Plans to deepen the Elbe river in northern Germany are applauded by industry and criticised by environmentalists and the local population. Container ships would get better access to Hamburg, the country's biggest port. But what are the consequences for the people and the environment?

In Germany, the ruling coalition in the city of Hamburg -- the Christian Democrats and the Greens -- has made a decision to deepen the river Elbe between Hamburg and the North Sea. The idea is to give large container ships a better access to Hamburg’s harbour -- which is Germany’s biggest port and an important economic centre.

The Elbe has been deepened several times already. Dredging work is scheduled to begin in 2009. In light of these plans, many concerns about the environmental impact of the deepening have arisen -- not only from environmental groups, but also from those who fear that their life and work will be negatively affected by the outcomes of the dredging.

Living Planet speaks to organisations and individuals who are against the decision to deepen the Elbe river.

Report: Eva Wutke

Houting used to be widespread in Denmark. Their numbers have decreased dramatically because most Danish rivers have been modified for commercial reasons. Now, these rivers are being re-meandered so that houting can return.

Houting, once widespread throughout the entire Wadden Sea, are now only found in the Danish coast of the Wadden Sea. Its numbers have gone down to a mere 7,000. Houting are facing extinction because most parts of Denmark’s river systems have been modified for drainage, hydropower stations or fish farms.

These modifications have a negative impact on the physical condition of the watercourses and the houting’s spawning grounds.

Now, land owners, fish farmers and the Danish Forest and Nature Agency are working towards ensuring the survival of the houting with an 13 million euros nature restoration project in Denmark -- The Houting Project, that is partly supported by the EU LIFE Fund.

Report: Cheryl Northey

At an international conference China won permission to import elephant ivory from Africa. But what does that mean for elephant populations? And how do wildlife conservation and trade go together?

The news broke this week: at an international conference on wildlife trade China won permission to import ivory from four African countries. Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe will be allowed to sell a combined total of 108 tonnes of ivory to the Asian countries.

The parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna, or CITES, are currently meeting in Geneva. The decision to make one-off sales of registered ivory stocks comes with strict conditions.

Living Planet speaks to Steven Broad from TRAFFIC, the joint international wildlife trade programme of conservation groups IUCN and WWF.

Interview: Nina Haase

Many people are trying to live a green life these days, thinking about the consequences of everything they do and consume. The latest trend: environmentally-friendly weddings.

More and more people make sure their behaviour does as little harm to the environment as possible. But many of us still have parts of our life that we can't or won't give up, despite the environmental consequences.

One of the areas that you perhaps wouldn't expect people to compromise on is their wedding. In many countries your wedding day is a time where you don't worry about the cost – nothing is too good for what's supposed to be a once in a lifetime celebration.

But there's a growing number of people who are worrying about the social and environmental impact of their weddings. Living Planet has been to meet one couple trying to keep their wedding as eco as they can.

Report: Martin Vogl