Biodiversity
More Than Half of Native European Trees Face Extinction, Warns Study
More than half of Europe’s endemic trees are threatened with extinction as invasive diseases, pests, pollution and urban development take a growing toll on the landscape, according to a study. Ash, elm and rowan trees are among those in decline,…
Australia Cleared 7.7m Hectares of Threatened Species Habitat Since Introduction of Environment Act
More than 7.7m hectares of habitat have been cleared since the introduction of Australia’s national environment act, according to new research that finds 93% of land cleared was not referred to the federal government for assessment. The study, led by…
Trump Officials Weaken Protections for Animals Near Extinction
The Trump administration is scaling back the US government’s latitude to protect species nearing extinction, as world scientists warn that a biodiversity crisis will soon put humanity at risk. More than 1,600 species are considered officially at risk in the…
Europe’s Forests Are Booming and Here’s Why
Around the world, forests are shrinking due to deforestation, urban development and climate change, but in Europe that trend has been reversed. Large areas of the continent have seen a forest boom that means today more than two-fifths of Europe…
Mangrove Conservation More Valuable Than Ever Thanks to Carbon Trading
When a proven ecosystem restoration method also helps reduce poverty and build economic resilience, governments will often back them as a win-win solution. The UN Environment Programme, the Kenya Forest Service, the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute and partners…
UN: Healthy Ecosystems Can Provide 37% of Climate Solution
Healthy ecosystems can provide around 37% of the mitigation needed to limit the increase in global temperatures. That’s according to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who warned against the “unprecedented threats” facing the world’s ecosystems, which are accelerating climate change. He…
EU Clean Water Laws Under Attack from Industry Lobbyists
Industry lobbies are mounting a push to roll back EU clean water regulations, even though less than half of the continent’s rivers, wetlands and lakes are in a healthy state. The lobby offensive is aimed at weakening the bloc’s floods…