deforestation
Earth Overshoot Day 2019 Is July 29th, the Earliest Ever
On July 29, humanity will have used nature’s resource budget for the entire year, according to Global Footprint Network, an international sustainability organization that has pioneered the Ecological Footprint. The Ecological Footprint adds up all of people’s competing demands for…
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…
Massive Reforestation Is Key to Averting a Climate Catastrophe
Restoring the world’s forests on an unprecedented scale is “the best climate change solution available”, according to a new study. The researchers claim that covering 900m hectares of land – roughly the size of the continental US – with trees…
A 550 km-Long Mass of Rotting Seaweed Is Heading for Mexico’s Pristine Beaches
Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is home to clear blue seas, golden sands and a glorious backdrop that includes ancient Mayan ruins. Millions flock to its resorts every year and tourism is vital to the area’s economy. But now much of the…
Amazon Destruction Accelerates 60% to One and a Half Soccer Fields Every Minute
Amazon deforestation accelerated more than 60% in June over the same period last year, in what environmentalists say is a sign that the policies of President Jair Bolsonaro are starting to take effect. The rate of rainforest destruction had been…
Palm Oil Importers Won’t Meet Zero Deforestation Goals by 2020
European palm oil importers are unlikely to be able to ensure that the products they sell are “deforestation-free” by the self-imposed goal of 2020, according to analysis by the Palm Oil Transparency Coalition. While about 98% of the palm oil…
Forest Area Twice the Size of UK ‘Cut Down to Grow Food Since 2010’
An area of forest twice the size of the UK has been cut down since 2010 to set up food plantations. That’s the verdict from Greenpeace International, which claims unsustainable farms supply many of the world’s leading food companies. It…