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Scientists are increasingly utilizing environmental DNA (eDNA) to efficiently detect both invasive and endangered species, transforming conservation research. Lourdes Medrano reports for Undark.In short:eDNA technology allows for the identification of species through genetic material found in environments, offering a non-invasive, cost-effective approach to conservation.Researchers use eDNA to monitor biodiversity, track invasive species, and support conservation efforts, amidst calls for national eDNA application strategies to streamline processes.The field faces challenges such as the rapid degradation of DNA and limitations in detecting certain species, but advancements in technology and methodology are continually improving its efficacy.Key quote: “This technology will end up being critical because it’s a more efficient way to detect invasive species, as well as rare species.” — Andy Hubbard, program manager for the National Park Service Sonoran Desert NetworkWhy this matters: eDNA represents a pivotal shift in conservation strategies, enabling rapid, early detection of invasive species and comprehensive biodiversity monitoring. eDNA technology, paired with eDNA-gathering robotics, can be a boon for programs with limited people-power as early detection can power quicker and better-informed responses to emerging threats.

The Department of Agriculture is boosting enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program but being less stringent on environmental measurements.

An agriculture policy group said the popular Environmental Quality Incentives Program wastes money on industrial farms' manure systems.

A new rule introduced by the Biden administration aims to balance conservation with economic activities on America's public lands, enhancing protections and sustainable use. Catrin Einhorn reports for The New York Times.In short:The rule impacts 245 million acres, promoting ecological restoration and compensating for environmental damage.Conservation will now be considered as significant as grazing, mining, and other land uses.The measure responds to the increasing environmental pressures such as climate-induced wildfires and droughts.Key quote: "As stewards of America's public lands, the Interior Department takes seriously our role in helping bolster landscape resilience in the face of worsening climate impacts." — Deb Haaland, U.S. Secretary of the Interior.Why this matters: This policy represents a strategic shift in how public lands are managed, intertwining ecological health with national economic and security interests, and addressing the urgent challenges posed by climate change. Read more from EHN's newsroom: Public lands are not neutral. We must grapple with their racist roots.

Now Playing | This is the true story of one Formosan black bear’s encounter with civilization. A fateful encounter with a wild boar trap in mid-autumn 2019 first brought this bear to national attention. However, after months of recuperation and subsequent release back into the wild, it lingered worryingly near settled areas, damaging orchards and even ransacking a mountain cabin in search of food. Re-released in a remote forested area, the bear set out an incredible journey across arduous terrain in the direction of home. This is the moving story of “711” … also known as “568” – a wild Formosan black bear from Taichung’s Mt. Daxue area. The bear died on the 25th day of its long journey home in May 2022 in the Mt. Wujie region of Nantou County. News of the death was a devastating blow to the hundreds involved in 711/568’s rescue, recovery, and tracking efforts. It also offered a difficult lesson for us all about the work yet ahead for wildlife conservation. This film examines Formosan black bear conservation from multiple perspectives, including those involved in this bear’s rescue and care, living in areas affected by 711/568, and working in the many public and private organizations dedicated to the cause of wildlife conservation. We hope the story told here helps further raise public understanding and concern for wildlife conservation in Taiwan.

State government and the Nature Conservancy jointly purchase Vergemont station, which contains habitat for endangered night parrotsSign up for the Rural Network email newsletterJoin the Rural Network group on Facebook to be part of the communityA Queensland outback cattle station the size of Yosemite national park which includes key habitat for the elusive night parrot has been acquired for conservation following an anonymous donation of $21m.Vergemont station, 110km west of Longreach, was acquired in a joint purchase by the Queensland government and the Nature Conservancy, which brokered the deal. The group said it is likely the single largest philanthropic contribution to land protection in Australia.Sign up to receive Guardian Australia’s fortnightly Rural Network email newsletterSign up for the Rural Network email newsletterJoin the Rural Network group on Facebook to be part of the community Continue reading...

Now Playing | Does whale watching protect or harm whales? This film explores heated controversies over whale watching, boat noise, and orca conservation in Washington State and British Columbia. Whale watching companies claim that they serve as "sentinels" protecting the orca from unwary recreational boaters, ferries, and ships. A number of local conservationists and scientists have argued that whale watching boats crowd and harass whales, while adding noise to the orcas' immediate environment that makes it difficult for the social species to survive. "Sentinels of Silence?" uses dramatic imagery, peer-reviewed science, and interviews with conservationists, scientists, and industry officials to bring a fascinating chapter in the orca conservation story to light. In December, 2020, three months after Sentinels of Silence? was released, the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Commission made an historic decision to more closely regulate whale watching companies' activities around the Southern Resident Killer Whales, citing noise and harassment as factors.

Now Playing | Mayday Terranean is a documentary film portraying the problems of the Mediterranean Sea as well as the beauty it still has to offer. Scientists, conservationists and activists from countries around the Mediterranean Sea talk about the topic, their relationship to ocean conservation and shed light on the story of this wonderful but endangered place.

The Biden administration is set to open the American Climate Corps jobs board next month, offering a range of positions aimed at addressing climate change and environmental conservation.Naveena Sadasivam and Kate Yoder report for Grist.In short:The program, inspired by the New Deal's Civilian Conservation Corps, will initially offer hundreds of jobs, with plans to hire 20,000 young people in its first year.Positions will cover various fields including energy efficiency, disaster response, recycling, and wildfire mitigation, with no experience required for most jobs.Strong public support is seen for the program, with a majority of voters across political lines backing the initiative and many young people showing interest.Key quote:“There’s an incredible demand signal from young people who we see as being put on a pathway to good-paying careers.”— Maggie Thomas, special assistant to the president for climate changeWhy this matters:This initiative is a cooperative effort involving multiple federal agencies, including AmeriCorps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Departments of Labor, Interior, Agriculture, and Energy. Its primary aim is to mobilize over 20,000 young Americans, equipping them with the skills needed for future careers in public service or the private sector focused on environmental conservation, clean energy, and climate resilience.Not everyone is supportive of the American climate corps, even politicians who are typically pro-jobs.

The aim of cloning the animals is to increase the genetic diversity of the endangered species

The gentle giants of the waterways are threatened by industry and development, but many are working to protect them

Now Playing | “Wings of Hope,” is a film chronicling the re-discovery of a population of wild Harpy Eagles in the Maya Mountains of southern Belize. It details the history of the Belize Foundation and Research and Environmental Education (BFREE) and UNC Wilmington initiative born from this discovery – the Integrated Community-based Harpy Eagle and Avian Conservation Program. Created by Emmy-award winning filmmakers, Richard and Carol Foster of Wildlife Film Productions, this 20-minute documentary is rich with breath-taking footage of adult and juvenile Harpy eagles and other wildlife and vistas found in the pristine tropical forests of the Bladen Nature Reserve. Over the seven year duration of the project, the Fosters followed local people involved as they transition from trainees to conservationists and as their lives are changed through their efforts to save this rare bird and its diminishing habitat.

Alliance says there’s not enough ambition in proposed laws to prevent extinctions, as promised by the environment ministerGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastThe Albanese government is backing away from a promise to substantially transform how nature is protected in Australia and is planning some changes that would make things worse, according to eight of the country’s top environment groups.The conservation organisations said they were concerned the government planned to break up promised legislation for new environmental laws and defer some difficult reforms until after the next election, if it wins a second term.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundupInclude a “call-in” power that allowed the minister to take over a decision from a proposed environment protection agency (EPA) “at any time and for any reason”.Allow developers to make payments to a new “restoration contributions” fund to compensate for damage their projects caused to the environment. This would remove a requirement that environmental offsets provide a “like-for-like” replacement for ecosystems or species affected by a development.Fail to give the new EPA the “teeth” it needed to be an independent and effective environmental regulator. Continue reading...

Two more black- footed ferrets, one of North America’s rarest mammals, have been cloned, federal officials announced Wednesday.

Human Rights Watch alleges Indigenous peoples were thrown off their land in name of conservation.

NSW environment department spokesperson says offset program for the area has continued despite failure to file reports for three yearsGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastThe New South Wales environment department stopped monitoring and reporting on a $530m conservation program meant to compensate for swathes of land-clearing at the same time as its management of biodiversity offset schemes was under investigation, Guardian Australia can reveal.Conservationists and the NSW Greens say the government must investigate the “startling failure” by the department to report on progress towards meeting the conservation offset requirements for new suburb developments in western Sydney.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup Continue reading...

Past Presentation | Fleming's Legacy tells the story of agricultural entrepreneur David Thomas Fleming and his role as an early conservationist on Maui. The film also shares the efforts of his granddaughter and others to carry on his work in the native plant arboretum that bears his name.

Past Presentation | Elephant Keeper is the story of an elder indigenous mahout who is adjusting to a new job in ecotourism in the remote jungles of Sainyabuli Province, Laos. Senior mahout, Mr. Tong, arrives at the Elephant Conservation Center (ECC) in search of work to support his family, and is paired with Mae Dok, the Center’s sweet and stubborn 60-year-old elephant matriarch. As he adapts to a new routine away from home, Mr. Tong finds a confidant in his elephant charge. The immersive contemplative nature of the cinematography allows the audience to feel present within the action and story in a complex narrative rich with visual metaphor and symbolism, exploring themes of Extinction & Conservation, Industrialization & Globalization, and Culture & Identity.

Past Presentation | Drawing from over 100 hours of never-before-seen footage that had been tucked away in the National Geographic archives for over 50 years, award-winning Morgen tells the story of a woman whose chimpanzee research challenged the male-dominated scientific field and revolutionized our understanding of the natural world. Set to an orchestral score by legendary composer Philip Glass, we get an intimate portrait of Jane Goodall—a trailblazer and one of the world’s most admired conservationists.

Past Presentation | In Franklin, West Virginia, something magical is happening in the local streams! A native trout species pushed to the brink of extinction is making a remarkable comeback. Working with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Partners for Fish & Wildlife, local farmers, ranchers and the community at large are uniting behind this incredible restoration effort. The short film "Little Stream, Big Magic'' captures the beauty of West Virginia's famous fly-fishing rivers in stunning detail and delivers a heartwarming story of people's resilience and dedication to conservation. Produced by the award-winning film team Tandem Stills + Motion, Inc. in cooperation with the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program (PFW) and Trout Unlimited (TU), the film provides an important perspective to further engage with private landowners in the community on the benefits of restoring trout habitat. This beautiful and uplifting film shows audiences what's possible for grassroots conservation nationally.

Now Playing | The Cost of Sand highlights the potential destruction of a crucial bio-link on the edge of the Ramsar wetlands from proposed expansion of sandmining in Bass Coast, Victoria. It features interviews with scientists and conservationists about the significance of preserving the last remnant coastal bushland in the region and the vulnerable wildlife and ecosystems it supports.

Now Playing | Loss of more than half the central African forest elephant population to poaching in the last decade has led to a concerted effort to save those that remain. These efforts are explored through one of Cameroon’s first female eco-guards, a grassroots wildlife law enforcement group, a Congolese biologist studying elephant behavior, a reformed elephant poacher, and anti-poaching sniffer dogs led by a Czech conservationist, all fighting corruption despite a lack of funding that threatens to derail their work to save the elephants.

Now Playing | How many elephants are there across Nigeria? Some Nigerian conservationists estimate that there are only 300, others believe the number is less than that. In recent years there have been many reports of hunters killing elephants across the country. A combination of climate change (which has reduced amounts of fresh water the elephants need), poaching, human-elephant conflict and deforestation is a major challenge. ‘Elephant Protection’ is a 30minute documentary featured on ‘Earthfile’- Channels Television’s environment and Development Programme. It focuses on the current problem climate change has caused for the elephants, in terms of habitat loss and the cause of the human-elephant conflicts in Nigeria. It also looks at the efforts of conservationists (trained professionals and those without formal education) in the protection of the elephant population. It talks about their successes and failure, and how humans can live in harmony with the elephants. For this story, Omo Forest, Ogun state, Southwest Nigeria and Yankari games reserve in Bauchi state in Nigeria's NorthEast were visited.

The National Emergency Commission (CNE) and the National System of Conservation Areas reported the closure of Poas Volcano National Park due to increased gas emissions. SINAC has assured that the volcano’s activity is under diligent surveillance by competent technical tools and entities. With the health of personnel and visitors to the national park in mind, […] The post Costa Rica’s Poas Volcano National Park Closed as Precautionary Measure appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published a proposal on Thursday to prioritize the conservation of greater sage-grouse on public lands — aiming to reverse habitat loss for an iconic bird of the U.S. West and restore the health of surrounding ecosystems. The proposal, a draft environmental impact statement, analyzes several alternatives for managing the greater...

Past Presentation | The humpback whale population that migrates between Hawaiʻi and Alaska is considered a conservation success story. When sightings of the animals suddenly dropped, people became concerned. Scientists in both locations are trying to understand what happened to the whales and why.

An end to extinctions. An environmental cop on the beat. Labor promised a great deal on the environment. But yesterday, they backed away from the main challenge.

A version of this article originally appeared in The Deep Dish, our members-only newsletter. Become a member today and get the next issue directly in your inbox. In 2020, Common Ground received just under $300,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to train entrepreneurs to grow and distribute food in low-income areas. In 2022, […] The post This Farm Bill Really Matters. We Explain Why. appeared first on Civil Eats.

The Biden administration has issued its final rule on maintenance of public lands, finalizing a 2023 proposal to allow leases of those lands for conservation purposes. The rule, issued Thursday by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), would finalize the bureau’s proposal for “conservation leases.” It outlines which people and entities would qualify, including tribal...

On her 90th birthday, Jane Goodall shares insights on environmental conservation, emphasizing the critical role of hope and youth activism in addressing climate change and biodiversity loss.Rhett A. Butler reports for Mongabay.In short:Goodall discusses the significance of fostering hope amidst environmental challenges, using the metaphor of navigating towards a shining star of hope.She underscores the impact of youth engagement in environmental activism, advocating for their influence on elections and policy changes.Goodall highlights her journey and contributions to primatology and conservation, stressing the importance of empathy and understanding in our relationship with the natural world.Key quote:"I’ve come to think of humanity as being at the mouth of a very long very dark tunnel and right at the end there’s a little star shining. And that’s hope."— Jane Goodall, primatologist and environmental advocateWhy this matters:Jane Goodall's legacy is vast and profoundly influential, not just within the realms of primatology and environmental conservation, but also in shaping public perceptions about our relationship with the natural world. Beyond her scientific achievements, Goodall is renowned for her unwavering optimism and belief in the power of young people to effect change.Our global systems, which are designed for perpetual growth, need to be fundamentally restructured to avoid the worst-case outcome.

Now Playing | Illustrating the wide array of birds that live in and around the city of Toronto, the film features passionate birdwatchers who have devoted most of their lives to discovering these birds. In the process, these dedicated people promote Toronto as an international location for birdwatching, which also leads to conservation efforts to protect animals and green land.

Past Presentation | This film reveals the compelling story of the unlikely extinction of the passenger pigeon and explores the pigeon’s striking relevance to conservation issues today, such as the alarming depletion of shark species worldwide. For centuries, the sleek long-distance flier was the most abundant bird in North America and perhaps the world. On September 1, 1914, Martha, the last passenger pigeon in captivity, died in the Cincinnati Zoo, marking the end of the species, and the upcoming centenary of the extinction event.

The revised proposal grants water providers an extra five years for reducing outdoor irrigation. Cities and water agencies are relieved, while critics say Californians will keep wasting water.

The first commercial timber sales of the Penn Butte and Late Mungers wildlands are scheduled to begin May 15. Thousands of acres of land have already been logged under these Oregon projects, inspiring protests in the community.

Now Playing | With Western Europe’s waterways clogged by thousands of dams, Balkan countries are rallying to protect the continent’s last free-flowing rivers—before it’s too late. In Croatia's popular tourist region of Dalmatia, The Nature Conservancy and its partners helped protect the Krupa River in perpetuity, one of the first conservation wins of its kind in the region.

Past Presentation | This significant documentary explains the spectacular financialization of environmental conservation. If nature had a price, wouldn’t corporations and governments be less likely to destroy it? Wouldn’t putting a price on nature overturn what economist Pavan Sukhdev calls “the economic invisibility of nature”? Reality, of course, turns out to be rather more complex. What guarantees do we have that our natural inheritance will be protected? Should our ecological heritage be for sale? Is the best way to protect nature to put a price on it? Wouldn’t putting a price on nature overturn what economist Pavan Sukhdev calls “the economic invisibility of nature?”

The measure elevates conservation in a number of ways, including by creating new leases for the restoration of degraded areas.

Now Playing | What exactly is the connection between bats and coronavirus? And how has sheltering-in-place disrupted field research in California and beyond? State and local governments have set restrictions on bat research and rescue in an effort to curtail the spread of the coronavirus. Dr. Winifred Frick, chief scientist of Bat Conservation International, describes how the new restrictions have affected conservation efforts.

Past Presentation | This film dives into remote underwater locations to reveal the catastrophic effects humanity has had on the oceans. Illegal overfishing of sharks across the planet has deeper consequences that puts the Earth’s most important ecosystem in danger of collapsing, which threatens all life in, and above, the ocean. Stewart dedicated his life to conservation, saying: “Conservation is the preservation of human life. And, that, above all else is worth fighting for.” He taught the world to love the oceans and their creatures and not fear sharks through his iconic images of hugging and free diving with sharks and mantas.

Past Presentation | Bury Me at Taylor Hollow follows the growing pains of Larkspur as they set out to raise $210,000 to buy 112 acres for both natural burial and conservation. With breathtaking footage and intimate moments of a soul finding its way, director Orion Pahl and writer/editor Rebekah Pahl weave an unforgettable glimpse into a new way of approaching death. More than just a film about death, Bury Me is about the through-line present in all our lives if we keep our ears close to the ground and listen.

Past Presentation | Director note: “Through 3 years of researching what the Cheetah Conservation Fund and other NGOs were doing in the way of conservation . . I realised that there was a big focus on the illegal trade of dead animal parts, but no one was telling the story of the illegal trade in live animals, especially those destined for the pet trade.” This film looks at the illegal wildlife trade of cheetah cubs, and the role social media plays in the parading and trading of exotic animals online. Hundreds of cheetah cubs are being stolen from the wild, which is decimating the wild population in Africa. For every 5 cubs that are taken, only 1 survives. They are being smuggled illegally into the Middle East to be sold as pets.

Now Playing | Star is a bird of many names. Kārearea, kāiaia, the New Zealand falcon. Aotearoa was once a nation of manu. Winged creatures reigned: bats, bugs and birds. Whilst flightless creatures crawled the land, the skies were ruled by aerial predators, some of these birds almost mythical in size. Yet with the arrival of humans came great change. Today, many manu linger only in legend. But a few birds of prey remain, including the feisty kārearea. The New Zealand falcon didn’t survive these changing years unscathed. Kārearea are even rarer than the kiwi. But they won’t go down without a fight. Through both traditional filmmaking and stop-motion animation, Tōku Waiata / My Song soars Aotearoa's skies alongside Star, an advocacy falcon at Wingspan Birds of Prey Centre. Here, a rather different conservation practice is used to conserve New Zealand's only falcon; the ancient art of falconry.

Past Presentation | A Fierce Green Fire: The Battle for a Living Planet is the first big-picture exploration of the environmental movement – grassroots and global activism spanning fifty years from conservation to climate change. Directed and written by Mark Kitchell, Academy Award-nominated director of Berkeley in the Sixties, and narrated by Robert Redford, Ashley Judd, Van Jones, Isabel Allende and Meryl Streep, the film premiered at Sundance Film Festival 2012, has won acclaim at festivals around the world, and in 2013 begins theatrical release as well as educational distribution and use by environmental groups and grassroots activists. Inspired by the book of the same name by Philip Shabecoff and informed by advisors like Edward O. Wilson, A Fierce Green Fire chronicles the largest movement of the 20th century and one of the keys to the 21st. It brings together all the major parts of environmentalism and connects them. It focuses on activism, people fighting to save their homes, their lives, the future – and succeeding against all odds.

Horse racing industry insiders said to be pushing for Sydney track to be relocated to former brickpit in Olympic Park – a sanctuary to an unlikely urban survivorFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastConservations have expressed surprise at reported plans to move Sydney’s Rosehill racecourse to a historic brickpit at Olympic Park, which is home to a colony of endangered green and golden bell frogs.The plan has reportedly been devised by racing bosses, alongside the deal between the Australian Turf Club and the New South Wales government to redevelop the famous track into new housing, as well as two additional metro stations.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup Continue reading...

In a bid to tackle coastal erosion, South Carolina communities and environmentalists clash over the construction of erosion control structures called groins at Debidue Beach. Daniel Shailer reports for Inside Climate News.In short:Environmental advocates argue that the construction of groins could harm the North Inlet-Winyah Bay reserve by disrupting natural sand movement.Debidue Beach residents advocate for these structures to protect their homes from increasing erosion, highlighting tensions between climate resilience and coastal development.Legal challenges and confusion over state coastal management regulations underscore the difficulties of balancing property protection with environmental conservation.Key quote:"Equity plays a huge part in this. When you look at environmental justice communities throughout the United States, you see an intentional disinvestment in those communities."— Omar Muhammad, executive director of the Lowcountry Alliance for Model CommunitiesWhy this matters:By preserving beaches, groins also support local economies that depend on tourism. On the other hand, groins can have unintended consequences. For instance, while they may accumulate sand on one side, they can also starve areas down drift of sand, leading to increased erosion elsewhere. Disparate state, local, private and federal conservation efforts are failing to protect biodiversity. Connectivity and coordination would help, say agency scientists and conservation leaders.

In the Solomon Islands, Indigenous tribes are leveraging the lucrative carbon credit market to sustainably protect their ancient rainforests from logging while funneling vital income to their communities.Jo Chandler reports for Yale E360.In short:Several Solomon Islands tribes have united to form the Babatana Rainforest Conservation Project, preserving their forests and selling carbon credits internationally.The project includes verified protected areas and employs local tribespeople as rangers, enhancing biodiversity and environmental stewardship.The initiative provides significant economic benefits to the tribes, supporting community developments like education and infrastructure.Key quote:"If we misuse or destroy this land, we will not have any other,"— Linford Pitatamae, leader of the Sirebe tribeWhy this matters:Natural habitats play a significant role in the carbon market because of their ability to sequester carbon naturally. By valuing the carbon stored in these ecosystems, the market incentivizes their preservation. For example, a forest that might otherwise be cleared for agriculture could be maintained as a carbon sink. The revenue from selling carbon credits can make conservation financially viable for landowners and communities, providing an economic alternative to destructive practices like deforestation.Researchers say "proforestation" policies are the fastest and most effective way to draw excess CO2 out of the atmosphere.

The EU has been backpedaling on its environmental promises, yielding to agribusiness and far-right demands, risking future ecological stability.Arthur Neslen writes for The Guardian.In short:The EU has scrapped initiatives aimed at reducing pesticide usage, protecting nature, and curbing toxic chemicals due to external pressures.This rollback is partly in response to fears of a far-right surge in upcoming elections, despite potential long-term environmental consequences.The EU's deforestation law, a critical part of its green agenda, faces threats of dilution, raising concerns about global forest conservation.Key quote:“Von der Leyen risks obliterating her last remaining achievement on land use over the last five years. There is already almost nothing left of the green deal.”— Julia Christian of the forest conservation group FernWhy this matters:The recent electoral successes of right-wing parties are expected to influence the European Union's political priorities and policy initiatives, with potential shifts toward more conservative positions on issues like environmental policies.

In a recent interview, Hop Hopkins, the newly appointed executive director of WildEarth Guardians, discusses his holistic approach to environmental conservation, emphasizing the interconnectedness of racial justice and environmental sustainability.Susan Shain reports for High Country News.In short:Hop Hopkins emphasizes the need for an intersectional approach in conservation, rejecting the separation of human and wild environments.He points out that environmental degradation and racial injustice are fueled by the same systems of extraction and disposability.Hopkins advocates for community-engaged strategies to transition workers from extractive industries to sustainable livelihoods without harm.Key quote:"You can't have climate change without sacrifice zones, and you can't have sacrifice zones without disposable people, and you can't have disposable people without racism."— Hop Hopkins, executive director of WildEarth GuardiansWhy this matters:Research shows that in the United States, Black, Hispanic and other communities of color are more likely to live near polluting industries and have less access to clean air and water. This is not just an issue of proximity to hazardous sites but also involves systemic inequalities in housing, healthcare and employment.

Supercapacitors, also known as ultracapacitors or electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs), are advanced energy storage devices with unique characteristics. Unlike traditional batteries, supercapacitors store energy through...

The isolation of this ecologically rich archipelago of peaks, located in a “sea” of desert that stretches from northern Mexico into southern Arizona, means that plants grow here that don’t grow anywhere else. Its 2,800 acres—the first protected habitat for the wild relatives of crops in the United States—now shelter not just a single pepper but […] The post Seeds from Wild Crop Relatives Could Help Agriculture Weather Climate Change appeared first on Civil Eats.

The Supreme Court is set to hear a case that could end a long-standing dispute over the Rio Grande's waters among Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado.Danielle Prokop reports for Source NM.In short:The Supreme Court will review a proposed agreement between Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado to settle a decade-long lawsuit over the Rio Grande, despite federal objections.The deal aims to resolve conflicts arising from New Mexico's groundwater pumping, which Texas claims violates the Rio Grande Compact.A special master recommended the Court approve the states' settlement, but the outcome remains uncertain as the Court has previously rejected such recommendations.Key quote:"If this settlement proves to be able to get it resolved in a decade, it is, I would say, a positive development, as we look at the challenges of interstate water management, as rivers are more and more affected by climate change."— Reed Benson, professor at the University of New Mexico School of LawWhy this matters:At the heart of the dispute is how much water each state is entitled to under the compact, with Texas arguing that New Mexico has been using more than its fair share, thereby reducing flows into Texas. New Mexico contends it needs to balance its water use for agriculture, population growth, and environmental conservation. The states have attempted to find common ground through negotiations, but the underlying issues of water rights, usage, and conservation remain contentious.In 2023, the federal government decided that while the Navajo Nation does have water rights, established by Winters Doctrine, it will not help the Nation assert those rights.

Supreme court ruling left more than 90% of state’s surface waters with no pollution protections, since they don’t run continuouslyNew Mexico’s rivers, which include the Rio Grande, Gila, San Juan and Pecos, are America’s most threatened waterways, according to a new report. This is largely due to a 2023 US supreme court decision that left more than 90% of the state’s surface waters without federal protections from industrial pollution, according to state officials.“Virtually all the rivers in New Mexico are losing clean water protections,” said Matt Rice, the south-west regional director of American Rivers, the conservation group that publishes the annual list. “It has the most to lose, and the threat is particularly acute there.” Continue reading...

AgForce is seeking a judicial review of a 2022 decision that found the project did not need to be assessed under federal environmental lawsSign up for the Rural Network email newsletterJoin the Rural Network group on Facebook to be part of the communityQueensland farming body AgForce has launched legal action against the federal government in a bid to stop liquified carbon dioxide from being pumped into the Great Artesian Basin.The Carbon Transport and Storage Corporation (CTSCo), a subsidiary of mining giant Glencore, is awaiting state government approval for a pilot scheme to inject Co2 emitted by a coal-fired power station in southern Queensland into underground water aquifers as part of a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project trial.Sign up to receive Guardian Australia’s fortnightly Rural Network email newsletterSign up for the Rural Network email newsletterJoin the Rural Network group on Facebook to be part of the community Continue reading...

We compiled maps of bushfires and prescribed burns in southern Australia from 1980 to 2021 to see how fire activity is changing habitat for 129 threatened species such as mountain pygmy possums.

New research suggests if we can’t eradicate cane toads, we can teach wildlife not to eat them.

Leaders with responsibilities for sea country on way to Canberra to lobby against legislationFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastThe Albanese government is facing major blowback over changes to its offshore gas bill, which the crossbench and environment groups have labelled “window dressing” that fails to prevent new rules watering down First Nations consultation.Seeking to clear the decks before Easter, the government is expected to reveal tweaks to its proposed vehicle efficiency standards this week. And on Monday Labor introduced amendments to add safeguards to the offshore gas bill after widespread concerns, including from within it own ranks.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup Continue reading...

Now Playing | In the mountains of northern Kenya, a Samburu community is doing something that has never been done before. They’ve built a sanctuary for orphaned elephants to try to rehabilitate them back to the wild. The project is not just changing local attitudes about elephants, it's changing attitudes about women too because the secret to Reteti’s success is all because of the special bond between a group of local women keepers and one special elephant named Shaba. Reteti Elephant Sanctuary is the first-ever indigenous community-owned and run sanctuary in all of Africa, where rescued orphaned elephants are looked after by local keepers from the Samburu community. They are rehabilitated and raised and then reintroduced back into the wild. The sanctuary is empowering young Samburu women to be the first-ever indigenous women elephant keepers in all of Africa. At first, the community didn’t think there was a place for women in the workplace. Now, the success of these women elephant keepers is unlocking new possibilities and setting a powerful example for young girls, hoping to pursue their dreams. What’s happening there, without fanfare, is nothing less than the beginnings of a transformation in the way the Samburu people relate to wild animals. This oasis where orphans grow up, learning to be wild so that one day they can rejoin their herds, is as much about people as it is about elephants. This is a personal story about a group of women and an elephant named Shaba who changed each other's lives. This film is a powerful reminder that we are a part of a complex world created over millions of years, and the survival of all species is intertwined with our own. Reteti began in partnership with Conservation International who provided critical operational support and work to scale the Reteti community-centered model to create lasting impacts worldwide.

Past Presentation |

Webinars and other events offer lessons in beekeeping, growing produce, ikebana and more.