French Polynesians revive traditional rāhui to protect fish — and livelihoods
TAHITI — It's Mass Day in Fenua Aihere. There are no roads to this part of the island of Tahiti — it’s only reachable by boat. It's Monday, not the…
‘Miracle’ in miniature as rare new plant defies deforestation in Ecuador
"Very exciting here!" exclaims botanist John L. Clark in an Instagram video posted during the summer of 2022. He and his team have just spotted a tiny, new-to-science plant species…
Camera-trap study brings the lesula, Congo’s cryptic monkey, into focus
In 2012, the description of a new monkey species from the Congo Basin with an unforgettable, humanlike countenance made global news. Now, a camera trap study reveals how the lesula…
Mongabay at 25: A Reflection on the Journey and Future
In high school, I had the great fortune to visit a spectacular rainforest in Malaysian Borneo. Some of my fondest memories are from this forest: hiking under the tall trees,…
Peru puts endemic fog oasis under protection
Peru has granted formal conservation status to Lomas y Tillandsiales de Amara y Ullujaya, a unique fog oasis ecosystem on the arid Peruvian coastline. The state-owned land, which spans 6,449 hectares…
Using immersive media to strengthen support for the environment: An interview with Wendy Schmidt
At the intersection of philanthropy and sustainability, Wendy Schmidt stands out for her innovative approach to addressing global challenges. Her work transcends traditional charity, rooted in "systems thinking," a holistic…
Deforestation in Earth’s largest rainforest continues to plummet despite a rise in fires
Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon continued to plummet in May, reaching the lowest level since March 2018, according to new data from the alert system run by Brazil’s national space…
Large birds can boost forest carbon storage — if deforestation doesn’t interfere
Think of a toucan and you’ll probably picture a toco toucan, with its orange bill and white throat. The largest member of the toucan family, the toco toucan (Ramphastos toco)…
Indonesian fishers mount a community-led fight against destructive fishing
TAKALAR/EAST LOMBOK/JAKARTA, Indonesia — Mustam Daeng Beta exhaled slowly before he began describing his time as a young fisherman many years ago. “Fish bombing was regular, also using poison,” Daeng…
A tale of two frogs: The tough uphill battle for rediscovered species
When lost or assumed-extinct species are rediscovered, they often face a long rocky road to population recovery — especially if they’re an amphibian.
A tiny desert fish hits a 25 year population high in one of Earth’s harshest environments
In a glimmer of hope for one of the world's rarest fish, scientists have counted 191 Devils Hole pupfish this spring in their tiny desert habitat. This number marks the…
Indigenous people and NGO grow a wildlife corridor in the world’s oldest rainforest
Indigenous ranger Jason Petersen remembers how he used to watch the world’s oldest rainforest in wonder as a child. When the rains arrived, they would wash the dust from the…
Otter-preneurs: Female sea otters lead the way in tool use for survival
In California’s Monterey Bay, where the vast Pacific Ocean meets lush kelp forests, sea otters, especially the females, are becoming more resourceful. These charismatic marine mammals, known for their playful…
Hold my ointment: Wild orangutan observed healing wound with medicinal plant
JAKARTA — Self-medicating in animals has been reported before, but scientists noted something particularly special when they observed a wild orangutan in Sumatra treating a wound on its face with…
Despite drought, Amazon deforestation alerts hit five-year low
Month-over-month deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon declined for the 13th consecutive month as forest clearing in Earth's largest rainforest fell to the lowest level in five years. This decrease occurred…
On foot and by drone, radio tracking helps rehabilitate pangolins in Vietnam
When the organization Save Vietnam’s Wildlife receives a pangolin rescued from the wildlife trade, it can take months to remind the scaly, housecat-sized mammal how to be a pangolin again.…
New study says conservation works, providing hope for biodiversity efforts
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…
In Bangladesh, olive ridley turtles break 4-year record with 53% increase in eggs
This year, Bangladesh has seen its highest number of olive ridley turtle eggs, thanks to extensive conservation actions, including building awareness among local people and the vigilance of local conservation…
Meet the 2024 Goldman Environmental Prize Winners
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…
Women weave a culture of resistance and agroecology in Ecuador’s Intag Valley
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…
Global study maps most detailed tree of life yet for flowering plants
After the first flower bloomed on the Earth, flowering plants evolved a staggering diversity and now make up about 90% of all plant life. Charles Darwin called this rapid domination…
New calf, same threats: Javan rhinos continue to reproduce despite perils
There’s good news and bad news for the Javan rhino, one of the most threatened large mammals on Earth. The recent sighting of a mother-and-calf pair in Indonesia’s Ujung Kulon…
Deforestation alerts in the Brazilian Amazon fall to a 5-year low
Forest clearing detected by Brazil's deforestation alert system fell to the lowest level in nearly five years, according to data released last week by the country's space agency, INPE. INPE's…
A new and improved bird family tree shows rapid post-dinosaur evolution
Scientists have created the largest and most detailed bird family tree ever, showing how various species are related to each other and how they evolved over the past 93 million…
How to ‘stop mining before it starts’: Interview with community organizer Carlos Zorrilla
Carlos Zorrilla is a leader in what locals say is the longest continuous resistance movement against mining in Latin America. Zorrilla’s family fled from Cuba to the U.S. in 1962…
‘The Javan tiger still exists’: DNA find may herald an extinct species’ comeback
JAKARTA — Ripi Yanuar Fajar and his four friends say they’ll never forget that evening after Indonesia’s Independence Day celebration in 2019 when they encountered a big cat roaming a…
Jane Goodall at 90: On fame, hope, and empathy
Jane Goodall turns 90 today. For the past few weeks, the world has been marking her birthday in a variety of ways, from a unique 90-dog salute on a beach…
Lebanese youths take up rods and reels to learn sustainable fishing
AMCHIT, Lebanon — Amchit’s harbor bustles with activity on a sunny January morning, one of the first in more than three weeks. A group of 16 youths from the coastal…
Conservation comeback in Central African Republic’s Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (commentary)
Located in northeastern Central African Republic (CAR) close to the Chad and Sudan borders, Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park is the largest park in the Central African savannas, covering 17,400…
New U.S. agroforestry project will pay farmers to expand ‘climate-smart’ acres
American agroforestry initiatives got a big boost of funding in 2022 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which allocated $60 million to help farmers transition toward this style of…
Special series
Forest Trackers
- Narco activity takes heavy toll on Colombia’s protected forests, satellite data show
- Photos confirm narcotraffickers operating in Peru’s Kakataibo Indigenous Reserve
- Bolivia’s El Curichi Las Garzas protected area taken over by land-grabbers
- Authorities struggle to protect Bolivian national park from drug-fueled deforestation
Oceans
- ‘Trust needs to be rebuilt’: Interview with candidate to head U.N. seabed-mining authority
- French Polynesians revive traditional rāhui to protect fish — and livelihoods
- For the first time ever, we’re farming more seafood than we’re catching: FAO
- ‘It is indeed our problem’: Interview with Mário Soares on Brazil’s mangroves
Amazon Conservation
- Brazil’s new pro-agribusiness pesticide law threatens Amazon biodiversity
- Study says 40% of Amazon region is potentially conserved — more than officially recorded
- Environmental agents intensify strike amid record fires in Brazil
- Fire bans not effective as the Amazon and Pantanal burn, study says
Land rights and extractives
- Critics see payback in Indonesia’s plan to grant mining permits to religious groups
- Impunity and pollution abound in DRC mining along the road to the energy transition
- Women weave a culture of resistance and agroecology in Ecuador’s Intag Valley
- Hyundai ends aluminum deal with Adaro Minerals following K-pop protest
Endangered Environmentalists
- Mother Nature Cambodia activists sentenced to prison — again
- Mongabay video screening at Chile’s Supreme Court expected to help landmark verdict in Brazil
- Indonesian activist freed in hate speech case after flagging illegal shrimp farms
- Final cheetah conservationists freed in Iran, but the big cat’s outlook remains grim
Indonesia's Forest Guardians
- On a Borneo mountainside, Indigenous Dayak women hold fire and defend forest
- Fenced in by Sulawesi national park, Indigenous women make forestry breakout
- In Borneo, the ‘Power of Mama’ fight Indonesia’s wildfires with all-woman crew
- Pioneer agroforester Ermi, 73, rolls back the years in Indonesia’s Gorontalo
Conservation Effectiveness
- How effective is the EU’s marquee policy to reduce the illegal timber trade?
- The conservation sector must communicate better (commentary)
- Thailand tries nature-based water management to adapt to climate change
- Forest restoration to boost biomass doesn’t have to sacrifice tree diversity
Southeast Asian infrastructure
- Study: Indonesia’s new capital city threatens stable proboscis monkey population
- Indonesia’s new capital ‘won’t sacrifice the environment’: Q&A with Nusantara’s Myrna Asnawati Safitri
- Small farmers in limbo as Cambodia wavers on Tonle Sap conservation rules
- To build its ‘green’ capital city, Indonesia runs a road through a biodiverse forest
