Indonesian province calls time-out on mining
MAUMERE, Indonesia — A newly inaugurated governor in Indonesia has called a time-out on mining in his province, citing a lack of benefits for residents from the extractive industry. “We…
Environmental headlines
Mongabay is a non-profit provider of conservation and environmental science news.
Crop losses to insects will accelerate as the globe warms: study
Insects already eat between 5 and 20 percent of the most important grain crops produced around the world — and new research finds that they could be responsible for even…
Audio: How the social sciences can help conservationists save species
On this episode, we take a look at how the social sciences can boost conservation efforts. Listen here: Our guest is Diogo Verissimo, a Postdoctoral Fellow with the University…
Agroforestry ‘a good investment’: Mongabay’s Washington Post op-ed (commentary)
Mongabay editor Erik Hoffner wrote about the mismatch in funding priorities for climate mitigation solutions for the Washington Post’s global edition, the World Post, on September 11. Too often, he wrote,…
Slave labor found at Starbucks-certified Brazil coffee plantation
Raid rescues 18 workers from Minas Gerais farm holding good practice seals. Starbucks denies buying beans there in recent years, though its certifier approved the farm.
Study games out oil palm development scenarios in Borneo
Although expansion of oil palm plantations appears to be inevitable, regulators have options when deciding what land may be converted into the world's most widely planted vegetable oil crop. A…
Brazilian elections and the environment: where top candidates stand
Five candidates lead the polls for Brazil’s presidency, with a vote 7 October. Mongabay offers some of what’s known, and what’s not, about their environmental positions.
How a national reserve stopped the extinction of the Peruvian vicuña
LUCANAS PROVINCE, Peru — At an altitude of 13,450 feet, the icy wind pounds whatever lies in its path. After 23 years of living in the Pampa Galeras - Barbara…
As India’s Ganges runs out of water, a potential food shortage looms
Millions of people living in the lower reaches of the Ganges basin in India may face food shortages in the next three decades if the iconic river continues to lose…
Satellites and citizen science pinpoint migratory bird refueling stops
The millions of waterbirds that migrate each spring from South America to as far as the Arctic can’t do it in one trip. They stop to rest and refuel several…
Putting the action in the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The second day of California Governor Jerry Brown’s three-day Global Climate Action Summit on September 13 put a hard emphasis on action, whether in speeches at…
What’s causing deforestation? New study reveals global drivers
Knowing where deforestation is happening is critical for efforts aimed at stopping or slowing it. Major breakthroughs toward this goal have been made over the previous few years, with NGOs…
Common ground on the prairie (commentary)
Mother Nature is the ultimate boss on the prairie — and the boss seems pretty agitated these days. Weather events are more frequent, more extreme, and harder to predict than…
Latam Eco Review: Gold fever in Peru and cryptic fish from the deep
The most popular stories from our Spanish-language service, Mongabay-Latam, followed new deforestation from gold mining in Peru, new fish species deep in Chile’s sea, mining on Ecuador’s beaches, and hundreds…
In other news: Environmental stories from around the web, September 14, 2018
Tropical forests Unbridled logging in the Solomon Islands disproportionately affects women, researchers say (CIFOR Forests News). Ecologists map out the distribution of tree species in the Amazon (University of Turku/Phys.Org).…
How much plastic is too much plastic for sea turtles?
In a video that went viral in 2015, researchers spent nearly 10 minutes pulling out a 10-centimeter (4-inch) plastic straw from the nostril of a male olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)…
On the hunt for a silent salamander-killer
It’s like searching for a needle in a haystack — except the needle is invisible and the hay stretches for thousands of miles. Oh, and there may not actually be…
California targets fossil fuel-free electricity by 2045
The US state of California, which represents the fifth largest economy in the world, has adopted an ambitious new climate target. On Monday, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law…
Indonesian mine watchdog sues government for concession maps
JAKARTA — Environmental activists are suing the Indonesian government for the release of records of mining licenses and concessions, in a move seen as crucial to bringing greater transparency to…
Tagging and tracking the Tour de Turtles
Last year, a loggerhead named Eliza Ann took the crown. This year, Lucaya, the speedy leatherback, has pulled ahead to take an early lead. Every summer, a handful of sea…
Special series
Endangered environmentalists
- Murder of activist in India highlights growing risk to environmental defenders
- Number of murdered environmental activists rose once again in 2017
- Indonesia to investigate death of journalist being held for defaming palm oil company
Indonesias forest guardians
- Papuan chef Charles Toto serves up sustainability and environmental protection in a platter
- In eastern Indonesia, a forest tribe pushes back against miners and loggers
- Faith in the forest helps Indonesia’s Dayaks keep plantations, loggers at bay
Amazon infrastructure
- Brazilian elections and the environment: where top candidates stand
- Community-run trading posts help Amazon forest people reverse rural exodus
- Ruralists in Brazilian congress put nation’s protected areas at risk
Asian rhinos
- 1984: the meeting that changed everything for Sumatran rhinos
- In protecting the Javan rhino, locals gain a ‘more meaningful life’
- Rhino poop gives villagers in India a conservation incentive
