biodiversity threats
Credit: Paul VanDerWerf/Flickr
The world may be losing its tiny pollinators
Insects are disappearing globally, and while data is difficult to parse, the loss threatens ecosystems and food production.
In short:
- Insect populations are declining due to climate change, habitat loss, and pesticide use, raising concerns about pollination and food security.
- Despite the alarming trends, data on insect decline is inconsistent, making it hard to gauge the full extent of the problem.
- Volunteer-led initiatives and studies suggest that the issue is serious, with some insect populations down by over 75% in certain regions.
Key quote:
“We could not feed the global human population without pollinators.”
— Dave Goulson, professor of biology at the University of Sussex
Why this matters:
While we might cheer the absence of mosquitoes on a summer night, the bigger picture is alarming. Without these tiny powerhouses, our food systems, natural environments, and even human health could take a serious hit. Read more: Silent Earth: Averting the insect apocalypse.
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Credit: Steve Jurvetson/Flickr/Photo courtesy of The Metals Company
New Zealand’s treasured seabed faces threat as mining battles intensify
A new law fast-tracking mining approvals in New Zealand threatens to reignite a long-standing battle between the community and a mining company over the protection of the Taranaki seabed.
In short:
- Trans-Tasman Resources has been trying to mine iron sands off the South Taranaki coast, facing fierce opposition from locals for over a decade.
- A pro-mining government is pushing a law that could fast-track mining projects, bypassing lengthy environmental consent processes.
- The local community, including environmental groups and Māori iwi, fears the mining could devastate marine life and local livelihoods.
Key quote:
“We’re pro-business … but this [area] is far too important to wreck – [mining] is going to wreck it for a lot of years.”
— Phil Morgan, former dairy farmer and avid fisher
Why this matters:
As the government weighs economic gain against environmental protection, the battle for New Zealand’s sea-floor riches is more than just a local issue—it’s a global one, with implications for how we value and protect our planet’s natural resources in the face of growing industrial pressures. Read more: Forty years of “just around the corner.”
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Credit: Simon Fraser University - Communications & Marketing/Flickr
Helping trees migrate north might be essential for their survival
As climate change pushes species northward, trees are struggling to keep up, and some ecologists suggest human intervention might be the only way to save them.
In short:
- As global temperatures rise, tree species face increasing threats from heat and drought, struggling to keep pace with climate shifts.
- Ecologists are exploring “assisted migration,” moving tree species to cooler regions, a controversial strategy due to the risks of introducing non-native species.
- Some argue that doing nothing could be more harmful, as entire ecosystems might collapse without intervention.
Key quote:
“There is also risk in inaction. We have to balance the risk of doing things against losing these species from the ecosystem.”
— Sarah Dalrymple, conservation ecologist, Liverpool John Moores University.
Why this matters:
Assisted migration is a controversial move. Some argue that it's meddling with nature, while others see it as a necessary intervention to preserve our ecosystems. As the climate crisis intensifies, the debate over how best to protect forests is only growing. Read more: Carolyn Ramírez on forest protection.
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Credit: Gary Robertson/Flickr
Birds fall silent as wildfire smoke clouds their world
Wildfire smoke not only endangers human health but also disrupts bird activity, according to a new study showing a significant decrease in bird sounds during smoky conditions.
In short:
- Wildfire smoke, beyond its impact on human lungs, affects birds, leading to reduced activity during smoky days.
- A study using acoustic sensors in Washington state found a 15% drop in bird sound activity during the 2020 wildfire season.
- The research highlights the broader ecological impacts of wildfires, which are expected to worsen with climate change.
Key quote:
“During the window in which our sites were impacted by smoke, we did see the biodiversity index and the acoustic complexity index decline, and it stayed reduced after the event.”
— Olivia Sanderfoot, a lead author of the study and postdoctoral fellow at UCLA
Why this matters:
Understanding the impact of wildfire smoke on birds is crucial for biodiversity conservation, as worsening wildfires pose an increasing threat to both human and ecological health.
Read more on birds as harbingers of environmental harm: Winged Warnings: Built for survival, birds in trouble from pole to pole.
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Credit: RdA Suisse/Flickr
London's Royal Botanical Gardens faces major tree loss due to climate change
Kew Gardens could lose over half of its tree species by 2090 due to climate change, a new study warns.
In short:
- Kew Gardens lost 400 trees during the 2022 drought, prompting a study on future climate risks.
- More than 50% of Kew’s tree species are vulnerable to dying as London’s climate is predicted to resemble Barcelona’s by 2050.
- Kew’s succession plan includes replacing at-risk trees with drought-tolerant species from hotter climates.
Key quote:
“By focusing on resilience and adaptability we hope to show it is possible to mitigate the severe impacts of climate change in both urban spaces and gardens such as Kew.”
— Richard Barley, director of gardens at Kew.
Why this matters:
Imagine the iconic Kew Gardens, a sanctuary of global flora, transforming into a somber reminder of our environmental neglect. The potential loss of these trees isn't just about losing greenery; it's about the ripple effect on biodiversity, air quality and the overall health of our planet. Read more: Respect the elderly: Saving cities’ oldest trees.
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Newsletter
Credit: ucumari photography/Flickr
Wildlife struggles to survive amid rising global temperatures
As global heatwaves intensify, animals are increasingly unable to cope, leading to widespread deaths and altered behaviors.
In short:
- Extreme heatwaves are causing mass die-offs in various animal species worldwide, from howler monkeys in Mexico to Magellanic penguins in Argentina.
- Animals, such as koalas and bears, are adapting their behaviors to cope with the heat, but it is unclear if these changes are sustainable long-term.
- Birds are particularly vulnerable due to their poor cooling mechanisms, leading to significant population declines in areas like the Mojave Desert.
Key quote:
"This effect that climate change and extreme heat has on the living world really gets worse the less of the living world that we have left."
— Andreas Nord, ecologist at Lund University.
Why this matters:
The ripple effects of extreme heat extend far beyond the immediate loss of animal life. Ecosystems are being thrown out of balance, with predator-prey dynamics shifting and plant life also suffering. The same heat waves that are devastating wildlife are also a direct threat to human populations. Read more: Solving the climate crisis will help both ‘sacrifice zones’ and ‘cute’ puffins.
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Newsletter
Credit: Photo by Ryan Woo/CIFOR-ICRAF/Flickr
Palm oil plantations increase flood risks and water contamination in Papua
The expansion of oil palm plantations in Indonesian Papua has led to increased flooding and water contamination, affecting Indigenous communities downstream.
In short:
- Oil palm plantations have replaced forests, causing a 21% increase in surface water runoff and nearly fivefold increase in flooding probability.
- Agrochemicals used in plantations have raised nitrogen and phosphorous levels in water, exceeding safe standards for human consumption.
- Indigenous communities face higher environmental and health risks due to lack of transparency and effective mitigation measures by plantation operators.
Key quote:
“The downstream Indigenous people who rely on the rivers and the streams in the watershed are highly vulnerable."
— Timothy Randhir, professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
Why this matters:
The health of downstream communities is jeopardized by contaminated water and increased flooding, indicating a pressing need for stricter regulations and better management practices to protect both the environment and public health. Read more: Balancing palm oil and protected forests to conserve orangutans.
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