Blog Posts - INTENTIONAL ECOLOGY

Conservation News ~ 31 January 2020

1/31/2020

Predator-free sanctuary for seabirds, rare native plants opens at Cape Farewell
Xavante tribe digs in as Brazil reneges on vow not to build a road in their reserve
Dam that threatens orangutan habitat is ‘wholly unnecessary”
Borneo locals win a court battle to bar a coal miner from their land
Rare trees are disappearing as ‘wood pirates’ log Bolivian national Parks
New ‘sharpshooter’ leafhopper species, second of its kind, ‘strikes’ with its coloration
Kentucky biologists discovered a new crayfish and for the right price, you can name it
More than a dozen states strive for 100 percent renewable energy
House Democrats advance legislation to undo White House attack on Endangered Species
Court says that Northern Long-eared Bat was unlawfully denied Endangered Species protection
Botswana to change strategies on anti-poaching following massive rhino poaching
The Philippines is making roads and cement with plastic garbage
Environmentalists create ‘plastic expiry date’ stickers to show impact of packaging
House Natural Resources Committee passes landmark bipartisan Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act
Marine heat wave linked to sharp increase in whale entanglements
Missing Mexican butterfly activist found dead
Environmental artist Tomas Saraceno successfully flies a solar-powered hot air balloon over Argentina
Court orders logging to stop in parts of Victoria’s central highlands after fires
The UN says the world needs to prepare for ‘millions’ of climate displaced
Greta Thunberg applies to trademark her name to prevent misuse
Lab turns trash into valuable graphene in a flash
DDT and other banned chemicals pose threat to vulnerable dolphins on Great Barrier Reef
Hundreds of Canadian workers are blockading an oil refinery right now
The environmental lawyer who won a massive judgment against Chevron lost everything
In memoriam: 28 indigenous rights defenders murdered in Latin America in 2019
Indigenous, protected lands in Amazon emit far less carbon than areas outside
Huge rise in Scotland’s deer cull needed to protect land
White House manipulated wildfire science to encourage logging
The Guardian to ban advertising from fossil fuel firms
Indonesian environment ministry ends WWF partnership amid public spat
The Pacific Ocean is so acidic that it’s dissolving Dungeness crabs’ shells
King’s College Cambridge to create wildflower meadow on its famous chapel lawn
30-year-old law on documenting factory farms has been ruled unconstitutional
Humanity has killed 83% of all wild mammals and half of all plants
Investors urge drillers, miners not to take advantage of White House environmental rollbacks
Fluorescent pink slug, unique to Australian mountaintop, survives bushfires
Rolls-Royce plans to build up to 15 mini nuclear reactors in Britain
Iceland didn’t hunt any whales in 2019 – and public appetite for whale meat is fading
United States spend ten times more on fossil fuel subsidies than education
Endangered Maui birds to be moved in effort to save species
For Colombia, 2019 was a year of environmental discontent
Mongabay editor now detained 6 weeks in Indonesia
NGOs demand inquiry into Environment Minister aid to Amazon land grabbers
Belize officially declares wildlife corridor in key protected area complex
Melting Arctic sea ice may be altering winds, weather at equator
UK’s love of chicken fueling mass forest loss in South America
India cleared to bring Cheetahs back to forests
Oceanographers predict increase in phytoplankton by 2100
Slashing speed limits doesn’t slow roadkill
Brazil’s pick of a creationist to lead its higher education agency rattles scientists
Albino elephant calf rescued after being trapped in snare for four days
48 suspected abalone poachers arrested in Garden Route swoop
The UN climate negotiations are over, and they were a disaster
Poll finds 92% of British Columbians want old growth forests protected
Ecuador signs agreement to establish 17k acre El Guabo Municipal Protected Area
Endangered Silver-sided humpback chub headed toward recovery
Atmospheric river storms can drive costly flooding and climate change is making them stronger
Global warming could have a negative impact on biodiversity
New Jersey to become first state to make builders consider climate change
Welsh Zoo welcomes critically endangered black rhino calf
Recovery plan proposed for endangered bumble bee involved in pipeline litigation
Half of Brits feel pressure to go vegan
Osprey flies over 6,900 kms from Finland to Kenya
South African Tourism Services Association to ban captive wildlife interactions by July
Peruvian indigenous group wins suit to block oil exploration in Amazonian region
Mexico City just elected its first female mayor and she’s a fearless scientist and environmentalist
Northwest salmon in peril, and efforts to save them scale up
New emails shot the Justice Department is helping Big Oil fight climate lawsuits
Idaho bill would create year-round wolf hunting season, wolf-free zones in some areas
Rhode Island Governor aims for 100% renewable power by 2030
Park Rangers find 2 people dead in Rocky Mountain National Park
Biologists recommend urgent action to protect California Spotted Owls
Greece elected an Environmentalist as its first woman president
Population of endangered ocelots discovered in Sonora near Arizona border
China bans wildlife trade after coronavirus
Brazil creates Amazon Council and Environmental Police force
Donkeys will be extinct in Kenya by 2023
Scientists pinpoint sites key for protection of Loggerhead Turtles
World consumes 100 billion tons of materials every year
Mangroves and sea grasses 40-50 times more efficient at storing carbon than terrestrial forests
Indonesian forest fires push orangutans into starvation mode
New Conservation Area in Texas boasts hundreds of natural springs
Agency rules grizzly bears in Selway-Bitterroot protected under Endangered Species Act
Mercedes to ditch leather for vegan interiors thanks to Lewis Hamilton
Florida man who killed endangered sawfish sentenced
Black African teenager edited from photo of white teenage climate activists
Fast-growing fungal proteins could slash agricultural emissions ten-fold
Scientists find plastic pouring into Antarctic
Chinese authorities seize 12 tons of beaver penises smuggled from Canada
Jordan Cove Energy Project withdraws application for key Oregon permit
Santa Barbara Zoo adds three California Condor to its ongoing recovery program
Platypuses at risk of extinction due to Australia’s devastating drought
World first as Cheetah brothers are relocated from UK to South Africa
Coca-cola says it won’t ban plastic bottles because its customers still want to use them

Conservation News ~ 24 January 2020

1/24/2020

Colorado River’s Humpback Chubmight be removed from endangered species list
New species of Allosaurus discovered in Utah
White House guts environmental safeguards for US Streams and Wetlands
Red Tide in Mexico kills nearly 300 endangered Green Sea Turtles
Four new species of adorable Walking Sharks discovered
White House weakened environmental laws after BP lobbying
Nevada man sentenced for trafficking in endangered species
Snakes could be the original source of the new coronavirus outbreak in China
Police boss arrested while hunting rhino with a Zambian poacher
Insecticides become more toxic to honey bees
BP’s CEO chides AOC and Bernie Sanders for their completely unrealistic Green New Deal ideas
US drinking water widely contaminated with ‘forever chemicals’
Starbucks CEO pledges to add more plant-based food options
Oregon Department of State Lands rejects Extension request on key permit for proposed Jordan Cove LNG
Scotland to reach this year 100% renewable energy goal
Thunberg blasts world leaders at Davos, telling them to ditch fossil fuels
New Zealand has been a life-raft for unique species
Closing the Ozone Hole has helped slow Arctic warming
Parks Canada says no to gondola proposed from Banff townset to Mount Norquay
Crystal Geyser pleads guilty to knowingly dumping arsenic into California’s public water
Liberia expands a key elephant park again
Mass tree planting along India’s Cauvery River has scientists worried
Montana pays record amount for predator losses in 2019
Wet winter is good for the common frog
British Colombia is now home to a new Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area
EU lays out 1 trillion-euro plan to support Green Deal
New species of antibiotic resistant bacteria found in infected wound
Mongabay editor arrested in Indonesia
850 coyotes and foxes killed in 2-day multi-state wildlife killing contest
US Supreme Court has cleared the way for water crisis victims to sue Flint, Michigan officials
Game camera photographs Grey Wolf in new territory inside Jackson County
New species of Titi Monkey discovered in Brazil
Peruvian authorities seize vessel with 12.3 million seahorses
Oil and gas sector ‘losing its social license to operate’, UK boss warns
Madagascar launches massive planting drive, eyes 60 million trees
New colony of penguins discovered on a remote island in Argentina
RBA told to ‘mobilise all forces’ to save the economy from climate change
After roughly a century, bighorn sheep return to Pyramid Lake, Nevada
Black Rhino population shows steady growth
Fukushima reborn as Japan’s wind and solar hub
Microwaving sewage waste may make it safe to use as fertilizer on crops
Natural History Museum, London declares a planetary emergency
Indigenous people reveal ‘lost’ starry night toad to scientists
Deforestation clips howler monkey calls
Penguin species in Antarctica hit hard by climate change
Climate refugees can’t be returned home, says landmark UN human rights ruling
AI suggests Earth has had fewer mass extinctions than we thought
Pentagon causing toxic pollution by burning foam
Patagonia’s CEO is donating company’s entire $10m tax cut to fight climate change
Formulations of glyphosate-based weedkillers are toxic
California will be hit hard as White House weakens clean water protections
Bronx Zoo has been included Defense of Animals’ annual list of worst zoos for elephants
Dungeness crab larvae already showing effects of coastal acidification
China moves to phase out single-use plastics
Spain city mayor wants to turn zoo into environmental education centre and release ‘prisoner’ animals
Large African herbivores have helped to repair their environment
Contentious Jumbo Valley to become Indigenous protected area after feds provide $21m
Beloved lioness Isis dies at Brookfield Zoo after apparent fall
Feathers evolved 80 million years before birds appeared
A national park takes shape in Argentina as the forest disappears
One of four North Atlantic right whale calves spotted so far this breeding season struck by ship
New species of prehistoric scorpions may have been the first explorers of the land
Newhouse aims to change Endangered Species Act
$500,000 available for coral restoration projects in honor of Dr. Ruth Gates
EU unveils plan to dedicate a quarter of its budget fighting climate change with 1 trillion euro Green Deal
Sunflower Electric abandons proposed Kansas coal power plant
Norwegian company fires US executive amidst rising public sentiment against trophy hunting
Major companies pledge not to ship along controversial Arctic routes
New Mexico approves trapping of state wildlife, further endangering Mexican Grey Wolves
Carnival slapped with a $20 million fine after it was caught dumping trash into the ocean, again
Microsoft wants to capture all of the carbon dioxide it’s ever emitted
Tidal energy project in Canada gets green light from authorities
London’s new year fireworks left sky full of metal particles
Los Cerritos Wetlands Restoration draft EIR to be unveiled
Panera plans to slash meat to offer 50 percent plant-based menu
Wallace & Gromit’s creators make new animation to try to save the seas
Ocean cleaning device succeeds in removing plastic for the first time
Mediterranean sea ecology altered by invasive species
Climate change to drive massive investment shift
Greenpeace included with neo-Nazis on UK counter-terror list
Barcelona declares climate emergency, vows to halve emissions by 2030
Over 400 rare Asian giant softshell turtle eggs found in Cambodia
Florida to purchase 20000 acres of Everglades wetlands to prevent oil drilling
Philippine study finds microplastics inside a commonly consumed fish
US lumber company found importing high-risk Peruvian timber
Catastrophic Amazon tipping point less than 30 years away
Subsistence farming topples forests near commercial operations in Congo
Alien-like coral discovered in Japan’s Toba City recognized as new species
Newly-created northern White Rhino embryo could save species from brink of extinction
Protecting BWCA is better for economy than mining
Number of rare Arkansas Darters in rise at Wilson Springs Preserve
80% of Australia’s Blue Mountains and 50% of Gondwana rainforests burn in bushfires

Conservation News ~ 17 January 2020

1/17/2020

Rangers in Indonesia’s Aceh to get guns as officials flex on violators
Indigenous lands hold 46% or more of remaining intact forest landscapes
Colombian mining megaprojects overrun indigenous lands
Million birds feared dead in ‘blob’ ocean heatwave
Rep. McCollum introduces bill to van mining near the Boundary Waters
We can tell where a whale has travelled from the themes in its song
Prehistoric Wollemi pines saved by firefighters from Australia’s bushfires
San Diego Paleontologist helps discover new species of dinosaur
New bird species discovered in Wallacea
Newhouse introduces legislation to strengthen Endangered Species Act
Nebraska Commission to consider altering state’s threatened, endangered species lists
150 Arrested at protests exposing Wall Street’s link to climate crisis
Canada imposing mandatory gear marking for some fisheries in 2020
New dinosaur discovered in China shows dinosaurs grew up differently from birds
Ocean Park to end dolphin show, plans 26 new rides
Malnourished millennial killer whaled grew up smaller
Maryland bill would levy $250 fine for releasing balloons
Georgia Aquarium announces it is expecting baby beluga whale
Greenville Zoo announces it is expecting Amur Leopard babies
Colgate launches vegan-certified toothpaste in recyclable tube
Former Monsanto executive is new leadership of US Fish and Wildlife
For final months of 2019, Amazon deforestation hits highest level in at least 13 years
As 2019 ends, reptile -rich Sri Lanka delivers three more new gecko species
2019 was second-hottest decade
Coal pollution turned an Appalachian creek orange, locals are using it to make paint
Jim Prentice Wildlife Corridor near Edmonton, Canada gets $500k funding boost
Deep snow covers Maunakea, Mauna Loa
Sandy Bottom wetlands to receive protection for ‘national ecological significance’
Swan Valley groups oppose ski area expansion in grizzly habitat
15 new species of parasitic wasp discovered that ‘zombify’ wasps
New species of bone-eating worm discovered eating alligator carcass deep under Gulf of Mexico
Cincinatti Zoo celebrates birth of endangered Okapi calf
Congressman Lowenthall introduces legislation to protect millions of migratory birds threatened federally
Local US Forest Service hot shots headed for Australia to help battle massive fires
UN calls on nations to protect 30 percent of planet
Scientists just found one of the world’s largest flowers blooming in an Indonesian jungle
Developer drops 22-home subdivision project near endangered species preserve north of Traveler’s Rest
A pack of wolves has been spotted in Colorado for the first time in over 70 years
2019 was a record year for ocean temperatures
Golden Rice approved in Philippines
Morocco is harvesting water from fog
UN draft plan sets 2030 target to avert Earth’s sixth mass extinction
Goldman Prize winner launches new environmental foundation in the Cook Islands
Communities in Brazilian Cerrado besieged by global demand for soy
Four new fungi species discovered on one Yunnan bat
New Mexico lawsuit challenges US Fed’s failure to protect Endangered Species from livestock
Four missing plants found again in Ohio
Greenhouse gas emissions drop in Spain as power plants ditch coal
Record number of elephant deaths in Sri Lanka
Jakarta to ban single-use plastic bags by June
The Zion Narrows Trail is protected forever
Conservation action has reduced bird extinction rates by 40%
California’s largest private Giant Sequoia stand saved from development
Bulgarian Environment Minister charged over water crisis
Senators want to restore native plants to US National Parks
California has protections against Fed’s rollback of environmental rules
Petition seeks California Endangered Species protections for Leatherback Sea Turtles
Population of the Sierra Nevada Red Fox proposed for endangered species status
Environmental groups file lawsuit to protect the endangered Florida Panthers from extinction
Feds aim to fix ‘regulatory nightmare’ with sweeping environmental overhaul
Indonesian officials wield sharia law in defense of Sumatran rhinos
Activists seek purge after Indonesia court rules forest plantation illegal

Conservation News ~ 10 January 2020

1/10/2020

Philippine fern efficiently absorbs arsenic, copper from toxic mining soil
Rare plant species are especially vulnerable to climate change
Forest loss moves swiftly once 50% deforestation ‘tipping’ point reached
New species of Praying Mantis impales its prey on barbed spikes
Lethal bat disease found in new species near North Bend, Or
Native San Diego butterfly proposed for Endangered Species list
Sierra Red Fox proposed for Endangered Species list
Tool use in puffins may point to underestimated intelligence in seabirds
Palm oil processors top plantations in destroying proboscis monkey habitat
Miller Park Zoo planning new monkey exhibit with $600k grant
White House memo shows plans to speed environmental permitting
Australian Girls in Gi creates fundraiser to help save wildlife affected by bushfires
State of California is proceeding with the Vegetation Treatment Plan which would raze 250,000 acres of habitat
Robert Irwin struggles to hold back tears while discussing the impact of the Australian fires
Britons reach Africans’ annual carbon emissions in just two weeks
White House to overhaul environmental review regulations
Self-described Tuna King has spent a small fortune on purchasing endangered species
Shutdown of coal-fired plants in US saves lives and improves crop yields
Science-backed policy boosts critically endangered Nassau grouper
Deadly conditions for Indonesian migrant crews tied to illegal fishing
NCCOS supports 20-year plan to restore seven coral reefs in the Florida Keys
Entire species wiped out by Australian fires over the last few days, including 25,000 koalas
Biodiverse forests better at storing carbon for long periods
New Zealand glaciers turn brown because of smoke and ash from Australia
A new Louisiana high school puts focus on environment, climate change
Number of rhinos poached in Assam’s Kaziranga lowest in ten years
Boeing patents first solar powered plan that can fly forever and replace costly satellites
White House policy all but ends punishment for bird deaths
Renewable energy’s share of German power mix rose to 46% last year
Ayakha Melithafa: a 17-year-old climate activist alongside Greta Thunberg
Irwin Family’s zoo hospital helps save lives of over 90,000 animals amid bushfire crisis
NC Governor seeks help for critically endangered red wolf
World’s largest flower bloom found in remote Indonesian jungle
British Court rules veganism is a protected belief system
Cyanide bombs now banned in Oregon
Australia NSW government to decimate marine protected areas
2 Wisconsin dairy farms go out of business a day now
Lone wolf in Belgium gets potential love interest
213-kg leatherback turtle slaughtered in North Sumatra for meat
Record sighting of whales, dolphins, and seals
Horror as 16 lions slaughtered by poachers who cut off their faces and claws
Australian water sold for $490m to foreign company during drought
Academic research confirmed that pollution was worse than ever in 2019
Pink donates half a million dollars to Australian fire services as the wildlife crisis worsens
Study confirms climate change impacted Hurricane Florence’s precipitation and size
Chinese paddlefish of the Yangtze River declared extinct
Madagascar’s famous lemurs could lose their rainforest by 2080

Conservation News ~ 3 January 2020

1/3/2020

Thailand begins the New Year with plastic bag ban
British Troop’s anti-poaching mission saves 17 endangered Black Rhinos
Feds waived environment, other regs on 90 miles of Arizona border in 2019
Germany cuts fares for long-distance rail travel in response to climate crisis
The Golden Globes will serve a 100% vegan menu
Pope Francis to ‘every person on earth’: be kind to animals
White House will approve largest solar farm
Apple, Google, Microsoft, Tesla, and Dell sued over child-mined cobalt from Africa
Palau is first country to ban ‘toxic sun cream
Amazon threatened to fire employees for speaking out on climate
Rediscovered after 100 years, Gurney’s pitta is in peril once again
Denmark generated almost half of its electricity from wind in 2019
Nepal’s road-building spree pushes into the heart of the Himalayas
The first regional conservation area in Huanuco, Peru
New species of amphibians and plants discovered in Sagaing
Prince William launches Earthshot Prize to solve Earth’s environmental problems
Judge says filthy zoo must give up animals, Zoo appeals
In a rare feat achieved in Assam Zoo, endangered species of stork are bred artificially
State, Federal government renew Platte River agreement
Argentina sinks Chinese fishing ship that entered restricted area
New Zealand glaciers turn brown from Australian bushfires’ smoke, ash and dust
Clemson, LSU partner to avoid tiger extinction
Chinese company approved to run water mining operation in drought-stricken Queensland
Copenhagen to plant communal fruit trees on city streets
Testing the IUCN Green List of Species
Innovative orange juicer 3D prints bioplastic cups out of leftover orange peels
Unfathomable tragedy as fire ravishes German zoo’s ape house
Grassroots campaign saves major wetland in Montenegro
Lighting Industry sues to stop new efficiency standards
Newly discovered Australian spider breathes underwater, eats toads
Waimea forest purchased for $3.7m to keep in conservation
New fake rhino horn could push up poaching, inventors warned
Rebounding Hawaiian Hawk removed from Endangered List
Biodiversity moves into sustainability spotlight
Half a billion animals perish in Australian bushfires
Suspected abalone poacher bust by beachgoers at Clifton after swimming there from Robben Island
Endangered black rhino baby born on Christmas Eve at Michigan Zoo
7 Caribbean countries ban single-use plastics starting New Year’s Day
Cheetahs face extinction as numbers crash
New Zealand opens Paparoa Track, first new ‘Great Walk’ in 25 years
Grizzly Bears move north in High Arctic as climate change expands range
Fausta, world’s oldest rhino, dead at 57
New species in Manipur: Trichodesma Kumareum
New species of crustacean thrives in mouth of giant shark
UN75 – UN Environment Programme’s leader shares three actions to save the world
Malibu wants to ban all pesticides but the state disagrees
The 2020 Biodiversity Strategic Planning timeline
SD Zoo elephant, Tembo, passes away
Habitat loss drives deadly conflict in Indonesia’s tiger country
Alarm over mass vulture poisoning in South Africa
Manipur Hero dedicates 17 years of his life to grow 300 acre forest
Millionaire who killed rare whale hybrid vows to kill 150 more
Virginia School District to give students one day off per year for civic action
Court upholds creation of National Monument in Atlantic
Parasitic leeches present a new threat to endangered mussels
Water-guzzling demands of border wall threaten fish species
More discoveries, more threats for Sri Lanka’s dragonflies and damselflies
Female gorillas recognize and respond to contagious disease
Three pangoling species closer to extinction
Greta Thunberg will interview David Attenborough
13 rhinos poached and 7 poachers killed in Okavango Delta
Rapid genetic test traces spread of fungus that kills frogs, reveals new strain in Southeast Asia
White House removes Federal database that tracked pollution
New National Parks get Sh255 bn
Meet the new ancient shark species found in southern Alabama
Interior wordsmiths habitat with eye on regulatory reach
Climate crisis linked to at least 15 $1bn-plus disasters in 2019
Microplastic pollution is raining down on city dwellers
New York becomes first state to ban sale of Giraffe products
Nearly 8000 rhinos poached in Mzansi this decade
Court upholds Obama’s protected marine monument
New Zealand becomes first country to adopt Hookpod
West Coast fishery rebounds in rare conservation home run
Australia’s environment minister says up to 30% of koalas killed in NSW
Italy creates Europe’s first plastic-free ski resort

Conservation News ~ 27 December 2019

12/27/2019

Fish feel pain
Tree falls on 3 people, kills 1 in Muir Woods
Oregon judge dings wildlife commission for changing direction on Murrelet protections
US rules out any talk of a climate crisis in trade negotiations
Indonesian palm oil firm hit with $1.8m fine for 2015 fires
Larget coral reef survey in French Polynesia offers hope
Scientists create largest-ever botanical biodiversity data set
Elephant herd sighted in Nigeria’s Boko Haram warzone
Rainforest XPRIZE challenges teams to develop tech to survey biodiversity
Wildlife heir, Damian Aspinall, pleads to help make zoos extinct
Study finds whales use stealth to feed on fish
Scientists discover three new species of solar power plants in 2019
Fossil research unveils new turtle species and hints at intercontinental migrations
Researchers identify that mosquitoes can sense toxins through their legs
Reindeer rebounding better than hoped for on Svalbard
Breeding program boosts endangered Florida grasshopper sparrow population
Deleware’s Bethany Beach firefly nears endangered species list
Rolls-Royce sets goal for zero emission plane by 2020
In strongest climate ruling yet, Dutch Court orders leaders to cut GHG by 25 percent
Chimpanzees spontaneously dance to music
Community conservation agreements a lifeline for Uganda’s Grey Crowned Cranes
The Ganges brims with dangerous bacteria
Conservationists blast timing and content of draft Forest Plan for the Wild Clearwater Country
AI from google is helping identify animals deep in the rainforest
National Parks mark sixty years of conservation success in Tanzania
Senate bill would provide $20 million for butterflies, desert fish, mussels, and Hawaiian plants
Barge with 600 gallons of diesel sinks off Galapagos islands
Denver shoppers will start paying for plastic and paper bags in 2020
Government loophole gave oil companies $18 billion windfall
Popularity of Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat is saving 250,000 animals annually
US President goes on bizarre tirade against wind turbines saying he never understood wind
Oregon’s Red Tree Vole will not receive Federal protections
White Sands monument re-designated as US National Park
US Feds unlawfully OK’d longline fishing off California
Tiny Ozark Chub found in Missouri, Arkansas won’t be listed as endangered species
US White House quietly serves offshore drilling companies a sweetheart giveaway
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo welcomes 2 endangered species – Amur Tiger and two Mexican Grey Wolves
Court says EPA must regulate river temperatures for fish
A new species of monkey is discovered in Brazil as their natural habitat is slowly being deforested
Plans for new Indonesian capital put Borneo’s abandoned mines in the spotlight
2020 ballot initiative would restore wolves to Colorado
Illegal gold rush causing irreversible damage to rivers in the Brazilian Amazon
Large carnivore and zoos – essential for biodiversity conservation marketing
BC guide fined $2k after sailing too close to breaching Humpback Whale
The global price tag for 100 percent renewable energy - $73 trillion
Indonesian fires cost nation $5 billion
Scales from 50,000 pangolins seized by Chinese customs
Plans to lift baby lobster export ban draws fire in Indonesia
Paris Accord is impossible to implement if tropical forest loss not stopped
Deforestation for potential rubber plantation raises concerns in Papua New Guinea
Toxic chemicals found in rainwater and drinking water throughout the US
California coastal waters rising in acidity at alarming rate
A fracking explosion in Ohio created one of the worst methane leaks in history
Gov Cuomo signs historic bill to reverse biodiversity loss
Trail cam accidentally captured the moment an opossum helped a deer by picking ticks off its face
Cambodia sees births of 13 Irrawaddy Dolphins this year

Conservation News ~ 20 December 2019

12/19/2019

As Australia bakes, a marine heatwave of historic scale is killing sea animals
Hundreds of dead sharks found trapped in massive floating ‘ghost net’
Largest private giant sequoia grove for sale
Success as 178,500 Tricolored Blackbirds are saved by Audubon
Costa Rica lists the Hammerhead Shark as Critically Endangered
Mountain Gorilla census reveals further increase in numbers, over 1600
Three pangolin species closer to extinction
Climate change has cut Australian farm profits by 22%a year over past 20 years
US among top 10 countries for pollution-related deaths
The world’s oldest forest has 385-million-year-old tree roots
Philippine coastal town leads war against plastic trash
Malaysia to let RSPO publish oil palm concession maps
Central American countries pledge to protect Mesoamerica’s 5 great forests
As pesticide approvals soar, Brazil’s tapirs, bees, other wildlife suffer
Microplastics may be a macro problem for the US Great Plains
Women from the Xingu Territory unite against threats from Brazil’s administration
Hundreds of Bald Eagles soar above Lake Pend, Oregon
Fighting to save an endangered ape, Indonesian activists fear for their lives
Researchers discover three new species of extinct South American Marsupials
Nigeria to be ready for oil decline, says environment minister
New Mexico officials ask for Endangered Species Act probe
Delaware Firefly, Gulf Coast Bee move toward Endangered Species protection
Arhuaco community of Colombia allows scientists to photograph lost toad
Grizzly Bear lawsuit settlement requires a look at lower 48 states
Sri Lanaka’s Sinharaja rainforest reserve to be quadrupled in size
Big step in producing carbon-neutral fuel – silver diphoside
A Philippine conservation park juggles funding needs with animal welfare
EU officials say biomass burning policy to come under critical review
Tanzania creates 1st national giraffe conservation plan
New freshwater fish named for Thai conservation visionary
New species of bobtail squid discovered
Superglue plant and miracle berry among 2019’s new finds
Scientists discover cheaper way to make hydrogen out of water
Degraded soils mean tropical forests may never fully recover from logging
Sweet potato can warn neighbors of insect attacks
In Colorado coal towns, the next generation is turning to solar
Neutrons optimize high efficiency catalyst for greener approach to biofuel synthesis
Hunters secure conservation win in year-end legislation
Feral horse numbers gallop past 25,000 in the Australian Alps
Light pollution lures nighttime pollinators away from plants
Goldman Sachs and Liberty Mutual beef up fossil fuel lending policies
Thousands of exposed ‘penis fish’ washed up on a beach in California
New species of/ shark discovered in deep sea
Scientists develop liquid fuel that can store the sun’s energy for up to 18 years
Discovery reveals tractionless motion is possible
33 bear deaths in 2019 marks ‘average’ human-bear conflict season in Yukon
Senate confirms unqualified industry shill to run fish and wildlife service
Peru creates new conservation area to protect glaciers from extractive operations
Officials push for Northern Corrido through Red Cliffs tortoise habitat
In mineral-rich Chhota Nagpur plateau, a new frog species sparks interest
Longest climate talks end with compromise deal, no decision on carbon markets
Ecuador forest hidden in the clouds is home to tiny endangered bird
Indonesia nabs 2 suspected smugglers of Leopard, lion cubs
Aldi pledges 100% compostable or recyclable packaging by 2025
Researchers in Iceland can turn CO2 into rock
Hunters who killed research elephant lose licenses
Scientists find one billion year old fungi, earth’s oldest
SUK researchers discover two new species of begonia in Western Ghats
Scientists call for a complete ban on glitter
Murders of indigenous leaders in Brazil Amazon hit highest level in two decades
Kenyan police arrest suspects with 73kg of ivory
Bhutan wins recognition for tiger conservation efforts
New rodeo ants discovered riding other ant species near downtown in a Texas city
New species of orchid found in Western Ghats
Mediterranean pen shell listed as critically endangered
Land purchased near Alabama Toyota plant will preserve habitat for endangered fish
Peatlands are crucial carbon sinks but they are not on the map
Australia’s bushfires have emitted 250m tonnes of CO2, almost half of Australia’s annual emissions
Whitetip sharks declared critically endangered but gain no protections in Pacific
Brazil’s official presence at COP25 diverges widely from its public persona
Indonesia to revive idle shrimp farms to boost fisheries and save mangroves
Indonesia’s fires burned mostly abandoned and degraded land, not forests
Indonesia dam raises questions about UN hydropower carbon loophole
Zoo Atlanta welcomes new species
Pope presses anti-nuke, environment in call for peace message
Harvest mice found thriving 15 years after reintroduction efforts
Eight-year-old climate activist climbs lamp post to protect outside COP25
Dozens of states want to keep America’s broken climate promise
US Fossil Fuel subsidies exceed Pentagon spending

Conservation News ~ 13 December 2019

12/12/2019

SD Zoo names Southern White Rhino baby calf ‘future’
Spark of hope as rare bird declared extinct is rediscovered
Salmon die-off expands, brining total chinook fishing closure on Oregon’s north coast
Nan on anaconda sales in Florida will remain in place
Scientists devise a lifespan clock for vertebrates
Conservation biologist and journalist Sue Palminteri dies
The Arctic is emitting pollution
EU to stir global action with pledge on climate crisis
Scientists find cheaper way to make hydrogen energy out of water
White Nose Syndrome harming Jolly Cave bat populations
New species of ancient whale offers clues on how whales evolved to swim
Colombia to host 2020 World Environment Day on biodiversity
Imperiled Yellow-legged Frogs protected under California’s Endangered Species Act
Nevada approves 1.2 gigawatts of new solar capacity
UK’s hottest recorded day ‘caused deaths of extra 200 people’
US President’s son killed rare endangered sheep in Mongolia with special permit
Amazon deforestation paces ahead of recent historical norm
Earliest known cave art by modern humans found in Indonesia
Research confirms timing of tropical glacier melt at the end of the last ice age
Saving the ozone layer in 1987 slowed global warming
Newly discovered Widow spider lays bright purple eggs
Hopes dim as COP25 delegates dicker over article 6 and the world burns
Greta Thunberg named Times Person of the Year
Arctic sea ice cover falls to alarming low as temperature rise
Physics Nobel prize winner says to fix climate crisis because Earth is all we’ve got
Rancho Palos Verdes adopts habitat conservation plan after years in draft form
CDFW awards $11.35 million for greenhouse gas reductions grant projects
Indonesia to capture 3 wild Sumatran rhinos to add to breeding population
Killer Whale grandmothers boost survival of calves
GoT star Jerome Flynn gets in a cage just like your bacon
Greta Thunberg labelled a ‘brat’ by Brazil’s far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro
Group looking to restore wolves to Colorado gets 200,00 signatures for 2020 ballot
UN declares 2021-2030 the Decade of Ecosystem Restoration
Government officials say permits for mega-plantation in Papua were falsified
Killings of environmental defenders on the rise in the Philippines
Illegal hunting a greater threat to wildlife than forest degradation
BBC announces The Green Planet to be presented by Attenborough
Colombia turns down $35bn gold mine – prefers a clean environment
Hawaii’s most populated island bans most single-use plastic products
New venomous spider discovered that rots human flesh with one bite
Researchers find over 40 new species of fish in one lake
1.9 billion people at risk from mountain water shortages
Acres of Georgia coastline purchased for conservation
Michigan hunters donate 58k lbs of venison and $100k to feed 232k hungry people
California ports support sea level defense
Scientists find no evidence for insect Armageddon but there’s still cause for concern
Nene is downlisted from Endangered to Threatened
Amazon indigenous leaders killed in Brazil drive-by shooting
Paintings from Prado Museum Collection given climate change makeovers
Alaska Cod fishery closes and industry braces for ripple effect
Pope says climate crisis is challenge of civilization
Reebok develops plant-based running shoe
EU lawmakers call for legally binding biodiversity targets
Michigan University regents vote against investing in fossil fuel holdings
Oceans running out of oxygen
Sumatra’s dwindling forests face extra pressure from a major highway project
Seahorse breeding project aims to recover endangered species from near extinction
Officials propose taking Nashville crayfish off Endangered Species list
Wolf packs on the increase in Germany
Norwegian billionaire funds deluxe deep ocean research ship
Victoria Falls dries to trickle after worst drought in a century
The Amazon Reef is alive, growing, and under threat
Zambian president allegedly involved in illegal timber trade
Nature’s Brita Filter, mussels, are dying and nobody knows why
Sight of polar bear daubed with graffiti sparks outrage
World’s second-largest ferry operator switching from diesel to batteries
Rivers could generate thousands of nuclear power plants worth of energy thanks to new technology
Javan Rhino increases to 72 in latest count
Fractured forests are endangering wildlife
National Park Service announces entrance fee-free days for 2020
North Atlantic right whale use of key habitat changing rapidly
Svalbard reindeer rebounding better than hoped after nearly going extinct
Extinctions loom as forests are erased in Mozambique
Latest UN Emissions Gap Report finds world must ramp up climate ambitions at least threefold to meet Paris goals

Conservation News ~ 6 December 2019

12/6/2019

Conservation of biodiversity is like an insurance policy for the future of mankind
TROY professor helps discover new species causing black gill in Georgia shrimp
Cichlid species can create entirely new species when they have sex
Staggering level of waste at Great Bear Rainforest logging operations
FSU research finds Deepwater Horizon Oil in Gulf Coast beaches may take over 30 years to clean
Volkswagen drives bigger to protect forestlands with The Conservation Fund
Paleontologists find fossils of six new dragonfly species
Ban on destructive fishing practice helps species recovery in Indonesian park
New regulations to expand protections for seafloor habitats, reopen fishing grounds off US West Coast
Sri Lanka’s Olive Ridley Turtles face myriad threats
Development devours forest reserve in Zambia
Indonesian officials charged in $1.6m bribes-for-permits scheme
Minnesota to spend $4 million to fight invasive bugs and plants
Climate change to steer all New Zealand government decisions from now on
$20,000 reward offered to find person who poached elk in southeast Missouri
The Red-Cockaded Woodpecker may come off the Endangered Species List
Thousands of Harvard graduate students on strike starting Tuesday
Amazon primates face barriers in responding to climate change
Indonesian man jailed for smuggling 7,000 horseshoe crabs
Moon and Earth’s magnetic field guide European eels on their epic migration
Wild seed collectors turn Indiana Jones in the search for resilient crops
Researchers discover new species of dinosaur that flew above the reefs and lagoons
Drone images show Greenland ice sheet becoming more unstable
UN Chief declares ‘utterly inadequate’ efforts to tackle climate crisis
25th UN Climate Change conference begins in Spain
Japanese ship leaves for Antarctic Ocean for whale research
‘Young Sheldon’ star protests with Jane Fonda, Paul Scheer arrested at DC event
Extinct in the wild, a Brazilian bird makes a tentative return to the jungle
Camera traps yield surprises in West Africa’s largest protected area
Shrinking sea ice in the Arctic opens new pathways for animal disease
Indonesia must stop building new coal plants by 2020 to meet climate goals
Spotted Owl will not be federally listed as an endangered species
Eight-foot whale found washed up on Thames shore
Researchers discover new snake species in Arunachal Pradesh, India
New Zealand begins genetic program to produce low methane-emitting sheep
Polar Bear diet is 25% plastic, Russian scientists show
Major sewage spill in Orange County closes beaches from Newport Beach to Dana Point
Boulder climate scientist sues White House over matter of scientific integrity
Brazilian president claims Leonardo DiCaprio funded Amazon fires
Zion National Park reaches its 100-year milestone
Arctic coal passage to India threatens wildlife
Invasive monster mussels discovered in Pennsylvania
Healthy coral sounds lure fish back to abandoned reefs
Columbus Zoo welcomes new polar bear cub on Thanksgiving
Proposed federal wildlife act would bring millions to state
As wolves recover, calls in Wisconsin to end endangered species listing grow
Karoon to give up its exploration permit in Great Australian Bight
Cuba found to be the most sustainably developed country in the world
Heat stress is causing desert bird populations to collapse
Oregon Court of Appeals upholds wolf delisting
PAC, GTA sign MoU to promote conservation of protected areas
Plastic pollution kills half a million hermit crabs on remote islands
Humpback super-groups near Saldanha Bay ‘look more like salmon than whales’
Recordings reveal that plants make ultrasonic squeals when stressed
Academy scientists describe 71 new species in 2019
Threats, raids, and murders stalk Filipino environment activists
Two southern Arizona plants proposed for Endangered Species Act protection
Rate of new endangered species listings declines under current Federal Administration
Ohio bill would provide $28 million to protect endangered species
America’s National Parks are being overrun by rats, cats, and feral hogs

Conservation News ~ 29 November 2019

11/28/2019

United States and Europe blocked African states proposal to protect endangered sharks
Canadian indigenous celebrate new protected area
Protected areas best conserve mammalian diversity when connected
Elliott State Forest Tract sale was illegal, Oregon Supreme Court says
New generation of hydroelectric dams threaten Europe’s rivers
Climaet activisits shine light on dirty Chase Bank investments
New snake species found in India
White House is sued for dragging its feet on endangered species
Tiny Northern Nevada toad part of massive endangered species lawsuit
Massive Attack to help map music industry’s carbon footprint
Biotech breakthroughs turns waste biomass into high value chemicals
South Dakota Governor caves on attempted efforts to silence pipeline protestors
Namibia records 51 poaching cases this year
White House sends Smoky Mountain park rangers to help secure the US/Mexico border
Thousands of Romanians protest against illegal logging, attacks on forest workers
SeaWorld San Diego’s rescue team disentangles Humpback whale from fishing gear
Koalas not functionally extinct from fires – 1000 killed out of 300,000
Coelacanth filmed off South America’s eastern coastline
Scientists identify hundreds of species in Colombia’s Chiribiquete Park
New leaf-toed geckos found living on remote volcano
Feds propose delisting long-endangered Camas wildflower
Feral hogs attacked and killed a woman on her way to work in Texas
UC Davis students propose turning invasive species into dog food
China stole Philippines’ giant clams while Filipinos sat in court
Scientists find one billion year old fungus fossil
Cows on Russian farm get fitted with VR goggles to increase milk production
Iran sentences 8 Asiatic cheetah conservation scientists convicted of spying
Largest turtle swarm ever filmed at sea
Coastal fog linked to high levels of mercury found in mountain lions
Six scientific journals denounce White House environmental reform
Elephant seal native to Antarctica spotted for first time in tropical Sri Lanka
Watchdog denounces arrests of four anti-mining activists in Indonesia
Wildflower found only in Willamette Valley can be removed from endangered species list
Indonesian fires emitted double the carbon of Amazon fires
Indonesian palm oil investigation shortlisted for Fetisov Journalism Award
Female gorillas recognize and respond to contagious disease
CEOs are facing fierce pressure on climate change – from their own kids
White House signs Federal Animal Cruelty bill into law
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has proposed a new plan to reduce mercury
Autumn Peltier honoured by BBC
Researchers report first recording of a blue whale’s heart rate
Rapid genetic test reveals new strain of frog-killing fungus in Southeast Asia
Scientists discover new species of spiky-spined dinosaur in prehistoric breakthrough
Seven new South Island cave weta identified
Study tracks first incursion of poachers into pristine African forest
Horror in Romanian port, 14600 sheep on capsized livestock carrier
Climate Uprising occupies OMV henchboat
Latest regulations safeguard 140,000 square miles off the west coast
California Red-legged Frog seen at the Gualala River
Jeremy Clarkson finally accepts climate crisis during Asia trip
Manta rays and whale sharks consume 63 pieces of plastic per hour
Nonprofit threatens suit over possible endangered species in New Mexico
German Navy accused of killing porpoises
Sumatran rhinoceros now extinct in Malaysia
Scientists spot critically endangered vaquita porpoises with babies
Vanishing Mongolian ice puts reindeer herders at risk
Students storm field at halftime of Harvard-Yale game to protest
Video of mating deep-sea anglerfish tuns biologists
Fossils of new find dinosaur species discovered in Isaan
Coal spill bedevils Indonesian beach more than a year later
New Mexico votes to end trapping of cougars
Amazonian tree with human-sized leaves finally gets ID’d as new species