Forests on Indigenous lands help protect health in the Amazon (September 12, 2025)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/09/forests-on-indigenous-lands-help-protect-health-in-the-amazon/
Healthy forests are more than climate shields; in the Amazon, they also serve as public-health infrastructure. A Communications Earth & Environment study spanning two decades across the biome links the extent and legal status of Indigenous Territories to 27 respiratory, cardiovascular, and zoonotic or vector-borne diseases. The findings are complex, but one pattern is clear: […]
Floodwaters begin receding in a major Pakistani city but nearby towns face evacuations (September 12, 2025)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/09/floodwaters-begin-receding-in-a-major-pakistani-city-but-nearby-towns-face-evacuations/
MULTAN, Pakistan (AP) — Officials say floodwaters that threatened a major town in eastern Punjab province have started receding, sparing its 700,000 residents. However, rising waters on Friday swamped villages near two nearby cities, forcing panicked evacuations. The Disaster Management Authority said waters around Jalalpur Pirwala, which had touched the official danger mark, are now […]
Countries shorten tuna fishing closure at Pacific summit with few conservation ‘wins’ (September 12, 2025)
https://news.mongabay.com/2025/09/countries-shorten-tuna-fishing-closure-at-pacific-summit-with-few-conservation-wins/
- The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), a multilateral body that manages tuna and other fish stocks in the Eastern Pacific, held its annual meeting Sept. 1-5 in Panama.
- Commission members agreed to shorten an annual fishing closure from 72 days to 64 days, which was in keeping with recommendations from the IATTC’s scientific committee.
- The members also agreed to move toward adoption, in 2026, of a long-term harvest strategy for bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus).
- They didn’t adopt proposals to increase monitoring of longline tuna vessels and strengthen shark protection measures, due to resistance from East Asian members.
Indonesia reopens Raja Ampat nickel mine despite reef damage concerns (September 12, 2025)
https://news.mongabay.com/2025/09/indonesia-reopens-raja-ampat-nickel-mine-despite-reef-damage-concerns/
- Indonesia has allowed state-owned PT Gag Nikel to resume mining operations on Gag Island in Raja Ampat, despite a ban on mining small islands and a previous suspension imposed in June.
- A 2024 survey commissioned by Gag Nikel reported widespread community complaints of dust, health issues, sedimentation, and coral damage from barges — contradicting the government’s claims of minimal impact.
- NGOs say the “green” rating cited by the government to justify the resumption masks real destruction in Raja Ampat, one of the world’s richest marine ecosystems, and note the government has revoked other mining concessions in the area for similar impacts but not Gag Nikel’s.
- More than 60,000 people have signed a Greenpeace petition opposing mining in Raja Ampat, warning sedimentation could destroy coral reefs and threaten local livelihoods even as the nickel feeds Indonesia’s EV battery supply chain.
Conservationists split over greener ranching versus ditching beef (September 12, 2025)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/09/conservationists-split-over-greener-ranching-versus-ditching-beef/
Beef production is a major driver of climate change. It fuels deforestation in crucial biomes, a significant source of carbon emissions, and cows themselves produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Regenerative ranching practices aim to reduce the environmental and climate impacts of rearing cattle, but some conservation groups say a pivot away from beef is […]
On World Dolphin Day, spotlight falls on threats to dolphins worldwide (September 12, 2025)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/09/on-world-dolphin-day-spotlight-falls-on-threats-to-dolphins-worldwide/
September 12 is World Dolphin Day. Marine conservation and advocacy nonprofit Sea Shephard created the day in 2022 to remember that dolphins, among the most intelligent animals on Earth, are under threat and need protection. That date, Sept. 12, was chosen to memorialize the massacre of 1,428 Atlantic white-sided dolphins (Leucopleurus acutus) on the Faroe […]
Indonesia flooding traced to corporate canals that drain peatlands: Report (September 12, 2025)
https://news.mongabay.com/2025/09/indonesia-flooding-traced-to-corporate-canals-that-drain-peatlands-report/
- Flooding in Indonesia is increasingly traced to corporate destruction of peatlands rather than natural causes, according to a new report by NGO Pantau Gambut.
- The construction of industrial-scale canals poses a growing threat; the report found that 281,253 kilometers of canals have cut through peatland ecosystems, draining the peat and compromising its sponge-like function.
- In addition, the report concluded that peatland protection laws are deeply flawed, as they serve corporate profit interests, rather than environmental protection.
Ebony’s uncertain future without elephants (September 11, 2025)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/09/ebonys-uncertain-future-without-elephants/
In 2017, when Vincent Deblauwe joined the Congo Basin Institute in Cameroon to study African ebony, he soon realized the fate of the tree lay with another species. Around campfires and during treks, the Indigenous Baka people told him that the forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) was key to the survival of African ebony (Diospyros crassiflora). […]
Photos: Indigenous elders push for comeback of the revered Philippine crocodile (September 11, 2025)
https://news.mongabay.com/2025/09/indigenous-elders-push-for-comeback-of-the-revered-philippine-crocodile-photos/
- The critically endangered Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) embodies strength and protective spirits for Indigenous Agta elders who are involved in efforts to rebrand the image of the predator.
- Thanks to conservation efforts led by the Mabuwaya Foundation in partnership with local and Indigenous communities, the wild crocodile population in a region of the northern Philippines increased from one adult in 1999 to 125 individuals by 2024.
- Community sanctuary guards, known as Bantay Sanktuwaryo, play a significant role in safeguarding the crocodiles and their habitat despite ongoing challenges posed by illegal fishing, agricultural encroachment and inadequate law enforcement.
- Conservationists warn that without stable funding and stronger government support, even successful grassroots efforts may not ensure the species’ long-term survival.
Park guardians or destroyers? Study dissects 2 narratives of DRC’s Indigenous Batwa (September 11, 2025)
https://news.mongabay.com/2025/09/park-guardians-or-destroyers-study-dissects-2-narratives-of-drcs-indigenous-batwa/
- A recent study looks at two polarized characterizations of Indigenous people in Kahuzi-Biega National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo: forest guardians vs. forest destroyers.
- The two narratives are rooted in colonial perspectives on the Batwa people who had lived inside the park until they were evicted in the 20th century; today, some Batwa populations have returned in an effort to try to rebuild their lives.
- Tensions remain between Batwa members who say they have faced broken promises and insufficient support from park management, but the park management team says it prioritizes Indigenous rights and efforts to improve livelihoods; meanwhile, the situation on the ground is changing amid renewed M23 rebel violence.
- Researchers say the overall situation is much more nuanced than the two narratives of forest guardians vs. destroyers allow for.
More than half the world’s forests fragmented in 20 years — but protection works: Study (September 11, 2025)
https://news.mongabay.com/2025/09/more-than-half-the-worlds-forests-fragmented-in-20-years-but-protection-works-study/
- Large intact forests and connected landscapes support biodiversity and ecosystem processes.
- Globally, more than half of the world’s forests became more fragmented between 2000 and 2020, according to a new Science study, with the highest rates in the tropics.
- The study used new measures of fragmentation that more closely align with ecological functions and is higher than previous estimates of fragmentation rates.
- The study also finds that in the tropical forests, protected areas experienced much lower rates of fragmentation than similar unprotected forests.
Largest turtle nest in the world revealed in drone study (September 11, 2025)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/09/largest-turtle-nest-in-the-world-revealed-in-drone-study/
Scientists studying the world’s largest river turtles, a South American species that grows to a length of nearly a meter, or 3 feet, have found the largest nesting aggregation ever recorded. Using drones to conduct a population survey in the western Brazilian Amazon, researchers recorded a nesting area of the endangered giant South American river […]
Experimental ocean climate fixes move ahead without regulation (September 11, 2025)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/09/experimental-ocean-climate-fixes-move-ahead-without-regulation/
Experimental climate interventions in the world’s oceans are moving ahead in a regulatory vacuum, raising concerns among scientists about potential risks, Mongabay staff writer Edward Carver reported. The projects, known as marine-climate interventions, aim to tackle global warming or help people and ocean life adapt to climate change. But a group of 24 researchers warned […]
An indestructible invasive anemone threatens Chilean Patagonia’s seas (September 11, 2025)
https://news.mongabay.com/2025/09/an-indestructible-invasive-anemone-threatens-chilean-patagonias-seas/
- Native to the northern hemisphere, plumose anemones have spread across Chilean Patagonia.
- Scientists estimate that it was likely introduced in the late 20th century via ship ballast water.
- The exotic species occupies the seabed and displaces native communities of shellfish, mollusks and corals.
- The anemone’s presence is associated with a decline in biodiversity, and artisanal fishers are concerned.
The need for success stories in conservation (commentary) (September 11, 2025)
https://news.mongabay.com/2025/09/the-need-for-success-stories-in-conservation/
- Optimism is a strategy in conservation—grounded in evidence and small, local wins that build agency and scale.
- Rhett ayers butler, the founder and ceo of mongabay, argues that pairing hard truths with credible success stories counters doom, mobilizes action, and keeps coalitions working.
- Real-world recoveries—mountain gorillas, revived marshes, and leopard shark reintroductions—show how disciplined optimism, sound policy, and community leadership turn concern into measurable results.
- This article is a commentary. The views expressed are those of the author, not necessarily of Mongabay.
An elusive deer species clings to survival in Sri Lanka’s south (September 11, 2025)
https://news.mongabay.com/2025/09/an-elusive-deer-species-clings-to-survival-in-sri-lankas-south/
- The hog deer (Axis porcinus), Sri Lanka’s most threatened deer species, is classified as critically endangered in the country and survives only in fragmented habitats in the island’s southwest.
- A year-long survey recorded 306 adults and 22 fawns, showing a modest increase in their numbers, but an array of threats continues to put pressure on the species’ survival.
- Conservationists warn against major threats including attacks by feral dogs and water monitors, road accidents and habitat loss, while garbage dumping alters predator dynamics, adding a fresh threat.
- Debate continues over whether Sri Lanka’s hog deer is native or introduced, with fossil evidence hinting at an ancient presence but some theories indicating colonial-era introductions.
Researchers describe three new-to-science snailfish species off California coast (September 11, 2025)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/09/researchers-describe-three-new-to-science-snailfish-species-off-california-coast/
In 2019, researchers surveying the seafloor off the coast of California came upon three unusual species of small fishes with large heads: one with bumpy pink skin, and the other two both black in color. The team collected the fish using underwater research vehicles and later analyzed their DNA and bodies. Their analysis showed that […]
Indonesia’s giant Java seawall plan sparks criticism & calls for alternatives (September 11, 2025)
https://news.mongabay.com/2025/09/indonesias-giant-java-seawall-plan-sparks-criticism-calls-for-alternatives/
- Indonesia has launched a massive new project on Java’s northern coast, framed as protection for millions of residents from worsening environmental threats.
- The plan has drawn sharp criticism from experts and activists who question its methods, costs and potential impact on vulnerable communities.
- Calls are growing for deeper public consultation and long-term solutions that go beyond quick fixes.
Scientists are breeding rare and endangered animals in China’s longest river (September 11, 2025)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/09/scientists-are-breeding-rare-and-endangered-animals-in-chinas-longest-river/
WUHAN, China (AP) — A dozen sleek grey Yangtze finless porpoises glide inside a vast pool at the Institute of Hydrobiology in Wuhan as scientists find ways to protect and breed the rare mammals in China’s longest river. The Yangtze River is one of the busiest inland waterways in the world with 16 major ports. […]
Vian Ruma, Indonesian activist, found dead. Aged 30. (September 10, 2025)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/09/vian-ruma-indonesian-activist-found-dead-aged-30/
He taught mathematics in a small state school on Flores and organized the parish youth group on weekends. Numbers ordered his days; community gave them purpose. In recent years, he also helped mobilize opposition to plans to tap the island’s restless geology for power. On Sept. 5, 2025, Vian Ruma was found dead, hanging from […]