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Mongabay

@mongabay.com

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Award-winning nonprofit media outlet publishing global environmental science & news in 6 languages via bureaus in India, Brazil, Africa, Latin America, Indonesia & US: https://mongabay.com

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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 1h

In the past few years, previously spotless air-conditioned icons of Singapore such as Changi Airport and the Apple Store have experienced infestations and diseases on indoor greenery.

Experts say the rise in extreme temperatures as the city-state loses forest cover explains this migration of pests.

As Singapore heats up, pests are seeking refuge indoors

SINGAPORE — Singapore’s reputation as one of the world’s cleanest cities is being put to the test by a surge in rodent and insect infestations that experts say is being fueled by climate change and…

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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 2h

Twelve pairs of poison dart frogs were recently translocated in Panama in a bid to strengthen the species’ chances of survival & provide answers over a deadly fungal disease threatening amphibians worldwide.

The effort hopes to boost their population as they play a vital role in forest ecosystems.

In Panama, poison dart frog move brings hope amid amphibians’ fight with fungus

Measuring a bit more than 20 millimeters (0.8 inches), Pratt’s poison frog (Colostethus pratti) is not the kind of frog that would get attention. Although part of the Dendrobatidae family, known for…

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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 11h

A new Nature study projects wildfire smoke will cause 71,000 excess deaths annually in the U.S. by 2050, representing $608 billion in damages that exceed all other estimated climate costs combined.

Wildfire smoke could kill 71,000 people per year in the US by 2050, study warns

When wildfire smoke from Canada turned New York City’s sky an eerie orange in June 2023, millions of Americans who’d never experienced such pollution got a glimpse of what has become routine for…

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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 13h

A Ramsar site known as Metro Manila’s last functional wetland is home to over 160 bird species.

In March, an agency invited proposals to lease or develop it — then deleted the call after public backlash, saying no reclamation plans are in place and acknowledging its ecological importance.

A protected mangrove forest stands strong as Metro Manila’s last coastal frontier

MANILA — Spanning the coasts of two cities in Metro Manila, and referred to as the capital region’s “last coastal frontier,” Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park (LPPWP) is a critical site of both…

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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 15h

[COMMENTARY]

“Octopus farming is a dead end masquerading as a solution. It does not address the root causes of wild population declines — it compounds them. The global community must resist exploiting another wild species under the guise of sustainability,” says a new op-ed.

** Views are author's.

Octopus farming is a dangerous detour for marine conservation (commentary)

Octopus populations across the globe are facing mounting pressures from overfishing, habitat loss and environmental change. In response, an unsubstantiated and misguided proposal has been introduced:…

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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 17h

Spurred largely by pending global regulations, the race is on to develop low- and zero-carbon fuels for ships and scale up their use.

Experts continue to debate the pros and cons of green methanol and green ammonia, which are generally seen as the best options in the medium to long term.

What fuel will ships burn as they move toward net zero?

This is Part 3 of a short series on efforts to decarbonize the global shipping industry. Part 1 addressed international policy and politics, Part 2 efficiency measures. This part looks at alternative…

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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 18h

In 2024, the Amazon Rainforest underwent its most devastating forest fire season in more than 20 years.

According to a new study, the fire-driven forest degradation released an estimated 791 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2024, a sevenfold increase compared with the previous two years.

Amazon Rainforest hits record carbon emissions from 2024 forest fires

In 2024, the Amazon Rainforest underwent its most devastating forest fire season in more than two decades. According to a new study by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, the fire-driven…

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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 20h

Peru’s Indigenous Shawi people continue to contest a plan to build a highway through their territory in the country’s Amazonian region, citing fears about losing their land — even as local authorities nudge the project forward.

New road in Peruvian Amazon sparks fear of invasion among Indigenous Shawi

Shawi Nation leaders ask if the road is a mere gateway for mining companies set to enter their territory.

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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 21h

More than 100 Indigenous leaders from across the world are gathering at the global Indigenous peoples’ summit at the IUCN World Conservation Congress that begins Oct. 8.

The summit aims to set conservation priorities and commitments, highlighting Indigenous peoples’ effective participation.

Indigenous leaders gather at the IUCN Indigenous Peoples and Nature summit

More than 100 Indigenous leaders from across the world are gathering at the global Indigenous peoples’ summit at the IUCN World Conservation Congress that begins Oct. 8 in Abu Dhabi. The summit aims…

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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 23h

The proposal to build a 1,000-MW nuclear power plant on Kenya’s southeastern coast has faced strong opposition from residents and environmental experts, who warn of potential harm to communities, fisheries and the environment.

Africa’s largest freshwater lake could be site of Kenya’s nuclear power plant

“It is perfect!” exclaims Anthony Kingi, a member of the Kenyan nonprofit Center for Justice Governance and Environmental Action (CJGEA). “Kenya doesn’t need it. However, if they must build it, I’m…

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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 1d

As Germany demilitarized after World War II, it dumped massive amounts of its leftover munitions into the Baltic Sea.

A recent study has found that some of those submerged weapons, which are still releasing toxic compounds, now host more marine organisms than the sediments around them.

Marine life are thriving on Nazi missile debris in the Baltic Sea: Study

As Germany demilitarized after World War II, it dumped massive amounts of its leftover munitions into the Baltic Sea. A recent study has found that some of those submerged weapons, which are still…

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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 1d

Brazil’s Supreme Court has approved the creation of Tanaru National Park in the western Amazon state of Rondônia, protecting the land where the last member of the Tanaru Indigenous people, known as the “Man of the Hole,” lived in isolation until his death in 2022.

Brazil Supreme Court creates park to honor last man of the Tanaru people

Brazil’s Supreme Court has approved the creation of Tanaru National Park in the western Amazon state of Rondônia, protecting the land where the last member of the Tanaru Indigenous people, known as…

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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 1d

In northern Thailand’s Ban Pong village, a group of women has spent nearly two decades restoring and guarding their community forest to prevent dry-season wildfires. From the restored forest, residents now harvest forest products to sell in markets and feed some of Ban Pong’s 7,100 residents.

Women firefighters in Thailand restore community forest

In northern Thailand’s Ban Pong village, a group of women has spent nearly two decades restoring and guarding their community forest to prevent dry-season wildfires. From the restored forest,…

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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 1d

he Indochinese leopard, a subspecies native to mainland Southeast Asia, has been driven to the edge of extinction by snaring and the wildlife trade.

Conservationists are working to safeguard the leopard’s last remaining strongholds in Thailand, Myanmar and Malaysia.

Indochinese leopards face ‘bleak’ future, but hope persists

PETCHABURI, Thailand — Swaths of butterflies flutter around Chalong Thongsong and his team of rangers and researchers as they walk along a muddy trail into the forest of Kaeng Krachan National Park.…

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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 1d

Wildlife biologist and ornithologist Corina Newsome of the U.S. National Wildlife Federation joins our podcast to discuss how bird-watching plays a role in environmental justice for underserved communities in urban areas, and outlines how people can connect with nature and drive impactful change.

Bird-watching for nature connection & social justice

Wildlife biologist and ornithologist Corina Newsome of the U.S. NGO National Wildlife Federation joins Mongabay’s podcast to discuss how bird-watching plays a role in environmental justice for…

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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 1d

[COMMENTARY]

“The IUCN congress offers a crucial chance to turn global attention toward the pet trade. If we fail to act, this commerce will continue hollowing out ecosystems, spreading invasive species, and endangering health,” a new op-ed argues.

** Views expressed are author's.

New global guidelines needed to rein in the wildlife pet trade (commentary)

The illegal and unsustainable wildlife pet trade depends on the appeal of live animals — creatures that people naturally want to care for. Yet behind the allure of a bright-eyed chameleon or playful…

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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 1d

The European Union has pledged 545 million euros ($636 million) for projects focused on modernizing power grids, increasing access to renewable energy, and supporting clean energy projects in nine African countries.

EU to invest $636m in African power projects, including clean energy

The European Union has pledged 545 million euros ($636 million) for projects focused on modernizing power grids, increasing access to renewable energy, and supporting clean energy projects in nine…

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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 1d

The U.K. government has rejected calls to fully ban bottom trawling in its offshore marine protected areas, despite evidence that the fishing practice tears up seabed habitats and releases large amounts of carbon.

UK rejects total ban on bottom trawling in offshore marine protected areas

The U.K. government has rejected calls to fully ban bottom trawling in its offshore marine protected areas, despite evidence that the fishing practice tears up seabed habitats and releases large…

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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 1d

🌿 Mongabay founder & CEO @rhettayersbutler.bsky.social has been awarded the 2025 Henry Shaw Medal by the Missouri Botanical Garden — one of the world’s oldest conservation honors.

Mongabay founder Rhett Butler wins the Henry Shaw Award

Mongabay founder and CEO Rhett Butler has been awarded the 2025 Henry Shaw Medal from the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, U.S. Established in 1893, the award recognizes “individuals who have…

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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 1d

Fears of major desert locust swarms in the Sahel in 2025 are receding, as authorities in the region continue to monitor breeding sites.

Fears of major locust swarms wane in the Sahel but agencies step up monitoring

NAIROBI — In May and June, the Food and Agriculture Organization’s commission for controlling desert locust outbreaks in West and Northwest Africa warned that heavy rainfall and vegetation in North…

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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 2d

Indonesia is moving to designate 17 seagrass habitats as strategic areas for blue carbon, a plan that promises climate & community benefits but raises concerns over safeguards.

Experts welcome the initiative but warn it must avoid privatization, ensure fair benefit-sharing & guarantee transparency.

Indonesia eyes seagrass zoning for blue carbon; experts urge community benefits

Indonesia’s push to legalize a blue carbon zoning plan that’s focused on seagrass has sparked optimism for climate solutions, but some experts debate its risks and safeguards. The Indonesian Marine…

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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 2d

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil has dismissed allegations that Indonesian conglomerate First Resources Ltd. Controls a network of shadow companies, despite evidence presented by NGOs linking these firms to deforestation, peatland destruction, river pollution and labor abuses.

RSPO sparks NGO outrage for dismissing complaint over alleged ‘shadow companies’

JAKARTA — A major palm oil producer linked through supplier-reported mill lists to global brands like General Mills and PepsiCo has escaped sanction for allegedly concealing a web of “shadow…

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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 2d

Brazil’s antitrust regulator, CADE, decided to suspend the Amazon soy moratorium from Jan. 1, 2026.

Depending on the probe’s course of action, this could dismantle one of the nation’s most important private sector pacts credited with slowing deforestation of the rainforest for soy plantations.

Brazil soy deal that curbs Amazon deforestation to be suspended in 2026

Brazil’s antitrust regulator, CADE, on Sept. 30 decided to suspend the Amazon soy moratorium from Jan. 1, 2026. Depending on the probe’s course of action, this could dismantle one of the nation’s…

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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 2d

Chinese clean energy firms, including LONGi and Trina Solar, are investing in solar panel manufacturing in Indonesia as competition and policy changes squeeze their domestic market.

With red tape, canceled rebates, Indonesia risks missing Chinese renewables investment

In late June, China’s LONGi Green Energy Technology announced a tie-up with Indonesian state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina to make solar panels in West Java province. That news came just a week…

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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 2d

From the forests of northeast India’s Arunachal Pradesh state, researchers have described a new-to-science species of fungus with “exceptionally large” fruiting bodies that can hold the weight of a person.

Massive fungus from India is newly described species

From the forests of northeast India’s Arunachal Pradesh state, researchers have described a new-to-science species of fungus with “exceptionally large” fruiting bodies that can hold the weight of a…

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