Morgan Erickson-Davis Data from 2001 to 2019 show an overall deforestation of primary forest constituting the third-highest year of primary forest loss since the turn of the century Last year the world lost around 119,000 square kilometers (45,946 square miles) of tree cover, according to satellite data collated by the University of Maryland (UMD) released… Continue reading New data show world lost a Switzerland-size area of primary rainforest in 2019
Author: Mongabay
Mongabay is an environmental science and conservation news and information site.
Brazil opens 38,000 square miles of indigenous lands to outsiders
Mauricio Torres and Sue Branford Indigenous land rights have been under constant attack by the government since Bolsonaro took office in January 2019. Even before he took over, the presidential campaigner hinted that he would grab back land from the Indians. FUNAI, Brazil’s indigenous agency, has reversed a long-standing policy with a new instruction paving the… Continue reading Brazil opens 38,000 square miles of indigenous lands to outsiders
The long goodbye: Study declares ancient Chinese paddlefish extinct
Shreya Dasgupta The Chinese paddlefish is, or rather was, a unique species. It was one of only two living species of paddlefish, part of an ancient group of fish known to have existed since the Lower Jurassic, 200 million years ago The Chinese paddlefish (Psephurus gladius) was last recorded by researchers in 2003. Subsequent local surveys… Continue reading The long goodbye: Study declares ancient Chinese paddlefish extinct
Kuno, India’s second home for the Asiatic lion, is ready
Anup Dutta After more than two decades of roadblocks, the Kuno Palpur wildlife sanctuary is ready as the new home for Asiatic lions, starting with those that are to be relocated from Gujarat’s Gir sanctuary, currently the only home of the Asiatic lions in India. Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno Palpur Wildlife sanctuary in Sheopur district is… Continue reading Kuno, India’s second home for the Asiatic lion, is ready
How Laos lost its tigers
Jeremy Hance A new paper in Global Conservation and Ecology finds that the last tigers of Laos along with the Indochinese leopards vanished shortly after 2013 from Nam Et-Phou Louey National Protected Area. A new camera trap study finds that tigers vanished from Nam Et-Phou Louey National Protected Area by 2014, their last stand in Laos. Leopards… Continue reading How Laos lost its tigers
The wolf of Bangladesh: A true story
Jeremy Hance The last wolf in Bangladesh was seen in 1949 – until this year. The wolf, an adult male, was killed by local villagers in the Sundarbans, a suboptimal habitat for wolves. But could there be more wolves in the Sundarbans? Is there a breeding population? Time will tell. For Muntasir Akash, it all started… Continue reading The wolf of Bangladesh: A true story
Solomon Islanders tried to stop the logging of their forests – and may pay the price
Morgan Erickson-Davis The majority of the 611,000 people of the Solomon Islands still live traditional rural existences on the 900 islands that make up the seven regional provinces. Communities are based on tribal lines and ownership of tribal land is passed on from generation to generation. The arrival of logging operations invariably upsets this kastom system,… Continue reading Solomon Islanders tried to stop the logging of their forests – and may pay the price
Top Madagascar shrimp co. moved millions among tax-haven shell companies
Aziz Ismail, 85, a French citizen born in Madagascar, bought into Madagascar’s shrimp business in 1973. His empire, known generally as Unima, now includes at least eight privately held companies in Europe and Africa that are mainly involved in seafood from Madagascar, where operations are centered. Ismail has also owned a British Virgin Islands-based shell… Continue reading Top Madagascar shrimp co. moved millions among tax-haven shell companies
Brazil hits emissions target early, but rising deforestation risks reversal
John C. Cannon The decline in deforestation between 2016 and 2017 saved emissions of the equivalent of 610 million metric tons (672 million tons) of carbon dioxide from the Brazilian Amazon and 170 million metric tons (187 million tons) from the Cerrado, Brazil’s wooded savanna, according to the Brazilian government. The emissions reductions, announced Aug.… Continue reading Brazil hits emissions target early, but rising deforestation risks reversal
Facebook video shows orangutan defending forest against bulldozer
Rhett Butler Dramatic footage released last week by an animal welfare group shows a wild orangutan trying in vain to fight off destruction of its rainforest home in Borneo. The video, filmed in 2013 but posted on Facebook on June 5th for World Environment Day by International Animal Rescue (IAR), was shot in Sungai Putri,… Continue reading Facebook video shows orangutan defending forest against bulldozer
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