, high up on an unapproachable crag, Biker the eagle sits on her nest.

As the last of the winter snow melts, fresh mountain meadows are once again revealed, and the animals take their chance to feed. Glacial meltwater flows into torrents, forming streams and rivers. Brightened by rich sediment, they transport vast quantities of gravel downstream, carving new landscapes in their wake.

Many of the world’s glaciers are melting away at an alarming rate due to the effects of global warming. There is little left to show of the once great alpine glacier, The Pasterze, that used to stretch for five kilometres on the slopes of the Grossglockner, Austria’s highest peak. But life goes in the Alps: An eagle chick is hatching from its egg. Small and vulnerable, it will depend entirely on its parents as it begins to grow and investigate its new environment.

The eagle chick is growing fast and the need for food is constant. The eagles' perfect prey is the marmot, or “groundhog,” whose large fat reserves make it a tasty and nourishing meal. But these cute little mammals are watchful and wary, and have no intention of being on the eagles’ menu today!

In a nearby nest, another pair of eagles have managed to raise two young. But with survival at stake, the younger chick must fend off a vicious assault from its older sibling. Eagle-owls are also nesting on the mountainside. Ducks, hares, rats, hedgehogs, and even ravens make up the diet of these fierce nighttime hunters.

Things are calmer now in the Alps than two and a half million years ago, when the collision of two great continental plates forced them skywards. But even the splendid summer flowers, which bloom briefly in the high pastures, must be able to withstand a sudden outbreak of winter, cold mountain winds and a flurry of snow.

In late summer, the ibex are feeding in the high pastures, preparing for the winter ahead. The young males jostle and clash horns, testing their strength in a series of energetic show fights. As night falls, we catch glimpses of the powerful red deer, and Biker the eagle takes flight in an effort to coax her chick into the air.

Biker’s chick is strong enough, but lacks the courage to fly the nest. She must use food to tempt it into flight. The nest will then be empty, and other species can make use of its strength and secure position to raise their broods.

Eagle expert Andreas Mayrhofer climbs down to the empty eagle nest, where he will collect evidence of the eagles’ diet and habits. Autumn has arrived, spreading its mellow colors across the Alps. But this is no time to relax, and the eagles’ prey must be ever watchful. An escaped rabbit catches the eye of a hungry eagle.

A century ago, the golden eagle was a rare sight in the Alps and was on the verge of extinction. Nowadays, this bird of prey is better understood and protected and there are some one hundred and fifty birds just in the Karwendal and Northern Tyrol. Our young eagle makes his first kill, and soon his life will change as he must seek out his own hunting territory, alone in this mountain paradise.

Sting talks about the protection of the rainforest and the Rainforest Project of the Prince of Wales.

The Prince of Wales has set up a rainforest project in order to protect the remaining rainforests on this earth. He talks about the seriousness of climate change and how it will affect our lives and the lives of our children and grandchildren. He appeals to us to support him and his project.

Prince Charles launches a campaign to save the rainforests in an online video broadcast, featuring Hollywood stars Robin Williams, Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford, as well as Princes Harry and William.

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Katy Perry delivers a special weather report on the devastating effects of climate change for the world’s children.

Greentraveller's Richard Hammond shows you some of the loveliest and greenest spots in London, and gives some tips for navigating through the city.

GreenpeaceVideo: In Sydney, between drought and dust storms, the effects of climate change are becoming more visible than ever.

Wild dolphins playing with a plastic bag and a camerawoman. A video by the Wild Dolphin Foundation.

Today, planet Earth is in a new era, the Anthroprocene. Humankind has harnessed and exploited Earth’s resources, changing its surface, devastating populations of wild animals, cutting down trillions of trees and leaving very little of what was “wild.” The enormous loss of biodiversity is not sustainable. How can we create a future in which both people and nature can thrive?

Can planet Earth survive? Can we survive as a species? Changes in population growth could be a key factor to allowing us to prosper and live in harmony with nature once again.

A video by the World Wildlife Fund WWF: Climate change is one of the greatest threats to wildlife and nature. Call your Senators at 1-800-217-7379 and ask them to support climate legislation on behalf of those who cannot call themselves.