Orphaned Sumatran orangutan Furthering Indonesia's renewed commitment to environmental justice, the High Court of Banda Aceh denied an appeal by PT. Kallista Alam, the oil palm company found guilty of…
This is the first of a series of two articles examining Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve, the impetus behind its creation, and the efficacy of its protections. Part II can…
Studies in conservation biology often focus on rare, threatened species faced with impending extinction, but what about common animals of least concern? Could they too help conservationists fine-tune their approach?…
"Oil palm fruit. Photo by Rhett A. Butler. Malaysian palm oil company Genting Plantations is continuing to destroy forests despite a high-profile pledge by one of its customers to eliminate…
Endangered species have it bad enough, but in conflict zones, things get worse The human cost of war is horrendous. However, while most attention is focused on the suffering caused…
Arrest represents crackdown on poaching that claims 1,500-1,800 elephants per year On Monday, September 22, two ivory poachers were arrested in Mozambique during a late-night raid near Niassa National Reserve.…
New research in Thailand finds birds and bats key to reforestation efforts Tropical forest restoration projects are exciting research sites for scientists studying factors that affect ecosystem recovery. Here, scientists…
Ninety-two percent of intact forests suitable for cultivation Climate change is likely to alter how we humans grow adequate amounts of food for a swelling global population. Assessing just how…
The slow loris may have evolved its venom as a mimic to deadly spectacled cobras A slow loris in a venom pose. Photo by: Andrew Walmsley. The bite of a…
Study calls into question the efficacy of agroforests in conserving biodiversity With an estimated population of 700 million individuals, domestic dogs are the most abundant carnivore in the world and…
Orchids indicate ecosystem health, can be used to predict extinction of other species, manage forests High in a humid tropical forest in the Sierra de Cayey, Puerto Rico, Benjamin Crain…
CV Arjuna coal mine in Makroman. Photo: S. Yutinus Hardjanto. Baharuddin should be happy. The rambutan and durian trees flanking his home are heavy with fruit. Two hectares of chilies…
An anole lizard silhouetted on a rainforest leaf. Photo by Rhett A. Butler. The biggest factor determining species diversity and distribution on islands is not size and isolation, as traditional…
Hunting, deforestation decimated species in Mexico; reintroduced macaws have high survival rate While listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, the scarlet macaw (Ara macao) has disappeared from almost all…
In 2011, Germany and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature launched the Bonn Challenge, which pledged to restore 150 million hectares of degraded and deforested lands by 2020.…
This potentially new lizard species was discovered on the last day of a survey in a cloud forest in Andean Peru. Photo: Luis Mamani. A group of Peruvian and Mexican…
Rediscovered mammal had been slaughtered by the Inca hundreds of years ago The Machu Picchu arboreal chinchilla rat come back to life! Photo by: Roberto Quispe. Below one of the…
Ants appear more resilient to forest degradation than termites Scientists have long studied how birds, mammals, and amphibians respond to forest degradation, but what about the most abundant animals in…
Norway pledges $300 million if Peru tackles deforestation crisis by 2021 From the Andes to the Amazon, Peru houses some of the world's most spectacular forests. Proud and culturally-diverse indigenous…
Technique may offer effective, easy way to monitor hard-to-find animals Human pressures through tree clearing and poaching are reducing both forest and fauna in West Africa. In response to dwindling…
If you thought your relatively northerly or southerly location sheltered you from Mother Nature’s worst storms, think again For years we have known that the tropics are expanding towards the…
Although not always very wide, roads can be huge barriers to wildlife. Not only do roads break up habitats, making animal movement more difficult, but they also allow people into…
Cleared timber plantation and peat forest in Indonesia. Photos by Rhett A. Butler. Dozens of companies, non-profit organizations, and governments pledged to work together to halve forest loss by 2020…
Destruction of rainforest in Malaysia for palm oil production. Photos by Rhett A. Butler. Cargill, one of the world's largest agricultural companies, has extended its zero deforestation commitment for palm…
Crisis-racked nation gets help, hope from European benefactor In one of the many major announcements that have come out of the UN Climate Summit in New York this week, Norway…
Development of roads and other structures disturb large, continuous patches of habitat for wildlife. This habitat fragmentation is one of the biggest contributors to species extinction, as the local ecology…
DiCaprio: not enough for individuals to make changes, governments and industry must do so as well Actor, environmental activist, and recently named UN Messenger of Peace, Leonardo DiCaprio, spoke today…
Forest clearing for plantations resulting in massive habitat loss If “dissolving pulp” evokes nothing for you, you’re not alone. Not many people have heard of it, and the very term…
Sunset. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler. In 1870, John D. Rockefeller founded the Standard Oil Company. Rapidly becoming the world's largest oil refiner, Standard made Rockefeller a billionaire and one…
Last year, the people of China emitted more carbon per person than those in the EU, according this year's Global Carbon Budget. The report, updated annually, also found that global…
