Conservation News ~ 15 May 2020

• Climate tipping point ecosystem collapses may come faster than thought
• Canada’s Calgary Zoo to return to giant pandas after bamboo supply disruption
• Scientists warn Congress against declaring biomass burning carbon neutral
• Wildearth Guardians score big protections for wildlife in Montana
• Watchdog demands prober after energy secretary admits White House pressed Feds to give oil companies access to Covid funds
• UNEP steps up work on zoonotics, protecting environment to reduce pandemic risks
• Most remarkable wildlife comeback across Europe
• Outcry as loggers gut Cambodian reserve
• Park rangers release 840 tortoise hatchlings from natural nests
• White House’s executive order seeks controversial overhaul of seafood industry
• 2 critically endangered hirola calves were born at Kenyan sanctuary
• 200 escaped goats hoof it through California neighborhood
• Drop in pollution may bring hotter weather and heavier monsoons
• New worm species with jewel-like scales discovered in deep ocean darkness
• Plant-based protein industry raises $741 million in investments during Covid
• UK doctors urge public to go vegan to prevent future pandemics
• AOC to co-chair Biden-Sanders campaign climate task force
• Indigenous group wins case over illegal tree harvest
• Scientists successfully develop ‘heat resistant’ coral to fight bleaching
• State, tribe to suspend coal sales from US lands
• At least $72 million in Coronavirus bailout loans went to big oil and gas companies
• Large indigenous territories are necessary for culture and biodiversity in Brazil
• Cambodian firm accused of creating a ‘monopoly in the timber business’
• Coal snags $31 million in US stimulus loans for small business
• Judge temporarily blocks White House’s California water plan
• DOW sends letter to USFWS notifying them they are violating enviro laws by harvesting horseshoe crabs
• Marine life declines for another year in contested, overfished South China sea
• Microplastics discovered blowing ashore in sea breezes
• Paris has a plan to keep cars out after lockdown
• Invasive lake trout population declines in Yellowstone
• Basin Fire burning 10,000 acres in critical tortoise habitat
• Alaskan rainforests are a global lichen hotspot
• Beetle penis field investigations lead to new species discovery in Norway
• Federal Judge – pipelines must not cross streams without considering endangered species
• Record global carbon dioxide concentrations despite Covid crisis
• Pittsburgh region is a hotspot for air pollution and Covid deaths
• Indonesia moves to end smallholder guarantee meant to empower palm oil farmers
• Pollution returns to Houston, as coronavirus restrictions loosen
• Lockdown could be the death of bullfighting in Spain
• New proposed legislation aims to help at-risk farmers switch from animal to plant-based agriculture
• WildEarth Guardian have sued Arch Coal over illegal pollution at West Elk coal mine
• Coral reef resilience key to support the underwater cities threatened by climate change
• Australian company just planted over 1000 Coral Reefs during Covid
• Rhino killed as poaching attempts increase amid India virus lockdown
• The largest solar project in the US gets green light
• Edie Falco speaks out against NY Governor’s $25 million dairy bailout
• The coronavirus is halting conservation programs and the impact could be devastating
• New test identifies lobster hybrids
• Land purchase finalized to prevent Everglades oil drilling
• Mexican Spotted Owls still thriving in area burned by museum fire
• Indonesia moves to end smallholder guarantee meant to empower palm oil farmers
• Indonesian environmental poet and Dayak leader Yohanes Terang dies
• Entomologist Terry Erwin passes
• First biologist to study seahorses in the wild announced winner of the Indianapolis Prize
• US fossil fuel giants set for a coronavirus bailout bonanza
• As oil prices plummet, call to nationalize industry rises
• WildEarth Guardians and partners have petitioned the Washington Fish and Wildlife commission for rules limiting wolf kills
• US Beef industry stands to lose more than $13 billion due to COVID
• More than 13k pounds of trash collected at Florida Beach just weeks after it reopened
• White House is reversing nearly 100 environmental rules
• COVID lockdowns are significantly impacting global air quality
• Reports suggest the White House is moving forward with a legal draft to mine the moon
• In the deep, dark, ocean fish have evolved superpowered vision
• Post COVID, there’s no way back for Canada’s tar sands
• Yet another state quietly moves to criminalize fossil fuel protests amid coronavirus
• Canadian company positions for mining ban lift in Argentine province
• Brian May urges Boris Johnson to tax meat to prevent pandemics
• A 50% drop in meat and dairy consumption prevents 1.6 billion tons of greenhouse gases
• The emergence of heat and humidity too sever for human tolerance
• Endangered pangolins for sale on Facebook amid potential link to coronavirus
• Three new species of fishes found in Western Ghats
• NC Zoo announces birth of five American red wolf pups
• As COVID batters fishery, Indonesia’s sharks get a respite
• White House signs Executive Order that will accelerate corporate ocean pollution
• Coronavirus fears as China plans to entrench vast mink and fox fur industry
• With the world distracted, the Amazon rainforest continues to burn
• Rare blue dragons are washing up on the Padre Island National Seashore
• Colorado AG, top water quality regulator vow to challenge new Clean Water Act rule
• Kenya registers two rhino births
• Amazon deforestation increases for 13th straight month in Brazil
• Sri Lanka’s marbled rock frog may not be on brink of extinction
• Garter snakes form surprisingly strong, human like friendships
• Fishing can disrupt mating systems
• Scientists discover bizarre-looking rock-like new species of Mata Mata turtle
• Activists challenge Indonesia deregulation bill that threatens environment
• Human-driven pollution alters the environment even underground
• Judge rules lawsuit can proceed against Federal Bear baiting
• Ninth circuit sides with Pentagon in case pitting Okinawa base and Dugongs
• Insects decline on land, fare better in water
• Brazil opens 38,000 square miles of indigenous lands to outsiders
• World lost forest the size of Libya since 1990
• Conservation groups file suit to block killing of coyote populations in Idaho
• Indonesia lifts export ban on baby lobsters aimed to protect wild populations
• Two bears were fatally hit by cars on the same freeway within 24 hours
• Whale found tangled and trapped in rope dies at salmon farm
• Workers face dilemma at Freeport’s Grasberg mine
• Protestors gather to stop construction of Brevard Dollar General Store to save endangered species
• White House denies Endangered Species protection for Pacific Fisher
• Endangered bats are evolving to fight off an exotic fungal disease