‘The only possible transition is a just transition’: Interview with WEF’s Clemence Schmid (July 7, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/07/the-only-possible-transition-is-a-just-transition-interview-with-wefs-clemence-schmid/
- Kenya formally launched the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) in collaboration with the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP), an initiative of the World Economic Forum, at the Our Ocean conference held in Mombasa.
- Plastic pollution is a pressing threat to Kenya’s marine ecosystems, fisheries and coastal livelihoods, driven by poor or non-existent waste management on land, along the coast and at sea.
- The initiative seeks to accelerate the transition to a circular plastics economy, which aims to reduce plastic pollution, valorize materials traditionally considered ‘waste’ and generate economic opportunities in the process.
- Mongabay spoke to Clemence Schmid, Director, Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP), on the sidelines of the Mombasa conference to understand what the collaborative effort is trying to achieve in Kenya.
Rare seed collection offers hope for last wild tree of its kind from Chile (July 7, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/07/rare-seed-collection-offers-hope-for-last-wild-tree-of-its-kind-from-chile/
On Chile’s Robinson Crusoe Island, in the South Pacific, a tree juts out precariously from the side of a steep cliff. It’s the last known wild individual of Dendroseris neriifolia. To prevent its total extinction in the wild, conservationists recently collected seeds from the tree and have begun trials to cultivate them. All 11 species […]
The Gaza scientist still tracking manta rays from a war zone (July 7, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/07/the-gaza-scientist-still-tracking-manta-rays-from-a-war-zone/
Founder’s Briefs: An occasional series where Mongabay founder Rhett Ayers Butler shares analysis, perspectives and story summaries. Mohammed Abu Daya is a marine ecologist from Gaza. His work focuses on spinetail devil rays, also known as giant devil rays, a critically endangered species that moves through the Mediterranean and beyond. Few scientists specialize in these […]
Himalayan pangolin emerges as distinct species, 189 years after first described (July 7, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/07/himalayan-pangolin-emerges-as-distinct-species-189-years-after-first-described/
- A new genomic and morphological study has revalidated Manis aurita, a pangolin species first described in Nepal in 1836 and then forgotten for some 189 years.
- The species, given the common name the Himalayan pangolin, was among what researchers long assumed was a single, widespread species, the Chinese pangolin.
- Confirming the species has immediate implications, including prospects of better protection and more nuanced approaches to conservation.
NGO support can negatively impact allocation of Amazonian territorial rights, research finds (July 6, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/07/ngo-support-can-negatively-impact-allocation-of-amazonian-territorial-rights-research-finds/
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have played a critical role in the fight to secure title to ancestral Indigenous lands in the Amazon. They can provide financial assistance and legal representation in court, but new research shows that for groups that do not benefit from this support, the arrival of NGOs may cause more harm than good. […]
As East Africa’s oceans change, coastal women build new livelihoods (July 6, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/07/as-east-africas-oceans-change-coastal-women-build-new-livelihoods/
MALINDI, Kenya (AP) — Across East Africa’s coastline, climate change and industrial fishing are threatening the livelihoods of millions who depend on the ocean. In Kenya, women are turning to community tourism, mangrove restoration and other nature-based enterprises as declining fish stocks force them to adapt. Their experiences mirror a regional push to strengthen coastal […]
María Laura Tolmos, 37, turned a childhood in the Amazon into her life’s work (July 6, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/07/maria-laura-tolmos-37-turned-a-childhood-in-the-amazon-into-her-lifes-work/
- María Laura Tolmos, who died of breast cancer on June 21st in Barcelona, aged 37, grew up in the Peruvian Amazon, where the forest became the foundation of her life and work.
- A forest scientist trained in Peru and Germany, she completed a Ph.D. in forest sciences and forest ecology at the University of Göttingen in 2024.
- At Wilderness International, she served as co-director of science and helped found Wilderness International Perú, bringing rigor, field knowledge, and institutional trust to its conservation work.
- In the field, she was exacting and deeply alive to nature, whether checking research methods, sleeping in a hammock in the forest, joining night surveys, or noticing the species and details others passed by.
The women leading a quiet conservation revolution in a Nigerian gorilla sanctuary (July 6, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/07/the-women-leading-a-quiet-conservation-revolution-in-a-nigerian-gorilla-sanctuary/
- Women’s conservation collectives in the communities surrounding Nigeria’s Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary are working to defend the wildlife, forests and rivers in a protected area that’s home to threatened gorillas and chimpanzees.
- Funded by membership dues, these groups carry out patrols, investigate wildlife crimes, and work collaboratively with traditional leadership structures to censure violators.
- One of the groups’ notable successes comes in ensuring that rules aimed at protecting the environment are upheld without bias or favoritism.
- The successes of the pioneering women’s collectives have inspired the formation of similar initiatives in other villages surrounding the sanctuary.
War reveals the isolation of Iran’s scientists (July 6, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/07/war-reveals-the-isolation-of-irans-scientists/
- The war in Iran has hindered scientific research, making the long-running isolation of Iranian scientists more apparent.
- For decades, international sanctions and the war have limited their access to funding, professional development, and global scientific collaboration.
- Beyond potential damage to wildlife populations and ecosystems, conservation efforts are often ignored during wartime.
- Even amid the war, the Iran-based AvayeBoom Bird Conservation Society has continued its work “reconnecting people with wetlands through birds” and protecting critical bird habitats like the Arjan wetland in the country’s southwest.
Brazil boosts budget and number of firefighters amid strong El Niño forecast (July 6, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/07/brazil-boosts-budget-and-number-of-firefighters-amid-strong-el-nino-forecast/
Brazil has increased wildfire spending and has hired a record number of federal firefighters in anticipation of extreme drought in the Amazon due to what could be one of the strongest El Niño events in more than a century. The El Niño climate pattern, which emerges from unusually warm waters in the tropical Pacific, typically […]
Listen to whales to improve connection, care & ocean health (commentary) (July 6, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/07/listen-to-whales-to-improve-connection-care-ocean-health-commentary/
- From establishing conservation protections to developing tools to understand whale communication, the work of marine biologist David Gruber and oceanographer Sylvia Earle is grounded in the same belief: understanding leads to connection and care.
- While there have been remarkable conservation successes across the five decades of their efforts, the overall trend is clear: the health of the ocean is declining faster than efforts to protect it.
- “We still have an opportunity to leave future generations an ocean filled with life, wonder, and possibility. But this window is closing. The choices we make in the next decade will firmly shape the future of marine ecosystems,” the co-authors argue.
- This article is a commentary. The views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily of Mongabay.
King vultures in Costa Rica: Photo of the week (July 6, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/07/king-vultures-in-costa-rica-photo-of-the-week/
Two king vultures (Sarcoramphus papa), one of the largest vulture species in the Americas, perch on a tree branch in Costa Rica. One leans over to nibble the other. The king vulture’s range stretches from Mexico south through the Amazon Rainforest and down to northern Argentina. These birds have a wingspan of up to 2 […]
Brazil’s expanding offshore oil frontier puts biodiversity at risk: study (July 6, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/07/brazils-expanding-offshore-oil-frontier-puts-biodiversity-at-risk-study/
- Fossil fuel exploration off the northeast coast of Brazil presents a greater cumulative risk of oil spills than previously expected, according to new modeling.
- Seagrass meadows and deep-water reefs in the Potiguar Basin are at greatest risk, as well as portions of the coasts of Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte and Amapá states.
- As the Brazilian government is pursuing rapid expansion of oil exploration in the region, researchers recommend prioritizing preparedness for emergencies where pollution would likely spread, and expanding Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in low-risk areas.
- Campaigners worry that MPAs might restrict local fishing communities or be implemented too slowly.
Nepal’s birdwatchers help monitor wildlife and promote tourism (July 6, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/07/nepals-birdwatchers-help-monitor-wildlife-and-promote-tourism/
- Birdwatching is becoming increasingly popular in Nepal, contributing to biodiversity conservation through public engagement and ecological data collection.
- Despite its popularity, a lack of public participation and data-sharing practices affect record-keeping.
- Researchers say documentation provided by birdwatchers helps fulfill data gaps related to bird population and habitat.
- Birdwatching helps promote local destinations and generate economic activity, though Nepal as a birdwatching destination remains largely untapped.
Sightings off Southern Africa suggest blue and fin whales may be rebounding (July 6, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/07/sightings-off-southern-africa-suggest-blue-and-fin-whales-may-be-rebounding/
Sightings of blue whales and fin whales off Southern Africa’s Atlantic coast have increased in recent years, according to a newly published study. This could signal recovery of the marine mammals after being virtually eliminated from the area by commercial whaling in the 20th century, the study authors say. Scientists estimate around 350,000 Antarctic blue […]
Dusky langurs start using new canopy bridge in Malaysia’s Penang Island (July 6, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/07/dusky-langurs-start-using-new-canopy-bridge-in-malaysias-penang-island/
Endangered dusky langurs have successfully begun using a new artificial canopy bridge in a major tourism hub on Malaysia’s Penang Island. Camera traps set up by the Langur Project Penang (LPP) confirmed that the first dusky langur (Trachypithecus obscurus) crossed the bridge made out of old fire hoses on June 1, about two months after […]
In Southeast Asia, peer-support network boosts women’s well-being in conservation (July 6, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/07/in-southeast-asia-peer-support-network-boosts-womens-well-being-in-conservation/
- Women in conservation continue to face significant cultural and systemic challenges, despite efforts to address gender equality across the sector.
- Pressures can lead to burnout, stalled careers, and women leaving the industry, reducing the diverse perspectives experts say are essential to tackling global conservation challenges.
- Peer-support networks and woman-to-woman mentorship are increasingly providing women with safe spaces to share their experiences and advice, helping participants rise to leadership positions and build long-term careers.
- While these networks can fill existing sector-wide gaps, experts say broader institutional and societal changes are also required to create safe, inclusive and supportive working environments for all.
What are these parrots saying? (July 5, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/07/what-are-these-parrots-saying/
New research shows that the yellow-naped amazon (Amazona auropalliata), a critically endangered parrot in Central America, has a sophisticated way of communicating. Instead of just making noise, these birds perform complex “warble duets” that act like synchronized sentences to protect their territory. Using software designed for human language, scientists discovered that these parrots have a […]
Tropical mountain wildlife are at high risk from climate change impacts, study finds (July 3, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/07/tropical-mountain-wildlife-are-at-high-risk-from-climate-change-impacts-study-finds/
As the planet warms, animals living in tropical mountains may find it increasingly difficult to shift to new areas, according to a new study. Tropical mountains are particularly at risk when the impacts of climate change combine with changes in land use and human pressures, Chiara Dragonetti, co-author of the study published in June, told […]
Australia’s seagrass meadows under pressure as climate change turns up the heat (July 3, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/07/australias-seagrass-meadows-under-pressure-as-climate-change-turns-up-the-heat/
- Australia is a global stronghold for seagrasses, the flowering plants that grow in coastal waters and bays.
- Seagrasses are unsung but vital ecosystem engineers: They stabilize sediments, provide habitat and food for marine species, help cleanse the water column of pollutants and sequester vast amounts of carbon dioxide.
- Across Australia’s waters, these undersea meadows are suffering as coasts are developed, seas are polluted and climate change continues to raise water temperatures.
- Conservationists are working to restore seagrasses and build resilience to preserve these vital marine ecosystems.