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- Global Voices
The devastating impact of copper and cobalt mining pollution in Lualaba, DRC
Copper and cobalt extraction in the Lualaba province of the Democratic Republic of Congo causes severe environmental degradation and public health crises. While the region is promoted as vital for global energy transitions, unregulated mining pollution severely threatens local ecosystems and human well-being.
- Mongabay
Failed environmental safeguards leave coastal Bangladesh facing coal pollution
In coastal Bangladesh, inadequate environmental protections around the Payra Power Plant have severely impacted local agriculture. Farmers in Patuakhali district are losing their livelihoods to pollution, forcing a transition away from traditional crop cultivation toward marginal retail labor amid mounting environmental concerns.
- Mongabay
A sea cucumber venture in Zanzibar seeks to balance business and conservation
In Pemba, Tanzania, a local sea cucumber enterprise aims to address declining marine resources and worsening economic conditions caused by overfishing and warming waters. The initiative seeks to restore damaged coastal habitats while providing sustainable income for residents who depend on the ocean for their livelihoods.
- Mongabay
Under protection: The environmentalist’s widow in Brazil who had to disappear to survive
A Brazilian court sentenced a former military police officer to over 35 years in prison for his role in environmental conflicts. The April 2026 ruling in Maranhão marks a significant legal outcome for defenders facing violence in the region, where activists and their families often endure severe threats for protecting local ecosystems.
- Mongabay
The conservation population of Australia’s endangered eastern quoll welcomes joeys
Endangered eastern quolls have successfully reproduced within a mainland Australian conservation sanctuary. This milestone offers hope for the recovery of the carnivorous marsupial, which vanished from the mainland decades ago due to disease, predators, and habitat loss.
- Mongabay
Costa Rica to require wildlife crossings for roads when they impact fauna
Costa Rican lawmakers unanimously passed legislation mandating wildlife bridges and tunnels for all new and existing roadways that disrupt animal migration corridors. Enacted to mitigate vehicle-related fauna mortality, the measure restores ecological connectivity across fragmented habitats throughout the country.
- Mongabay
Australia’s 30×30 conservation promise matters a lot, but how it’s achieved is key (commentary)
Australia faces a 2030 deadline to safeguard thirty percent of its terrestrial and marine environments. As a wealthy and megadiverse territory experiencing severe species loss, the nation's execution of this international biodiversity target serves as a critical test for global conservation efforts.
- Mongabay
More than 380 coastal World Heritage Sites may face climate risks, new data shows
New data indicates that over 380 coastal World Heritage Sites globally face increasing threats from climate change. Rising sea levels and severe erosion are putting these culturally and ecologically significant locations at risk. Researchers emphasize this vulnerability to prompt urgent adaptation planning and better protection strategies for vulnerable coastal heritage areas worldwide.
- Mongabay
US environmental groups plan to sue to relist gray whales under Endangered Species Act
Several American conservation organizations intend to sue the National Marine Fisheries Services for declining to protect Eastern Pacific gray whales. The proposed litigation aims to restore Endangered Species Act protections for the marine mammals following a severe population drop that threatens prior conservation gains.
- Mongabay
Cambodia defies UN call to free ‘arbitrarily jailed’ environmental activists
Cambodia has rejected a United Nations appeal to free five jailed members of the Mother Nature Cambodia conservation group. The UN body ruled their detention arbitrary, but the government continues to enforce prison sentences handed down last year. The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding civic freedoms and environmental advocacy in the country.
- Mongabay
A ‘leading’ Chinese miner of Mozambique’s heavy sands linked to environmental destruction
An investigative report reveals that a Chinese-backed mining operation in Mozambique’s Zambezia Province destroyed hundreds of hectares of coastal mangroves. The heavy mineral venture, operated by the Jinan Yuxiao Group, raises significant concerns regarding environmental degradation and regulatory oversight in vulnerable coastal ecosystems.
- Mongabay
China’s Tianmu Mountain reserve tackles modern conservation amid religious tradition
China's Tianmu Mountain reserve is integrating ancient Buddhist, Daoist, and Confucian ecological practices with contemporary state regulations. Following a recent territorial expansion, the area now relies on formal legal frameworks rather than traditional temple rules to manage conservation efforts. This blend of heritage and modern policy aims to protect local biodiversity in eastern China.
- Mongabay
Indigenous water systems gain ground as climate pressures intensify in Bolivia
Amid worsening climate pressures in the Bolivian Amazon, indigenous communities are increasingly relying on traditional communal spring-fed water systems. These localized resources offer critical resilience during severe droughts, safeguarding vulnerable populations against municipal supply failures and highlighting the importance of indigenous adaptation strategies in water security.
- Mongabay
Can big tech stop wildlife crime?
Major technology firms, such as Meta, PayPal, eBay, and Etsy, recently joined the United For Wildlife initiative to combat illegal animal trafficking. Because the illicit wildlife trade generates billions globally, these corporate commitments aim to disrupt online channels used by sophisticated international criminal networks.
- Mongabay
Can REDD+ deliver for Philippines’ Iraya Mangyan?
Indigenous patrollers from the Iraya Mangyan community monitor forests on Mindoro island in the Philippines to safeguard their ancestral lands. The initiative highlights ongoing international debates regarding whether carbon-offset mechanisms like REDD+ can effectively protect vulnerable ecosystems while respecting local land rights.
- Mongabay
Cambodia targets online wildlife trade on social media, but experts say it’s not enough
Cambodia's environment ministry has urged citizens and digital creators to halt online content promoting wildlife trade and consumption, citing legal violations and health risks. While officials target digital platforms to curb illegal commerce, conservation experts caution that these current regulatory measures remain insufficient for protecting the nation's biodiversity.
- Mongabay
Palm oil firms kept zero-deforestation pledges, but forests saw little extra benefit
A recent study across Indonesian palm oil concessions indicates that corporate zero-deforestation policies have failed to generate measurable improvements in forest preservation. Despite widespread industry pledges, tropical regions continue experiencing severe habitat loss, highlighting persistent challenges in translating supply-chain commitments into actual environmental conservation on the ground.
- Mongabay
Plans of Peru’s new administration spur concern among environmentalists
Following her narrow electoral victory, Peru’s new president, Keiko Fujimori, has raised alarm among environmental advocates. Her administration’s platform of increased militarization and proposed policy expansions threatens conservation efforts, sparking significant apprehension regarding the future management of the country's natural resources and ecological stability.
- Mongabay
Bogong moths support Australia’s alpine ecosystems, but face uncertain future
Every spring, billions of bogong moths migrate to Australia’s alpine regions. These insects play a vital role in sustaining local ecosystems by serving as a primary food source for native wildlife. However, changing environmental conditions now threaten their survival and disrupt the ecological balance of the region.
- Mongabay
How a rare bird sparked a wildlife movement across 16 villages in Guyana
In Guyana's South Rupununi region, local communities across sixteen villages have united to protect regional biodiversity. Led by the South Rupununi Conservation Society, the grassroots initiative focuses on safeguarding vulnerable fauna, such as giant anteaters, demonstrating how community-led stewardship can successfully drive regional wildlife conservation efforts.
- Devpolicy Blog
Australia’s climate finance test at COP31: the need for new pledges and honest accounting
Ahead of COP31, Oxfam analysis reveals that wealthy nations significantly inflate their climate finance figures. As Australia prepares to host the climate summit, experts emphasize the urgent need for transparent reporting mechanisms and ambitious funding commitments to rebuild trust among developing nations.
- Mongabay
Bangladesh’s green building drive grows beyond factories amid climate pressures
Bangladesh is expanding its eco-friendly construction sector beyond garment factories as corporate offices and developers adopt certified green building standards. This shift aims to lower environmental footprints and improve workplace health conditions amid escalating climate vulnerabilities.
- Mongabay
Art and science must come together for coral reef conservation, biologists argue
Researchers argue in a recent study that combining creative arts with scientific research can enhance public awareness and strengthen conservation strategies for endangered coral reefs. This collaborative approach aims to address severe environmental threats like climate change and habitat destruction, helping to protect vital marine ecosystems globally.
- Mongabay
How ‘gentle power’ can preserve traditional biodiversity in Tokyo
A recent study examines conservation efforts within Tokyo's Zushi-Onoji Historical and Environmental Conservation Area. The initiative protects endangered wildlife while preserving traditional rural landscapes shaped by centuries of human activity. This case highlights how community-driven stewardship safeguards local ecosystems and maintains indigenous ecological knowledge amid urban expansion.
- Mongabay
Spain proposes 23 new marine protected areas in the Canary Islands and Mediterranean
Spain’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition initiated a consultation to designate 23 new marine reserves around the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean Sea. This initiative advances national targets to safeguard 30 percent of the nation's marine territory by the end of the decade.
- Mongabay
To secure protected areas from wildlife trafficking, criminal networks must be dismantled (commentary)
Traditional conservation focuses heavily on local enforcement and protected area management to stop poaching. However, experts argue this internal approach overlooks a critical vulnerability. Effectively securing these zones against wildlife trafficking requires targeting and dismantling the overarching criminal networks operating beyond park boundaries.
- Mongabay
Climate change drove extreme July heat in European seas, study finds
A World Weather Attribution study reveals that anthropogenic climate change caused the record-breaking sea surface temperatures observed across European coastal waters last July. These unprecedented marine heatwaves severely stress fragile coastal ecosystems, threatening regional biodiversity and fisheries.
- Mongabay
Nepal pushes for hydropower in protected areas through legal grey area
Nepal's government has permitted private developers to build hydropower projects within conservation zones and surrounding buffer areas, defying a recent Supreme Court ruling. This enforcement gap threatens critical protected habitats and undermines national environmental jurisprudence, raising concerns among conservationists regarding regulatory compliance in sensitive ecosystems.
- Mongabay
Why every endangered species needs a champion: a conversation with conservationist Bill Konstant
In a recent interview, veteran conservationist Bill Konstant reflects on a four-decade career of protecting threatened wildlife across multiple organizations. He discusses the critical role of dedicated advocates in species preservation, highlighting strategies to address ongoing global biodiversity loss.
- Mongabay
Egypt’s deserts show why ecological knowledge matters in conservation (commentary)
A commentary on Egypt's arid regions argues that conventional conservation frameworks frequently mischaracterize these landscapes as barren and ecologically inert. The analysis highlights the necessity of integrating localized environmental understanding into protection strategies to improve resource management and biodiversity preservation across desert ecosystems.
- Mongabay
New leadership initiative carries on legacy of late Indonesian environmental activist
A new Jakarta fellowship honors the late Indonesian environmental campaigner Nur Hidayati. Launched by the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago, the program aims to cultivate future conservation leaders in the country and sustain her legacy of grassroots advocacy.
- Mongabay
Why carbon markets alone won’t save Southeast Asia’s concessions forests
New research across Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Myanmar reveals that commercial logging and agricultural concessions contain 42 million hectares of intact forest. Researchers emphasize that safeguarding this vast ecological reserve requires targeted conservation strategies rather than relying solely on carbon markets, presenting a critical opportunity to protect Southeast Asian biodiversity.
- Mongabay
Tapirs, bats and nests: How plastic infiltrates Amazonian wildlife
At the mouth of the Amazon River, regional wildlife—including birds, bats, and tapirs—is increasingly interacting with discarded synthetic materials. Birds are incorporating plastic debris directly into their nesting structures. This widespread contamination highlights the pervasive reach of plastic pollution into remote ecosystems and underscores growing environmental health risks for vulnerable species.
- Mongabay
‘Remembering Wildlife’ shines a spotlight on the species we risk losing forever
British photographer Margot Raggett launched the "Remembering Wildlife" publication series to raise awareness about global extinction threats. Inspired by conservation concerns regarding future generations, the initiative generates financial support for endangered animal protection projects worldwide by showcasing high-end nature photography.
- Mongabay
Elders, conservationists race to record fading sacred ties to Philippines’ endemic birds
Conservationists and Indigenous elders in the Philippines are documenting traditional ecological knowledge regarding endemic bird species on Mindoro Island. This urgent initiative preserves fading cultural heritage and biocultural connections within the Iraya Mangyan ancestral domain before older generations pass away.
- Mongabay
Indigenous food sovereignty is one of the most overlooked conservation strategies (commentary)
Indigenous communities manage a quarter of global land, yet governments and conservation groups frequently ignore their traditional food systems. Supporting these localized practices offers a vital strategy for addressing biodiversity decline, climate disruption, and food scarcity worldwide.
- Inter Press Service
Indigenous Peoples Call for Meaningful Influence in Climate Discussions — Nia Tero
A new Nia Tero report highlights that while Indigenous groups participate in global climate forums, their traditional expertise rarely translates into genuine decision-making power. The publication evaluates the barriers to effective representation. This matters because amplifying Indigenous leadership is essential for protecting ancestral territories and advancing sustainable environmental governance.
- Inter Press Service
Nairobi Biodiversity Talks Set the Stage for Key COP17 Decisions
Delegates meeting in Nairobi under the Convention on Biological Diversity finalized recommendations addressing conservation, financing, and corporate accountability. Although global reporting has increased, nations are currently failing to achieve the 2030 biodiversity targets. These proposals now establish the framework for upcoming decisions at the upcoming COP17 summit.
- Mongabay
Aceh’s community fishers struggle to preserve tradition amid blooms of plastic pollution
Traditional fishers in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, are struggling to maintain their livelihoods as rising ocean plastic waste disrupts their coastal operations. Guided by local community leaders, these fishers haul in massive nets amid heavy debris, highlighting the escalating environmental threats facing vulnerable marine ecosystems and artisanal fishing traditions in Southeast Asia.
- Mongabay
John Salehe helped shape Tanzania’s community conservation movement
Tanzanian conservationist John Salehe advanced community-based wildlife management by securing critical migratory routes for elephants and wildebeest between Lake Manyara and Tarangire. His efforts focused on negotiating coexistence between expanding agricultural communities and pastoralists sharing habitats with migrating animals, ensuring long-term ecological connectivity and local support for conservation initiatives in Tanzania.
- Mongabay
Global marine protected areas fail to safeguard most sharks and rays: Study
A recent study reveals that existing marine protected areas fail to adequately safeguard most shark and ray populations globally. Currently, only about ten percent of the ocean is conserved, falling significantly short of the international goal to protect thirty percent of marine and coastal zones by 2030.
- Mongabay
How AI helps gather remote biodiversity data: Interview with Microsoft’s Juan Lavista Ferres
- Global Voices
Chadian environmental activist Hindou Oumarou: ‘AI governance must respect Indigenous peoples’
Chadian environmental defender Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim has emphasized that artificial intelligence regulation must safeguard traditional populations. She highlighted potential risks to ecosystems, freshwater supplies, and biodiversity from technological expansion. This advocacy is crucial for protecting vulnerable communities whose ancestral lands and traditional knowledge face disruption from digital growth.
- Inter Press Service
Malawi Bets on Battery Storage to Climate-Proof Its Fragile Power Grid
Malawi is investing in battery energy storage systems to stabilize its fragile electricity network against climate-induced extreme weather. Because recurrent droughts and severe storms frequently damage the nation's dominant hydropower infrastructure, these storage solutions are crucial for preventing prolonged blackouts and reducing expensive reliance on emergency diesel generators.
- Inter Press Service
Where Some See Waste, Others See Opportunity: Young Sierra Leoneans Fight Against Electronic Waste, Plastic Pollution
Youth innovators in Sierra Leone are repurposing discarded electronics and plastic waste to combat environmental contamination. In the Bo District, young entrepreneurs collect hazardous electronic debris and transform plastic refuse into useful products. These grassroots initiatives prevent toxic material from ruining local farmland while simultaneously generating green employment opportunities for vulnerable populations.
- Inter Press Service
New Chickpea Variety to Drive Climate Resilience in Africa
Researchers have introduced a new chickpea variety across Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to help farmers cope with declining cereal yields. The drought-tolerant crop requires minimal nitrogen fertilizer, offering a practical adaptation strategy to offset rising agricultural input costs and strengthen food security in southern Africa.
- UN News
Africans bear the brunt of biodiversity loss
Africa and other developing regions face severe impacts from declining natural habitats, directly threatening local food security and livelihoods. According to recent United Nations findings, ecosystem degradation drastically reduces agricultural yields and depletes coastal fish populations, endangering vulnerable communities that rely immediately on natural resources for survival.
- Inter Press Service
Climate Change Makes Sacred Ice Vanish in Kashmir, Locals Fear Loss of Livelihoods
In Kashmir, climate change is causing the rapid melting of sacred ice at the Amarnath cave shrine, impacting local livelihoods that depend on the annual Hindu pilgrimage. As the ice disappears, locals like Bashir Ahmad, who rely on pilgrimage-related income, face economic uncertainty, raising concerns about the sustainability of their traditional practices.
- UN News
The climate pattern putting millions at risk: El Niño explained
The El Niño climate cycle threatens millions across eastern and southern Africa by triggering severe weather extremes that disrupt local livelihoods. In response, United Nations agencies are actively coordinating early-action strategies to bolster community resilience and mitigate humanitarian fallout throughout the affected regions.
- UN News
Climate alarm ‘blaring from every direction’
A senior United Nations official cautioned on Tuesday that global warming is accelerating destructive weather events. According to the organization, persistent reliance on carbon-based energy sources is worsening these ecological emergencies, posing severe risks to vulnerable populations and global stability.
- Inter Press Service
Extreme Heatwave Escalates Urgency of Climate Adaptation in Europe
Western Europe experienced its hottest June on record, prompting urgent calls for climate adaptation as the region becomes the fastest-warming globally. Rising temperatures, which began in May, have significant implications for human health and social systems, highlighting the critical need for effective strategies to address climate change impacts.
- Inter Press Service
Human-Caused Climate Change, Not El Niño, Drives Most Coral Bleaching Events – Research
- The Guardian — Global development
First came the dead fish, then invasive plants. A year later and Lake Suchitlán’s pollution remains a mystery
Fishers at Lake Suchitlán in El Salvador are facing ongoing environmental challenges following a significant die-off of fish and the proliferation of invasive water lettuce. The government has not provided explanations for the pollution, which has impacted local livelihoods and led to increased plastic waste along the lake's shores.
- Devpolicy Blog
Is the Pacific’s new climate architecture ready for its first real test?
The Pacific Islands Forum's emergency mechanism is activated in response to a developing "Super El Niño" and a fuel crisis. This situation tests the region's new climate strategies, raising concerns about their effectiveness in addressing urgent climate challenges. The outcome is crucial for the Pacific Islands' resilience in the face of increasing environmental threats.
- Devpolicy Blog
Tuvalu’s Digital Nation: why hope, not doom, drives climate adaptation
Tuvalu's Digital Nation initiative has been interpreted by some as a sign of resignation to climate change, but researchers Colette Mortreux and Bateteba Aselu argue it represents a proactive approach to governance. They emphasize the importance of Tuvaluan agency and resilience in climate adaptation efforts, highlighting the role of hope in shaping future strategies.
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