biodiversity
By Liz Kimbrough Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air and store it in their leaves, stems, roots and the soil. But as climate change and human activities drive more plant species toward extinction, that stored carbon could be released back into the atmosphere, potentially accelerating climate change. A new study published in Nature Communications suggests this biodiversity-driven carbon loss may be a major overlooked source of future emissions. The researchers used computer modeling to estimate that losing plant diversity around the world could release between 7 billion and 146 billion me...
Mongabay
By Molly Herring With their metallic-blue-and-green bodies and iridescent wings, orchid bees aren’t just charismatic bugs. They’re specialist pollinators in tropical rainforests from Mexico to Brazil and are primarily responsible for the spread of the iconic Brazilian nut. But orchid bees might also provide a window into how deforestation and land-use change affect ecosystems and biodiversity, a recent study in Brazil’s state of Rondônia suggests. Although not the only pollinators affected by habitat loss, orchid bees, from the tribe Euglossini, are “among the most spectacular, peculiar, well-...
Mongabay
By Daniel Shailer The latest attempt to save the critically endangered vaquita porpoise from being snagged in nets meant for the coveted totoaba fish may prove to be the most effective yet. But the way it’s being administered by the Mexican Navy is opaque and underhanded, local fishers say, and may even prove a threat to the species it purports to conserve. Over the past two years, the Navy has placed hundreds of long metal hooks attached in pairs to concrete blocks in the Upper Gulf of California, off the coast of San Felipe, a fishing town in the Mexican state of Baja California. At first, a...
Mongabay
In a lush greenhouse high in the Alps, butterflies of various species and colours flutter freely while butterfly pupae are suspended in a structure as they grow into adult insects. This is the Butterfly Forest in the tropical mountain greenhouse in Trento, Italy, a project by the Museo delle Scienze (MUSE), an Italian science museum. It's modelled on Udzungwa Mountains, a mountain range and rainforest area in south-central Tanzania that’s one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. The Butterfly Forest features plant species endemic to the region, as well as birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and...
Euronews (English)
In the heart of the Alps, the Butterfly Forest blooms with vibrant colors, embodying the delicate beauty of nature. As climate change threatens their habitats, scientists at MUSE are racing to protect these winged wonders and unravel the secrets of their survival. Butterfly populations are declining in many areas, especially in places under intensive land use. The tropical greenhouse in Trento has more than 200 plant species and 13 animal species.
Euronews (English)
Nature underpins our global economy with over half of the world’s total GDP — $44 trillion (€40.6tr) — moderately or highly dependent on nature and its services and, as a result, at risk of imminent disruption due to exposure to drivers of nature loss. The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024 warns that environmental risks make up half of the top 10 risks over the next decade, ranking biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse together as the third biggest global risk. Pivoting away from business as usual is not a “good thing to have” but critical for human well-being and economic pro...
Euronews (English)
By Liz Kimbrough Conservation efforts are making a significant difference in protecting the planet’s biodiversity, according to a new study published in the journal Science. In an analysis of 186 studies covering 665 trials, researchers evaluated the impact of conservation interventions globally over the past century. In two-thirds of the cases, conservation actions either improved biodiversity or slowed its decline. “Our study shows that when conservation actions work, they really work,” said Jake Bicknell, co-author of the paper and a conservation scientist at University of Kent. “In other w...
Mongabay
By Liz Kimbrough Seven grassroots environmental activists were awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize on April 29. Known as the “Green Nobel Prize,” the Goldman Prize honors activists from the six continental regions. This year’s winners include two Indigenous activists who stopped destructive seismic testing for oil and gas off the Eastern Cape in Africa, an activist who protected a forest in India from coal mining, an organizer who changed California’s transportation regulations, a journalist who exposed links between beef and deforestation in Brazil, an activist who blocked development of ...
Mongabay
By Liz Kimbrough INTAG VALLEY, Ecuador — In Ecuador’s lush tropical Andes, Silvia Vetancourt multitasks, her hands maneuvering crochet needles with swift precision as she navigates the rocky path to the old town of Plaza Gutierrez. “We like this craft because it’s mobile,” she says, holding out a piece of a small coin purse she’s been working on on the trail. “It makes us free.” Vetancourt is the secretary of Mujer y Medio Ambiente (Women and the Environment), or MYMA, the oldest women’s group in Intag Valley, Ecuador. Founded in 1995, the artisan collective developed an innovative way to dye ...
Mongabay
By Hans Nicholas Jong JAKARTA — The Indonesian government has rolled out what it calls a “biodiversity management master plan” amid mounting criticism of the environmental and social threats posed by the construction of the country’s new capital city in the Bornean forest. The plan, published March 26, sets out a number of action plans to preserve wildlife habitat, protect species and restore damaged ecosystems in the new capital, known as Nusantara, through to 2029. The ultimate goal is to ensure 65% of the area of the new capital is tropical rainforest, by designating protected areas and reh...
Mongabay
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