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EU Agrees Groundbreaking New Law to Halt Deforestation in World First
Written by: Kimberly White
Products linked to deforestation will soon be prohibited in marketplaces across the European Union. EU decision-makers have concluded negotiations for a...
Wolves and Brown Bear Numbers Are Up in Europe, a New Report Shows
Written by: Stephen Hall
Predators such as wolves and brown bears were once a common sight in Europe and could be found roaming in every...
California Becomes First U.S. State to Prohibit Plastic Produce Bags
Written by: Kimberly White
California is cracking down on plastic pollution. Plastic produce bags are soon to be a thing of the past in the...
On Washington’s Colville Reservation, Solar-Powered Microfarm Looks to Prove Model to Boost Food, Energy...
Written by: John Stang
Two geodesic domes are being built in Nespelem, 16 miles north of the Grand Coulee Dam and the headquarters of the...
Rights of Nature: Human Rights or Common Heritage of Humankind?
Written by: Paulo Magalhães
Understanding the origin, history, and the reasons behind the approaches of natural assets personification is essential to understand the essence and...
Rewilding: Reintroduction of Big Cats Brings Back Four Species of Critically Endangered Vulture in...
Written by: Ryan Truscott
Four species of critically endangered vulture have returned to a park in southern Malawi from which they disappeared more than 20...
Which Diet Will Help Save Our Planet: Climatarian, Flexitarian, Vegetarian or Vegan?
Written by: Mark Maslin
The food we consume has a massive impact on our planet. Agriculture takes up half the habitable land on Earth, destroys forests and...
Judge Revives Coal Leasing Moratorium on All U.S. Public Lands
Written by: Kimberly White
A federal judge in Montana has revived a moratorium halting coal leasing on all public lands. The moratorium has been reinstated...
How a Project to Rewild the American West Could Help Tackle Climate Change
Written by: Victoria Masterson
Rewilding could help the western US fight climate change and protect more than 90 threatened species, including the grey wolf and...
Victory: Indigenous Community Wins Decades-Long Battle to Safeguard Land
Written by: Maxwell Radwin
An Indigenous community in Ecuador has finally obtained national protections for part of its territory after decades of fighting off deforestation...
Ambulances for Plants: Meet India’s Ecological Emergency Service
Written by: Simon Read
An ambulance speeds through the streets, but it doesn’t have blue lights or any kind of siren. And instead of medical...
Eating Less Food from Animal Sources is Key to Reducing the Risk of Wildlife-Origin...
Written by: Giulia Wegner and Kris Murray
The world is at greater risk of infectious diseases that originate in wildlife because people are encroaching on...
United Nations General Assembly Declares Access to a Clean and Healthy Environment a Universal...
Written by: Kimberly White
The United Nations General Assembly has recognized the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment as a universal human right...
Fruit Bats: The Winged ‘Conservationists’ Reforesting Parts of Africa
Written by: Dina Dechmann and Mariëlle van Toor
Straw-coloured fruit bats exist throughout most of the African continent. This large fruit bat is one of, if...
Canada Announces Ban on Single-Use Plastics Will Begin This Year
Written by: Kimberly White
Canada is taking a step forward in the battle against plastic pollution. The Canadian government will ban the manufacturing, import, and...
California Court Rules Insects Qualify for Endangered Species Protections
Written by: Liz Kimbrough
A California court has ruled that state legislation on endangered species can apply to invertebrates. The decision this week by the Third District...
Pacific Island Nation Protects 100% of Its Ocean Territory in Groundbreaking Move
Written by: Kimberly White
The Pacific island of Niue may be small, covering only 261 square kilometers, but it is making waves in the world...
From Desert to Forest: Indigenous Communities Restore 20,000 Hectares of Forest in Mexico
Written by: Juan Mayorga
In Tepejillo, on one of the many hills in the southern Mexican municipality of San Juan Bautista Coixtlahuaca, extreme erosion has...
Healing Coral: Harnessing the Power of NFTs to Fund Coral Restoration
Written by: Stella Muzin
Healing Coral doesn't want to save the planet, they want to heal with it. This initiative, officially launched in April of...
How Children are Helping to Make Their Families More Eco-friendly – New Research
Written by: Shaheen Hosany, Hongwei He, and Sameer Hosany
The UN climate change panel IPCC has warned that 2030 is our deadline for halving global carbon emissions to prevent...
U.S. Administration Cancels Offshore Oil Leases in Alaska and Gulf Coast
Written by: Kimberly White
The U.S. Administration has nixed three oil and gas lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of...
How We Discovered That Sea Turtles in Seychelles Have Recovered from the Brink
Written by: April Burt, Adam Pritchard, and Cheryl Sanchez
It’s not always easy to assess whether animal conservation measures have worked. But we’ve discovered that...
3 Ways Colombians Are Making an Income While Restoring the Amazon Rainforest
Written by: Victoria Masterson
The bioeconomy is becoming big business in Colombia.
By protecting and restoring the Amazon rainforest – and cultivating some of its 80,000...
Smokey Bear: Preventing Wildfires Since 1944
Written by: Kimberly White
This story was originally published on May 11, 2019 and has been updated and republished in honor of Wildfire Awareness Month.
The...
Reptiles: Why One In Five Species Face Extinction
Written by: Louise Gentle
Reptiles are cold-blooded and scaly animals, the majority of which are predators. They include some of the most deadly and venomous creatures on...
Nature in the Race to Zero: Nature’s Role in Combatting the Climate Crisis
Climate change is no longer a threat looming in the distance for future generations. It is happening now, affecting all of us. Each year,...
Demand for Ecocide Law Receives Cross-Party Support in Iceland
Written by: Kimberly White
A parliamentary resolution to recognize ecocide as an international crime has garnered cross-party support in Iceland.
Twelve Members of Parliament from four...
To Make Our Wardrobes Sustainable, We Must Cut How Many New Clothes We Buy...
Written by: Samantha Sharpe, Monique Retamal, and Taylor Brydges
If things don’t change fast, the fashion industry could use a quarter of the world’s remaining global carbon...
5 Reasons to Love (and Protect) Freshwater Mussels
Written by: Tara Lohan
In September the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed removing 23 species from the federal list of endangered species — not because they’d...
Pathway to Hope: The Stockholm+50 Declaration
Interview with Fergus Watt, Coordinator for the Coalition for the UN We Need
https://youtu.be/HZLaBMc0DSE
Interview TranscriptTranscribed by Otter AI
Kimberly WhiteHello and welcome to Common Home Conversations....
Turn the Tide on Nature Loss: Negotiators Must Adopt Nature Positive Goal Ahead of...
Written by: Kimberly White
The world’s leading environmental NGOs have called for the adoption of a global goal to halt and reverse nature loss by...
Six Behavior Changes That Can Heal People and the Planet
Written by: Neha Pathak, MD
Here’s a prescription for improving the health of U.S. residents – and at the same time, helping to protect the...
Circular Economy Needed for Chemicals as Plastics Blow Through Safe ‘Planetary Boundary’
Written by: Tim Radford
This story includes details on the impacts of climate change that may be difficult for some readers. If you are feeling...
How a Community-led Approach is Enabling Regeneration of the Sahel
Written by: Patrick Worms
The incomes of the Sahel’s smallholders and herders are amongst the world's lowest, and their livelihoods are under increasing threat from...
Kenyan Community Successfully Restores Half of Their Forest in Just Five Years
Written by: Jackson Okata
On a hot, sunny afternoon, Susan Aluoch is among a group of volunteers preparing a tree nursery in preparation for the upcoming...
Environmental Justice: Ecuador’s Indigenous Peoples Have Power to Protect Their Lands from Oil and...
Written by: Kimberly White
Ecuador’s highest court has recognized the right of Indigenous communities to have the final say when it comes to extractive projects...
The Great Amazon Land Grab – How Brazil’s Government is Turning Public Land Private,...
Written by: Gabriel Cardoso Carrero, Cynthia S. Simmons, and Robert T. Walker
Imagine that several state legislators decide that Yellowstone National Park is too big....
How Our Economy Could Become More ‘Nature-positive’
Written by: Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Echandi and Frances Seymour
Governments and businesses that embrace nature-positive policies, practices and investments stand to gain, according to a...
Plans to Develop World’s Largest Pure Gold Mine Threaten Indigenous Livelihoods, Health, and Traditional...
Written by: Laurel Sutherland
For Indigenous tribes living in Alaska’s remote Yukon-Kuskokwim region, southwest of the state, the future is bleak and uncertain. Tribal councils...
How a Humble Mushroom Could Save Forests and Fight Climate Change
Written by: Paul W Thomas
The conversion of forests to agricultural land is happening at a mind-boggling speed. Between 2015 and 2020, the rate of...
Why Education Systems Should Build Environmental Ethics Into Every Subject
Written by: Bellarmine Nneji
One of the goals most of the world has agreed on is education for sustainable development. This means development that considers present concerns...
Nature Conservancy Tool Helps Identify Ideal Solar Farm Sites in Georgia
Written by: YCC Team
The bright Southern sun makes Georgia an appealing place to build solar farms. But the state is also home...
Modern Governments All Need a Ministry of the Oceans – Here’s Why
Written by: Chris Armstrong
The ocean is becoming ever more central to our economies. Around 80 percent of internationally traded goods are transported by sea, and...
New Study Says Conservation and Food Production Must Be Considered in Tandem to Limit...
Written by: Sheryl Lee Tian Tong
Confining conservation efforts to only 30 percent of Earth’s land may render a fifth of mammals and a third...
We Are All in This Together: Veganuary Launches New PSA to Encourage Everyone to...
Written by: Kimberly White
A new PSA from Veganuary is calling for everyone to do their part to combat climate change through diet change. The...
4 New Year’s Resolutions for a Healthier Environment in 2022
Written by: Viniece Jennings
When many people think of New Year’s resolutions, they brainstorm ways to improve themselves for the year ahead. What if we...
Tropical Forests Can Recover Surprisingly Quickly on Deforested Lands – and Letting Them Regrow...
Written by: Robin Chazdon, Bruno Hérault, Catarina Conte Jakovac, and Lourens Poorter
Tropical forests are among the world’s best tools for fighting climate change and...
Why It’s Time to Make Ecocide a Crime: For the Sake of Its Victims
Written by: Rachel Killean
In November, the world’s first global citizens’ assembly – made up of 100 people chosen by lottery from around the world – declared...
Rights of Nature: Ecuador’s Highest Court Bars Mining Activity in Los Cedros Protected Forest
Written by: Kimberly White
Ecuador has moved to bar mining activity in the Los Cedros Protected Forest in a landmark case. The Constitutional Court of...
Why the Fate of Our Planet’s Environment Depends on the State of Its Soil
Written by: Duncan Cameron
In 1937, Franklin Roosevelt, then president of the US, wrote to state governors in the wake of the “dust bowl” catastrophe,...
4 Ways Pakistan is Tackling Plastic Waste and Pollution
Written by: Malik Amin Aslam Khan
Plastic waste is a global crisis – one that’s growing more serious every day. Global plastic flows into oceans...
Deforestation Can Raise Local Temperatures By Up to 4.5℃ – and Heat Untouched Areas...
Written by: Sally Thompson, Débora Corrêa, John Duncan, and Octavia Crompton
Forests directly cool the planet, like natural evaporative air conditioners. So what happens when...
More Than 100 Nations Pledge to Halt Deforestation by 2030
Written by: Kimberly White
More than 100 nations have pledged to end deforestation by 2030 in a landmark agreement.
During COP26, leaders from around the globe...
UN Recognizes the Right to a Healthy Environment in Historic Vote
Written by: Kimberly White
The United Nations has recognized the right to a healthy environment for the first time.
In a landmark decision, the UN Human...
It Is Time to Change the Rules of the Game: Making Ecocide an International...
https://youtu.be/YOSq9PtejUA
Interview TranscriptTranscribed by Otter AI
Kimberly WhiteHello and welcome to Common Home Conversations. Today we're joined by Jojo Mehta, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Stop...
Human Rights Could Address the Health and Environmental Costs of Food Production
Written by: David R. Boyd
Industrially produced food appears to be cheap but is actually very expensive. Recent estimates of the hidden costs of today’s...
Packaging Generates A Lot of Waste – Now Maine and Oregon Want Manufacturers to...
Written by: Jessica Heiges and Kate O'Neill
Most consumers don’t pay much attention to the packaging that their purchases come in, unless it’s hard to open or...
Canada Announces $340 Million Investment to Support Indigenous-led Conservation
Written by: Kimberly White
The Government of Canada has announced a substantial new investment to support Indigenous-led conservation.
The Canadian government will provide up to $340...
African Tropical Mountain Forests Store Far More Carbon Than Previously Thought – New Research
Written by: Aida Cuní Sanchez, Martin Sullivan, and Phil Platts
Tropical forests are well known for being the “lungs” of our planet. Through photosynthesis, the trees in...
U.N. Science Panel Releases Initial Findings of Upcoming Overview of the Amazon
Courtesy of Landscape News
Written by: Natasha Vizcarra
An international panel of 200 scientists has called for a halt to deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, saying the...
Indigenous Groups Accuse Brazil’s Bolsonaro of Genocide, Call on the ICC to Investigate
Written by: Kimberly White
Indigenous groups in Brazil are calling on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate President Jair Bolsonaro for genocide and ecocide.
The...
New Global Biodiversity Goals Must Take These Key Lessons Into Account
Written by: David Obura
A framework to help countries develop national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of their natural resources is nearing completion....
8 Amazing Solutions to Stop Plastic Flowing Into the World’s Oceans
Written by: Johnny Wood
The Clean Currents Coalition - a global network of local projects - is on a mission to clean up the world’s rivers, using...
The Organization Planting Millions of Trees in Old Coal Mines
Written by: Natalie Marchant
What happens to coal mines when they're no longer in use? In Appalachia, United States, one nonprofit has a solution –...
Four Ways to Tackle the Climate and Biodiversity Crises Simultaneously
Written by: Pete Smith, Camille Parmesan, and Mark Maslin
A landmark report by the world’s most senior climate and biodiversity scientists argues that the world will have to tackle the climate...
Nature Protection is a ‘Win-Win’ for Biodiversity and Economy, Could Prevent Nearly $3 Trillion...
Written by: Kimberly White
Nature protection policies are beneficial for both biodiversity and economies, according to a new report from the World Bank. The World...
This Proven Strategy Can Reverse Biodiversity Loss and Boost Economies
Written by: Izabella Teixeira and Janez Potocnik
Biodiversity is declining faster than at any other time in history, with successive major reports highlighting the huge...
Amazonian Deforestation Could Cost Brazilian Agribusiness Hundreds of Billions by 2050
Courtesy of Landscape News
Written by: Augusta Dwyer
A new study published in Nature Communications has quantified for the first time exactly how much deforestation decreases rainfall in...
How a Great Green Wall Could Help Africa Combat Climate Change
Written by: Elvis Paul Tangem and Elvis Lyonga Edimo
The Great Green Wall initiative is a reforestation project that aims to transform the lives of millions living...
Rights for Nature: How Granting a River ‘Personhood’ Could Help Protect It
Written by: Justine Townsend, Alexis Bunten, Catherine Iorns, and Lindsay Borrows
The Muteshekau Shipu (Magpie River) runs nearly 300 kilometres in Québec’s Côte-Nord region. The...
Scotland Could Become the World’s First ‘Rewilding Nation’
Written by: Stephanie Parker
The worldwide populations of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish fell by an average of 68 percent between 1970 and 2016,...
Australian Government to Protect an Area Twice the Size of the Great Barrier Reef...
Written by: Rhett Butler
The Australian government has moved to create two new marine protected areas that cover an expanse of ocean twice the size...
Drastic Methane Cuts are Both Urgent and Possible
Written by: Tim Radford
UN experts have found a new way to limit climate change, save lives, save the economy and reduce crop losses. It’s...
Respect for Indigenous Knowledge Must Lead Nature Conservation Efforts in Canada
Written by: Rachel Buxton, Andrea Reid, Joseph Bennett, and Paul A. Smith
The past year has taught us important lessons about the consequences of the...
What is the ‘Green List’ and How Can it Help Protect the World’s Natural...
Written by: Victoria Masterson
Wetlands, forests, national parks and wildlife reserves in 16 countries are part of a campaign that is raising standards for nature...
Tristan da Cunha Becomes Leader in Ocean Conservation
Courtesy of Landscape News
Written by: Augusta Dwyer
Rising from the Atlantic swells, halfway between South Africa and Argentina, the wind-lashed archipelago of Tristan da Cunha is a...
Preventing Wildfires Since 1944: The Story of the Real Smokey Bear
Written by: Kimberly White
This story was originally published on May 11, 2019 and has been updated and republished in honor of Wildfire Awareness Month.
The...
What Burkina Faso Can Teach Us About Forest Restoration
Written by: Natalie Marchant
Centuries-old farming techniques used to restore degraded land in Burkina Faso could help guide wider landscape restoration efforts across Africa for...
How Scientists are Restoring Boreal Peatlands to Help Keep Carbon in the Ground
Written by: Bin Xu
Peatlands are one of the most valuable terrestrial ecosystems in our fight against climate change. These deep layers of partially decayed...
Study: Coffee and Cocoa Consumption Drives Deforestation in Vietnam and West Africa
Written by: Malavika Vyawahare
Consumption patterns, especially in wealthier countries, are eating away at forests in some of the world’s most biodiverse regions. In the...
Protecting the Ocean is Key to Fighting Climate Change
Written by: Enric Sala
2021 ought to be the “super year” for nature, where we collectively agree on how to deal with the greatest risk to humanity:...
Increased Investment in Tree Nursery Infrastructure Essential to U.S. Reforestation Efforts to Combat Climate...
Written by: Mike Gaworecki
Restoring forests in areas where they once stood is an important step toward halting climate change. It helps to ensure a...
Podcast- John Hewson: These are the Top 10 Megarisks to Civilization
https://youtu.be/oGy4stoloQ8
Interview TranscriptTranscribed by Otter AI
Kimberly WhiteHello and welcome to The Planetary Podcast. Today we are joined by Dr. John Hewson, former leader of the...
Global Obsession with Economic Growth Will Increase Risk of Deadly Pandemics in Future
Written by: Tom Pegram and Julia Kreienkamp
As governments around the world roll out COVID-19 vaccine programmes and seek to kickstart their economies back to...
UK Government Launches New £150 Million Fund for Rainforest Protection
Written by: Kimberly White
The UK has launched a new multi-million pound fund to aid in the protection of rainforests in Africa, Asia, and Latin...
Lessons Learned From a Decade of REDD+ in Guyana
Courtesy of Forests News
Written by: Gloria Pallares
Guyana, meaning “land of water,” is one of the smallest, most densely forested countries in South America. It is...
Meet the Farmers Helping to Reforest Timor-Leste
Written by: Andrew Mahar
High in the mountains of Timor-Leste, a group of subsistence farmers earn an income by planting trees, leading the way to...
How Marine Protected Areas Help Safeguard the Ocean
Written by: Julie Reimer
The ocean quietly unites global communities in a profound way. And yet, the ocean faces more threats today than ever before...
More Than 250 Organizations Call on the U.S. Administration, Congress to Invest $1.3 Billion...
Written by: Kimberly White
Organizations across the United States are calling on the Biden-Harris Administration and Congress to take action on plastic pollution. The group...
How Mexico City is Embracing Biodiversity
Courtesy of Landscape News
Written by: Ming Chun Tang
Wildlife and greenery aren’t Mexico City’s calling cards.
But while the world’s fifth-largest metropolis is home to more than 21 million...
Taking Care of Business: The Private Sector is Waking Up to Nature’s Value
Written by: Megan C. Evans
For many businesses, climate change is an existential threat. Extreme weather can disrupt operations and supply chains, spelling disaster for both...
A New Initiative Could Make Cities More Biodiverse: Here’s How
Written by: Børge Brende and Ivan Duque
The need to transform the relationship between cities and nature has become ever more urgent. Over half of the...
United States Commits to Protect 30% of Its Land and Ocean Areas by 2030
Written by: Kimberly White
The United States is taking ambitious action to tackle the climate crisis and address biodiversity loss. In an executive order, President...
New Mangrove Forest Mapping Tool Puts Conservation in Reach of Coastal Communities
Written by: Trevor Gareth Jones
Mangroves are salt-tolerant plants found in intertidal areas throughout much of the world’s tropical and subtropical coastlines. Mangrove ecosystems are highly...
Great Green Wall Initiative Receives More Than $14 Billion Boost to Green the Sahel
Written by: Kimberly White
Africa's Great Green Wall Initiative has received a significant funding boost.
During the One Planet Summit for Biodiversity, the initiative garnered financial...
They’re Everywhere: New Study Finds Polyester Fibres Throughout the Arctic Ocean
Written by: Peter S. Ross
The Arctic has long proven to be a barometer of the health of our planet. This remote part of the...
More Than 50 Countries Pledge to Protect 30% of the World’s Land and Ocean...
Written by: Kimberly White
Governments from around the globe have come together to champion a global deal for nature protection.
More than 50 countries have joined...
This 100% Natural Material is Being Used to Mop Up Ocean Pollution
Written by: Alex Thornton
What happens to hair after it’s been trimmed? Usually, the piles of clippings are simply swept off the floor and discarded.
But...
This Initiative is Paying Farmers and Ranchers to Combat Amazon Deforestation
Written by: Sibélia Zanon
Establishing economic value for the service of preserving native vegetation and creating a new source of income for rural producers. These...
Chile’s Waste Bus Changes Throw-Away Societies
Written by: Alex Kirby
If the climate crisis keeps you awake at night, the impact of what we casually throw away is sure to have...
Leonardo DiCaprio Joins Forces with the European Commission and Global Wildlife Conservation for Biodiversity...
Written by: Kimberly White
Leonardo DiCaprio has joined forces with the European Commission and Global Wildlife Conservation to protect biodiversity through the launch of two...
Crowdfunding for Conservation on a Deserted Tourist Island
Courtesy of Landscape News
Written by: Ming Chun Tang
In pre-COVID times, some half a million tourists would descend on the tiny Thai island of Koh...
Continuing Environmental Education During a Pandemic
Written by: Ivory Willis
The COVID-19 pandemic brought disruption to the way we work, buy essentials, and study. We were able to adapt to a...
Why This Mushroom Could be Your Next House, Handbag or ‘Hamburger’
Written by: Natalie Marchant
Easy to grow and fully biodegradable, mycelium – essentially, the vegatative part of a mushroom – could prove to be the ultimate green...
Following a T-Shirt from Cotton Field to Landfill Shows the True Cost of Fast...
Written by: Mark Sumner
With many shops closed due to pandemic restrictions, Black Friday 2020 might have looked different from the frantic buying sprees of years past....
Canadian Government Commits Nearly $4 billion for Nature-Based Climate Solutions
Written by: Kimberly White
Canada is stepping up its investments in nature-based solutions to combat climate change.
In its Fall Economic Statement, the Government of Canada...
Reforesting the Earth, One Transaction at a Time
Courtesy of Landscape News
Written by: Ming Chun Tang
What if you could plant trees just by paying your bills?
In the Philippines, a mobile payment platform is...
Green Spaces Keep Hearts Healthy and Save Lives
Written by: Paul Brown
A vast study of the incidence of heart disease, the amount of green spaces and air quality in each county of the...
Big Insurance Urges Government and Private Sectors to Invest in Protecting Biodiversity
Courtesy of Landscape News
Written by: Natasha Vizcarra
Recently, one of the world’s largest insurance companies released a report warning that a fifth of countries worldwide are at...
How Building with Nature Can Lead a Green Recovery for Our Coasts
Written by: Ghislaine Llewellyn
In Japan, it is traditionally believed that “the forest calls the fish”. This is a more romantic way of explaining how...
Singapore to Plant One Million Trees by 2030
Written by: Morgan Erickson-Davis
Languishing in the soft, silty mud, the living fossil looked as if it didn’t have a care in the world...
How Asian Grassroots Activists Are Tackling The War On Plastic Waste
Written by: Sally Ho
Every year, we create 380 million tonnes of plastic worldwide, and the demand for plastic is still on the rise amid...
Tough Air Quality Rules are Making a Difference, Says London’s Mayor
Written by: Sean Fleming
Londoners worrying about air quality can now breathe a little easier, thanks to news from the city’s mayor.
There have been...
Creative Community-Based Policies in Bhutan Reveal Benefits of Planted Forests
Courtesy of Forests News
Written by: Julie Mollins
An innovative community-based forest management policy has resolved a long-simmering land-use conflict between migratory yak herders and sedentary...
Restoring Seagrasses Can Bring Coastal Bays Back to Life
Written by: Robert J. Orth, Jonathan Lefcheck, and Karen McGlathery
A century ago Virginia’s coastal lagoons were a natural paradise. Fishing boats bobbed on the...
“There’s a Monster in my Kitchen” Highlights Devastating Impacts of Industrial Meat Production
Written by: Kimberly White
A new film by Greenpeace UK is highlighting the devastating impacts of industrial meat production on the planet.
Narrated by Narcos star...
Samoa Pledges to Preserve 30% of its Ocean in Historic New Strategy
Written by: Kimberly White
The Government of Samoa has launched an ambitious new strategy to protect and preserve its ocean area.
Samoa’s culture and economy are...
Feeding the World Vertically
Written by: Geoffrey Holland
‘The challenge of feeding humanity is vast, maybe greater even than the challenge of stabilizing the climate, or population, and...
Why the Future of Food Must be Blue as Well as Green
Written by: Beatrice Crona and Jim Leape
Fish are food. We know that. And yet, in discussions about the future of food, that simple fact...
Nitrogen Fertilizers are Jeopardizing Climate Goals, New Study Finds
Written by: Cornell Alliance for Science
The expanding use of nitrogen fertilizers in agriculture is pushing nitrous oxide emissions to levels that jeopardize climate goals...
Prince William Launches £50 Million Prize to Find Innovative Solutions to the World’s Greatest...
Written by: Kimberly White
Prince William has launched a new initiative to solve the world’s most significant environmental problems. The Earthshot Prize aims to incentivize...
3 Innovations Leading the Fight to Save Our Forests
Written by: Gianluca Gygax and Lluvy Liu
Forests are critical to the health of the planet. They sequester carbon, regulate global temperatures and freshwater flows,...
Africa’s Great Green Wall is Officially 4% – and Unofficially 18% – Complete
Courtesy of Landscape News
Written by: Natasha Vizcarra
Now in its second decade, the ambitious African Union–led restoration initiative known as the Great Green Wall has brought close to...
These South American Cities Join Global Pledge to Tackle Air Pollution
Written by: Kimberly White
Two new cities have joined a global pledge for clean air. The Mayor of Bogotá, Claudia López, and the Mayor of...
Protecting Half of the Planet is the Best Way to Fight Climate Change and...
Written by: Greg Asner
Humans are dismantling and disrupting natural ecosystems around the globe and changing Earth’s climate. Over the past 50 years, actions like...
Shaping Up Forest and Landscape Restoration Initiatives
Courtesy of Landscape News
Written by: Julie Mollins
Making forest and landscape restoration a reality is an enormous challenge, but researchers are confident that international...
Protecting Indigenous Peoples’ Lands Essential to Curb Biodiversity Loss, Says New Study
Written by: Kimberly White
A "first-of-its-kind" study from the University of Queensland and the Wildlife Conservation Society has found that protecting Indigenous Peoples' land is...
Restoring Forests Can Reduce Greenhouse Gases
Written by: Tim Radford
There is one straightforward way to reduce greenhouse gases: by taking better care of the world’s natural forests.
European and US scientists...
26 Organizations Pledge to Conserve, Restore, and Grow More than 855 Million Trees
Written by: Kimberly White
Organizations across the U.S. have joined together in support of nature-based solutions. The World Economic Forum and American Forests have launched...
U.S. Plastics Pact: New Initiative Aims to Shift United States Towards a Circular Economy...
Written by: Kimberly White
Companies, government agencies, and NGOs across the United States have come together in a new initiative to combat plastic pollution- the...
Belize Bans Gill Nets, Expands Marine Reserve
Written by: Elizabeth Alberts
Belize, a tiny Central American nation nestled beside the Caribbean Sea, is making giant strides in its ocean conservation efforts. In...
These Marine Researchers Want to Use Robots to Help Grow 1 Million Corals a...
Written by: Johnny Wood
The natural beauty of undersea corals seems far removed from the factory-like world of automated mass production. But an enterprising reef...
Air Pollution Could Be Making Honey Bees Sick- New Study
Written by: Barbara Smith and Mark Brown
Whether it’s exhaust fumes from cars or smoke from power plants, air pollution is an often invisible threat...
These Andean Communities are Helping Restore the World’s Highest Forests
Written by: Harry Kretchmer
On the misty slopes of the High Andes, villagers are at work planting trees.
Some have bundles of seedlings tied to their...
Increasing Protected Areas Could Yield $250 Billion in Economic Output
Courtesy of Landscape News
Written by: Julie Mollins
Demarcating 30 percent of the planet’s lands and oceans in protected areas by 2030 could be...
People are Planting Tiny Urban Forests to Boost Biodiversity and Fight Climate Change
Written by: Alex Thornton
How much space do you think you need to grow a forest?
If your answer is bigger than a couple of tennis...
Connecting the People Growing a Trillion Trees the Right Way
Courtesy of Forests News
Written by: Will Anderson and Aaron Minnick
Everyone is talking about trees. In January, the World Economic Forum founded the Trillion Trees initiative (1t.org),...
Canada Joins Global Ocean Alliance
Written by: Kimberly White
Canada has joined a global call for ocean protection. The Government of Canada has announced that it has joined the...
Farmers in Honduras and Costa Rica Learn Alternative to Slashing and Burning Rainforests
Written by: Stephanie Manuzak
Rainforests are an important defense against climate change because they absorb carbon. But many are being destroyed on a massive scale.
In...
This Chinese Megacity is Building a Massive Car-Free District
Written by: Sean Fleming
The breakneck speed of China’s economic and urban growth has gone hand in hand with some of the worst traffic congestion...
Photo Competition Brings Mangroves Into Sharper Focus
Courtesy of Forests News
Written by: Leo Thom
Four renowned conservation and National Geographic photographers – Cristina Mittermeier, Steve Winter, Octavio Aburto and Jennifer Hayes —...
Germany Announces New Ban on Single-Use Plastic Products
Written by: Kimberly White
Germany is taking a step forward in the battle against plastic pollution. The German Cabinet has agreed to end the sale...
Italian Divers Just Rescued a Whale Caught in ‘Ghost’ Fishing Nets
Written by: Charlotte Edmond
Just because a net is no longer being used doesn’t mean it can’t continue to catch things. Italian divers have...
This Underwater Sculpture is Helping to Restore Coral Reefs in Thailand
Written by: David Elliott
Dive beneath the brilliant blue waters surrounding Thailand’s Koh Tao island and you might come face to face with a giant...
How a Global Ocean Treaty Could Protect Biodiversity in the High Seas
Written by: Jennifer Silver, Leslie Acton, Lisa Campbell, and Noella Gray
Oceans cover 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface. But, because many of us...
Ethiopia to Plant 5 Billion Tree Seedlings in 2020
Written by: Kimberly White
Ethiopia has set out to plant 5 billion tree seedlings this year. The planting is part of the country's larger reforestation...
Coral Reefs That Glow Bright Neon During Bleaching Offer Hope for Recovery – New...
Written by: Jörg Wiedenmann and Cecilia D'Angelo
Ocean heatwaves cause vast coral bleaching events almost every year due to climate change, threatening reefs around the...
This App is Making it Easier to Report Environmental Crimes
Written by: Malaka Rodrigo
Kelanimulla is one of the last remaining wetlands in Sri Lanka’s western district of Colombo, and is a refuge for urban wildlife,...
These Entrepreneurs are Turning Discarded Fishing Nets into Surfboards and Swimwear
Written by: Ross Chainey
“Ghost nets” – fishing gear that has been lost or abandoned in our oceans – are a deadly menace for sea...
This Pacific Island has Banned Fishing to Allow the Marine Ecosystem to Recover
Written by: Kate Whiting
People on the Pacific archipelago of Palau firmly believe in the old saying, "We do not inherit the earth from...
More than 75 Years of Wildfire Prevention: The Story of the Real Smokey Bear
Written by: Kimberly White
This story was originally published on May 11, 2019 and has been updated and republished in honor of Wildfire Awareness Month.
The...
The Entrepreneurs Bringing Us One Step Closer to Solving the World’s Toughest Challenges
Written by: Louisa Montagu-Pollock
The world faces an unprecedented set of challenges, from a global pandemic and rampant income inequality, to man-made climate change and...
Peatland Restoration Could Prevent Nearly 400 Million Tonnes of Carbon Dioxide Each Year
Written by: Kimberly White
Restoring one of the world's rarest habitats could prevent the release of 394 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Peatlands are a type...
Why Communities Must Be at the Heart of Conserving Wildlife, Plants, and Ecosystems
Written by: Derek Armitage, Ella-Kari Muhl, Merle Sowman, Philile Mbatha, and Wayne Stanley Rice
A little more than a year ago, the Haida Nation released...
In the Seychelles, Blue Bonds Turn National Debt into Marine Protection
Courtesy of Landscape News
Written by: Monica Evans
To manage its oceans better, the Seychelles uses an unlikely resource to come up with the cash...
Wales to Ban Single-Use Plastics Next Year
Written by: Kimberly White
The government of Wales has announced a new plan to battle plastic pollution. In honor of Global Recycling Day, the Welsh...
Nature Loss is Eating Away at Our Food Supply and Diversity
Written by: Akanksha Khatri and Alexia Semov
We often take the contribution of nature and its ecosystem services for granted in our food production systems....
Protecting Mangroves Can Prevent Billions of Dollars in Global Flooding Damage Every Year
Written by: Michael Beck and Pelayo Menéndez
Hurricanes and tropical storms are estimated to cost the U.S. economy more than US$50 billion yearly in damage from winds...
South Korea Trading Giant Vows Zero Deforestation in Papua Palm Oil Operation
Written by: Hans Nicholas Jong
Environmental watchdogs have welcomed a zero-deforestation pledge by South Korean trading giant POSCO International with regard to its palm...
Air Pollution From Fossil Fuels Costs $2.9 Trillion Annually- Study
Written by: Kimberly White
Air pollution from burning fossil fuels is costing the world approximately $2.9 trillion each year, according to new research. Greenpeace Southeast...
Global Resource Consumption has Topped 100 Billion Tons per Year
Courtesy of Landscape News
Written by: Monica Evans
Humanity just gained a dubious new accolade. In the last year, for the first time ever, we...
Farms Inside Shipping Containers Could Grow More Local Produce
Courtesy of Yale Climate Connections
Written by: Stephanie Manuzak
Instead of trucking vegetables across the country, one company wants to help food service providers grow...
Peruvian Government Proposes New Marine Reserve Harboring 1,100 Species
Written by: Maria Salazar
Under the sea, jutting into the Pacific from the southern Peruvian department of Ica, rises a mountain range called Dorsal...
Revolutionize Food Production System or Face Mass Deforestation, Scientists Warn
Courtesy of Forests News
Written by: Julie Mollins
Unless land management strategies are overhauled to reduce the gap between forestry and agriculture, it will be...
Greenpeace and the Creators of Wallace and Gromit Team Up to Highlight Ocean Threats
Written by: Kimberly White
Greenpeace UK has teamed up with the creators of Wallace and Gromit to shed some light on the threats the world’s...
Ocean Innovation Challenge: UNDP Calls for Innovative Solutions to Tackle Marine Pollution
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is calling for solutions to tackle some of the biggest problems facing the world’s oceans. The UNDP has...
China Announces Plan to Phase Out Single-Use Plastics
Written by: Kimberly White
China has announced a new plan to tackle plastic pollution. On January 19th, the National Development and Reform Commission unveiled the...
France Phases Out Single-Use Plastics
Written by: Kimberly White
France is beginning the decade by phasing out single-use plastics. France became the first country in the world to ban disposable...
Filter Feeders Could be Ingesting Hundreds of Microplastic Particles Each Hour
Written by: Mike Gaworecki
New research finds that large filter feeders in the waters of Indonesia could be ingesting dozens to hundreds of microplastic particles...
How to design a forest fit to heal the planet
Written by: Heather Plumpton
Reforestation has enormous potential as a cheap and natural way of sucking heat-absorbing carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and restoring the degraded natural world,...
Towards Two Billion Trees: New Plan to End Deforestation and Aid Koala Recovery in...
Written by: Kimberly White
The World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia has announced a new strategy to aid koala recovery following the bushfires that have razed...
Food, Water, Economic Security Improved Through Blueprint for Ecological Restoration Standards
Courtesy of Landscape News
Written by: Sandra Cordon
A blueprint to guide effective ecological restoration that can provide “profound ecosystem services benefits,” including better food and...
Amazon fires are causing glaciers in the Andes to melt even faster
Written by: Matthew Harris
If you have turned on a TV or read the news during the past few months, you have probably heard of...
Climate change and overfishing are boosting toxic mercury levels in fish
Written by: Juan Jose Alava
We live in an era — the Anthropocene — where humans and societies are reshaping and changing ecosystems. Pollution, human-made...
The trees that help the Daka River flow
Courtesy of Landscape News
Written by: Monica Evans
For the latest knowledge on water security in Africa, join the Global Landscapes Forum Accra, 29–30 October. Learn more here.
Makada,...
Insects might soon be trained to protect our crops
Written by: Islam Sobhy and Bart Lievens
One of the biggest contemporary challenges for humanity is to safeguard food security for current and future generations....
Deforestation Intensifies Warming in the Amazon Rain Forest
Written by: Jim Daley
Fires raging across the Amazon in recent weeks have gripped the world’s attention and renewed concerns over deforestation in this iconic...
Gabon to Receive $150 million from Norway to Preserve Rainforests
Written by: Kimberly White
Gabon and Norway have entered into a historic agreement to preserve Gabon's rainforests. The partnership between the two nations provides Gabon...
New Initiative Launched to Protect Central America’s Five Great Forests
Written by: Kimberly White
Global Wildlife Conservation and the Wildlife Conservation Society are working to save Mesoamerica’s five largest forests. The wildlife groups teamed up...
World is ‘Ignoring Natural Climate Solutions’, says Greta Thunberg
Written by: Kimberly White
The world is ignoring one of its most powerful climate mitigation tools: nature. A new film starring teen climate activist and...
European Union Partners with the Smurfs in Global Beach Cleanup Campaign
Written by: Kimberly White
The European Union has teamed up with the Smurfs in an effort to encourage people to take action and protect the...
7 Indigenous technologies changing landscapes
Courtesy of Landscape News
Written by: Monica Evans
Indigenous ways of managing landscapes have often been framed as the antithesis to progress. But most Indigenous communities...
Canada Invests $175 Million in Nature Conservation Projects
Written by: Kimberly White
The Government of Canada is investing $175 million in projects that protect nature. The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine...
Worsening Water Quality Reducing Economic Growth by a Third, Says World Bank
Written by: Kimberly White
The World Bank has released a new report highlighting the impacts poor water quality has on economies and health. Quality Unknown:...
Microplastic waste fouls up beaches on Sri Lanka’s southern tourism coast
Written by: Dilrukshi Handunnetti
Sri Lanka’s southern coastline is dotted with popular resorts and beaches, but this once pristine landscape hasn’t been spared by the...
Ethiopia Breaks World Record, Plants More than 350 Million Trees in 12 Hours
Written by: Kimberly White
Ethiopia planted a record-breaking 353,633,660 trees in 12 hours on July 29th. Initially setting out to plant 200 million trees, the...
Panama Bans Single-Use Plastic Bags
Written by: Kimberly White
Panama’s plastic bag ban has gone into effect. Panama became the first Central American country to ban single-use plastic bags in...
Artificial intelligence makes fishing more sustainable by tracking illegal activity
Written by: Melina Kourantidou
The world’s fish stocks are in decline and our increasing demand for seafood may be one of the main drivers. But...
Seafood, Beer, and Plastic? New Study Suggests the Average Person Ingests a Credit Card’s...
Written by: Kimberly White
A new study from the University of Newcastle has found that that the average person may be ingesting a credit card’s...
Roadside wildflower meadows are springing up across the UK – and they’re helping wildlife...
Written by: Olivia Norfolk
Since the end of World War II, 97% of the UK’s wildflower meadows have been dug up or destroyed. Many won’t remember a...
Peatlands on permafrost
Courtesy of Landscape News
Written by: Monica Evans
Across the northern and southern extremes of our planet, vast swathes of land amounting to around 30...
Reforest an area the size of the US to help avert climate breakdown
Written by: Mark Maslin and Simon Lewis
Restoring the world’s forests on an unprecedented scale is “the best climate change solution available”, according to a new...
New York City Styrofoam Ban Begins
Written by: Kimberly White
New York City has officially begun enforcing its ban on styrofoam after a 6-month warning period. Businesses were given until the...
WildAid Announces New Plan to Strengthen Marine and Coastal Areas
Written by: Kimberly White
WildAid has announced an ambitious new plan to strengthen enforcement of 250 marine and coastal areas by 2025. These areas have...
Biodiversity helps coral reefs thrive – and could be part of strategies to save...
Written by: Cody Clements
Coral reefs are home to so many species that they often are called “the rainforests of the seas.” Today they...
Indigenous peoples’ work in world’s protected areas is ignored and untapped
Courtesy of Landscape News
Written by: Sandra Cordon
This topic will be explored at the Global Landscapes Forum Bonn 2019 on 22–23 June. Register to attend...
Why Apple is investing in Colombia’s mangroves
Courtesy of Landscape News
Written by: Natasha Vizcarra
This topic will be explored at the Global Landscapes Forum Bonn 2019 on 22–23 June. Register to attend or tune-in...
Disappearing sea ice is changing the whole ecosystem of the Arctic Ocean
Written by: Graham J. C. Underwood
I drafted this while looking north over the frozen Lincoln Sea, at the northernmost tip of Ellesmere Island...
World Environment Day Aims to #BeatAirPollution
Written by: Kimberly White
It is that time of year again- World Environment Day! Celebrated every year on June 5th, the United Nation’s biggest...
Coral reefs provide flood protection worth $1.8 billion every year – it’s time to...
Written by: Michael Beck
The news is grim: According to a report compiled by hundreds of scientists from 50 countries, Earth is losing species faster...
Chile Joins the Plastics Pact Network
Written by: Kimberly White
Chile has taken another step forward in their battle against plastic pollution. In April, the Plastics Pact network welcomed its first...
UN declares 2021 to 2030 ‘Decade on Ecosystem Restoration’
Courtesy of Landscape News
Written by: Sandra Cordon
The United Nations has issued a massive global ‘call to action’ to mobilize the political and financial support...
How clean is your city? Just ask the bees
Written by: Kate E. Smith, Diane Hanano, and Dominique Weis
There’s a good chance you live in a city — or will soon. According to...
Underwater Arctic forests are expanding with rapid warming
Written by: Karen Filbee-Dexter
Did you know that there are forests in the Arctic?
Lush underwater forests of large brown seaweeds (kelps) are particularly striking in...
In Ghana, one man plants a future with 20 million new trees
Courtesy of Landscape News
Written by: Hugh Biggar
Nana Yaw Osei-Darkwa is helping Ghana see the forest for the trees.
His country has experienced drastic deforestation in...
75 Years of Wildfire Prevention: The Story of the Real Smokey Bear
Written by: Kimberly White
The Smokey Bear wildfire prevention campaign was launched 75 years ago in 1944 and is the longest-running public service campaign in...
24 hours for more sustainable todays and tomorrows
Courtesy of Landscape News
Written by: Sandra Cordon
From sustainable landscape restoration that mitigates climate change, to tenure security and innovative financing tools, to climate-smart lifestyle...
Microplastics have even been blown into a remote corner of the Pyrenees
Written by: Dr. Sharon George and Carolyn Roberts
Microplastics have been discovered in a remote area of the French Pyrenees mountains. The particles travelled through...
Punishing the polluters: why large fines are an important step towards cleaner corporations
Written by: Ole Pedersen
Polluting the environment is a crime which can have countless victims – of numerous species and future generations. Whether it’s an...
Canada Announces Nature Champions Summit
Written by: Kimberly White
The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, has announced that Canada will host a summit focused on the global...
Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago, and Paraguay Join Battle Against Marine Plastic Pollution
Written by: Kimberly White
Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago, and Paraguay have joined the battle against marine plastic pollution this week at the United...
Carbon farming: how agriculture can both feed people and fight climate change
Written by: Richard Lindsay
Imagine “carbon emissions”, and what springs to mind? Most people tend to think of power stations belching out clouds of carbon dioxide or...
Restoring New York Harbor with One Billion Oysters
Written by: Kimberly White
Before the concrete and container ships, when canoes were more common than cars, the New York Harbor was a pristine biodiverse...
Conserving the Congo Basin: Cuvette Centrale
Written by: Kimberly White
A bountiful fusion of rivers, flooded forests, swamps and savannahs, the Congo Basin is abounding with life. A vital refuge for...
“Holy Grail” of Bees Rediscovered After Nearly Four Decades
Written by: Kimberly White
Last month a search team embarked on a journey to Indonesia to find the “holy grail” of bees.
The world’s largest bee, initially discovered...
Aquatic Pollution and Watershed Management in Galliyat
Written by: Ahmed Raza, WWF-Pakistan
Nature has blessed Pakistan with adequate surface and groundwater resources. However, rapid population growth, urbanization, and the continued industrial...
Conserving the Blue Forest: One of Earth’s Most Powerful Tools for Carbon Capture
Written by: Kimberly White
When conjuring up images of the ‘blue forest’ you may visualize some wondrous hued landscape or a bizarre, exotic place from science fiction, but...
IUCN Study Provides “Glimmer of Hope” for Borneo’s Orangutans
Written by: Kimberly White
Last week, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released their new study, Reforesting for the climate of tomorrow.
Researchers identified key...
A teen scientist helped me discover tons of golf balls polluting the ocean
Written by: Matthew Savoca
Plastic pollution in the world’s oceans has become a global environmental crisis. Many people have seen images that seem to capture it, such as beaches...
How to feed a growing population healthy food without ruining the planet
Courtesy of
Written by: Alessandro R Demaio, Jessica Fanzo, and Mario Herrero
If we’re serious about feeding the world’s growing population healthy food, and not ruining...
Bali Bans Single-Use Plastics
Written by: Kimberly White
On December 24, 2018, Bali Governor Wayan Koster announced that the Indonesian province of Bali is officially banning single-use plastics.
The ban is a...
New Zealand Plastic Bag Phase Out Confirmed
Written by: Kimberly White
In December, Associate Minister for the Environment, Eugenie Sage, confirmed the plastic bag phase out for retailers.
From July 1, 2019, retailers will be...
Nepal Set to Double National Tiger Population
Written by: Kimberly White
The Government of Nepal announced that the country’s wild tiger population has nearly doubled since 2009.
Nepal estimates 235 wild tigers are roaming the...
Five maps that reveal the world’s remaining wilderness
Courtesy of
Written by: Steve Carver and Lex Comber
There aren’t many corners of the world left untouched by humanity. Recent research has highlighted that just 23% of the planet’s land...
