There is a lot of discussion about the climate crisis. Global warming poses as much threat to life as the loss of species does. There are a million plant and animal species that are at risk of extinction. Rowlatt went to Uganda to find out what mountain gorilla protection can tell us about other species.
She knew I was there. The matriarch of the Nshongi mountain gorilla family was ignoring me as she plucked branches from a bush and snacked on the leaves.
A baby gorilla fell through the undergrowth and passed us both. She looked across and saw us. I lowered my stare. She was just trying to make sure I knew where I was. I was surprised that I understood what she was looking at. She understood me as well.
Visiting mountain gorillas in the wild is a profound experience because of the sense of connection they have with each other. The concept of "us and them" is lost when you are in the company of a family of gorilla. You are both equal.
The world's mountain gorillas appeared to be on the verge of extinction. The famous encounter with a mountain gorilla family in 1979 had beentinged with sadness. He said it was one of the most memorable experiences of his life, but he was worried it was the last of their kind.
Sir David understands that extinction is a part of evolution. The problem is that species are becoming extinct more quickly than in the past. Scientists think the extinction rate is between 1000 and 10,000 times faster than normal. The world is experiencing an extinction event that is similar to the extinction of the dinosaurs.
This matters because it underpins so much of the functioning of the natural world, from the food we eat to the air we breathe. Pollution, floods and climate breakdown are protected by it.
The UN talks to stem the tide of extinction ended in a stalemate. The delegates are trying to get the talks back on track. At least 30% of the world's land and seas will be protected by the end of the century.
The aim is to give a framework for a landmark international agreement under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity that will be signed in October. The goal is to live in harmony with nature by the year 2050.
Does the fate of the mountain gorilla teach us anything about how to save threatened species?
Around 600 mountain gorillas were left when Sir David visited. The species was listed as critical. Protection in the wild was the only hope for mountain gorillas.
There are two groups of people living in them. One in the Virunga Forest, which straddles the borders between Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of theCongo, and the other in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which is located in Uganda.
The habitat they live in was quickly being cleared by farmers, the efforts to save them were being hampered by conflict, and they were sometimes killed by traffickers.
The population is now more than 1,000 strong. The species is now listed as "endangered" There has been a baby boom in the last few years. In late 2020, there were five mountain gorilla babies. Three babies were born in the entire year.
Tourism really does help wild animals if it is done right
There is a secret to this success. The Uganda Wildlife Authority's first vet was Dr Gladys Zikusoka. She says carefully managed tourism has been important.
If it's done correctly, tourism can help wild animals. If the income from tourism really flows into the local community, she explains.
A gorilla encounter is high on many bucket lists and now encircles the national park.
There are as many as 70 lodges according to Dr Gladys. There have been jobs created by the lodges and NGOs. She says that gorilla tourism has boosted the entire regional economy, and that the revenues it generated covers a lot of the cost of protecting Uganda's wildlife.
Nelson Guma believes the income from tourism is important because it supports the support of the local community. The communities live near the park. They should get benefits from conservativism.
The cost to visit a gorilla family is high. Uganda's gorillas get up to 40,000 visits a year. The revenue from the park goes to the local communities.
There is a huge benefit to mountain gorilla conservativism. The forest needs to be protected to protect the gorilla. The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, so thousands of other species are also protected.
The gorilla cash has been used to counteract other threats. Mountain gorillas were occasionally caught in traps set to catch animals. They could either sell their catch as bush meat or use it for food.
Now we are the ambassadors of the park
The authorities were able to make an offer that was hard to refuse - if you were caught hunting in the park you'd go to jail. We will find work for you in the park or charity land if you stay out.
Nshmarairw is proud to say that they are the park's ambassadors. The ex-poacher works for a charity that funds agricultural projects.
Mr Nshmarairw wants gorillas to be the key to his family's prosperity. He told me that his children are at school. They might be able to get jobs from the park.
There are issues with tourism. Tourists can disturb animals, cause pollution and waste, and undermine local cultures. Ecotourism is now supported by most of the world's major conservatoires, including the International Union for theConservation of Nature.
In fact, tourism is not a complete solution. The mountain gorilla population is vulnerable despite their economic power. The national parks that the two mountain gorilla populations live in are large, but they represent a small portion of the vast jungle that used to cover the region.
"We're definitely seeing that gorilla families are more crowded," says Tara Stoinski who runs the Dian FosseyGorilla Fund.
The gorilla is bumping into each other more. We are seeing higher rates of infanticide because of these encounters. When these families come together, infants can be killed.
The growth in the gorilla population is slowing for the first time in decades, according to research by the gorilla fund.
"We would love to see this population grow but in order to do so there's really going to need to be more habitat available to them."
The UN says more land should be set aside for the gorilla. The developing world needs money to take productive land out of action. The main sticking point is this. The developed world is being asked to pay $100 billion a year to support the preservation of the environment.
The UN's head of biodiversity says the success of the mountain gorilla shows we can save species from extinction. She is confident that the delegates will be able to compromise.
The question for the world is how much energy and resources we can spare. Ms Mrema warns that scientists only have this century to solve the biodiversity crisis. She said there was no planet B.
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