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Record kākāpō breeding season with 95 rare parrot hatchlings: Photo of the week (April 10, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/record-kakapo-breeding-season-with-95-rare-parrot-hatchlings-photo-of-the-week/ The kākāpō is a flightless bird endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand, and one of the heaviest parrots in the world. It’s also critically endangered; after the introduction of predators to the islands off New Zealand, the adult kākāpō population plummeted to just 235 today. But this year, following a standout harvest of rīmu (Dacrydium cupressinum) berries, […] | |
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Indian border town adjacent to Bhutan is reeling from riverbed pollution (April 10, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/indian-border-town-adjacent-to-bhutan-is-reeling-from-riverbed-pollution/ Jaigaon, a densely populated town on India’s border with Bhutan, is facing a crisis of poor waste disposal, reports contributor Chandrani Sinha for Mongabay India. Much of the town’s plastic, construction and medical waste gets dumped along the banks of the Torsa River. The river originates in the Chumbi Valley in the eastern Himalayas and […] | |
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Novel research finds unexpected climate resilience in up to 36% of Amazon forest (April 10, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/novel-research-finds-unexpected-climate-resilience-in-up-to-36-of-amazon-forest/ - In recent decades, the Amazon Rainforest has repeatedly and increasingly been struck by devastating drought along with record heat due to climate change. Add to this record wildfires, rapid deforestation and land conversion for agriculture. - Numerous field studies and modeling have found that these extreme changes are pushing the Amazon toward a tipping point and collapse of the biome — an ecological disaster that would release large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. - But one research team, in a recently published study, offered up some hope: They found that little-studied low water table wetland Amazon forests — constituting up to 36% of Amazon trees — have stood up well to, and even thrived, during major droughts, with an increase in aboveground biomass. - Those findings, the research team says, put the inevitability of an Amazon tipping point and collapse in some doubt, with the possibility that low water table forests could serve as a refugia for biodiversity. They also urge that these areas become a priority for protection and conservation as a hedge against future climate change. | |
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Half of seabirds are declining. Protecting marine flyways could help save them (April 10, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/half-of-seabirds-are-declining-protecting-marine-flyways-could-help-save-them/ - Nearly half of migratory seabird species are in decline, in part because conservation systems stop at borders while the birds do not. - A new study maps six “marine flyways” spanning the world’s oceans, showing how 151 species depend on connected routes across dozens of countries. - These pathways link breeding sites, feeding areas, and migration corridors, but face persistent threats from bycatch, invasive species, and climate change. - Coordinating protection along these routes—rather than focusing only on isolated sites—could improve conservation outcomes for seabirds at a global scale. | |
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Antarctic fur seals now endangered as climate change reduces krill for pups (April 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/antarctic-fur-seals-now-endangered-as-climate-change-reduces-krill-for-pups/ Antarctic fur seals are the smallest of the polar seals and live almost exclusively on the island of South Georgia. The latest assessment by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the global conservation authority, upgraded fur seal extinction threat from least concern to endangered. The last assessment was carried out in 2014. Recent research […] | |
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Emperor penguins are now endangered amid climate change and melting ice (April 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/emperor-penguins-are-now-endangered-amid-climate-change-and-melting-ice/ Emperor penguins are native to Antarctica, where record low sea ice over the last decade has dramatically changed their habitat. Populations of the world’s largest penguin have fallen so much that they have now officially moved from near threatened to endangered in the latest assessment by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the global […] | |
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Giant otters, river sentinels, now listed as threatened migratory species (April 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/giant-otters-river-sentinels-now-listed-as-threatened-migratory-species/ - The giant otter was added to the list of animals needing protection under the UN Convention on Migratory Species, paving the way for international conservation actions. - Studies reveal that their population decreased by 50% over the past 25 years as their habitat disappears and fragments and growing pollution fouls rivers. - The new listing should promote cooperation between countries to protect the species as well as Amazon and Pantanal aquatic ecosystems, which are the otter’s strongholds. | |
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New mahogany species found in Zanzibar — but fewer than 30 trees remain (April 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/new-mahogany-species-found-in-zanzibar-but-fewer-than-30-trees-remain/ A small group of mahogany trees were found growing along a 200-meter (650-foot) stretch of shoreline on Pemba Island, Zanzibar. Scientists have recently confirmed the tree is a new species, but with fewer than 30 left in the wild, it’s already critically endangered. “It’s an extraordinary finding that none of us expected,” Silvia Ceppi of […] | |
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Argentina approves Milei’s bill that eases protections for glaciers despite environmental backlash (April 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/argentina-approves-mileis-bill-that-eases-protections-for-glaciers-despite-environmental-backlash/ BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina’s Congress on Thursday approved a bill promoted by libertarian President Javier Milei that eases protections on glaciers to facilitate investments in mining for metals — a move that environmental groups vow to challenge in courts. The legislation, approved by the Senate in February, was passed with 137 votes in favor, 111 against and […] | |
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Invasive plant drives ecological change in America’s gigantic Selway–Bitterroot Wilderness (commentary) (April 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/invasive-plant-drives-ecological-change-in-americas-gigantic-selway-bitterroot-wilderness-commentary/ - There’s a new plant growing in one of the largest designated wilderness areas in the U.S. — the Selway–Bitterroot Wilderness — which spans the states of Idaho and Montana. - Though it feels like a true wilderness, this introduced plant — spotted knapweed — has begun changing the ecosystem and threatens to drive local extinctions of some native species. - “From a distance, the Selway still looks intact. But at the level of its living fabric — the layer supporting insects, birds, amphibians, mammals and forest regeneration — losses are underway,” a new op-ed argues. - This article is a commentary. The views expressed are those of the author, not necessarily of Mongabay. | |
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Creating the North Atlantic’s largest MPA network: Interview with Azores President José Manuel Bolieiro (April 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/creating-the-north-atlantics-largest-mpa-network-interview-with-azores-president-jose-manuel-bolieiro/ - In May, José Manuel Bolieiro, president of the Portuguese-administered Azores region, will be honored at the international Peter Benchley Ocean Awards, known as the “Oscars for the Ocean.” - Bolieiro played a key role in the recent expansion of the archipelago’s existing ocean protections with the establishment of the Azores Marine Protected Areas Network, now the largest MPA network in the North Atlantic. - He spoke to Mongabay about the importance of ensuring adequate funding and enforcement for the new MPA network, his hope that Portugal can be a global reference for ocean conservation, and how growing up in the Azores fostered his deep love of the sea. | |
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Invasives take over native plant spaces in Nepal’s cities (April 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/invasives-take-over-native-plant-spaces-in-nepals-cities/ - Native plants are declining in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu, largely due to habitat loss and the spread of invasive species. - Several invasive plants are dominating ecosystems by blocking sunlight, altering soil and displacing native vegetation. - Non-native species were introduced historically (since the 1850s) and through globalization. Today, a large proportion of Kathmandu’s plants are exotic, with some becoming invasive and harmful. - Weak regulation, poor monitoring and preference for ornamental or fast-growing exotic plants in urban planning have worsened the problem, highlighting the need for stronger policies, early control and better institutional coordination. | |
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War on Iran disrupts efforts to save the Asiatic cheetah, world’s rarest big cat (April 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/war-on-iran-disrupts-efforts-to-save-the-asiatic-cheetah-worlds-rarest-big-cat/ - The Asiatic cheetah once roamed from the Arabian Peninsula to India, but today is found only in Iran, and fewer than 30 remain. With the country embroiled in war, the future of this subspecies’ is uncertain. - The Iranian government gave the cheetah protected status in 1959 and created a number of protected areas and national parks. But the relative success of these early conservation efforts was undone in the turmoil that followed the 1979 Iranian Revolution, and later, the Iran-Iraq war. - Complex geopolitics have hampered conservation efforts, and sweeping Western sanctions have prevented donor funding from reaching local conservation groups. - While poaching and human-wildlife conflict are relatively rare, depleted prey stocks, fragmented habitats, dangerous roads and low genetic diversity threaten their fragile existence. | |
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On the shores of Lake Victoria, a youth-led campaign to revive a wetland (April 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/on-the-shores-of-lake-victoria-a-youth-led-campaign-to-revive-a-wetland/ - In 2002, Dunga Beach, located within the larger Dunga wetland in the Kenyan county of Kisumu, which sits on the shores of Lake Victoria, was being choked by plastic waste. - Members of the nonprofit Dunga Ecotourism and Environmental Association (DECTTA) decided to build on the tourism potential of the area and get rid of the heaps of waste that had become an eyesore. - The Dunga wetland is listed as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), but is under threat from pollution as well as the unsustainable harvesting of papyrus reeds. - A campaign is underway to have the wetland officially recognized as a protected area by the government to bring lasting protection. | |
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In Indonesia, a coastal vine used as medicine now signals ecological decline (April 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/in-indonesia-a-coastal-vine-used-as-medicine-now-signals-ecological-decline/ - The beach morning glory (Ipomoea pes-caprae) vine is widely used as a traditional medicine in the north of Indonesia’s Sulawesi Island, and in many tropical coastal communities, to treat common complaints, and by fishers to treat stings from venomous fish. - In addition to its medicinal use, the plant, also known as bayhops, reinforces beaches by binding sand dunes, increasing the resilience of global coastlines to risks of abrasion and erosion. - Beach morning glory is a ubiquitous crawling vine, but some communities in Sulawesi’s Gorontalo province say the medicinal plant has disappeared locally due to industrial development and infrastructure construction. | |
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Chile’s ancient conifers host underground web of life that sustains forests: Study (April 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/chiles-ancient-conifers-host-underground-web-of-life-that-sustains-forests-study/ - Estimated to be more than 2,400 years old, one alerce tree in Chile’s Alerce Costero National Park hosts about twice as much fungal diversity underground as younger alerce trees, a team of researchers found. - The scientists found 361 fungal DNA sequences unique to this tree, indicating that older trees harbor a vaster fungal network that benefits other plants on the forest floor. - Real estate expansion, climate change and infrastructure projects continue to threaten the alerce, which is listed as endangered. Although Chile protects the species, experts say older trees that support complex ecosystems should enjoy higher levels of protection and limited interaction from humans. | |
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Second progress report shows little action on World Bank redress plan at Liberian plantation (April 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/second-progress-report-shows-little-action-on-world-bank-redress-plan-at-liberian-plantation/ - An action plan for redress for communities whose land and human rights the World Bank’s ombudsman found were violated by the operators of the Salala rubber plantation in Liberia appears to have stalled. - A progress report published in February said the bank’s private sector arm would continue to engage key stakeholders, but affected communities say they have not been contacted. - In 2023, the International Finance Corporation’s ombudsman found communities’ complaints about inadequate compensation and widespread sexual harassment were valid. - The IFC and the former operator of the plantation, Socfin, committed to carrying out the action plan, but a year later the plantation was sold, creating uncertainty over who will see the process through. | |
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In zoos, ‘peaceful’ bonobos are just as aggressive as chimps, study suggests (April 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/in-zoos-peaceful-bonobos-are-just-as-aggressive-as-chimps-study-suggests/ A new study of our two closest living relatives finds that, at least in zoos, bonobos may not be more peaceful than chimpanzees. Bonobos (Pan paniscus) are only found south of the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where food is abundant and evenly distributed. Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) range across West, Central and […] | |
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How the US rebuilt a collapsed fishery (April 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/how-the-us-rebuilt-a-collapsed-fishery/ Founder’s Briefs: An occasional series where Mongabay founder Rhett Ayers Butler shares analysis, perspectives and story summaries. On the docks of Port Orford, a small fishing town on the southern coast of the U.S. state of Oregon, Aaron Longton runs a modest seafood business out of a garage converted into a processing room. On a […] | |
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Experts flag trafficking after monkey endemic to Borneo is found in Thailand (April 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/experts-flag-trafficking-after-monkey-endemic-to-borneo-is-found-in-thailand/ The recent discovery of an injured proboscis monkey near a railway track in Thailand points to the likelihood of cross-border trafficking in the endangered species, reports Mongabay contributor Ana Norman Bermudez. Proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvatus), known for their distinctive long noses, are found only on the island of Borneo. The species is legally protected in […] | |
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Indonesia’s plan to rezone national park sparks backlash (April 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/indonesias-plan-to-rezone-national-park-sparks-backlash/ Indonesia is moving to rezone Way Kambas National Park, transforming the Sumatran sanctuary from a “cost center” into a “profit center.” As Mongabay’s Hans Nicholas Jong reports, the government has framed the initiative as a carbon-trading and luxury-tourism initiative to fund conservation for ecosystem restoration. The proposed land reclassification would cut the park’s strictly protected […] | |
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24 new species found in ocean zone eyed for battery metals mining (April 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/24-new-species-found-in-ocean-zone-eyed-for-battery-metals-mining/ - Scientists discovered 24 new species of tiny crustaceans and an entirely new evolutionary branch from a deep abyss in the central Pacific, some 4,000 meters below the surface. - The the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) is studded with chunks of fused nickel, cobalt, copper and other minerals, making it one of the most commercially coveted tracts of ocean on Earth. - An estimated 90% of species in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone remain unnamed even as the U.S. moves to streamline the permitting process to mine the seabed for critical minerals. - A 2025 study found that a commercial mining test in the zone reduced animal abundance by 37% within the machine’s tracks, highlighting the ecological cost of extraction in a region science is only beginning to understand. | |
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Tracking environmental crime in the Amazon: A conversation with Alexa Vélez (April 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/tracking-environmental-crime-in-the-amazon-a-conversation-with-alexa-velez/ - Environmental investigations in Latin America increasingly combine field reporting with tools such as satellite imagery, cross-border collaboration, and long-term investigative work to document deforestation, illegal mining, wildlife trafficking, and other environmental violations. - Over the past decade, Mongabay Latam has built a regional reporting network and partnerships with dozens of media outlets, helping environmental investigations reach audiences across the region. - Alexa Vélez, managing editor of Mongabay Latam, has spent nearly ten years helping coordinate investigations, support reporters, and shape the outlet’s investigative approach to environmental reporting. - Vélez spoke with Mongabay founder Rhett Ayers Butler in March 2026 about investigative journalism in Latin America, the role of technology in environmental reporting, and how Mongabay Latam’s work has evolved over the past decade. | |
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EU citizens file complaint for delays in response to anti-shark fin campaign (April 8, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/eu-citizens-file-complaint-for-delays-in-response-to-anti-shark-fin-campaign/ The organizers of a campaign against shark finning in the European Union have filed a formal complaint against the EU Commission, accusing it of mishandling their case and missing deadlines. The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) is an EU tool that allow citizens to participate in policy-making. The ECI known as “Stop Finning – Stop the […] | |
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March smashes record as most abnormally hot month for continental US, federal meteorologists say (April 8, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/march-smashes-record-as-most-abnormally-hot-month-for-continental-us-federal-meteorologists-say/ WASHINGTON (AP) — March’s persistent unseasonable heat was so intense that the continental United States registered its most abnormally hot month in 132 years of records, according to federal weather data. And the next year or so looks to turn the dial up on global warmth even more, as some forecasts predict a brewing El Nino will reach superstrength. […] | |
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As EU-Mercosur agreement goes into effect, environmentalists raise red flags (April 8, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/as-eu-mercosur-agreement-goes-into-effect-environmentalists-raise-red-flags/ - The EU-Mercosur trade agreement, between the European Union and many Latin American nations, is potentially worth trillions of dollars in transcontinental commerce, and it is about to be implemented on a provisional basis starting in May, 2026. - But experts and environmental organizations are concerned about the risks that may arise across Latin America as the accord goes into effect. - Indigenous organizations warn about the lack of consultation with potentially affected native peoples, and studies point to problems associated with increases in deforestation, mining, and the use of agrochemicals and pesticides. - On the other hand, experts argue that some provisions, such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), could help reduce environmental damage in Latin America under existing trade dynamics. | |
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How quickly do tropical forests recover? Faster than expected, but slower than it seems (April 8, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/how-quickly-do-tropical-forests-recover-faster-than-expected-but-slower-than-it-seems/ - Tropical forests can regrow within decades, with species abundance and diversity recovering quickly, but full ecological recovery—especially the return of original species composition—takes much longer. - Many mobile species such as birds, bats, and bees persist or return early, helping drive regeneration by dispersing seeds and pollinating plants, while slower-moving or long-lived species lag behind. - Forests may regain high numbers of species relatively fast, but the specific mix of old-growth species takes decades or longer to reassemble, meaning a regrown forest is not the same as the one that was lost. - Recovery depends on time, prior land use, and proximity to intact habitat, suggesting that protecting and allowing secondary forests to regenerate can be a practical and cost-effective path for restoring biodiversity. | |
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Loss of prey could drive Atlantic Forest jaguars to extinction (April 8, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/loss-of-prey-could-drive-atlantic-forest-jaguars-to-extinction/ - There’s little prey left for jaguars in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, which is driving the big cat’s decline there, according to new research. - Hunting is wiping out species like deer and peccaries that sustain jaguars, which could spell localized extinctions for the fewer than 300 jaguars thought to remain there. - To save these last jaguars, enforcement is needed to reduce hunting, the study authors and conservationists say. - It may be necessary to translocate prey species to rewild this forest, experts say, and fragmented habitat must be reconnected to allow safe movement for jaguars and other wildlife. | |
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Malawi says there’s been no illegal crayfish smuggling for a year (April 8, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/malawi-hails-win-in-ending-smuggling-of-invasive-crayfish/ Authorities in Malawi have credited stronger monitoring and border controls with effectively ending the smuggling of invasive crayfish into the country, nearly a year after a major seizure from neighboring Zambia. Davie Khumbanyiwa, the fisheries department officer responsible for monitoring, control and surveillance, said the department has increased inspections for redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus), a […] | |
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Mennonites from Belize spark deforestation fears with new settlement plans in Suriname (April 8, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/mennonites-from-belize-spark-deforestation-fears-with-new-settlement-plans-in-suriname/ - Mennonite families in Belize could pay millions to settle on around 24,000 hectares (59,300 acres) in Para, Suriname, a district with around 90% forest cover. - Community leaders from Shipyard and Indian Creek, Belize, have taken multiple trips to Suriname to analyze soil quality and learn about the country’s farming regulations. Members from Spanish Lookout, another Mennonite community, have also started looking into a Suriname relocation. - The move is being facilitated by Braganza Marketing Group, run by Ruud Souverein, a Dutch national living in Suriname who was involved in a previously failed government program to bring Mennonites from Bolivia in 2023. - Environmental groups have expressed concern about Mennonites’ tendencies to expand into forested areas, circumvent environmental regulations, and settle on land without proper titles. | |
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Migratory species summit adopts new marine protections amid extinction warnings (April 8, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/migratory-species-summit-adopts-new-marine-protections-amid-extinction-warnings/ - Delegates to the latest meeting of the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals adopted new protections for 40 migratory species, including 33 marine animals like sharks, seabirds and shorebirds. - The convention’s 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15), held in Brazil March 23-29, recognized the importance of “marine flyways” for migratory birds and highlighted key marine biodiversity areas. - It also urged protection of seamounts from destructive fishing practices and a precautionary approach on deep-sea mining to address potential impacts on migratory species. - Conservation advocates lauded the steps taken at COP15, but the summit also issued stark warnings that extinction and species decline are accelerating. | |
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The little-known story of emerging ecotourism in the Central African Republic (April 8, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/the-little-known-story-of-emerging-ecotourism-in-the-central-african-republic/ - Though conflict and instability have shaped much of the Central African Republic’s recent history, Dzanga-Sangha in the country’s southwest is experiencing a modest rise in ecotourism centered on forest elephants, western lowland gorillas and the dense Congo Basin rainforest. - Officials say about 800 tourists visited Dzanga-Sangha in 2025, generating roughly $1 million in revenue, with local guides and lodge workers reporting gradual growth linked to improved stability. - Tourism is bringing some benefits, including income sharing, cultural tourism and small economic opportunities, though some involved in the country’s ecotourism ecosystem say job creation remains limited and uneven. - While optimism is growing, challenges such as poor infrastructure, limited access and questions about equitable benefits mean Dzanga-Sangha’s ecotourism remains a work in progress. | |
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‘I like impossible missions’: A conservationist’s mission to turn around Salonga’s fate (April 8, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/i-like-impossible-missions-a-conservationists-mission-to-turn-around-salongas-fate/ - At age 70, Luis Arranz has taken on a new mission aimed at helping turn around the fate of Salonga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo: he became its co-director in 2022. - Unlike his previous assignments, including his work in the DRC’s Garamba National Park marked by school kidnappings and violence by Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army, Arranz now faces a different type of challenge in Salonga. - Undeterred, he says he enjoys “impossible missions” and is motivated by the prospect of protecting Salonga while improving livelihoods for communities living around the park. | |
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AI infrastructure growth threatens water-stressed Thai regions (April 8, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/ai-infrastructure-growth-threatens-water-stressed-thai-regions/ Thailand’s massive surge in data center development is prompting concerns about water shortages and pollution in already stressed regions. Mongabay’s Gerry Flynn reports that more than 70 data center-related projects are planned or underway, driven by global demand for AI and supported by government tax incentives. These projects are concentrated in the country’s Eastern Economic […] | |
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The ‘unfair’ job of being a conservationist in a world working against nature (April 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/podcast/2026/04/the-unfair-job-of-being-a-conservationist-in-a-world-working-against-nature/ Jessie Panazzolo was given a stuffed gorilla when she was 3, and from then on, she always wanted to be a conservationist. But a reasonable career track of being gainfully employed or on a livable wage almost doesn’t exist in the sector, she explains to me this week on the Mongabay Newscast. She details the […] | |
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At high seas treaty summit, a dispute over fisheries managers’ role in conservation (April 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/at-high-seas-treaty-summit-a-dispute-over-fisheries-managers-role-in-conservation/ - The high seas treaty was agreed to by the world’s nations in 2023 and took effect in January. The treaty created a means to establish marine protected areas (MPAs) in international waters, or the high seas. - A summit to draft the treaty rules took place March 23-April 2 at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. Five multilateral organizations that manage high seas fishing, known as regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs), jointly proposed changes in a bid to ensure their own work is not duplicated or displaced. - The draft rules that emerged from the summit, to be voted on at a future meeting, accommodated the RFMOs’ wishes, according to critical observers, who argue the RFMOs are influenced by fishing industry priorities and may use authority conferred by the rules to inhibit MPA creation. - In other news at the summit, parties also worked on developing rules governing the participation of non-state observers such as NGOs and a process for determining the location of the treaty’s secretariat. | |
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A French city cut its marine pollution — and its seagrass bounced back (April 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/a-french-city-cut-its-marine-pollution-and-its-seagrass-bounced-back/ - Neptune grass is generally regarded as the most ecologically important seagrass and shallow-water habitat in the Mediterranean Sea, where it is endemic. But the species has been in decline for many decades. - A new study found that following the introduction of stronger environmental regulations and practices in the mid-to-late 1980s, Neptune grass (Posidonia oceanica) repopulated sampled sections of the waters off Marseille, France, over the ensuing four decades at rates that experts called “exceptional” and “remarkable.” - The lead author said the study shows the value of passive restoration: letting seagrass meadows regrow on their own after removing the human-caused drivers of decline, rather than focusing on replanting or transplanting the species. | |
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Microplastics found in fish in Tuvalu, a remote South Pacific nation (April 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/microplastics-found-in-fish-in-tuvalu-a-remote-south-pacific-nation/ Tuvalu is a remote Polynesian nation made up of three reef islands and six atolls. Home to fewer than 11,000 people, Tuvalu is 1,100 kilometers (680 miles) from its nearest neighbor in Fiji. Yet dispite its isolation and small population, new research shows that the ocean ecosystems around Tuvalu are polluted with microplastics. A team of researchers […] | |
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Indigenous & community leaders say, ‘secure forest financing with us, not for us’ (commentary) (April 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/indigenous-leaders-say-secure-forest-financing-with-us-not-for-us-commentary/ - With the expansion of government forest protection programs like REDD+ in recent years, Indigenous communities are increasingly asking if these initiatives boost their autonomy and benefits, or repeat old patterns of exclusion. - These programs’ success will increasingly depend on the full participation of their peoples in the process that determines how benefits and revenues from these transactions are shared, three Indigenous and Afro-descendant leaders write in a new op-ed. - “We believe the path forward is clear: climate policy must be built with communities, not for them,” they say. - This article is a commentary. The views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily of Mongabay. | |
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In Brazil’s capital, Indigenous leaders rally as land disputes and mining pressures grow (April 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/in-brazils-capital-indigenous-leaders-rally-as-land-disputes-and-mining-pressures-grow/ BRASILIA (AP) — Indigenous people in Brazil have marched in the capital, Brasilia, to protest what they say are violations of their land rights. They accuse large corporations of advancing farming, logging and mining projects on their lands. The protest is part of the annual Free Land Indigenous Camp, Brazil’s largest Indigenous mobilization. This year’s […] | |
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Cowboy boots can save an Amazonian river giant (April 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/cowboy-boots-can-save-an-amazonian-river-giant/ Cowboy boots made from the skin of the giant Amazon pirarucu fish are a Wild West hit in the U.S. and Mexico. This sustainable leather trade helps Brazilian fishers recover the species while funding lake patrols against poachers. Still, communities get just a fraction of the $750 boot price. Progress still needs scaling. | |
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Latin America’s largest hospital complex cancels plan to buy shark meat (April 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/latin-americas-largest-hospital-complex-cancels-plan-to-buy-shark-meat/ - Last month saw a series of new policy developments for sharks in Brazil. - Brazil’s biggest hospital complex said it would strike shark meat from a planned 2026 procurement, though the boneless fish could still be served at some of its institutes. - The environment agency issued a host of new rules, including a ban on shark fins detached from the carcass, drawing ire from industry groups. - A court ruled that federal procurements of shark meat for public institutions must meet new species labeling and traceability requirements. | |
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How saving birds protects the planet: Interview with author Scott Weidensaul (April 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/how-saving-birds-protects-the-planet-interview-with-author-scott-weidensaul/ - Birds are struggling, with serious population declines that seem in some cases to be accelerating, which author Scott Weidensaul says in in his new book should serve as a warning that the systems on which they depend – and on which we all depend – are breaking down. - But birds also serve as a handy, readily apparent barometer for when things are starting to go right, too, he argues, in a new interview at Mongabay. - The bestselling author centers multiple promising efforts to revive species in “The Return of the Oystercatcher: Saving Birds to Save the Planet,” which W.W. Norton is publishing later this month. | |
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Avian bird flu surges in New York urban wildlife, increasing disease concerns (April 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/avian-bird-flu-surges-in-new-york-urban-wildlife-increasing-disease-concerns/ - The H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza has spread across the globe, infecting hundreds of birds and mammal species. Few places offer a clearer view of the virus’s spread in urban wildlife than New York state, where the Atlantic Flyway and a layered surveillance system have made the virus easier to track. - Scientists and local wildlife rehabilitators in New York City have reported a sharp uptick in suspected avian influenza cases this past winter. The current H5N1 strain is unusual not only for its significant impact on migratory birds, but for its ability to jump to a growing number of mammal species. - H5N1 continues to surface in live animal and poultry markets across New York City, after more than a decade of recurring avian influenza outbreaks. Experts say the crowded, mixed-species conditions in these markets can amplify viral spread and create new opportunities for spillover to other species, potentially including humans. - If H5N1 can move this readily across species in a city as heavily surveilled and globally connected as New York, experts warn that the risks may be even greater in other urban centers with more migratory wildlife, large live animal markets and weaker surveillance. | |
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Why conservation needs stories of progress (April 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/why-conservation-needs-stories-of-progress/ - Conservation progress often unfolds through sustained, incremental efforts by rangers, communities, and researchers, demonstrating that meaningful gains are still possible even in difficult contexts. - Solutions journalism seeks to complement crisis reporting by examining what is working, under what conditions, and with what limitations, offering a more complete and actionable picture of environmental challenges. - Evidence suggests that stories of credible progress can counter news avoidance, restore a sense of agency, and help practitioners and policymakers adapt successful approaches across regions. - The launch of Mongabay’s Solutions Desk reflects this shift, writes Rhett Butler, the founder and CEO, in this commentary, aiming to document and disseminate effective conservation strategies alongside investigative reporting. | |
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Mongabay launches Solutions Desk to track what works for the planet (April 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/mongabay-launches-solutions-desk-to-track-what-works-for-the-planet/ - Mongabay has launched a dedicated Solutions Desk to expand reporting on how people and institutions respond to problems about nature, rather than spotlighting solely the problems themselves. - The desk reflects a strategic shift toward solutions journalism, emphasizing evidence-based analysis of outcomes, trade-offs and lessons learned from real-world interventions. - Mongabay’s solutions journalism has already contributed to tangible outcomes, including influencing Microsoft agroecology investment decisions in Latin America, supporting community-led wildcat conservation initiatives in Peru, and informing policy and accountability in the biomass industry. - The Solutions Desk strengthens Mongabay’s capacity to deliver rigorous, independent journalism that helps audiences better understand effective responses to environmental challenges and supports more informed decision-making globally. | |
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Indigenous governance key to protecting Amazon Basin connectivity, experts say (April 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/indigenous-governance-key-to-protecting-amazon-basin-connectivity-experts-say/ - The connectivity of the Amazon’s rivers, lowlands, wetlands and Andean areas is vital for the functioning of these different ecosystems, but it is threatened by hydroelectric dams, mining and deforestation, among others. - According to the Science Panel for the Amazon, 23% of the Amazon lowlands, 24% of rivers, 25% of wetlands and 28% of the Amazonian Andes are affected by at least one anthropogenic activity, with some parts of the Amazon Basin more affected by loss of connectivity than others. - Indigenous territories and conservation units suffer from less ecosystem disruption, which highlights the importance of guaranteeing the protection of these areas, particularly by supporting Indigenous governance, the researchers argue. - Other solutions include the creation of dam-free river sanctuaries and biodiversity corridors in the areas of the Amazon Basin that have been least affected by deforestation to help maintain landscape connectivity. | |
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Wildlife concerns remain after Kenya court ruling over luxury safari camp (April 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/wildlife-concerns-remain-after-kenya-court-ruling-over-luxury-safari-camp/ - A luxury Ritz-Carlton safari camp built along the Sand River has triggered legal action over its location within a key wildlife migration corridor in the Maasai Mara National Reserve. - Conservationists and Maasai leaders warn the project could disrupt the Great Migration and erode traditional ecological knowledge and livelihoods. - The Environment and Land Court at Narok dismissed the complaint, ruling that the plaintiff had not used all existing complaint mechanisms before bringing the issue before the court. However, the court did not rule on the substance of the case. - Kenyan authorities say monitoring shows no impact on migration routes so far, though an independent scientist calls for long-term, data-driven studies. | |
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A human rights center opens a path to justice for Indigenous Peoples in the Central African Republic (April 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/a-human-rights-center-opens-a-path-to-justice-for-indigenous-peoples-in-the-central-african-republic/ - In Bayanga, a forest town on the edge of the Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas complex, a small human rights center is restoring hope to the Ba’aka, one of the best-known Indigenous peoples of the Congo Basin. - Established in 2015, the center helps resolve conflicts within local communities, promotes access to justice, provides human rights training and awareness, and helps the Ba’aka community participate in political and societal life. It also assists residents in obtaining administrative documents such as birth certificates and identity cards. - The center has already handled 880 cases, ranging from financial disputes over loans or wages to physical violence and sexual abuse. - Thanks to the trust it has earned from the communities, it plays a role in preserving social peace in this forested region. | |
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Is the Galápagos damselfish extinct? (April 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/is-the-galapagos-damselfish-extinct/ - A once-common reef fish in the Galápagos has not been seen since 1983, raising the question of whether it has already disappeared. - A recent study by Jack Stein Grove and colleagues concludes the species is likely extinct, based on decades of failed searches and historical records. - Its disappearance is linked to the severe 1982–83 El Niño, which disrupted the islands’ nutrient cycles and food webs. - The case highlights how even well-known marine ecosystems can lose species quietly, with declines only becoming clear in hindsight. | |
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Camera traps take first photos of rare island antelope on Zanzibar (April 6, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/camera-traps-take-first-photos-of-rare-island-antelope-on-zanzibar/ Conservationists have captured the first camera trap images of the highly elusive Pemba blue duiker, a tiny antelope that lives in a remnant of native forest in the north of Zanzibar’s Pemba Island. Standing just 30 centimeters (12 inches) high at the shoulder, the Pemba blue duiker is possibly a subspecies of the blue duiker […] | |
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After harsh winter, Ukrainians find joy in releasing bats rescued from war (April 6, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/after-harsh-winter-ukrainians-find-joy-in-releasing-bats-rescued-from-war/ KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — As night falls over a nature park on the edge of Kyiv, children crowd around volunteers who carefully open cloth bags and release bats into the twilight. As each one takes flight, snapping through the air, more than 1,000 spectators cheer and applaud — families, off-duty soldiers, and bat enthusiasts, a few […] | |
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A Congo Basin-led bioeconomy could boost Central Africa’s green transition (analysis) (April 6, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/a-congo-basin-led-bioeconomy-could-boost-central-africas-green-transition-analysis/ - As the global economy shifts toward greener, more sustainable models, the Congo Basin has a unique opportunity to position itself within this landscape by building a resilient bioeconomy that prioritizes local value creation while preserving critical ecosystems. - Despite its rich natural endowments, this region often faces a paradox: while conservation protects, extraction exploits, and agreements frequently stall. - “Promoting innovative approaches to biodiversity value creation directly supports efforts to enhance innovation and competitiveness, while emphasizing the need for durable, inclusive systems that capture long-term value for local communities,” a new analysis argues. - This article is an analysis. The views expressed are those of the author, not necessarily of Mongabay. | |
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A unique clearing in Central Africa draws elephants from the dense forests (April 6, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/a-unique-clearing-in-central-africa-draws-elephants-from-the-dense-forests/ - Dzanga Bai is an exceptional forest clearing where hundreds of elusive forest elephants gather, offering scientists and visitors opportunities to observe their behavior, social interactions and family dynamics in the open. - Mineral-rich soil and shallow pools draw elephants and other wildlife like bongos and forest buffalo, making the clearing a unique ecological hotspot and a valuable site for long-term research on a little-understood species. - Dzanga Bai is a growing tourism spot for the Central African Republic, but growth remains limited by difficult access, infrastructure constraints and perceptions of insecurity. | |
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10 years after Vietnam’s Formosa steel plant spill, justice for victims remains elusive (April 6, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/10-years-after-vietnams-formosa-steel-plant-spill-justice-for-victims-remains-elusive/ - This month marks the 10th anniversary of a marine disaster in Vietnam, caused by the release of toxic chemicals by the Formosa steel plant off the coast of Hà Tĩnh province. - At least 100 metric tons of dead fish washed ashore beginning April 6, 2016, sickening thousands of people and shutting down the fishing and tourism industries. - After widespread public mobilization, the company admitted responsibility and agreed to pay $500 million in compensation. - Thousands of Formosa victims say they have not been properly compensated; lawsuits against the company are stalled; and victims and their supporters face repression, including imprisonment, inside Vietnam. | |
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10% of the ocean is protected. Now just 20% more to go (April 6, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/10-of-the-ocean-is-protected-now-just-20-more-to-go/ - Data from the World Database on Protected and Conserved Areas (WDPCA) indicate that more than 10% of the ocean is now protected, marking a significant milestone for ocean conservation efforts. - With a global goal to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030, experts warn that efforts must accelerate dramatically: An area roughly the size of the Indian Ocean must be protected within the next four years to meet the goal. - While overall coverage is important, protection levels vary widely. For instance, only about 3.3% of the ocean is currently classified as fully or highly protected — and that number may even decrease. - Experts have also raised concerns about the quality and effectiveness of many areas designated as “conserved,” which are now counted alongside traditional marine protected areas. | |
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Far from home, a Rwandan doctor fulfills her calling among CAR forest communities (April 6, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/far-from-home-a-rwandan-nurse-fulfills-her-calling-among-car-forest-communities/ - Alphonsine Colombe Irahali is a Rwandan doctor stationed in Bayanga, a remote outpost near Dzanga-Sangha National Park in the Central African Republic. - Her daily routine consists of traveling from village to village to provide care to communities that rarely have access to it. - She says she fully embraces her calling as a doctor in communities that are virtually excluded from the formal health care system, with very positive results. - Through mobile clinics, her team conducts tuberculosis and HIV screenings, raises awareness among the population and encourages vaccination, thereby helping to improve the health conditions of the people living around the protected area. | |
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Mitchell Byrd, ornithologist who helped bring bald eagles back from the brink in the Chesapeake area (April 6, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/mitchell-byrd-ornithologist-who-helped-bring-bald-eagles-back-from-the-brink-in-the-chesapeake-area/ - Mitchell Byrd spent decades tracking bird populations in the Chesapeake Bay, helping document and support the recovery of bald eagles from near disappearance in Virginia. - His work combined long-term field research with practical conservation, from aerial surveys to engaging landowners and shaping habitat protection efforts. - As co-founder of the Center for Conservation Biology, he trained generations of scientists, extending his influence far beyond the region where he worked. | |
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Hidden cameras reveal macaws’ secret lives (April 5, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/hidden-cameras-reveal-macaws-secret-lives/ High up in the Amazon canopy, camera traps have recorded the entire breeding cycle of red-and-green macaws in Peru’s Madre de Dios region. Researchers watched these birds team up to defend their nest, raise a chick, and face rivals — all from a single artificial nest box. As natural nesting spaces are lost to logging, […] | |
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Once lost, now found: Five “missing” bird species rediscovered in 2025, offering hope (April 4, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/once-lost-now-found-five-missing-bird-species-rediscovered-in-2025-offering-hope/ - Birders in 2025 rediscovered five species of birds that scientists hadn’t documented in the wild for at least 10 years, according to the latest update of the Lost Birds List. - All of the “found” birds are endemic to islands in Southeast Asia and Oceania. - Two birds, one considered extinct and one reclassified as a subspecies, were taken off the list in 2025 and another bird, not seen in 94 years, was documented early this year. - Six new species will be added to the list in 2026, those not documented in the wild for a decade. This puts the list at 120 birds — down from 163 when it started in 2022. | |
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