Mongabay

Mongabay

@mongabay.com

Award-winning nonprofit media outlet publishing global environmental science & news in 8 languages via bureaus in India, Brazil, Africa, Latin America, Indonesia & US: https://mongabay.com

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Mozambique’s Zambeze Delta Safaris has received the prestigious Markhor Award at #COP17 for driving post-war wildlife recovery. By combining regulated trophy hunting with community revenue sharing, the initiative demonstrates how sustainable management can restore degraded habitats. Learn more. 👇️

mongabay.ccMozambique safari operator wins conservation award at COP17YEREVAN, Armenia — A Mozambican safari operator credited with helping restore wildlife populations in Mozambique’s Zambezi Delta, has won the 2026 Markhor Award, which recognizes contributions to…

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Can military defense and ancient conservation coexist on Europe’s frontline? In Poland’s Białowieża Forest, NATO defenses meet a UNESCO ecosystem. But an unexpected alliance is pioneering "war wilding", restoring wetlands to create natural, impassable military barriers. 👉️ youtu.be/oiGpo7daoOo

As extreme weather drives climate migration in Bangladesh, secondary cities remain unprepared to protect arriving populations. A study warns that without supportive policies for housing & employment, moving away from environmental threats exposes families to risks. Fellow Usraat Fahmidah reports.

mongabay.ccBangladesh’s climate migrants are arriving in cities unprepared to protect themIn 2024, disasters displaced 2.4 million people within Bangladesh even as the International Monetary Fund predicts that rising seas could eliminate more than one-seventh of Bangladesh’s land area and…

Sri Lanka mourns the loss of beloved tusker Kavantissa as public anger grows over the escalating human-elephant conflict. Amid calls for clinical reviews of his care, conservationists argue that bold action is needed to save the nation’s remaining tuskers. Malaka Rodrigo reports for #Mongabay.

mongabay.ccSri Lanka mourns iconic tusker amid renewed calls to address human-elephant conflictCOLOMBO – The death of Kavantissa, one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic wild tuskers (Elephas maximus maximus), following a gunshot injury triggered an extraordinary wave of public grief, political…

Facing declining yields from extreme weather, tea farmers in Taiwan’s Alishan region are abandoning conventional practices. By adopting sustainable, nature-based approaches and wild-grown cultivation, growers are helping their crops weather mounting ecological pressures. Aylin Ho reports.

mongabay.ccTaiwan’s tea growers let nature take back control as climate pressures mountMEISHAN TOWNSHIP, Taiwan — Lin Kuang-li’s tea plants blend in among the dozens of others that blanket this tea-producing village in Alishan, a mountain range in Taiwan. Yet the leaves he produces are…

A 1,000-year study shows Australia’s wildfire crisis stems from colonial disruption of Indigenous burning. For centuries, Gunaikurnai stewardship prevented catastrophic fires, but halting traditional practices quadrupled flammable forest cover long before modern warming. Learn more. 👇️

mongabay.ccA millennium of evidence reveals colonial roots of Australia’s wildfire vulnerabilityA 1,000-year ecological reconstruction reveals that Australia’s ongoing wildfire crisis stems from the colonial disruption of Indigenous fire management rather than climate change alone, according to…

Corals hold a chemical record of ocean pollution, a new study reveals. By analyzing coral tissues in Hawaii, scientists identified 25 contaminants from cosmetics, drugs, and agriculture, showing how chronic local pollution erodes reef resilience to marine heatwaves. Edward Carver reports.

mongabay.ccCorals keep a record of pollution, pointing to a new monitoring method: StudyMaui, an island in the isolated Hawaiian archipelago, isn’t in one of the world’s most heavily developed or polluted coral-reef regions. Yet even there, human activity leaves an imprint in the very…

Environmental groups and local communities in Mexico are calling for an immediate end to road construction inside the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Advocates urge courts to uphold injunctions, warning that infrastructure projects risk permanent damage to coastal ecosystems. Maxwell Radwin reports.

mongabay.ccCritics call for halt to road construction in Mexico’s Sian Ka’an Biosphere ReserveMEXICO CITY — In early October, Mexico’s environment ministry published a statement about minimizing infrastructure development inside the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a protected area on the…

As Canada’s North warms faster than almost anywhere else, 15 young plaintiffs begin a historic trial challenging federal climate policy. They argue that inadequate emissions targets infringe on their constitutional rights by devastating traditional ways of life. By Elizabeth Rusch for #Mongabay.

mongabay.ccAhead of landmark climate trial in Canada, Indigenous youth eye impacts in the NorthEarlier this year, one of Leandrea Taylor Reeves’s best friends fell ill with a cold. “Maybe you need to go gather some Labrador,” said Reeves’ grandmother, observing the friend. For as long as…

In a historic runoff victory, President Lula defeated Flávio Bolsonaro, who campaigned on rolling back Amazon protections. With four consecutive years of declining deforestation, Lula promised to strengthen climate policy even as congressional opposition looms. Read more. 👇️ mongabay.cc/GsDGDR

mongabay.cc‘Defeat for denialism’: Lula beats far right Bolsonaro in Brazilian presidential electionIncumbent Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was reelected on Oct. 25 in a surprise defeat of his far-right rival who had promised to remove “environmental obstacles” in the Amazon…

Mining and cattle ranching have wiped out nearly 33,000 hectares of natural water across four Amazonian river basins. A new investigation by Vanessa Romo for @mongabaylatam.bsky.social reveals how deforestation and pollution threaten the water security of 74 Indigenous groups across the region.

mongabay.ccAmazon communities lose water as mining and deforestation reshape rivers“People think that because we live in the forest we have plenty of water, but this is the reality,” Erick Tijé, an Indigenous Harakmbut resident of the southern Peruvian Amazon, says in a tone of…

Driven by climate-induced ocean warming, 96% of coral reefs are on track to become critically endangered within 50 years, an IUCN report warns. Protecting these marine hubs, which support 25% of ocean life, depends on urgent climate action and tackling local threats. Learn more. 👇️

mongabay.ccNearly all the world’s coral reefs are at risk of collapse within 50 years, IUCN warnsNearly every shallow-water coral reef ecosystem on Earth is at high risk of ecological collapse by 2075, according to the first coral reef assessment of the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems (RLE).  The…

To stop diving seabirds from drowning in fishing nets, a study tested bird-of-prey kites and googly-eyed buoys, cutting guillemot and razorbill bycatch significantly. While weather and habituation pose limits, short seasonal uses offer a promising fix. Liz Kimbrough reports for #Mongabay.

mongabay.ccGoogly-eyed buoys and kites help keep seabirds out of fishing nets, study findsOff the coast of Cornwall in southwest England, a pole rises from a buoy with a pair of big eyes on top. The head spins, creating what researchers call an “animated eye effect.” Its job is to scare…

Vast carbon sinks and vital water regulators, Venezuela’s moriche palm forests are under rising pressure. Biologist Miguel Ángel Sánchez-Mercado argues that protecting this "tree of life" requires integrating science with Indigenous knowledge. Interview by Diego Ávila Muskus for #Mongabay.

mongabay.ccWater, carbon & the ‘tree of life’: Interview with Venezuela’s guardian of morichalesWhile global climate conversations tend to center on the Amazon and temperate forests, a vital, quiet freshwater oasis across the Venezuelan savannas and floodplains is disappearing under the radar.…

In a major ecological milestone, Brazil’s Amazon deforestation fell to 3,335 sq km over the past year, a record low since satellite monitoring began in 1988. Deforestation in the agricultural Cerrado savanna also hit historic lows following sustained policy interventions. Learn more. 👇️

mongabay.ccIUCN’s Madhu Rao on the world’s protected areas: Progress, pressures and the race to 2030A park ranger in the Democratic Republic of Congo survived an ambush that killed colleagues. In Cambodia, mines and dams are pressing against land set aside for wildlife. In the Amazon, illegal…

A toxic leak from a copper processing plant has polluted Zambia’s Kafue River, altering its color, taste, and smell. With local communities facing contaminated drinking water, advocates demand real-time infrastructure oversight and transparent heavy-metal testing. Chisapi Kumbutso reports.

mongabay.ccAnother mining-linked pollution incident raises alarm over Zambia’s Kafue RiverThe Zambian government has ordered a copper miner to assess its infrastructure for weaknesses and clean up areas affected by pollution of the Kafue River, after residents downstream of the plant that…

Facing rising international interest in its offshore resources, Greenland’s parliament has acted to suspend seabed mining until at least 2029. Advocates stress that protecting pristine waters is crucial for the nation’s economy, which relies heavily on sustainable fisheries. Learn more. 👇️

mongabay.cc‘A decision to decide’: Greenland moves to suspend seabed mining until 2029Greenland’s parliament has asked the government to pause licensing on seabed mining amid concerns about foreign interests in mining and potential environmental consequences for marine life. The Oct.…

The death of Kavantissa, Sri Lanka’s tallest elephant, from gunshot wounds has sparked widespread public outrage. In response, authorities are launching daily raids to confiscate illegal firearms, while international animal rights groups urge elephant repatriations. Kamanthi Wickramasinghe reports.

mongabay.ccDeath of iconic elephant in Sri Lanka pushes authorities to fast-track protection effortsGALGAMUWA, Sri Lanka – Residents in Galgamuwa, a rural village in Sri Lanka’s North Western Province are mourning the death of an iconic wild, bull elephant that roamed the area. While Galgamuwa is…

Catastrophic fires in Borneo are destroying critical habitat for endangered orangutans. With more than 48,500 hectares burned in West Kalimantan this year, rescue teams have saved over 50 displaced orangutans as emergency operations race against the flames. Story by Garry Lotulung for #Mongabay.

mongabay.ccScorched sanctuaries: The race to save Borneo’s orangutans from firesThick smog covers the forest canopy in Ketapang, West Kalimantan, dimming the sun. On the front lines, forest and land fires are not just destroying habitats; they are pushing local primates close to…

After 58 sloths died at a Florida roadside attraction, a bipartisan bill in U.S. Congress seeks to ban wild sloth imports. The proposed SLOTHS Act aims to end commercial trade and protect these sensitive animals from fatal exploitation and transit stress. Bobby Bascomb reports for #Mongabay.

mongabay.ccMass sloth deaths prompt US bill calling for import banOn Oct. 20, International Sloth Day, a bipartisan bill was introduced in the U.S. Congress to ban the import of wild sloths into the United States. The proposed legislation comes months after the…

Snow leopards face rising threats from climate change and human conflict across High Asia. On World Snow Leopard Day, experts emphasize that long-term survival depends on protecting wild prey, establishing cross-border corridors, and supporting local herding communities. mongabay.cc/QZrRYY

mongabay.ccWorld Snow Leopard Day: Community action and new science foster coexistence with humansSnow leopards range across Asia’s rugged mountains, where they face mounting threats from climate change, declining wild prey, and retaliatory killings from local herders. Today, on Oct. 23,…

Meeting the 30×30 target requires more than expanding park boundaries. A new report reveals millions of hectares of tropical protected areas overlap with extractive concessions, urging #COP17 delegates to restrict industrial activity and uphold Indigenous land rights. By @aimeegabay.bsky.social.

mongabay.ccExtractive industries threaten global goal to protect 30% of nature by 2030, report findsA new report by Earth Insight finds more than 61.5 million hectares (151.9 million acres) of protected and conserved areas — an area roughly 2.5 times the size of the United Kingdom — overlap with…

Seabirds and native forests are key to keeping low-lying islands above rising seas. A new study finds that nutrient-rich guano and native trees accelerate reef growth, helping rat-free atolls keep pace with sea-level rise under 2°C of global warming. Ruth Kamnitzer reports for #Mongabay.

mongabay.ccSeabird guano and native trees keep islands above rising seas: StudyLow-lying tropical atoll islands appear remarkably vulnerable to climate change. But when shrouded with native forests and with abundant seabird populations, these islands may keep up with rising sea…

Despite declining federal funding, silvopasture is gaining ground with U.S. farmers. Combining trees, pasture, and livestock, this agroforestry method offers crucial shade during heatwaves while enhancing farm biodiversity and long-term climate resilience. Story by @erikhoffner.bsky.social.

mongabay.ccSustainable silvopasture is popular with US farmers despite waning financial supportsVERSHIRE, Vermont – When Sabra Ewing and Sebastian Lousada bought a tired dairy farm with pastures featuring old apple trees alongside sprouting maples, it was obvious that the grass below these…

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[Commentary] Meeting in Yerevan near Mount Ararat, delegates at CBD COP17 face a modern "Noah’s Ark" moment. In a new op-ed, @mightyearth.org founder and CEO Glenn Hurowitz calls on world leaders to chart a bold new course for global biodiversity conservation before it’s too late.

mongabay.ccNature has a new Noah’s Ark moment at the biodiversity summit (commentary)Delegates from most of the world’s governments are assembling this week in Yerevan, Armenia for the latest summit of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17), whose aim is to prevent the…

From fetching water to surviving floods, Kenyan women carry the heaviest weight of climate impacts. A report highlights why climate financing and just transition policies must address unpaid care work and ensure affected communities have a real seat at the table. Fellow Ouma Elvine Tina reports.

mongabay.ccJust transition remains elusive for Kenyan women despite robust policiesAnna Fatuma is a 31-year-old woman who runs a kibandaski in Tumboni village, Kitui county in eastern Kenya. Kibandaski is Kenyan urban slang for an affordable, open-air urban eatery, often a small…

Heavy rain at the wrong time is disrupting West African cacao production. Research in Ghana reveals that extreme rainfall during the flowering period directly damages crops, adding new climate pressures on farmers & fueling rising global chocolate prices. Victoria Schneider reports for #Mongabay.

mongabay.ccHeavy rains during critical period of cacao cultivation hit Ghana’s yieldsHeavy rainfall during the cacao flowering season is a major driver of Ghana’s recent harvest fluctuations, new research finds. A study published in September by researchers at the Harvard University…

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Todas as conquistas e acordos de reparação histórica a favor dos povos indígenas, desde 2023, poderão ser anulados se o candidato de extrema-direita Flávio Bolsonaro for eleito presidente. Minha matéria para @mongabay.com. Edição @alexdesanti.bsky.social brasil.mongabay.com/2026/10/ativ...

brasil.mongabay.comAtivistas temem fim do Ministério dos Povos Indígenas com vitória de FlávioUma rápida canetada pode apagar anos de conquistas dos povos originários do país.

With nearly half of migratory bird species in decline, Mozambique’s Maputo National Park highlights the vital role of habitat protection. Bridging the Arctic and Southern Africa, its wetlands offer essential refuge and food for species on long journeys. Wilson Odhiambo reports for #Mongabay.

mongabay.ccMozambique’s Maputo National Park showcases biodiversity and shelters migratory birdsA recent State of the World’s Birds report found nearly half of the migratory birds assessed are declining. The stark finding comes as world governments are gathered in Armenia for the ongoing U.N.…

Rising temperatures and heatwaves are creating a severe health crisis for Bangladesh’s garment workers. With limited health data and rising economic losses, experts urge enforceable standards and shared accountability among governments, factories, and global brands. Fellow Usraat Fahmidah reports.

mongabay.ccBangladesh garment factory workers bear the brunt of rising temperaturesOne afternoon earlier this year, Mridula collapsed on the floor of the Dhaka garment factory where she works, overcome by dizziness in the heat. The 20-year-old sewing operator, who works at a…

A landslide in Sumatra killed four illegal gold miners, just months after nine died in a similar disaster. Driven by record global gold prices, over 20 million small-scale miners worldwide face deadly landslips and exposure to neurotoxic mercury to make a living. Read the full story.

mongabay.ccDeadly gold rush continues as latest landslide kills four in SumatraPADANG, Indonesia — Four gold miners were killed after a hillside in the Jorong Jujutan forest of Sumatra’s South Solok district gave way in the early hours of Oct. 6. The landslide marked the latest…

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Six belugas relocated from Marineland Canada to aquariums in the US and Spain have died after a two-month rescue effort. Marine biologists cite years of neglect at the closed facility, sparking urgent calls from conservationists to phase out cetacean captivity globally. Spoorthy Raman reports.

mongabay.ccSix beluga deaths cast a shadow over rescue from Canada’s MarinelandSix members of a pod of 30 belugas, a fifth of the whales that were transferred from a marine park in Canada to facilities in the U.S. and Spain as part of a massive rescue operation, have died in…

Heavily hunted for fins and meat, the vulnerable silky shark is in sharp decline. Costa Rica, responsible for 82% of global exports, now faces international pressure and a potential trade ban if it fails to prove its commercial fishing practices are sustainable. @alexmegerle.bsky.social reports.

mongabay.ccAs silky sharks decline, Costa Rica’s dominant trade faces a reckoningInside an inspection facility in Hong Kong in 2018, shark biologist Diego Cardeñosa stared at dozens of large white bags. They were stacked, sometimes six or seven high, beneath strip lights hanging…

A #Mongabay investigation shows U.S. deep-sea mining claims in the Pacific now equal half the area managed by the U.N. International Seabed Authority. These overlapping high-seas claims spark intense legal conflicts and threaten fragile deep-sea ecosystems. Story by @elizabethalberts.bsky.social.

mongabay.ccUS deep-sea mining claims in Pacific’s high seas now rival the area set aside by international regulatorThe International Seabed Authority (ISA), a U.N.-associated body, has long managed activities related to deep-sea mining in international waters. But after the Trump administration issued an…

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[Commentary] Aid cuts are creating severe conservation funding gaps, but Maliasili CEO Fred Nelson argues this crisis offers a chance for reform. Expanding Indigenous-led funds and direct donor partnerships can shift control, and resources, back to frontline communities. mongabay.cc/H3Z99G

mongabay.ccNavigating crisis and opportunity in conservation funding (commentary)The past two years have been a dramatic period for conservation funding. The greatest attention has focused on the sudden dissolution of USAID in early 2025, as well as the wider crisis in aid…

Ever wondered if a wildlife photo was staged? "Photography game farms" use captive animals for awards and stock photos, misleading viewers. Learn more in this episode of the 'Conservation, Entangled' series by Izzy Sasada. Find all the episodes in Mongabay's YouTube! mongabay.cc/Conservation...

In the Himalayas of Uttarakhand, India, women are single-handedly keeping native Indian honey bees alive. Using traditional "wall hives" built into homes, they care for pollinators facing climate change, habitat loss, and modern architecture. Read the full story by Swati Thapa for #Mongabay.

mongabay.ccThe women keeping Uttarakhand’s native bees alivePITHORAGARH, Uttarakhand, India — The world comes alive during summers in Himalayan states like Uttarakhand. The forests are budding with new green leaves, and almost every trail is lined on both…

Caring for a third of Australia isn't just Indigenous conservation, it's vital for the whole planet. This week on the Mongabay Newscast, CEO Samantha Murray shares with @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social how the Indigenous Desert Alliance combines tech with traditional knowledge to restore wildlife.

mongabay.ccFor Australia’s Indigenous Desert Alliance, caring for Country starts with a storyThis week on the Mongabay Newscast, Samantha Murray, CEO of the Indigenous Desert Alliance, joins the program to discuss the IDA’s recent nomination for an Earthshot Prize. The alliance is a network…

Invasive sea urchins are destroying Tasmania’s kelp forests. While a government-backed commercial fishery helped restore marine ecosystems, researchers warn that a shift to short-term funding cycles threatens harvesters and puts kelp recovery on wobbly ground. Amina McCauley reports for #Mongabay.

mongabay.ccFunding uncertainty threatens Tasmania’s gains against kelp-grazing sea urchinsFor nearly a decade, divers off Tasmania’s east coast have been getting a boost from the government to harvest the invasive sea urchins killing off kelp forests that fringe the Australian island…

Recycled glass sand could help restore Louisiana’s rapidly eroding coast without harming native marine life. A study found no safety differences compared to natural sediment, offering a promising alternative to destructive sand mining. Story by Fernanda Biasoli for #Mongabay.

mongabay.ccRecycled glass offers a potential new tool to restore a vanishing coastlineEvery 100 minutes, the U.S. state of Louisiana loses a soccer field’s worth of land to coastal erosion. It’s a natural process intensified by the acceleration of sea level rise and human activities…

Brazil’s first Ministry of Indigenous Peoples has secured 20 land demarcations and cut illegal gold mining in Yanomami land by 98%. But Minister Eloy Terena warns these historical gains could be undone if far-right candidate Flávio Bolsonaro wins the election. @bykarlamendes.bsky.social reports.

mongabay.ccBrazil election puts unprecedented Indigenous ministry at risk if Flávio Bolsonaro winsA quick stroke of a pen could erase years of achievements of the country's Indigenous peoples.

[Founder's Briefs] As governments gather at COP17 to review global biodiversity targets, success hinges on local action. From restoring habitats for Tanzania's electric-blue gecko to supporting frontline defenders, lasting conservation requires permanent funding and support. By Rhett Ayers Butler.

mongabay.ccConservation is bringing species back. Governments must help those gains lastLast year the Christmas Island shrew, slender-billed curlew, and three Australian bandicoots were among the species formally declared extinct. None has been seen in at least 30 years, but bureaucracy…