#mongabay

Conservationists secured a major victory with a court ruling that curtails bottom trawling in the North Sea's Dogger Bank. However, experts warn that the protected marine nursery still faces severe pressure from offshore wind farm developments and oil extraction. Christina Egerstrom reports for #Mongabay. https://mongabay.cc/l61U2q

[Commentary] Record gold prices are driving illicit mining across the Amazon, devastating forests, rivers and Indigenous territories. In a new op-ed, researcher Robert Muggah argues central banks and major buyers must enforce stricter supply chain traceability to stop laundered gold. https://mongabay.cc/NMODUb *The views expressed are those of the author, not necessarily of #Mongabay.

Plastic pollution has reached the ocean’s deepest extremes. Researchers found microplastics in nearly every sampled snail and mussel inhabiting hydrothermal vents in the Indian and Pacific Ocean. “I expected to detect some. I did not expect 92% of the specimens.” María Paula Rubiano A. reports for #Mongabay. https://mongabay.cc/jnbInu

[Founder's briefs] Marking a decade of impact, #Mongabay Latam celebrated its milestone with PUMA FEST in Bogotá, uniting 400 voices. From empowering Indigenous journalists to building 90+ media partnerships, the network advances vital conservation coverage throughout Latin America. Writes Rhett Ayers Butler. https://mongabay.cc/yVbisl

[Commentary] Conservation should allow evolution to run its course unengineered, according to a new op-ed on nonnative wildlife introductions. Charles Foley & Kenneth Coe urge adherence to global translocation standards, warning that introducing exotic species risks undermining natural ecosystems. https://mongabay.cc/thuMvF *The views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily of #Mongabay.

Voluntary carbon markets continue falling short on forest protection, argues expert Pati Ruiz Corzo. To succeed, the value of forest ecosystem services must directly benefit local and Indigenous communities guarding them, anything less is a new form of exploitation. *The views expressed are those of the author, not necessarily of #Mongabay. https://mongabay.cc/VpZbxo

A new DNA database reveals that international pangolin trafficking and local wild meat markets draw from the exact same forests. By mapping genetic samples across Africa and Asia, researchers proved illegal global syndicates share supply chains with domestic poachers at the point of harvest. Shanna Hanbury reports for #Mongabay. https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/07/pangolin-dna-study-links-local-wild-meat-markets-to-global-trafficking-networks/

[Commentary] True conservation requires a partnership between science and traditional knowledge. Charudutt Mishra, director of the Snow Leopard Trust, highlights how Indigenous communities co-producing research has transformed regional conservation and created thriving winter economies. https://mongabay.cc/SuM5yD *The views expressed are those of the author, not necessarily of #Mongabay.

As demand for cocoa grows, forests in Liberia are being cleared at an alarming rate. Between 2024 and 2025, one county alone lost an area of primary forest more than four times the size of Manhattan. To know more we traveled to Kwa National Forest, one of West Africa's last remaining primary forests, to investigate the environmental cost of the cocoa boom. Ashoka Mukpo reports for #Mongabay. 👉️ https://mongabay.cc/MSWO5T #Liberia #Cocoa

As Indonesia builds its new capital in Borneo, a joint documentary by #Mongabay, Scientific American, and Project Multatuli reveals the ecological toll. "Sound Guardians" follows researchers and Indigenous communities archiving the sounds of a rainforest facing permanent change. 📺️ https://mongabay.cc/191FcL 📺️ *The documentary was produced with support from the Pulitzer Center. #Indonesia #acoustic

An investigation by Earth League International reveals thriving illegal wildlife trade in Cambodia. Transnational networks operate scam centers and sell endangered species, including tigers and rhinos, primarily to high-ranking officials and Chinese nationals. Spoorthy Raman reports for #Mongabay. https://mongabay.cc/wbcGH2 #Cambodia

The European Union has excluded leather from its landmark antideforestation law despite internal data showing it accounts for up to 17% of the bloc's import deforestation footprint. Watchdogs say the decision ignores strong evidence linking European leather consumption to deforestation in Latin America. Shanna Hanbury reports for #Mongabay. https://mongabay.cc/AtuIjH #Europe #leather

Can fog harvesting solve water scarcity? In the Atacama Desert, local groups are using large mesh nets to intercept water droplets from coastal fog. Researchers say understanding factors like wind speed and temperature could help governments scale up the strategy. Maxwell Radwin reports for #Mongabay. https://mongabay.cc/xhGqWR #Chile

A "cocoa rush" in Liberia’s remote southeast is driving a major deforestation crisis. Tens of thousands of migrant workers from Côte d’Ivoire are clearing West Africa’s last remaining rainforests for cocoa plantations, pushing Grand Gedeh county to record forest loss. Ashoka Mukpo reports for #Mongabay. https://mongabay.cc/MSWO5T #Liberia #Cocoa

Despite recent raids, illegal wildlife shops in Laos have nearly doubled since 2025. Investigators say low-cost tours pressure Chinese tour groups into buying and consuming endangered species, while conservationists argue limited enforcement fails to disrupt the network. Gerald Flynn reports for #Mongabay. https://mongabay.cc/v80qE7 #Laos

The Trump administration has narrowed the definition of "harm" under the Endangered Species Act, removing habitat destruction from the law's prohibitions. While officials say the rule cuts compliance costs, environmental groups warn it paves the way for destructive land development. Bobby Bascomb reports for #Mongabay. https://mongabay.cc/ED3hm1 #Trump #US

Crucial for coastal protection and carbon storage, global seagrass ecosystems face severe threats. A new AI-mapped study shows 80% of seagrass loss happens outside protected waters, highlighting the urgent need for targeted marine conservation. Abhishyant Kidangoor reports for #Mongabay. https://mongabay.cc/IQFBqx

Sicilianews24.it: Osservatori di uccelli in Nepal colmano le lacune nei dati sulla conservazione. La Crescita della Comunità di Birdwatching in Nepal Il Nepal sta assistendo a una crescente comunità di appassionati di birdwatching, che gioca un ruolo fondamentale nel monitoraggio della biodiversità e nello sviluppo del turismo ecologico. Recenti studi, condotti da Bibek Bhandari per Mongabay, evidenziano come l’interesse crescente per l’osservazione degli uccelli, in particolare tra le giovani generazioni, stia contribuendo a colmare le lacune nei dati ecologici. Questo trend aiuta anche a promuovere il Nepal come una meta ambita per gli amanti del birdwatching. Considerando che il Nepal ospita più di 900 specie di uccelli, inclusa la rara e endemica babbler spinosa (Turdoides nipalensis), è evidente l’importanza di monitorare le popolazioni aviarie. Tuttavia, 172 di queste specie sono considerate minacciate a causa di fattori quali l’urbanizzazione, lo sviluppo delle infrastrutture e il cambiamento climatico. L'articolo Osservatori di uccelli in Nepal colmano le lacune nei dati sulla conservazione. sembra essere il primo su Sicilianews24.it. Birdwatchers in Nepal are filling data gaps for conservation. The Growth of the Birdwatching Community in Nepal Nepal is witnessing a growing community of birdwatchers, which plays a fundamental role in biodiversity monitoring and the development of ecotourism. Recent studies, conducted by Bibek Bhandari for Mongabay, highlight how increasing interest in bird watching, particularly among young generations, is contributing to filling gaps in ecological data. This trend also helps promote Nepal as a sought-after destination for birdwatchers. Considering that Nepal hosts more than 900 species of birds, including the rare and endemic thorny babbler (Turdoides nipalensis), it is evident the importance of monitoring avian populations. However, 172 of these species are considered threatened due to factors such as urbanization, infrastructure development, and climate change. The article "Birdwatchers in Nepal Fill Data Gaps on Conservation" appears to be the first one on Sicilianews24.it. #Birdwatchers #Nepal #BibekBhandari #Mongabay #first https://www.sicilianews24.it/osservatori-di-uccelli-in-nepal-colmano-le-lacune-nei-dati-sulla-conservazione-835414.html

Illegal cocoa plantations are fueling rapid deforestation in Liberia’s rainforests to supply global chocolate demand. Ashoka Mukpo met with rangers, landowners, and migrant workers, to investigate if southeastern Liberia is repeating Côte d'Ivoire’s devastating environmental history. Watch the full episode of the Chasing Deforestation series on our YouTube channel. 📺️ https://mongabay.cc/Ap4j7J 📺️ #Mongabay #Liberia #Cocoa

Sicilianews24.it: La biodiversità trascurata del Mar Mediterraneo necessita di protezione urgente per il suo futuro. Il Mare Mediterraneo e la sua Biodiversità Unica Il Mare Mediterraneo, pur rappresentando meno dell’1% della superficie acquatica globale, ospita circa il 18% della biodiversità marina mondiale. Circa 150 milioni di persone vivono lungo le sue coste, una cifra simile alla popolazione della Russia. Questo mare non solo sostiene una vita marina incredibile, ma sequestra anche 17,2 milioni di tonnellate di CO2 ogni anno. In questo contesto, la giornalista Manuela Callari offre un approfondimento sulle minacce che la biodiversità mediterranea deve affrontare. Callari ha scritto per Mongabay, portando alla luce il dilemma degli ricci di mare (Paracentrotus lividus) lungo la costa italiana. Questi invertebrati marini svolgono un ruolo cruciale nel mantenimento della salute degli ecosistemi marini, regolando l’abbondanza di alghe e fungendo da alimento per i predatori. Nonostante il loro valore ecologico, i ricci di mare sono stati oggetto di pesca eccessiva e persino bracconaggio nelle aree marine protette, alimentati dalla domanda di questo ingrediente principale per un piatto tipico: gli spaghetti ai ricci di mare. Callari afferma: “In alcune zone d’Italia, come Puglia e Sicilia, i ricci di mare sono consumati crudi o cucinati con spaghetti. A causa di questo, i ricci sono stati sovrapescati, e in alcune aree non esistono più”. L'articolo La biodiversità trascurata del Mar Mediterraneo necessita di protezione urgente per il suo futuro. sembra essere il primo su Sicilianews24.it. The Mediterranean Sea’s neglected biodiversity needs urgent protection for its future. The Mediterranean Sea and its Unique Biodiversity The Mediterranean Sea, despite representing less than 1% of the global water surface, hosts approximately 18% of the world’s marine biodiversity. Around 150 million people live along its coasts, a figure similar to the population of Russia. This sea not only supports incredible marine life but also sequesters 17.2 million tons of CO2 annually. In this context, journalist Manuela Callari offers an in-depth look at the threats facing Mediterranean biodiversity. Callari wrote for Mongabay, shedding light on the dilemma of sea urchins (Paracentrotus lividus) along the Italian coast. These marine invertebrates play a crucial role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems, regulating algae abundance and serving as food for predators. Despite their ecological value, sea urchins have been subject to overfishing and even poaching in protected marine areas, fueled by demand for this key ingredient in a typical dish: spaghetti with sea urchins. Callari states: “In some parts of Italy, such as Puglia and Sicily, sea urchins are eaten raw or cooked with spaghetti. Because of this, the sea urchins have been overfished, and they no longer exist in some areas.” The article Mediterranean Biodiversity Neglected Needs Urgent Protection for its Future appears to be the first on Sicilianews24.it. #TheMediterraneanSea #UniqueBiodiversity #lessthan1% #approximately18% #Russia #172milliontons #ManuelaCallari #Mediterranean #Callari #Mongabay #Italian #Italy #Puglia #Sicily #first https://www.sicilianews24.it/la-biodiversita-trascurata-del-mar-mediterraneo-necessita-di-protezione-urgente-per-il-suo-futuro-835280.html