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On Java’s Mount Slamet, two former trappers find new calling as bird protectors (August 31, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/on-javas-mount-slamet-two-former-trappers-find-new-calling-as-bird-protectors/ - Ari and Junianto began hunting birds as children in the foothills of Java’s Mount Slamet, near their home in Sambirata village. - Trapping birds for the illegal wildlife trade became their main livelihood over time, with much of the trade shifting from local markets to social media as the pair came of age and internet access proliferated. - Ari and Junianto’s view of their vocation shifted in their 20s, and they began to work with conservation organizations to help map bird nests and protect forest areas. Today the pair are active conservationists in Banyumas district, giving talks in schools on the district’s birdlife and working with local charities. - Banyumas, and the wider Central Java province, is home to numerous endangered and critically endangered species of birds owing to the trade in caged birds, according to the conservation authorities. | |
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Cruise industry expansion collides with Cozumel’s coral reef (August 30, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/cruise-industry-expansion-collides-with-cozumels-coral-reef/ - Mexico’s Cozumel Island is one of the most popular cruise ship destinations in the world, hosting more than 4.5 million tourists every year. - A plan to build a new pier for cruise ships has attracted concern from Cozumel residents and conservationists, who say it will damage the surrounding reef and block public access to the sea. - The company behind the project, Muelles del Caribe, maintains the pier will bring financial benefits to the community. - Conservationists assert that the project’s environmental impact assessment was insufficient; in July, a court ordered a temporary suspension of the project to allow for a more thorough environmental assessment. | |
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Kafue River Transect (August 30, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/specials/2025/08/kafue-river-transect/ From its source in the wetlands near Zambia’s northwestern border, through the industrial zones of the Copperbelt, to where it plunges through a steep gorge toward the Zambezi, the Kafue River sustains some of Southern Africa’s richest ecosystems, vital to communities, wildlife, and energy production. Mongabay contributor Ryan Truscott joined an initiative exploring the river’s […] | |
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Cape Town faces backlash over proposal to kill baboons (August 29, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/08/cape-town-faces-backlash-over-proposal-to-kill-baboons/ In Cape Town, South Africa, an ongoing conflict between people and baboons has escalated to the point that local authorities are considering culling 117 animals from four troops, roughly a quarter of the local population. The 45-kilogram (100-pound) primates sometimes raid homes for food and have injured people, but local conservationists argue killing them isn’t […] | |
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Carbon offset markets are unfair to communities in Borneo & beyond (commentary) (August 29, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/carbon-offset-markets-are-unfair-to-indigenous-communities-in-borneo-beyond-commentary/ - Recent investigations have found that many carbon offset projects overstate their impact, ignore Indigenous rights, and fail to deliver on promised benefits. - In tropical forest regions like Malaysian Borneo, only 1% of climate finance reaches Indigenous communities, despite the latter’s proven role in preventing deforestation: in many cases these communities’ stewardship is what makes carbon offset programs possible. - “The communities who have fought tooth and nail to keep these forests standing are not being rewarded with handsome sums for their efforts. The carbon credits (and the cash) flow primarily to the license holders, not to the Indigenous people who protect these lands,” a new op-ed states. - This post is a commentary. The views expressed are those of the author, not necessarily of Mongabay. | |
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Despite pledge, Colombia still has ways to expand Amazon oil exploration (August 29, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/despite-pledge-colombia-still-has-ways-to-expand-amazon-oil-exploration/ - The Colombian government has “shelved” some oil blocks in the Amazon, but they can be reactivated at any time, critics warn. - Even though it promised to stop issuing new exploration licenses as part of its clean energy transition, the government still has the legal power to expand oil and gas production in the Amazon. - A new analysis by Earth Insight, a nature and climate policy group, recommends that lawmakers pass legislation to formally recognize a ban on expanding oil and gas production in the Amazon. | |
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A ‘sea war’ brews off Gambia as desperate local fishermen attack foreign vessels, and each other (August 29, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/08/a-sea-war-brews-off-gambia-as-desperate-local-fishermen-attack-foreign-vessels-and-each-other/ BANJUL, Gambia (AP) — A “sea war” is brewing off the West African nation of Gambia as desperate local fishermen attack foreign commercial fishing vessels, and each other. The fight is driven by market forces and foreign seafood appetites that are far beyond their control. The Associated Press exclusively obtained video of one attack that […] | |
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Climate change is driving fish stocks from countries’ waters to the high seas: Study (August 29, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/climate-change-is-driving-fish-stocks-from-countries-waters-to-the-high-seas-study/ - A new study found that more than half of the world’s straddling stocks will shift across the maritime borders between exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and the high seas by 2050. - Most of these shifts will be into the high seas, where fisheries management is much more challenging and stocks are more likely to be overexploited. - Among the most serious potential consequences is a loss of fisheries resources for many tropical countries that did little to create the climate crisis, including small island developing states in the Pacific Ocean. | |
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As plastics treaty talks break down, are there paths to a breakthrough? (August 29, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/as-plastics-treaty-talks-break-down-are-there-paths-to-a-breakthrough/ - After the conclusion of the failed INC-5.2 United Nations plastics treaty summit in August, negotiators went home without a plan for how to move forward, though a variety of approaches are being considered. - The parties remain deadlocked and mostly unyielding at present: The High Ambition Coalition (HAC), numbering more than 75 nations, continues pushing for a binding treaty that regulates plastic from cradle to grave, with limits on plastics production and toxic chemicals of concern. - The Like-Minded Group (LMG), composed of petrochemical and plastics-producing states, continues pushing for a treaty where individual nations set voluntary commitments on plastic waste disposal. No INC-6 summit has been scheduled and a path forward is uncertain. - Among the possibilities are more INC meetings to achieve consensus; a change of venue to the U.N. General Assembly, where plastic pollution could be added to an existing treaty like the Basel Convention on Hazardous Waste; or a move to the U.N. Environment Assembly, where a majority vote could achieve an accord, leaving out dissenting nations. | |
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Scientists decode the unusual silver-blue color of an ancient South African plant (August 29, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/08/scientists-decode-the-unusual-silver-blue-color-of-an-ancient-south-african-plant/ Most plants get their coloration from pigments, but an endangered South African cycad gets its unique silvery-blue hue from wax crystals and an underlying chlorophyll-rich layer, according to a recent study. Researchers say understanding how such layers work could pave the way for creating materials that protect from UV and water exposure. Cycads, sometimes described […] | |
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Nepal’s Supreme Court halts industrial development in Buddha’s birthplace (August 29, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/nepals-supreme-court-halts-industrial-development-in-buddhas-birthplace/ - Nepal’s highest court has issued an order for industries operating within 15 kilometers (9 miles) of the city of Lumbini to shut down or relocate within two years. - Lumbini is the famed birthplace of the Buddha and home to Nepal’s largest population of sarus cranes, a threatened species, and its cultural and ecological value has long been threatened by pollution from heavy industry. - While the court order has been hailed as environmental progress, sources say the implementation could risk local jobs and hurt big investments, and therefore needs effective relocation planning and inclusive consultations. | |
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Indonesia’s fish farm expansion to absorb D.C.-sized swath of protected forests (August 29, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/indonesias-fish-farm-expansion-to-absorb-d-c-sized-swath-of-protected-forests/ - This year, Indonesia’s government announced the first stage of a five-year plan to expand and intensify aquaculture production on 78,000 hectares (193,000 acres) along the north coast of Java Island. - The first phase, 20,400 hectares (50,400 acres), will cover four districts in West Java province. - Civil society leaders in Indonesia point to problematic experiences with similar “strategic” projects administered by the central government, adding that the initial plan in West Java risks further diminishing local fishers’ standing, rather than stimulating the community economy. - A review of zoning documents by Indonesian environment watchdog Walhi showed the initial stage in West Java would include reclassifying 16,078 hectares (39,730 acres) of protected forests for the project — an area nearly the size of Washington, D.C. | |
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Donovan Kirkwood, protector of South Africa’s rarest plants, dies aged 51 in search for one of the world’s most endangered species (August 29, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/08/donovan-kirkwood-protector-of-south-africas-rarest-plants-dies-at-51-in-search-for-one-of-the-worlds-most-endangered-species/ In late August, high in South Africa’s Jonkershoek Mountains, a small group of botanists picked their way across steep ground in search of one of the world’s rarest plants. They were surveying Penaea formosa, a critically endangered shrub thought to number fewer than 50 individuals. Donovan Kirkwood, curator of the Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, was […] | |
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Tracking rhino horn trade: Interview with International Rhino Foundation’s Nina Fascione (August 29, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/tracking-rhino-horn-trade-interview-with-international-rhino-foundations-nina-fascione/ - A new report has found that the population of Javan rhinos has decreased since 2021 as a result of poaching. - The report by the nonprofit International Rhino Foundation also found that the population of black rhinos saw an increase in Africa. - The organization has partnered with wildlife trade watchdog TRAFFIC to develop a tool to monitor and visualize illegal rhino horn trade globally. - The tool aims to aid conservationists, NGOs and governments in informing and enforcing stricter policies. | |
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Newly hatched Socorro dove chicks bring hope to species extinct in the wild (August 29, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/newly-hatched-socorro-dove-chicks-bring-hope-to-species-extinct-in-the-wild/ - Eight Socorro dove chicks have hatched at Chester Zoo this year, representing hope for a species that went extinct in the wild in the 1970s due to feral cats and habitat destruction from sheep. - All 200 surviving Socorro doves in zoos around the world descend from just 17 birds collected in 1925, creating genetic challenges but demonstrating the species’ resilience over a century in captivity. - Male Socorro doves show unique parenting behavior by taking over chick care when females begin new broods, an adaptation that helped them maximize breeding during short seasonal windows on their island home. - Socorro Island’s habitat has improved significantly since the removal of sheep in 2010 and the construction of aviaries in 2005, although feral cats remain a challenge for potential reintroduction efforts. | |
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As forest elephants plummet, ebony trees decline in Central Africa’s rainforests (August 29, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/as-forest-elephants-plummet-ebony-trees-decline-in-central-africas-rainforests/ - In the past three decades, poaching has decimated Africa’s now-critically endangered forest elephants, and as a result, their vital role as seed dispersers of many forest plants has been disrupted. - A new study from Cameroon provides the first direct evidence that without forest elephants, there are fewer ebony saplings; on average, as few as 68%, in Central African rainforests. - Researchers found that seeds pooped out in elephant dung have a better chance of surviving and sprouting as they are protected from hungry rodents and other herbivores that chew and destroy the seeds. - The findings show that losing key ecosystem engineers and seed dispersers has far-reaching ecological and economic impacts, potentially altering entire ecosystems. | |
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Data debunks spike in Sri Lanka’s elephant killings, points at media hype (August 29, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/data-debunks-spike-in-sri-lankas-elephant-killings-points-at-media-hype/ - With 238 elephant deaths reported between January and end of July this year, including several iconic tuskers that were found dead, there is increasing concerns about possible organized crime network behind the elephant killings in Sri Lanka. - The country’s environment minister has filed a complaint with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and plans are afoot to deploy the Civil Defence Force to combat wildlife crime and support the severely understaffed Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) to address human-elephant conflict. - Meanwhile, the government’s attempt to distribute more guns among the farming community has angered environmentalists who warn that these guns would increase elephant deaths. - While various theories are being suggested by some regarding the recent spike in elephant deaths, including ivory poaching, hunting for meat and organized killings, data analysis by Mongabay shows there’s no significant rise, but instead points to a well-meaning media hype, with far greater coverage than before on elephant deaths. | |
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Liberian communities await justice at Salala rubber plantation after World Bank complaint (August 29, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/08/liberian-communities-await-justice-at-salala-rubber-plantation-after-world-bank-complaint/ Five months after the World Bank’s private investment arm submitted its action plan to address community grievances against a rubber plantation it funds in Liberia, affected residents are still waiting for its implementation. The case goes back to a 2019 complaint filed by four Liberian NGOs with the internal watchdog of the International Finance Corporation […] | |
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Brunei built Southeast Asia’s longest bridge. What does this mean for wildlife? (August 29, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/brunei-built-southeast-asias-longest-bridge-what-does-this-mean-for-wildlife/ - The 26-kilometer (16-mile) Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien (SOAS) Bridge, the longest bridge in Southeast Asia, connects remote eastern areas to the country’s urban capital, while facilitating access to forests teeming with unique biodiversity and protected species. - Authors of a recent study spoke with locals to examine whether easier access to wildlife trade markets is influencing traditional hunting behaviors and practices. - They found that hunting is still primarily driven by cultural and traditional purposes for consumption rather than to sell at markets, although these motivations are gradually declining. - Locals noted that while the bridge offers better job prospects and income opportunities, they have also observed unusual wildlife movements and migration patterns since its construction. | |
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‘It doesn’t make sense’: Marine biologist on Kenya’s proposed nuclear power plant (August 29, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/it-doesnt-make-sense-marine-biologist-on-kenyas-proposed-nuclear-power-plant/ - Kenya is considering building a nuclear power plant in Uyombo, a coastal town in Kilifi county. It would be near Mida Creek mangroves, Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve and Watamu National Marine Park and Reserve, all recognized for their high biodiversity, including endemic species and coral reefs. - The plant’s cooling system could raise water temperatures in the area. This could harm marine life, potentially causing further coral bleaching and disrupting plankton and other critical species, which would, in the long run, affect the entire food chain. - Residents and environmentalists, including marine biologist Peter Musila, have criticized the project and the government for poor communication, lack of public consultation and insufficient information on nuclear waste management. - Musila argues Kenya does not need nuclear energy given the country’s renewable energy potential, and such a project raises concerns about potential accidents and long-term impacts on ecosystems and local livelihoods. | |
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Brazil’s Atlantic Forest still losing ‘large amounts’ of mature forest, despite legal protection (August 28, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/brazils-atlantic-forest-still-losing-large-amounts-of-mature-forest-despite-legal-protection/ - Despite a federal protection law, Brazil’s Atlantic Forest lost a Washington, D.C.-sized area of mature forest every year between 2010 and 2020, with most of the deforestation occurring illegally on private lands for agriculture. - The Atlantic Forest is a critical biodiversity hotspot that supports 70% of Brazil’s GDP while serving nearly three-quarters of the country’s population. - Major agribusiness companies, including COFCO, Bunge and Cargill, have been identified as exposed to deforestation in their soybean supply chains, with agriculture and livestock farming driving most forest loss. - Conservation success stories like the black lion tamarin’s recovery from near-extinction demonstrate that restoration is possible, with one project planting millions of seedlings and generating significant local employment. | |
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The call of a native frog is heard again in Southern California thanks to help from Mexico and AI (August 28, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/08/the-call-of-a-native-frog-is-heard-again-in-southern-california-thanks-to-help-from-mexico-and-ai/ THE SANTA ROSA PLATEAU ECOLOGICAL RESERVE, Calif. (AP) — Efforts to restore the red-legged frog to Southern California, where it had all but disappeared, seemed doomed when the COVID-19 pandemic struck and restrictions were put in place at the U.S.-Mexico border. But scientists were able to airlift coolers of frogs’ eggs from a tiny population […] | |
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Officials struggle with land invasions in Mexico’s Balam Kú Biosphere Reserve (August 28, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/officials-struggle-with-land-invasions-in-mexicos-balam-ku-biosphere-reserve/ - Around 450 people have crossed into Balam Kú Biosphere Reserve this year in Mexico’s southern state of Campeche, deforesting hundreds of hectares of dry tropical forest. - The group is made up of people who relocated from the states of Chiapas, Tabasco, Quintana Roo, Veracruz and other parts of Campeche, according to officials. - Authorities want to remove the temporary settlements before illegal agriculture and cattle ranching spread into other parts of the reserve. So far, they’ve been unsuccessful. | |
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Rewilding project aims to restore resilience to fire-prone Spain via wildlife (August 28, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/rewilding-project-aims-to-restore-resilience-to-fire-prone-spain-via-wildlife/ - A project in Spain is bringing Przewalski’s horse to a sparsely populated region to help stem out-of-control fires and boost the local economy. - Rewilding Spain is attempting to rebuild ecological roles in the region to boost biodiversity and mitigate fire outbreaks. - The project is helping the local economy by employing locals and working with tourist operators. | |
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Indigenous people gain formal role in Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (August 28, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/08/indigenous-people-gain-formal-role-in-amazon-cooperation-treaty-organization/ The Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) recently announced the creation of a formal role for Indigenous peoples, giving them a voice for the first time in one of the Amazon Basin’s most important intergovernmental bodies. The announcement was made during ACTO’s fifth summit of presidents of Amazonian countries in Bogotá, Colombia, marking a historic shift […] | |
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Small islands offer big hope for conservation of endemic species, study shows (August 28, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/small-islands-offer-big-hope-for-conservation-of-endemic-species-study-shows/ - New research in Indonesia shows that small islands, often considered extinction hotspots, can act as crucial refuges for rare mammals like the anoa and babirusa, which face severe threats from deforestation and poaching on larger land masses. - Genetic analyses of more than 110 individuals revealed that while small-island populations have lower genetic diversity and higher inbreeding, they also carry fewer harmful mutations — likely because long-term isolation allowed natural selection to purge them. - Smaller islands were also found to host higher-quality, better-protected forest habitats, suggesting that conserving these areas may be more effective than attempting “genetic rescue” by moving animals from mainland populations, which could introduce harmful mutations. - The study highlights the need to refine taxonomy, prioritize protection of small-island habitats, and integrate these overlooked areas into conservation planning, as they may hold the key to the long-term survival of iconic and endemic small-island mammals. | |
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Thailand’s living floral heritage takes root in a park of rare and ancient trees (August 28, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/thailands-living-floral-heritage-takes-root-in-a-park-of-rare-and-ancient-trees/ - Landscape designer Bunrak Thanacharoenrot, inspired by his agricultural roots, spent 25 years curating and transplanting rare and unusual Thai trees to create Changthong Heritage Park near Chiang Mai. - Opened in November 2024, the park showcases centuries-old trees, rare species, and unique genetic mutations, blending conservation with immersive visitor experiences. - The park emphasizes both biological and aesthetic value, rescuing threatened species and saving significant trees from destruction, while promoting harmony between humans and natural ecosystems. | |
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Brazilian court restores Amazon soy moratorium, for now (August 28, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/08/brazilian-court-restores-amazon-soy-moratorium-for-now/ A federal court in Brazil has reinstated the Amazon soy moratorium, a private-sector antideforestation measure that helps protect the Amazon Rainforest against the expansion of soy farms in the biome. The Aug. 25 ruling overturns a suspension issued last week by Brazil’s antitrust regulator, CADE, which had opened an investigation into claims that the two-decade-old […] | |
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Climate change intensified wildfire weather in Greece, Türkiye and Cyprus: Study (August 28, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/08/climate-change-intensified-wildfire-weather-in-greece-turkiye-and-cyprus-study/ Hundreds of wildfires across Europe have burned at least 1 million hectares, or around 2.5 million acres, since the start of the year. That’s made 2025 the worst year for the continent since official wildfire records began in 2006. In Türkiye, Greece and Cyprus, which saw deadly fires peaking since June, weather conditions that drove […] | |
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Giraffe is now officially four species (August 28, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/08/giraffe-is-now-officially-four-species/ The IUCN, the global wildlife conservation authority, now officially recognizes four distinct giraffe species, it announced on Aug. 21. Until recently, giraffes across Africa were classified as a single species with eight to 11 subspecies. However, since 2016, when the giraffe’s threat status was last assessed for the IUCN Red List as vulnerable, several studies […] | |
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In Nepal, artificial ponds offer drought relief despite lingering doubts (August 28, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/in-nepal-artificial-ponds-offer-drought-relief-despite-lingering-doubts/ - As Nepal’s plains face severe drought, communities are building artificial ponds to cope with water shortages for drinking, irrigation and other uses. - The ponds are becoming popular as a “nature-based solution” with both local communities and the government supporting their construction. - Scientific studies and anecdotal evidence suggest that these ponds are successful in raising groundwater levels as well as reducing negative human-wildlife interactions. - However, experts warn of significant gaps in knowledge, noting that many ponds are poorly designed, unscientifically built or located in unsuitable areas. | |
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After 160 years, an old drawing leads scientists to a long-lost Sri Lanka orchid (August 28, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/after-160-years-an-old-drawing-leads-scientists-to-a-long-lost-sri-lanka-orchid/ - After 160 years, scientists in Sri Lanka have rediscovered Vanda thwaitesii, a delicate tropical Asian orchid, by referring to scientific drawings to make the connection. - Sri Lanka’s rich array of orchids face threats from illegal collection and habitat loss, but climate change may pose an even greater risk by disrupting their growth, flowering and pollination. - This rediscovery was made possible through citizen science, a common factor in many recent findings, but experts caution that social media can be a double-edged sword, as it may also encourage illegal harvesting. - Conservationists also caution that this rediscovery does not mean recovery and call for urgent measures to safeguard the island’s fragile floral heritage. | |
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Deforestation is killing people by raising local temperatures (August 27, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/08/deforestation-is-killing-people-by-raising-local-temperatures/ For decades, the case for saving tropical forests has been cast in terms of carbon. Trees sequester vast quantities of it; razing them pumps more into the air. But new research reminds us that the destruction of rainforests has consequences that arrive long before the carbon accounting is tallied: It makes people hotter, sometimes lethally […] | |
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California lawmakers seek to curb oil imports from Amazon (August 27, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/08/california-lawmakers-seek-to-curb-oil-imports-from-amazon/ BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — The California Senate has unanimously approved a resolution calling for a review of its imports of crude oil from the Amazon rainforest and an eventual phase-out, following years of advocacy from Indigenous leaders in South America. Environmental groups say oil drilling in the Amazon is driving deforestation, destroying biodiversity and violating Indigenous rights, […] | |
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Climate negotiations must begin to prioritize conservation of wetlands like Brazil’s Pantanal (commentary) (August 27, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/climate-negotiations-must-begin-to-prioritize-conservation-of-wetlands-like-brazils-pantanal-commentary/ - Last year in the heart of the world’s largest tropical wetland, Brazil’s Pantanal, a jaguar beloved among conservationists and nicknamed Gaia was found lifeless, charred by flames that have been ravaging this landscape that ought to be immune to fire. - Her death was more than a symbolic loss, though, amid increasingly undeniable data about the unfolding climate catastrophe that even begins to threaten massive wetlands like the Pantanal, which is home to thousands of species and provides critical ecosystem services like water filtration, carbon storage and climate regulation. - Despite this, the authors of a new op-ed point out that as Brazil prepares to host the annual United Nations climate summit, wetland-specific solutions are still absent from most countries’ emissions reduction pledges, while freshwater ecosystems rarely feature in high-level negotiations. - This post is a commentary. The views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily of Mongabay. | |
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Scientists warn ocean-based climate fixes lack rules and oversight (August 27, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/scientists-warn-ocean-based-climate-fixes-lack-rules-and-oversight/ - Marine-climate interventions have received increased money and attention in recent years. - While many projects and ideas may be well-intentioned, they’re generally not subject to strong governance or oversight, and they often pose risks of social and ecological harm, according to a new paper. - The authors call for local, national and global rules that will make interventions “safe, equitable and effective.” | |
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Bangladesh retreating from development activities planned in forest lands (August 27, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/bangladesh-retreating-from-development-activities-planned-in-forest-lands/ - In a recent move, the government has canceled allocation of more than 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres) of forest land planned for different development activities. - This encompasses more than 3,830 hectares (9,467 acres) of biodiversity-rich Sonadia Island and about 293 hectares (725 acres) of coastal hill forest in Cox’s Bazar district. - The move raised hope for the conservationists who criticized earlier decisions taken by the previous government, which neglected the importance of protecting forest lands as well as biodiversity. | |
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The slow demise of turtles and tortoises (August 27, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/08/the-slow-demise-of-turtles-and-tortoises/ Founder’s Briefs: An occasional series where Mongabay founder Rhett Ayers Butler shares analysis, perspectives and story summaries. Turtles and tortoises have outlived dinosaurs, endured ice ages, and survived the shuffling of continents. Yet despite their evolutionary stamina, these ancient mariners and land dwellers now find themselves in peril. A sweeping global assessment published in Nature […] | |
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Sharks risk losing their bite as oceans turn acidic: Study (August 27, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/08/sharks-risk-losing-their-bite-as-oceans-turn-acidic-study/ Sharks continually shed and regrow teeth throughout their lives, replacing worn or lost teeth with new ones. That makes them particularly good at catching prey. However, these top marine predators could lose their literal edge as ocean acidification damages their teeth and makes it harder to keep and replace them, a new study says. “Shark […] | |
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In Brazil, invaders set fires in Karipuna Indigenous land, leaders say (August 26, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/08/in-brazil-invaders-set-fires-in-karipuna-indigenous-land-leaders-say/ Indigenous leaders say land-grabbers are setting fires inside the Karipuna Indigenous Territory in Brazil’s Rondônia state, in the northwest Amazon. The fires come less than one month after Indigenous leaders warned authorities about renewed invasions. Satellite monitoring detected more than 90 fire alerts in the territory between Aug. 14 and Aug. 25, according to an […] | |
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Mongabay shark meat exposé sparks call for hearing and industry debate (August 26, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/mongabay-shark-meat-expose-sparks-call-for-hearing-and-industry-debate/ - A Brazilian lawmaker said he would call for a parliamentary hearing after Mongabay’s shark meat investigation. - Experts reacted to the investigation, saying the uncovered public tenders show greater extinction risk for sharks and urging stronger global protection. - Industry groups called Mongabay’s investigation “alarmist,” defending shark meat’s safety and sustainability, despite warnings from scientists. | |
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Mass evacuations in eastern Pakistan as India releases water from swollen rivers (August 26, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/08/mass-evacuations-in-eastern-pakistan-as-india-releases-water-from-swollen-rivers/ LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Officials say rescuers in eastern Pakistan have evacuated tens of thousands of people to safer areas after neighboring India released water from overflowing dams and swollen rivers into low-lying border regions. The move came a day after New Delhi alerted Islamabad about possible cross-border flooding, marking the first public diplomatic contact […] | |
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The honesty, humor and wonder of ‘Nature’s Last Dance,’ from Natalie Kyriacou (August 26, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/podcast/2025/08/the-honesty-humor-and-wonder-of-natures-last-dance-from-natalie-kyriacou/ I recently received an advance copy of Natalie Kyriacou’s widely praised new book, Nature’s Last Dance: Tales of Wonder in an Age of Extinction, and found myself agreeing with its many high-profile fans, like Paris climate agreement architect Christiana Figueres, who calls it a “lyrical call to awaken our love for the wild before the […] | |
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Sunscreens protect us but also pose real planetary health concerns (August 26, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/sunscreens-protect-us-but-also-pose-real-planetary-health-concerns/ - Sunscreens have become an important part of people’s sun management routine, protecting skin from harmful solar UV radiation. But many of these products contain chemicals that can be harmful to saltwater and freshwater ecosystems, while preliminary findings indicate some ingredients can have health effects. - Ultraviolet filter chemicals and mineral components found in sunscreens can harm marine species such as corals and help trigger bleaching. In recent years, numerous studies have shown that many of these chemicals persist in the environment and can impact seagrass, fish and other marine life. - More research is needed to understand the full environmental and health impacts of chemicals used in sunscreens. New formulations using ingredients proven to be safe are required, say analysts, and makers should improve product labelling to better inform consumers, with government regulation potentially necessary. - Experts also urge caution, noting that while there are environmental concerns surrounding sunscreen chemicals, this should not be understood as a call not to use these products. | |
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The safari industry’s ‘conservation-washing’ is a growing problem (commentary) (August 26, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/the-safari-industrys-conservation-washing-is-a-growing-problem-commentary/ - Though many tour operators focus on protecting the wildlife, environment, and local community their clients are immersed in during safaris, greenwashing — or more accurately, “conservation-washing” — is a growing problem. - In this commentary, a safari operator with more than 35 years of experience shares his reflections and offers red flags to watch out for before hiring a company. - “We each hold the power to influence the safari industry by choosing operators that build their tours around true conservation while uplifting local communities. Being vigilant for conservation-washing is ultimately our responsibility, and it’s one we should all take very seriously,” he argues. - This post is a commentary. The views expressed are those of the author, not necessarily of Mongabay. | |
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Réunion’s ‘rarest’ gecko vanishing from natural areas but appearing in gardens (August 26, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/08/reunions-rarest-gecko-vanishing-from-natural-areas-but-appearing-in-gardens/ The critically endangered Manapany day gecko has long been known only from a small part of Réunion Island, a French territory in the Indian Ocean. A recent study finds the bright green lizard no longer appears in 28% of its previous habitat, but has cropped up in newer, more urban areas where it hasn’t been […] | |
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African gray parrots get complete protection in DR Congo (August 26, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/08/african-gray-parrots-get-complete-protection-in-dr-congo/ The Democratic Republic of Congo has banned the capture and trade of African gray parrots nationally, protecting one of the world’s most trafficked birds, according to a national decree signed Aug. 13. Gray parrots (Psittacus erithacus), known for their intelligence and mimicry skills, are widely trapped from the wild for the international pet trade. This […] | |
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Shrinking Mekong megafish underlines risks to the river, study finds (August 26, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/shrinking-mekong-megafish-underlines-risks-to-the-river-study-finds/ - A new study has found that the Mekong River’s largest freshwater fish are shrinking in size, with critically endangered species like the giant catfish and giant barb now averaging less than half their historical size. - Researchers analyzed more than 397,000 samples of 257 species across Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, finding that fish longer than 60 centimeters (2 feet) are shrinking fastest, while smaller species show little change. - Overfishing, habitat loss, dam construction, sand mining, pollution and climate change are driving the decline, raising fears of collapse in one of the world’s most important inland fisheries. - Scientists warn the trend mirrors global declines in large freshwater species, such as in the Amazon and Nile basins, but recent discoveries of massive fish like a 300-kg stingray show it’s not too late for recovery if urgent action is taken. | |
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Ecosystems as infrastructure: Tim Christophersen on how to rebuild humanity’s ties to nature (August 26, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/ecosystems-as-infrastructure-tim-christophersen-on-how-to-rebuild-humanitys-ties-to-nature/ - Tim Christophersen argues that humanity’s crises of climate, biodiversity, and pollution stem from a fractured relationship with nature—one that cannot be abandoned, only repaired. - He sees restoration as both urgent and possible: ecosystems, once given diversity and space, can recover quickly, offering resilience, carbon storage, and abundance. - From UN diplomacy to corporate initiatives, he presses for treating ecosystems as essential infrastructure, requiring imagination, investment, and a “century of ecology” to secure civilization’s future. - Christophersen was interviewed by Mongabay Founder and CEO Rhett Ayers Butler in August 2025. | |
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Social media post sparks rediscovery of endemic Sri Lanka rainforest plant (August 26, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/social-media-post-sparks-rediscovery-of-endemic-sri-lanka-rainforest-plant/ - Classified as “extinct in the wild” in Sri Lanka’s 2012 Red List, the endemic rainforest giant known as Pini- Beraliya (Doona ovalifolia) has been rediscovered in several locations, but the first discovery of the plant was triggered by a Facebook post. - The species was long known only from a single cultivated specimen found at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Peradeniya, which served as a living reference during decades without any wild sightings. - Conservation efforts now include propagation of hundreds of seedlings at the Endane plant nursery in mid-country and the creation of a community-run nursery in Pimbura in southwestern Sri Lanka, where schoolchildren actively water and monitor these plants in their school premises. - A recovery plan aims to protect all remaining wild trees, expand ex-situ collections and restore suitable riparian habitats with the help of local guardian groups. | |
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Why the BBNJ treaty on marine biodiversity matters more in the Mediterranean (commentary) (August 25, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/why-the-bbnj-treaty-on-marine-biodiversity-matters-more-in-the-mediterranean-commentary/ - The Mediterranean Sea covers less than 1% of the world’s ocean surface, yet hosts more than 18% of its known marine species, while being beset by unresolved maritime boundaries plus growing pressure from climate change, overfishing and pollution. - That’s why this marine ecology hotspot needs the new U.N. treaty on oceanic biodiversity (BBNJ), as it offers a unique chance for Mediterranean countries to cooperate on common ground: despite claims that it lies outside of the scope of the agreement, there are legal grounds to claim the contrary. - “Vast areas of the Mediterranean remain undelimited and unclaimed, existing in a legal gray zone. Under international law, these areas are considered de facto beyond national jurisdiction and therefore within the geographical scope of the BBNJ Agreement,” the authors of a new op-ed argue. “By mobilizing diplomatic, legal and financial resources through its institutions and member states, the EU can help catalyze broader regional ratification and implementation.” - This post is a commentary. The views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily of Mongabay. | |
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Vietnam evacuates hundreds of thousands as typhoon Kajiki nears landfall (August 25, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/08/vietnam-evacuates-hundreds-of-thousands-as-typhoon-kajiki-nears-landfall/ HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam has evacuated hundreds of thousands of people and closed schools and airports as it braces for Typhoon Kajiki, its strongest storm of the year so far. Forecasters said the typhoon had winds of up to 166 kilometers (103 miles) per hour at 10 a.m. Monday but is expected to weaken […] | |
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Local forest governance helps jaguars and forests flourish in Guatemala (August 25, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/local-forest-governance-helps-jaguars-and-forests-flourish-in-guatemala/ - Thirteen communities with concessions in the Maya Biosphere Reserve are working with Guatemala’s protected areas authorities to conserve the forests and wildlife on their lands. - Community members use drones, camera traps, phone apps and satellite data analysis to track changes in the ecosystem and the movements of species. - Their involvement has helped conserve the local jaguar population by drastically reducing forest loss in the central zone of the reserve. - Further north, on the border with Mexico, jaguars are under threat from drug trafficking, illegal ranching and hunting, timber and wildlife trafficking, and illegal encroachments to build new villages. | |
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Global South bears growing burden of health threats from plastic burning (August 25, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/08/global-south-bears-growing-burden-of-health-threats-from-plastic-burning/ Many communities, especially those in the Global South, are increasingly burning plastic as a fuel for stoves or simply to get rid of waste. In the process, they’re releasing toxic chemicals into the environment and raising public health concerns, reports Mongabay contributor Sean Mowbray. Roughly 2 billion people globally lack waste collection services, leaving many […] | |
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Can we undo extinction? A growing effort to restore lost sharks (August 25, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/08/can-we-undo-extinction-a-growing-effort-to-restore-lost-sharks/ Founder’s Briefs: An occasional series where Mongabay founder Rhett Ayers Butler shares analysis, perspectives and story summaries. In the turquoise shallows of Raja Ampat, Indonesia, a conservation experiment is attempting the rewilding of an endangered shark. The initiative, known as ReShark, seeks to restore populations of the Indo-Pacific leopard shark (Stegostoma tigrinum), also called the […] | |
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How science links extreme weather disasters to climate change: Interview with WWA’s Clair Barnes (August 25, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/how-science-links-extreme-weather-disasters/ - Scientifically attributing extreme weather events like floods or drought to climate change versus other natural processes or human activities is tricky. - But since 2014, the World Weather Attribution, an international network of researchers, has pioneered methods that allow them to understand the role of human-induced climate change in current extreme weather events, if at all. - Mongabay’s Kristine Sabillo recently spoke with WWA researcher and environmental statistician Clair Barnes to learn more about how WWA conducts its rapid analyses. | |
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How can we make nature’s wellbeing impossible to ignore? For Natalie Kyriacou, it is the defining challenge (August 25, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/how-can-we-make-natures-wellbeing-impossible-to-ignore-natalie-kyriacou-explores/ - Natalie Kyriacou’s path to conservation began not in academia or government, but in childhood curiosity and persistence, leading her to found My Green World, a nonprofit that uses education and technology to engage people in protecting nature. - From backyard expeditions in Australia to fieldwork in Borneo and Sri Lanka, her experiences shaped both her frustration at nature’s marginal place in politics and her belief that conservation needs new narratives that connect ecological systems to everyday life. - In her new book, Nature’s Last Dance, Kyriacou blends humor and human-centered stories—from New Zealand’s kākāpō to India’s vanishing vultures—to show that nature is not ornamental but essential, and that collective effort is key to its survival. - Kyriacou spoke with Mongabay Founder and CEO Rhett Ayers Butler in August 2025. | |
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In eastern Congo’s war-torn forests, Augustin Basabose gave hope to gorillas and people (August 25, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/in-eastern-congos-war-torn-forests-augustin-basabose-gave-hope-to-gorillas-and-people/ - Dr. Augustin Kanyunyi Basabose, who died on August 18th, 2025, was a pioneering Congolese primatologist whose optimism and energy inspired colleagues and communities alike. - He founded Primate Expertise (PEx), which combined science with community-led conservation, including the innovative “Ape Trees” project that restored forests while supporting livelihoods. - Central to his work was the protection of Grauer’s gorillas, alongside training hundreds of students and urging international partners to prioritize local leadership. - His influence is evident in eastern Congo’s forests, where gorilla populations are recovering and communities have become vital allies in conservation. | |
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Brazil suspends Amazon Soy Moratorium, raising fears of deforestation spike (August 22, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/08/brazil-suspends-amazon-soy-moratorium-raising-fears-of-deforestation-spike/ Brazil’s antitrust regulator suspended a key mechanism for rainforest protection, the Amazon Soy Moratorium, on Aug. 18, less than three months before the nation hosts the COP30 climate summit. The Amazon Soy Moratorium is a 19-year-old voluntary private-sector agreement to not source soybeans from areas deforested after 2008 in the Brazilian Amazon. It is estimated […] | |
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China races to build world’s largest solar farm to meet emissions targets (August 22, 2025) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/08/china-races-to-build-worlds-largest-solar-farm-to-meet-emissions-targets/ TALATAN, China (AP) — Chinese officials have showcased what they claim will be the world’s largest solar farm on the Tibetan plateau. It covers 610 square kilometers, or about 235 square miles, and is part of China’s rapid solar expansion. A study published Thursday said China’s carbon emissions fell 1% in the first half of […] | |
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