Brazilian elections and the environment: where top candidates stand
Five candidates lead the polls for Brazil’s presidency, with a vote 7 October. Mongabay offers some of what’s known, and what’s not, about their environmental positions.
Environmental headlines
Mongabay is a non-profit provider of conservation and environmental science news.
How a national reserve stopped the extinction of the Peruvian vicuña
LUCANAS PROVINCE, Peru — At an altitude of 13,450 feet, the icy wind pounds whatever lies in its path. After 23 years of living in the Pampa Galeras - Barbara…
As India’s Ganges runs out of water, a potential food shortage looms
Millions of people living in the lower reaches of the Ganges basin in India may face food shortages in the next three decades if the iconic river continues to lose…
Satellites and citizen science pinpoint migratory bird refueling stops
The millions of waterbirds that migrate each spring from South America to as far as the Arctic can’t do it in one trip. They stop to rest and refuel several…
Putting the action in the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The second day of California Governor Jerry Brown’s three-day Global Climate Action Summit on September 13 put a hard emphasis on action, whether in speeches at…
What’s causing deforestation? New study reveals global drivers
Knowing where deforestation is happening is critical for efforts aimed at stopping or slowing it. Major breakthroughs toward this goal have been made over the previous few years, with NGOs…
Common ground on the prairie (commentary)
Mother Nature is the ultimate boss on the prairie — and the boss seems pretty agitated these days. Weather events are more frequent, more extreme, and harder to predict than…
Latam Eco Review: Gold fever in Peru and cryptic fish from the deep
The most popular stories from our Spanish-language service, Mongabay-Latam, followed new deforestation from gold mining in Peru, new fish species deep in Chile’s sea, mining on Ecuador’s beaches, and hundreds…
In other news: Environmental stories from around the web, September 14, 2018
Tropical forests Unbridled logging in the Solomon Islands disproportionately affects women, researchers say (CIFOR Forests News). Ecologists map out the distribution of tree species in the Amazon (University of Turku/Phys.Org).…
How much plastic is too much plastic for sea turtles?
In a video that went viral in 2015, researchers spent nearly 10 minutes pulling out a 10-centimeter (4-inch) plastic straw from the nostril of a male olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)…
On the hunt for a silent salamander-killer
It’s like searching for a needle in a haystack — except the needle is invisible and the hay stretches for thousands of miles. Oh, and there may not actually be…
California targets fossil fuel-free electricity by 2045
The US state of California, which represents the fifth largest economy in the world, has adopted an ambitious new climate target. On Monday, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law…
Indonesian mine watchdog sues government for concession maps
JAKARTA — Environmental activists are suing the Indonesian government for the release of records of mining licenses and concessions, in a move seen as crucial to bringing greater transparency to…
Tagging and tracking the Tour de Turtles
Last year, a loggerhead named Eliza Ann took the crown. This year, Lucaya, the speedy leatherback, has pulled ahead to take an early lead. Every summer, a handful of sea…
Humans reached Madagascar 6,000 years earlier than previously thought
New research suggests humans reached Madagascar far earlier than previously thought. The study, published today in the journal Science Advances, is based on analysis of giant elephant bird bones discovered…
Forests and indigenous rights land $459M commitment
A group of 17 philanthropic foundations has committed at least $459 million through 2022 in support of land-based solutions to climate change — including forest conservation and restoration — and…
Why keep Africa’s dryland forests alive?
About 10 years ago, the average millet farmer in Boromdougou village along the Niger River in Mali produced about 170 kilograms of cereals per hectare per season, according to Pierre…
Runners’ woes at Asian Games highlight Jakarta’s air pollution problem
JAKARTA — Organizers of the recently concluded Asian Games in Indonesia had been braced for the worst-case scenario: forest fires flaring up and shrouding Palembang, one of the host cities,…
Illegal wildlife trade on Facebook in Thailand open ‘for all to see’
Facebook is once again in the spotlight, this time for the rampant illegal wildlife trade being facilitated through its groups in Thailand. In a rapid assessment in 2016, carried out…
Palm oil giant’s claim it can’t control Liberian subsidiary a ‘red herring,’ NGO says
One of Indonesia’s biggest family-owned firms is facing fresh criticism over its alleged failure to comply with its sustainability commitments as part of its palm oil operations in Liberia. Golden…
