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tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:/xml/development1 development news from mongabay.com 2015-07-06T15:17:23Z tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/15089 2015-07-06T15:06:00Z 2015-07-06T15:17:23Z US ambassador reiterates commitment to controversial Okinawa air base, a setback for endangered dugong

A longstanding plan to relocate a major US airbase on the Japanese island of Okinawa has provoked local ire. Opponents claim the development will cause catastrophic environmental damage and seal the fate in the region of the iconic dugong, a cousin of the manatee. Hopes of a long-awaited breakthrough were frustrated recently when a meeting between the US ambassador to Japan and the anti-air base governor of Okinawa ended with the US reiterating its commitment to the new base. Rebecca Kessler 26.524086 128.044970 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/14708 2015-04-29T15:55:00Z 2015-06-18T02:14:09Z Kenya's Karura Forest, symbol of GreenBelt Movement, suffering death by 1,000 cuts

The founder of Kenya's GreenBelt Movement, Wangari Maathai, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 because she talked environmental truth to power. She also walked the walk. Especially on a January morning in 1999 when she strode into the Karura Forest, Nairobi's flagship preserve, to plant trees to protest government approved plans to build a private golf course on protected land there. Tiffany Roufs -1.247121 36.813182 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/14693 2015-04-27T19:55:00Z 2015-06-16T22:32:09Z Report: Borneo could save billions while still meeting conservation and development goals

The three nations that share Borneo could save themselves $43 billion by more closely coordinating their environmental conservation and economic development efforts, according to a report published in the journal Nature Communications. Morgan Erickson-Davis 1.616066 114.725184 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/14333 2015-02-03T17:03:00Z 2015-02-03T18:45:34Z Rapid development threatening traditional farms, forests in West Papua

Through a system of community protected areas and family agricultural rotation, the indigenous people of Demaisi in West Papua have maintained their way of life and the health of the forest for as long as anyone can remember. But now this system is under threat as government-fostered development moves into the region. Morgan Erickson-Davis -1.170768 133.887696 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/14260 2015-01-14T16:55:00Z 2015-01-14T17:13:44Z Did palm oil expansion play a role in the Ebola crisis?

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa may have been the result of complex economic and agricultural policies developed by authorities in Guinea and Liberia, according to a new commentary in Environment and Planning A. Looking at the economic activities around villages where Ebola first emerged, the investigators analyzed a shift in land-use activities in Guinea's forested region, particularly an increase in oil palm. Jeremy Hance 8.571239 -10.128214 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/14259 2015-01-14T15:34:00Z 2015-01-14T16:09:09Z Road building spree hurts Amazon birds

A city-dwelling crow in Japan strategically drops a nut near a crosswalk into moving traffic. The bird then waits patiently for the light to turn before dropping down to the road and collecting the cracked nut in safety. While this type of animal behavior is fascinating, such adaptation to the human world is not possible for most bird species. Brittany Stewart -5.530500 -52.613134 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/13944 2014-10-27T12:46:00Z 2014-10-27T12:55:10Z Scientific association calls on Nicaragua to scrap its Gran Canal ATBC—the world's largest association of tropical biologists and conservationists—has advised Nicaragua to halt its ambitious plan to build a massive canal across the country. The ATBC warns that the Chinese-backed canal, also known as the Gran Canal, will have devastating impacts on Nicaragua's water security, its forests and wildlife, and local people. Jeremy Hance 11.456933 -85.501372 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/13895 2014-10-09T16:27:00Z 2015-01-20T03:29:35Z Next big idea in forest conservation? Empower youth leaders

Want to save forests? Don't forget the youth, says Pedro Walpole, the Chair and Director of Research for the Environmental Science for Social Change, a Jesuit environmental research organization promoting sustainability and social justice across the Asia Pacific region. 'Youth leadership in environmental management is key,' Walpole told mongabay.com. Jeremy Hance 8.495517 123.303646 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/13722 2014-08-27T22:35:00Z 2014-08-27T22:43:40Z Where should the roads go? New map offers a solution to the 'Pandora's Box of environmental problems'

Roads make it possible to bring goods to market, to get to the office, to log a forest, to hunt its wildlife. Without roads, human society as we know it could not exist. However, to build roads, trees must be cleared and swamps drained, shrinking valuable wildlife habitat and fragmenting populations in the process. A new study unveils an innovative map that defines which areas of the world would be best used to build roads – and which should be left alone. Morgan Erickson-Davis -3.349126 -57.198830 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/13719 2014-08-27T18:52:00Z 2014-11-06T17:48:27Z The Gran Canal: will Nicaragua's big bet create prosperity or environmental ruin?

A hundred years ago, the Panama Canal reshaped global geography. Now a new project, spearheaded by a media-shy Chinese millionaire, wants to build a 278-kilometer canal through Nicaragua. While the government argues the mega-project will change the country's dire economic outlook overnight, critics contend it will cause undue environmental damage, upend numerous communities, and do little to help local people. Jeremy Hance 11.392321 -85.465667 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/13663 2014-08-13T20:44:00Z 2015-04-20T15:41:02Z 'Natural Reserves' no more: illegal colonists deforest huge portions of Nicaraguan protected areas

In southeastern Nicaragua, abutting the coastal Caribbean town of Bluefields, lie two nature reserves - Cerro Silva and Punta Gorda - that are embroiled in a bitter battle for survival against the speedily encroaching agricultural frontier. The forest is all but decimated here, with disconnected patches whose very existence rests precariously in the hands of its occupiers - both legal and illegal. Morgan Erickson-Davis 11.435397 -84.015472 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/13576 2014-07-23T19:14:00Z 2014-07-29T19:41:54Z Peru slashes environmental protections to attract more mining and fossil fuel investment

In an effort to kickstart investment in mining and fossil fuels, Peru has passed a controversial law that overturns many of its environmental protections and essentially defangs its Ministry of Environment. The new law has environmentalists not only concerned about its impact on the country but also that the measures will undermine progress at the up-coming UN Climate Summit in December. Jeremy Hance -13.018651 -70.498686 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/13565 2014-07-21T22:01:00Z 2014-11-06T17:42:09Z Roads through the rainforest: an overview of South America's 'arc of deforestation'

When a new road centipedes its way across a landscape, the best of intentions may be laid with the pavement. But roads, by their very nature, are indiscriminate pathways, granting access for travel and trade along with deforestation and other forms of environmental degradation. And as the impacts of roads on forest ecosystems become clear, governments and planning agencies reach a moral crossroads. Morgan Erickson-Davis -2.706189 -53.977819 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/13500 2014-07-07T19:50:00Z 2014-12-30T22:39:34Z Booming populations, rising economies, threatened biodiversity: the tropics will never be the same

For those living either north or south of the tropics, images of this green ring around the Earth's equator often include verdant rainforests, exotic animals, and unchanging weather; but they may also be of entrenched poverty, unstable governments, and appalling environmental destruction. A massive new report, The State of the Tropics, however, finds that the truth is far more complicated. Jeremy Hance 1.231376 14.923358 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/13486 2014-07-02T19:36:00Z 2015-01-20T18:38:26Z On a whim: Equatorial Guinea building new capital city in the middle of the rainforest

More than 8,000 hectares of rainforest are under threat as the nation builds a new $600 million capital city from scratch. Called Oyala, and also known as Djibloho, the city is expected be completed by 2020 and house up to 200,000 people -- about an eighth of the entire population of Equatorial Guinea. Morgan Erickson-Davis 1.594485 10.817885 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/13454 2014-06-25T23:04:00Z 2014-11-06T17:06:52Z Is Cameroon becoming the new Indonesia? Palm oil plantations accelerating deforestation

The potential for new laws governing the use of forest resources this year in Cameroon promises an opportunity to stem the rapid loss of forest in the biologically diverse country. But the changes may ultimately not be what's needed to save Cameroon's forests. Morgan Erickson-Davis 3.750898 9.993512 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/13416 2014-06-19T18:42:00Z 2014-06-26T17:29:13Z Scientists discover carnivorous water rat in Indonesia, good example of convergent evolution

Researchers have discovered a new carnivorous water rat on the island of Sulawesi that's so unique it represents an entirely new genus. They believe many more new rodent species await discovery in this relatively undisturbed part of Indonesia, but mining and other types of development may threaten vital habitat before it's even surveyed. Morgan Erickson-Davis -2.712609 119.355464 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/13369 2014-06-11T16:37:00Z 2014-11-25T22:28:58Z Survey finds huge biological value in Baja California, stalls resort development

A recent survey conducted by researchers from the U.S. and Mexico has uncovered staggering levels of biodiversity in the delicate desert environment of Cabo Pulmo in Baja California. Their findings have stymied construction of a proposed $3.6 billion resort, but developers are not giving up. Morgan Erickson-Davis 23.339200 -109.497145 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/13197 2014-05-08T15:46:00Z 2014-06-02T17:31:19Z China pledges $10 million to combat poaching in Africa The Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang, has pledged $100 million to combat poaching in Africa during a visit to the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa. Jeremy Hance 9.000698 38.741573 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/13063 2014-04-09T17:55:00Z 2014-11-25T23:23:31Z City lights threaten rainforests by deterring bats

Fruit-eating bats play an important role in forest regeneration, collecting and spreading seeds far and wide. However, human development may be stymying bat-mediated dispersal. In a new study, researchers found that fruit bats avoid feeding in light-polluted areas, which may significantly affect forest growth. Morgan Erickson-Davis 9.578736 -83.306614 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/12735 2014-02-06T15:24:00Z 2014-02-10T13:31:22Z Proposed rail and road projects could devastate Nepal's tigers and rhinos

Chitwan National Park is a conservation success story. Since its establishment in 1973 the park's populations of both Bengal tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) and one-horned rhinos (Rhinoceros unicornis) have quintupled, a success achieved during a time when both species have been under siege globally by poachers. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the park is also a vital economic resource for locals: last year the park admitted over 150,000 tourists who brought in nearly $2 million in entry fees alone. But all this is imperiled by government plans for a new railway that would cut the park in half and a slew of new roads, according to a group of international conservationists known as the Alliance of Leading Environmental Researchers and Thinkers (ALERT). Jeremy Hance 27.474161 84.628944 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/11912 2013-08-14T14:22:00Z 2013-08-14T14:26:20Z China's growing wine industry threatening pandas and other endangered species In 1985, Li Hua visited a valley in the foothills of the Tibetan plateau. The area was better known for its panda population, but the oenologist realized that its high altitude, hours of sunshine, sandy soil and low precipitation also offered ideal conditions for growing grapes. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/11904 2013-08-12T22:12:00Z 2013-08-12T22:36:22Z Hope rises as new malaria vaccine shows promise

Last week U.S. scientists with the biotech company, Sanaria, announced a possible breakthrough on an experimental malaria vaccine: an early trial led to a success rate of 80 percent for the two highest doses. Malaria remains one of the world's worst scourges. In 2010, the World Health Organization reported 219 million documented cases of malaria (millions more likely went undocumented) and estimated that between 660,000 and 1.2 million died of the disease, mostly children in Africa, that year alone. Mortality is not the only impact of the disease, however: experts have long noted circular links between malaria, poverty, and stalled development. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/11878 2013-08-05T12:51:00Z 2013-08-05T22:50:28Z Journey to the Edge of Eden: the struggle to preserve Southwest Florida

Gary Schmelz, in a Journey to the Edge of Eden, takes us through a wonderful personal account of the conservation history of Southwest Florida. Journey to the Edge of Eden is one part personal memoir similar to the English naturalist Gerald Durrell and one part Florida conservation history. With hilarious stories of unintended naturalist misadventures and recounting conservation "as it happened," a Journey to the Edge of Eden is one of those rare books you read in a coffee shop and with gusto and pride while laughing along out loud at Gary Schmelz stories. Jeremy Hance 25.894284 -81.329838 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/11659 2013-06-27T19:56:00Z 2013-06-30T16:31:36Z Colombian mining dispute highlights legislative disarray Colombian authorities have ruled that local environmental officials acted correctly in ordering South African mining giant AngloGold Ashanti to halt their work, following demands from the multinational corporation for their disciplining. Cortolima, the environmental authority of the department of Tolima in central Colombia, stopped AngloGold from conducting unsanctioned exploration activities in the Tolima municipality of Piedras in March. Jeremy Hance 4.498393 -74.915886 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/11631 2013-06-23T17:10:00Z 2015-02-11T23:08:09Z Solving 'wicked problems': ten principles for improved environmental management

As agriculture continues to expand at the expense of forests in the tropics, humanity struggles to meet environmental protection goals. Despite global efforts towards sustainable agriculture and some progress towards the gazetting of protected areas, there are as yet no general and effective solutions for meeting both conservation goals and food needs, and thus the loss and degradation of natural habitats continues. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has estimated a 70% increase in food production will be needed by 2050 to feed a population that will exceed 9 billion. How can such food production be met in ways that conserve the environment while also alleviating poverty? Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/11607 2013-06-13T10:17:00Z 2013-06-14T01:55:51Z Indonesia denies it has any indigenous peoples Indonesia is home to an estimated 50-70 million indigenous peoples, but the government does not recognize the rights of its indigenous peoples and claims that none live in Indonesia. In a response to the United Nations Periodic Review in 2012, a four–year human rights check-up for all countries, Indonesia said: "The Government of Indonesia supports the promotion and protection of indigenous people worldwide... Indonesia, however, does not recognize the application of the indigenous peoples concept...in the country." Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/11467 2013-05-22T17:02:00Z 2013-05-22T17:25:41Z Indigenous groups protest hydropower congress as controversy hits meeting in Malaysia

The opening of the International Hydropower Association (IHA) World Congress in the Malaysian state of Sarawak was marred today by indigenous protests and controversy after a local indigenous leader was barred from attending a pre-conference workshop. Over 300 people from local indigenous people protested the ongoing construction of around a dozen mega-dams in the state that threaten to flood traditional lands, force villages to move, and upend lives in the state. The Sarawak hydropower plans are some of the most controversial in the world—making the choice of Kuching, Sarawak for the IHA meeting an arguably ironic one—with critics contending that the dams are have been mired in political corruption, including kickbacks and bribes. IHA brings together dam builders, banks, and various related organizations worldwide every two years. Jeremy Hance 1.54202 110.320358 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/11458 2013-05-21T15:59:00Z 2013-05-21T16:26:03Z China approves another mega-dam that will imperil endangered species Chinese environmental authorities have approved construction plans for what could become the world's tallest dam, while acknowledging that the project would affect endangered plants and rare fish species. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/11443 2013-05-16T14:08:00Z 2013-05-19T03:58:31Z NGO: conflict of interests behind Peruvian highway proposal in the Amazon

As Peru's legislature debates the merits of building the Purús highway through the Amazon rainforest, a new report by Global Witness alleges that the project has been aggressively pushed by those with a financial stake in opening up the remote area to logging and mining. Roads built in the Amazon lead to spikes in deforestation, mining, poaching and other extractive activities as remote areas become suddenly accessible. The road in question would cut through parts of the Peruvian Amazon rich in biodiversity and home to indigenous tribes who have chosen to live in "voluntary isolation." Jeremy Hance -9.688752 -70.695877 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/11373 2013-05-06T13:58:00Z 2014-07-06T22:13:46Z 'Suffering...without witnesses': over a quarter of a million people perished in Somali famine

A new report estimates that 258,000 people died in 2011 during a famine in Somalia, the worst of such events in 25 years and a number at least double the highest estimations during the crisis. Over half of the victims, around 133,000, were children five and under. The report, by the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), argues that the international community reacted too late and too little to stem the mass starvation brought on by government instability, conflict, high food prices, and failed rains, the last of which has been linked to climate change by some scientists. Jeremy Hance 2.569939 45.194091 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/11289 2013-04-23T14:45:00Z 2013-04-23T15:07:07Z The river of plenty: uncovering the secrets of the amazing Mekong

Home to giant catfish and stingrays, feeding over 60 million people, and with the largest abundance of freshwater fish in the world, the Mekong River, and its numerous tributaries, brings food, culture, and life to much of Southeast Asia. Despite this, little is known about the biodiversity and ecosystems of the Mekong, which is second only to the Amazon in terms of freshwater biodiversity. Meanwhile, the river is facing an existential crisis in the form of 77 proposed dams, while population growth, pollution, and development further imperil this understudied, but vast, ecosystem. Jeremy Hance 18.033586 101.890783 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/11253 2013-04-17T15:05:00Z 2013-04-17T15:42:04Z Judge halts military-backed dam assessment in Brazil's Amazon A federal court in Brazil has suspended the use of military and police personnel during technical research on the controversial São Luíz do Tapajós Dam in the Brazilian Amazon. The military and police were brought in to stamp down protests from indigenous people living along the Tapajós River, but the judge decreed that impacted indigenous groups must give free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) before any furter studies can be done on the proposed dam. However, the decision is expected to be appealed. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/11245 2013-04-16T16:30:00Z 2015-02-09T22:49:26Z Yangtze porpoise down to 1,000 animals as world's most degraded river may soon claim another extinction

A survey late last year found that the Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) population has been cut in half in just six years. During a 44-day survey, experts estimated 1,000 river porpoises inhabited the river and adjoining lakes, down from around 2,000 in 2006. The ecology of China's Yangtze River has been decimated the Three Gorges Dam, ship traffic, pollution, electrofishing, and overfishing, making it arguably the world's most degraded major river. These environmental tolls have already led to the likely extinction of the Yangtze river dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer), or baiji, and possibly the Chinese paddlefish (Psephurus gladius), which is one of the world's longest freshwater fish. Jeremy Hance 29.118574 116.283188 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/11177 2013-04-08T12:35:00Z 2013-04-08T12:45:45Z Indigenous group: Brazil using military to force Amazon dams

An Amazonian community has threatened to "go to war" with the Brazilian government after what they say is a military incursion into their land by dam builders. The Munduruku indigenous group in Para state say they have been betrayed by the authorities, who are pushing ahead with plans to build a cascade of hydropower plants on the Tapajós river without their permission. Jeremy Hance -3.381824 -55.230103 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/11150 2013-04-02T16:37:00Z 2014-02-28T10:06:52Z Proposed coal plant threatens Critically Endangered Philippine cockatoo

One kilometer off the Philippine island of Palawan lies the Rasa Island Wildlife Sanctuary; here forest grows unimpeded from a coral island surrounded by mangroves and coral reefs. Although tiny, over a hundred bird species have been recorded on the island along with a major population of large flying foxes, while in the waters below swim at least 130 species of coral fish, three types of marine turtles, and that curious-looking marine mammal, dugongs. Most importantly, perhaps, the island is home to the world's largest population of Philippine cockatoos (Cacatua haematuropygia), currently listed as Critically Endangered. But, although uninhabited by people, Rasa Island may soon be altered irrevocably by human impacts. Jeremy Hance 9.22276 118.443933 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/11099 2013-03-25T17:34:00Z 2013-03-25T17:44:09Z Indigenous protester killed by masked assailants in Panama over UN-condemned dam

A Ngäbe indigenous Panamanian, Onesimo Rodriguez, opposing the Barro Blanco hydroelectric dam project was killed last Friday evening by four masked men. His body was then thrown into a nearby stream where it was discovered the following day. Onesimo Rodriguez was attacked with a companion in Las Nubes, after they had attended a demonstration in Cerro Punta, Bugaba, against the dam. His companion, whose identity is being withheld for security reasons, received serious injuries but managed to escape and is having his injuries tended to by the local indigenous community. Jeremy Hance 8.248612 -81.668859 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/11035 2013-03-13T19:06:00Z 2015-02-09T22:40:39Z Burning coal may be killing over 100,000 people in India every year

India's dependence on coal-fired power plants for energy may be leading directly to the deaths of 80,000 to 115,000 of its citizens every year, according to the first ever report on the health impacts of coal in the country. The report, commissioned by the Conservation Action Trust and Greenpeace-India, deals only with the direct health impact of coal and not climate change. But even ignoring the rising pain of global warming, the bleak report outlines that coal consumption in India is causing over 20 million asthma attacks, nearly a million emergency room visits, and killing some 10,000 children under five annually. Jeremy Hance 28.589345 77.205505 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/10926 2013-02-25T17:57:00Z 2013-02-25T18:04:01Z Featured video: moving green, local energy forward in Southeast Asia

A new video highlights the work and drive of renewable energy proponents at the inaugural meeting of Southeast Asia Renewable Energy People's Assembly (SEAREPA) in the Malaysian state of Sabah. Held last year, the meeting brought together 80 organizations from 12 countries to discuss the potential and challenges of green energy in the region. The idea of SEAREPA came about after activists in Sabah successfully defeated plans for a coal-fired power plant to be built adjacent to old-growth rainforest and one of the world's most biodiverse coral reefs. Jeremy Hance 5.83325 118.04512 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/10847 2013-02-07T18:39:00Z 2013-02-24T00:22:29Z Investors beware: global land grabbing ends in 'financial damage' and human rights violations

Investing in companies that flout local community rights in developing countries often leads to severe economic losses, according to a new report from the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI). A rising trend in "land grabbing" from Africa to South America by corporations and even foreign governments results in social instability, which can lead to large-scale protests, violence, and even murder, delaying and sometimes derailing projects. Such instability poses massive risk to any investor, not to mention supporting corporate entities that are accused of ignoring human rights. Jeremy Hance 27.176469 98.481445 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/10412 2012-11-15T19:02:00Z 2012-11-15T19:09:52Z Penan suspend dam blockade, give government one month to respond to demands Members of the Penan tribe have suspended their month long blockade of the Murum dam in the Malaysian state of Sarawak, reports Survival International. However, according to the indigenous group the fight is not over: the departing Penan said the Sarawak government had one month to respond to demands for sufficient compensation for the dam's impact or face another blockade. Over 300 Penan people participated in the blockade, which stopped traffic leading to the construction site. Jeremy Hance 2.646292 114.366167 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/10375 2012-11-08T21:22:00Z 2012-11-12T22:52:16Z Tanzania weighs new soda ash plant in prime flamingo territory

In a choice between flamingoes and a soda ash plant, a new report shows that local residents near Lake Natron, Tanzania prefer flamingoes. This is good news for conservationists as the area is the most important breeding site in the world for lesser flamingos (Phoenicopterus minor). While the report shows agreement between residents and conservation groups that the project isn't worth its cost or risk, the Tanzanian government is not giving up yet. Jeremy Hance -2.372369 36.034927 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/10373 2012-11-08T16:42:00Z 2015-02-09T22:12:43Z Meet Cape Town's volunteer 'toad shepherds'

August marks the last month of winter in South Africa, and, as temperatures begin to rise, activists in Cape Town prepare for a truly unique conservation event. Every year at this time western leopard toads (Amietophrynus pantherinus) endemic to the region and Critically Endangered, embark on a night-time migration through Cape Town from their homes in the city's gardens to the ponds they use as breeding sites—as far as three kilometers away. This season over one hundred volunteers took to the streets, flashlights in hand, to assist the toads in navigating the increasing number of man-made obstacles in their path. Among them was life-long resident and mother, Hanniki Pieterse, who serves as an organizer for volunteers in her area. Jeremy Hance -33.947917 18.560944 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/10371 2012-11-07T17:04:00Z 2012-11-07T17:24:04Z Development halted in crucial wildlife corridor in Malaysia

Kenyir Wildlife Corridor in northeast Malaysia is teeming with wildlife: elephants, gibbons, tigers, tapirs, and even black panthers (melanistic leopards) have been recorded in the 60 kilometer (37 mile) stretch of forest. In fact, researchers have recorded over 40 mammal species (see species list below), including 15 threatened with extinction according to the IUCN Red List. When these findings were presented by scientists to the Terengganu state government action followed quickly: all development projects have been halted pending a government study. Jeremy Hance 5.014339 102.647781 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/10370 2012-11-07T12:46:00Z 2012-11-07T13:36:14Z Controversial dam gets approval in Laos Laos has given approval to the hugely-controversial $3.5 billion Xayaburi Dam on the Mekong River, reports the BBC. The massive dam, which would provide 95 percent of its energy production to Thailand, has been criticized for anticipated impacts on the river's fish populations, on which many locals depend. Jeremy Hance 19.254027 101.814054 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/10368 2012-11-06T17:39:00Z 2012-11-06T17:56:19Z Over 100,000 farmers squatting in Sumatran park to grow coffee

Sumatra's Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park—home to the Critically Endangered Sumatran rhinos, tigers, and elephants—has become overrun with coffee farmers, loggers, and opportunists according to a new paper in Conservation and Society. An issue facing the park for decades, the study attempted for the first time to determine the number of squatters either living in or farming off Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the rough census—over 100,000 people—shocked scientists. Jeremy Hance -5.103255 104.000473 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/10361 2012-11-04T19:59:00Z 2012-11-04T20:11:38Z Micro-hydro and decentralized green energy goals set in Borneo The first ever meeting of the Southeast Asia Renewable Energy People's Assembly (SEAREPA) ended with agreement on 12 future projects, including developing community micro-hydro power and pushing for new policies on decentralized renewable energy in the region. Held in Malaysian state of Sabah on the island, the meeting brought together 130 people from some 80 different groups. Jeremy Hance 5.83325 118.04512 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/10345 2012-10-31T16:37:00Z 2012-10-31T16:45:16Z After defeating coal plant, Borneo hosts renewable energy meeting Last year, a coalition of environmentalists and locals won a David-versus-Goliath battle against a massive coal plant in the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo. After facing a protracted campaign—including expert analysis of green energy options for Sabah—the state government announced it was scuttling plans to build the coal plant on a beach overlooking the Coral Triangle. Now, victorious grassroots campaigners are hosting the inaugural meeting of the Southeast Asia Renewable Energy People's Assembly (SEAREPA), bringing 80 organizations together to discuss green energy options across southeast Asia. Jeremy Hance 5.83325 118.04512 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/10251 2012-10-09T19:35:00Z 2012-10-09T19:52:54Z Indigenous groups re-occupy Belo Monte dam in the Amazon Construction on Brazil's megadam, Belo Monte, has been halted again as around 150 demonstrators, most of them from nearby indigenous tribes, have occupied the main construction site at Pimental. Over a hundred indigenous people joined local fishermen who had been protesting the dam for 24 days straight. Indigenous people and local fishermen say the dam will devastate the Xingu River, upending their way of life. Jeremy Hance -3.184394 -52.210694 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/10236 2012-10-08T12:57:00Z 2012-10-08T18:22:51Z Indigenous blockade expands against massive dam in Sarawak

Indigenous people have expanded their blockade against the Murum dam in the Malaysian state of Sarawak, taking over an additional road to prevent construction materials from reaching the dam site. Beginning on September 26th with 200 Penan people, the blockade has boomed to well over 300. Groups now occupy not just the main route to the dam site, but an alternative route that the dam's contractor, the China-located Three Gorges Project Corporation, had begun to use. Jeremy Hance 2.646292 114.366167 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/10213 2012-09-27T15:10:00Z 2013-02-05T15:06:48Z World Bank agrees to fund project related to controversial Gibe III dam Originally refusing to provide funding to Ethiopia's controversial Gibe III hydroelectric dam, the World Bank has now announced plans to fund the power lines that will carry generated electricity away from it. In their official statement they report that the lines will "connect Ethiopia's electrical grid with Kenya's, create power-sharing between the two countries, reduce energy costs, promote sustainable and renewable power generation [and] better protect the region's environment...eventually benefiting 212 million people in five countries." Jeremy Hance 6.847052 37.301323 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/10178 2012-09-19T18:35:00Z 2015-02-08T23:22:56Z Conflict and perseverance: rehabilitating a forgotten park in the Congo

Zebra racing across the yellow-green savannah is an iconic image for Africa, but imagine you're seeing this not in Kenya or South Africa, but in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Welcome to Upemba National Park: once a jewel in the African wildlife crown, this protected area has been decimated by civil war. Now, a new bold initiative by the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), dubbed Forgotten Parks, is working to rehabilitate Upemba after not only decades of conflict but also poaching, neglect, and severe poverty. Jeremy Hance -9.037003 26.64093 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/10067 2012-08-28T15:04:00Z 2015-02-08T23:19:18Z Japan declares its river otter extinct Japan's Ministry of the Environment today declared the Japanese river otter (Lutra lutra whiteleyi) extinct. Last seen in 1979 in the city of Susaki on the island of Shikoku, the unique subspecies was killed-off by overhunting and loss of habitat due to development. Jeremy Hance 33.40737 133.302898 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/10064 2012-08-27T14:22:00Z 2012-08-27T14:32:36Z Mekong dam spree could create regional food crisis

Fish are a hugely important protein source for many people around the world. This is no more evident than along the lower Mekong River delta where an estimated 48 million people depend directly on the river for food and livelihoods. But now a new study in Global Environmental Change cautions that 11 planned hydroelectric dams in the region could cut vital fish populations by 16 percent while putting more strain on water and land resources. Jeremy Hance 19.254027 101.814054 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/10037 2012-08-20T16:09:00Z 2012-08-26T19:00:11Z Recommendations to save India's Western Ghats creates political stir

A massive expert panel report on the conservation of the Western Ghats has caused a political stir in India. The report, headed by noted ecologist Madhav Gadgil, recommends that the government phase out mining projects, cancel damaging hydroelectric projects, and move toward organic agriculture in ecologically-sensitive sections of the Ghats. The report, which was leaked after the government refused to release it, has yet to be implemented. Recently dubbed a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Western Ghats is one of India's largest wildernesses and home to thousands of species, many found no-where else. Jeremy Hance 14.785505 74.551391 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/10033 2012-08-20T13:10:00Z 2012-12-02T22:29:37Z Elephant ancestors and Africa's Bigfoot: new initiative works to preserve a continent's wildest tales

Paula Kahumbu, the Executive Director of WildlifeDirect and a 2011 National Geographic Emerging Explorer, is on a mission to reconnect young Africans with the natural world through storytelling. In a new initiative dubbed Africa's Wildest Stories, Kahumbu and others are recording the wit and wisdom of African elders in Kenya as they share their love of nature and the way in which Africans, for millennia, have co-existed with their environment and its astounding wildlife. Jeremy Hance -1.289411 36.831551 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/10005 2012-08-14T15:28:00Z 2012-08-15T21:41:43Z Evidence of 'isolated' indigenous people found in Peru where priest is pushing highway Evidence of indigenous people living in "voluntary isolation" in a remote part of the Amazon has been found where an Italian Catholic priest is campaigning for Peru's government to build a highway. The discovery is controversial because the priest has questioned the existence of the isolated people, sometimes referred to as uncontacted, who live without regular contact with anyone else. Jeremy Hance -9.766243 -70.71629 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/9951 2012-08-01T20:26:00Z 2015-02-08T23:16:32Z Tigers vs. coal in India: when big energy meets vanishing cats

Burning coal fuels climate change, causes acid rain, and spreads toxic pollutants into the environment, but now a new Greenpeace report warns that coal may also imperil the world's biggest feline: the tiger. Home to world's largest population of tigers—in this case the Bengal subspecies (Panthera tigris tigris)—India is also the world's third largest coal producer. The country's rapacious pursuit of coal—it has nearly doubled production since 2007—has pushed the industry into tiger territory, threatening to destroy forests and fragment the tiger's already threatened population. Jeremy Hance 23.85821 82.270889 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/9808 2012-07-11T15:02:00Z 2012-07-11T18:23:26Z Wealthy consumption threatens species in developing countries

Consumption in wealthy nations is imperiling biodiversity abroad, according to a new study in Nature that investigates the link between international trade and biodiversity decline. The study shows how threats to biodiversity and ecosystems, located primarily in developing countries, can be connected to consumer demand for goods in wealthier nations. Some of the major commodities include coffee, cocoa, soy, beef and palm oil. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/9685 2012-06-20T15:42:00Z 2012-06-20T17:39:28Z Congolese experts needed to protect Congo Basin rainforests

This summer, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is expected to approve a new higher education strategy which the country has developed with the World Bank and other international donors. The shape of this educational reform initiative will be critical to Congo's future in many ways. It could finally offer Congo's long-suffering people a route into the 21st century. It will also help determine the future of the DRC's forests. Nearly half of the Congo Basin's remaining rainforest is in the DRC—yet the critical role of Congolese experts in forestry, agricultural science, wildlife management and other rural sciences in protecting this forest is not widely recognized. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/9708 2012-06-20T14:40:00Z 2012-06-20T15:10:25Z Cowards at Rio?: organizations decry 'pathetic' agreement

As world leaders head to Rio de Janeiro for the UN Summit on Sustainable Development, environmental and poverty groups are denouncing the last-minute text agreed on by dignitaries as "pathetic," (Greenpeace), a "damp squib" (Friends of the Earth), "a dead end" (Oxfam), and, if nothing changes, "a colossal waste of time" (WWF). "We were promised the 'future we want' but are now being presented with a 'common vision' of a polluter's charter that will cook the planet, empty the oceans and wreck the rain forests," the head of Greenpeace, Kumi Naidoo, said. "This is not a foundation on which to grow economies or pull people out of poverty, it's the last will and testament of a destructive twentieth century development model." Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/9693 2012-06-19T15:59:00Z 2012-06-19T16:11:30Z Over 700 people killed defending forest and land rights in past ten years

On May 24th, 2011, forest activist José Cláudio Ribeiro da Silva and his wife, Maria do Espírito Santo da Silva, were gunned down in an ambush in the Brazilian state of Pará. A longtime activist, José Cláudio Ribeiro da Silva had made a name for himself for openly criticizing illegal logging in the state which is rife with deforestation. The killers even cut off the ears of the da Silvas, a common practice of assassins in Brazil to prove to their employers that they had committed the deed. Less than a year before he was murdered, da Silva warned in a TEDx Talk, "I could get a bullet in my head at any moment...because I denounce the loggers and charcoal producers." Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/9596 2012-05-31T14:37:00Z 2015-02-05T01:21:57Z Indigenous rights rising in tropical forests, but big gaps remain

In the last twenty years, rights for indigenous forest dwellers have expanded significantly, according to a new report by the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI). Covering nearly thirty tropical forest countries, the report finds that indigenous people now hold rights to 31 percent of the forest land in these countries, rising from 21 percent in 1992. However, landmark land rights for indigenous people remain imperiled by lack of enforcement, land-grabbing, government ambivalence, and industrial development. The report comes less than a month before the Rio+20 Summit on Sustainable Development, a meeting of global leaders that marks two decades since the Rio Earth Summit. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/9544 2012-05-21T16:08:00Z 2012-05-22T03:15:51Z Charting a new environmental course in China

Founded in 1951, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) works in more than 30 countries and has projects in all 50 of the United States. The Conservancy has over one million members, and has protected more than 119 million acres of wild-lands and 5,000 miles of rivers worldwide. TNC has taken an active interest in China, the world's most populated nation, and in many important ways, a critical center of global development. The following is an interview with multiple directors of The Nature Conservancy's China Program. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/9475 2012-05-03T17:19:00Z 2015-02-05T01:18:26Z Exploring Asia's lost world

Abandoned by NGOs and the World Bank, carved out for rubber plantations and mining by the Cambodian government, spiraling into a chaos of poaching and illegal logging, and full of endangered species and never-explored places, Virachey National Park may be the world's greatest park that has been written off by the international community. But a new book by explorer and PhD student, Greg McCann, hopes to change that. Entitled Called Away by a Mountain Spirit: Journey to the Green Corridor, the book highlights expeditions by McCann into parts of Virachey that have rarely been seen by outsiders and have never been explored scientifically, including rare grasslands that once housed herds of Asian elephants, guar, and Sambar deer, before poachers drove them into hiding, and faraway mountains with rumors of tigers and mainland Javan rhinos. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/9470 2012-05-02T18:09:00Z 2012-05-02T18:15:25Z Gas development pushing pronghorn out of vital wintering grounds Development of natural gas fields in Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is pushing pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) out of crucial wintering grounds, a situation that could result in a population decline according to a new study in Biological Conservation. By tracking 125 female pronghorn over five years in Wyoming, researchers found that highest quality habitat had fallen by over 80 percent in two vast gas fields on land owned by the government's Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/9460 2012-05-01T14:43:00Z 2012-05-01T14:53:04Z Over 30 Yangtze porpoises found dead in China as population nears extinction

Six years after the Yangtze river dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer), or baiji, was declared "functionally extinct" by scientists, another marine mammal appears on the edge of extinction in China's hugely degraded Yangtze River. In less than two months, 32 Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis), a subspecies of the finless porpoise, have been dead found in Dongting and Poyang Lakes in the Yangtze, reports the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/9430 2012-04-23T14:22:00Z 2012-04-25T17:34:17Z Animal picture of the day: the spotless cheetah A strange cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) has been photographed in Kenya by wildlife artist Guy Combes. The "golden" cheetah's telltale spots are bizarrely diluted. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/9411 2012-04-18T19:21:00Z 2012-04-18T20:48:40Z Pictures: Destruction of the Amazon's Xingu River begins for Belo Monte Dam

The Xingu River will never be the same. Construction of Belo Monte Dam has begun in the Brazilian Amazon, as shown by these photos taken by Greenpeace, some of the first images of the hugely controversial project. Indigenous groups have opposed the dam vigorously for decades, fearing that it will upend their way of life. Environmentalists warn that the impacts of the dam—deforestation, methane emissions, and an irreparable changes to the Xingu River's ecosystem—far outweigh any benefits. The dam, which would be the world's third largest, is expected to displace 16,000 people according to the government, though some NGOs put the number at 40,000. The dam will flood over 40,000 hectares of pristine rainforest, an area nearly seven times the size of Manhattan. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/9399 2012-04-16T20:46:00Z 2012-04-16T20:51:53Z David vs. Goliath: Goldman Environmental Prize winners highlight development projects gone awry

A controversial dam, a massive mine, poisonous pesticides, a devastating road, and criminal polluters: many of this year's Goldman Environmental Prize winners point to the dangers of poorly-planned, and ultimately destructive, development initiatives. The annual prize, which has been dubbed the Green Nobel Prize is awarded to six grassroots environmental heroes from around the world and includes a financial award of $150,000 for each winner. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/9396 2012-04-16T12:19:00Z 2012-04-16T12:50:51Z Papua New Guinea halts controversial nickel mine - for now A massive, controversial nickel mine has been shut down in Papua New Guinea due to the environmental concerns of its slurry pipeline, reports Cultural Survival. Inspections of the 83 mile (134 kilometer) slurry pipeline found that it had been built too close to a major highway with spills already impacting traffic. Built by the Chinese state company Metallurgical Construction Corporation (MCC), the Ramu Nickel Mine has been plagued by land issues, labor disputes, and environmental concerns. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/9352 2012-04-04T14:37:00Z 2012-04-04T14:51:52Z "Don't be so silly" about climate change: Mohamed Nasheed on The Daily Show

Mohamed Nasheed, former president of the Maldives, told the world on The Daily Show Monday night: "Just don't be so silly" about climate change. Nasheed, who in February was forced to resign his presidency, is visiting the U.S. to meet with government officials as well as to push for climate action during the release of a new documentary film about his presidency, entitled The Island President. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/9344 2012-04-02T15:35:00Z 2012-04-02T16:13:50Z Judge suspends Brazilian dam that would flood sacred waterfalls A federal judge has suspended the construction of a 1,820 megawatt dam on the Teles Pires River in the Amazon. The judge found that indigenous communities were not properly consulted about the dam, which would flood a sacred site, known as the Seven Waterfalls, as well as imperil the livelihoods of indigenous fishermen. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/9324 2012-03-28T16:46:00Z 2012-04-04T12:05:33Z Turkey's rich biodiversity at risk

Turkey: the splendor of the Hagia Sophia, the ruins of Ephesus, and the bizarre caves of the Cappadocia. For foreign travelers, Turkey is a nation of cultural, religious, and historic wonders: a place where cultures have met, clashed, and co-created. However, Turkey has another wealth that is far less known: biodiversity. Of the globe's 34 biodiversity hotspots, Turkey is almost entirely covered by three: the Caucasus, the Irano-Anatolian, and the Mediterranean. Despite its wild wealth, conservation is not a priority in Turkey and recent papers in Science and Biological Conservation warn that the current development plans in the country, which rarely take the environment into account, are imperiling its species and ecosystems. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/9281 2012-03-19T22:26:00Z 2012-03-19T22:38:06Z Cambodia sells off national park for city-sized pleasure resorts The Cambodian government has handed over nearly 20 percent of Botum Sakor National Park to a Chinese real-estate firm building a massive casino and resorts in the middle of pristine rainforest, reports Reuters. The city-sized resorts, costing $3.8 billion, will include a 64 kilometers highway, an airport, hotels, and golf courses. Botum Sakur is home to a number of endangered species including the pileated gibbon (Hylobates pileatus) and Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/9280 2012-03-19T13:51:00Z 2012-03-19T14:14:47Z Oil exploration approved in Africa's oldest park, Virunga National Park Permits for controversial oil exploration in Virunga National Park have been released after request by NGO Global Witness. Oil company, SOCO International, has confirmed it has received two permits to undertake preliminary exploration, including seismic tests, in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Virunga is famous for its population of the Critically Endangered mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei). Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/9257 2012-03-15T19:45:00Z 2013-02-24T02:07:12Z Scientists say massive palm oil plantation will "cut the heart out" of Cameroon's rainforest

Eleven top scientists have slammed a proposed palm oil plantation in a Cameroonian rainforest surrounded by five protected areas. In an open letter, the researchers allege that Herakles Farm, which proposes the 70,000 hectare plantation in southwest Cameroon, has misled the government about the state of the forest to be cleared and has violated rules set by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), of which it's a member. The scientists, many of whom are considered leaders in their field, argue that the plantation will destroy rich forests, imperil endangered species, and sow conflict with local people. Jeremy Hance 5.253017 9.054737 tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/9141 2012-02-22T17:43:00Z 2012-02-22T18:29:44Z NASA satellite image shows extent of logging in Pacific Northwest New satellite and space radar images by NASA shows the decline of forests in the Pacific Northwest, specifically in Washington and Oregon. Lost to development, agriculture, and large-scale logging, the maps apart of the National Biomass and Carbon Dataset (NBCD) show the patchy, fragmented nature of the forests in the two U.S. states. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/9136 2012-02-21T20:07:00Z 2012-02-22T13:24:19Z Fact follows fiction: Watership Down land to make way for housing developments In the classic novel, Watership Down, rabbits must flee their countryside home to make way for a new housing development. Now, the land that inspired author Richard Adams' much-beloved mythic tale is slated to bulldozed for 2,000 new homes. Located in the UK county of Berkshire, near the town of Newberry, the land in question is known as Sandleford Park. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/9127 2012-02-20T14:45:00Z 2015-01-29T00:46:53Z Innovative conservation: wild silk, endangered species, and poverty in Madagascar

For anyone who works in conservation in Madagascar, confronting the complex difficulties of widespread poverty is a part of the job. But with the wealth of Madagascar's wildlife rapidly diminishing— such as lemurs, miniature chameleons, and hedgehog-looking tenrecs found no-where else in the world—the island-nation has become a testing ground for innovative conservation programs that focus on tackling entrenched poverty to save dwindling species and degraded places. The local NGO, the Madagascar Organization of Silk Workers or SEPALI, along with its U.S. partner Conservation through Poverty Alleviation (CPALI), is one such innovative program. In order to alleviate local pressure on the newly-established Makira Protected Area, SEPALI is aiding local farmers in artisanal silk production from endemic moths. The program uses Madagascar's famed wildlife to help create more economically stable communities. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/9113 2012-02-15T02:26:00Z 2012-02-15T02:27:48Z Activists form network to fight Sarawak dam-building spree Last October indigenous groups, local people, and domestic NGOs formed the Save Sarawak's Rivers Network to fight the planned construction of a dozen dams in the Malaysian state on the island of Borneo. The coalition opposes the dam-building plans, known as the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) initiative, due to its impacts on indigenous and river communities, the destruction of pristine rainforest, and the degradation of the state's rivers. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/8923 2012-01-05T17:16:00Z 2012-01-05T17:41:22Z Will Taiwan save its last pristine coastline?

Voters in the January 14 Taiwanese presidential election will decide the fate of the island's last pristine wilderness known as the Alangyi Trail. Amongst the three candidates, only one (Tsai Ing-wen from the Democratic Progressive Party) may support the conservation of Alangyi Trail and its coastline. One of the top domestic stories of 2011 were the efforts by the Pingtung County government, indigenous tribes, and NGOs to preserve the Alangyi Trail, according to the Taiwan Environmental Information Center. Alangyi is now a major issue reflecting steadily growing environmental concern amongst the Taiwanese, but its fate is sadly uncertain. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/8854 2011-12-14T18:05:00Z 2015-01-29T00:21:43Z Photos: 208 species discovered in endangered Mekong region in 2010

Last year researchers scoured forests, rivers, wetlands, and islands in the vanishing ecosystems of the Mekong Delta to uncover an astounding 208 new species over a twelve month period. A new report by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) highlights a number of the new species—from a new snub-nosed monkey to five new meat-eating pitcher plants to a an all-female, cloning lizard—while warning that many of them may soon be gone as the Mekong Delta suffers widespread deforestation, over-hunting and poaching, massive development projects, the destruction of mangroves, pollution, climate change, and a growing population. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/8615 2011-10-31T00:05:00Z 2015-01-29T00:08:47Z 11 challenges facing 7 billion super-consumers

Perhaps the most disconcerting thing about Halloween this year is not the ghouls and goblins taking to the streets, but a baby born somewhere in the world. It's not the baby's or the parent's fault, of course, but this child will become a part of an artificial, but still important, milestone: according to the UN, the Earth's seventh billionth person will be born today. That's seven billion people who require, in the very least, freshwater, food, shelter, medicine, and education. In some parts of the world, they will also have a car, an iPod, a suburban house and yard, pets, computers, a lawn-mower, a microwave, and perhaps a swimming pool. Though rarely addressed directly in policy (and more often than not avoided in polite conversations), the issue of overpopulation is central to environmentally sustainability and human welfare. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/8519 2011-10-06T19:13:00Z 2015-01-29T00:02:07Z Florida loses two species to extinction The US Fish and Wildlife Service announced yesterday that the believe two species in Florida have vanished into the long dark night: the South Florida rainbow snake (Farancia erytrogramma seminola) and the Florida fairy shrimp (Dexteria floridana). The species were under review for possibly being added to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), but it's likely the review came decades too late. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/8487 2011-10-02T16:16:00Z 2011-10-02T16:19:58Z Dole responds to allegations it is illegally growing bananas in national park Dole Food Company has responded to allegations that it is clearing land in a national park in Sri Lanka known for its population of elephants as well as a number of threatened species. According to reports, the US-based food giant has partnered with a local company, Letsgrow Ltd, to grow bananas for export markets in Somawathiya National Park. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/8445 2011-09-27T16:08:00Z 2011-09-27T16:34:03Z Kenya should embrace living with nature as the model for a healthier, wealthier nation

Hundreds of thousands of Kenyans are supporting government efforts to enact progressive new policies through its Vision 2030 initiative as it promises to lift us out of a depressed economy and to take us onto a path to becoming a prosperous developed nation. For this to occur, development must be sustainable —but for now what the people want and need most is for the basic necessities for life to be assured like adequate water, sanitation, energy, health, education, homes, and jobs. It is unfortunate that some of our leaders are mistaken in believing that this means Kenya should look like USA or Europe with concrete cities and mega highways, speed trains, and artificial gardens—it will all be at the cost of our spectacular natural environment and wildlife heritage. Kenya hardly has any natural resources, what we have is wilderness and wildlife. For Kenya to stand apart, she must aspire to safeguard the environment and protect forests and wildlife as a central means of to attaining this sustainable development goal. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/8322 2011-08-24T17:23:00Z 2015-01-28T23:54:11Z National parks do not contribute to poverty, finds decade-long study A new study of Uganda's Kibale National Park refutes the conventional wisdom that parks cause poverty along their borders. 'Apparently the park provides a source of insurance; [locals] can hunt, or sell firewood or thatch from the park' explains Jennifer Alix-Garcia, co-author of the study, with the University of Wisconsin, Madison. 'It's misleading. If you look, you see more poor people living near the park. But when you look at the change in assets, you see that the poor people who live next to the park have lost less than poor people who live further away.' Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/8286 2011-08-16T19:38:00Z 2015-01-28T23:49:08Z The importance of recognizing viewpoints in a rapidly changing world

Is oil palm bad? Is protecting tropical forests more important than converting them for economic development? Should we spike trees to make sure no one cuts them down? Answers to these questions depend on which side of the argument you're on. But often people on either side of debates hardly know what their opponents are thinking. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/8134 2011-07-11T20:26:00Z 2011-07-12T15:11:53Z South Sudan's choice: resource curse or wild wonder?

After the people of South Sudan have voted overwhelmingly for independence, the work of building a nation begins. Set to become the world's newest country on July 9th of this year, one of many tasks facing the nation's nascent leaders is the conservation of its stunning wildlife. In 2007, following two decades of brutal civil war, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) surveyed South Sudan. What they found surprised everyone: 1.3 million white-eared kob, tiang (or topi) antelope and Mongalla gazelle still roamed the plains, making up the world's second largest migration after the Serengeti. The civil war had not, as expected, largely diminished the Sudan's great wildernesses, which are also inhabited by buffalo, giraffe, lion, bongo, chimpanzee, and some 8,000 elephants. However, with new nationhood comes tough decisions and new pressures. Multi-national companies seeking to exploit the nation's vast natural resources are expected to arrive in South Sudan, tempting them with promises of development and economic growth, promises that have proven uneven at best across Africa. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/8102 2011-07-02T18:16:00Z 2011-07-02T23:30:26Z Richard Leakey: 'selfish' critics choose wrong fight in Serengeti road

The controversial Serengeti road is going ahead, but with conditions. According to the Tanzanian Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Ezekiel Maige, the road will not be paved and it will be run by the Tanzanian park authority who will have the power to monitor traffic to 'ensure no harm comes to the wildlife population'. Critics argue that even an unpaved road would eventually cripple the largest land migration in the world. However, famed Kenyan conservationist, ex-politician, and anthropologist, Richard Leakey, told mongabay.com that critics of the road are focusing on the wrong fight while failing to respect Tanzania's right to develop. Leakey says that instead of attempting to stop the road from being built, which he believes is inevitable, critics should instead focus on funding a truly wildlife-friendly road. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/8101 2011-07-02T18:00:00Z 2011-07-02T23:35:52Z Unpaved road through Serengeti to progress

After a week of confusion, the Tanzanian government has finally clarified its position on the hugely-controversial Serengeti road. The Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Ezekiel Maige, confirmed that a paved highway will not be built through the northern Serengeti National Park, however the government is still planning to construct a gravel road through the park. Yet critics have long warned that even an unpaved road would open Pandora's box: eventually commercial and population pressure would push the road to be paved, widened, and fenced leading to a collapse of the world's largest remaining-and most famous-land migration. Two million wildebeest, zebra, and Thomson's gazelle pass along this route in annual migration from Tanzania to Kenya. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/8009 2011-06-12T19:24:00Z 2015-01-28T23:34:43Z Environment versus economy: local communities find economic benefits from living next to conservation areas

While few would question that conserving a certain percentage of land or water is good for society overall, it has long been believed that protected areas economically impoverish, rather than enrich, communities living adjacent to them. Many communities worldwide have protested against the establishment of conservation areas near them, fearing that less access and increased regulations would imperil their livelihoods. However, a surprising study overturns the common wisdom: showing that, at least in Thailand and Costa Rica, protected areas actually boost local economies and decrease poverty. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/7843 2011-05-09T16:00:00Z 2011-05-09T16:40:16Z Fight for flamingos: Tanzania to mine in world's most important flamingo breeding ground

It's not easy to find a single word to describe witnessing hundreds of thousands of flamingos filling up a shallow lake in the Great Rift Valley of East Africa. 'Spectacle' comes to mind, but even this is not wholly accurate for the surreal pink crowd. However one describes it, this biological wonder may be under threat as Tanzania plans to mine in a flamingo breeding ground that is not only regionally important, but globally. Astoundingly, over half of the world's lesser flamingos (between 65-75%) are born in a single lake in northern Tanzania: Lake Natron. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/7817 2011-05-02T18:26:00Z 2011-05-02T18:28:34Z Conservation organizations ask Tanzania to reconsider UNESCO status for Eastern Arc Mountains Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete has recently stated he would withdraw the application to list two Eastern Arc Mountains as UNESCO World Heritage sites: Udzungwa and Uluguru Mountains. However, ten NGOS, both local and international, have asked the president to reconsider, according to The Citizen. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/7791 2011-04-27T02:52:00Z 2011-04-27T03:02:21Z Rise in wildlife tourism in India comes with challenges A line of tourist jeeps clogs the road in a dry forest, as all eyes—and cameras—are on a big cat ambling along the road ahead; when the striped predator turns for a moment to face the tourists, voices hush and cameras flash: this is a scene that over the past decade has becoming increasingly common in India. A new study in Conservation Letters surveyed ten national parks in India and found that attendance had increased on average 14.9% from 2002-2006, but while rising nature tourism in India comes with education and awareness opportunities, it also brings problems. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/7743 2011-04-14T19:13:00Z 2011-04-19T21:37:53Z From the Serengeti to Lake Natron: is the Tanzanian government aiming to destroy its wildlife and lands?

What's happening in Tanzania? This is a question making the rounds in conservation and environmental circles. Why is a nation that has so much invested in its wild lands and wild animals willing to pursue projects that appear destined not only to wreak havoc on the East African nation's world-famous wildlife and ecosystems, but to cripple its economically-important tourism industry? The most well known example is the proposed road bisecting Serengeti National Park, which scientists, conservationists, the UN, and foreign governments alike have condemned. But there are other concerns among conservationists, including the fast-tracking of soda ash mining in East Africa's most important breeding ground for millions of lesser flamingo, and the recent announcement to nullify an application for UNESCO Heritage Status for a portion of Tanzania's Eastern Arc Mountains, a threatened forest rich in species found no-where else. According to President Jakaya Kikwete, Tanzania is simply trying to provide for its poorest citizens (such as communities near the Serengeti and the Eastern Arc Mountains) while pursuing western-style industrial development. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/7699 2011-04-05T17:31:00Z 2015-01-26T22:56:48Z Vanishing mangroves are carbon sequestration powerhouses Mangroves may be the world's most carbon rich forests, according to a new study in Nature Geoscience. Measuring the carbon stored in 25 mangrove forests in the Indo-Pacific region, researchers found that mangroves forests stored up to four times as much carbon as other tropical forests, including rainforests. "Mangroves have long been known as extremely productive ecosystems that cycle carbon quickly, but until now there had been no estimate of how much carbon resides in these systems. That's essential information because when land-use change occurs, much of that standing carbon stock can be released to the atmosphere," explains co-author Daniel Donato, a postdoctoral research ecologist at the Pacific Southwest Research Station in Hilo, Hawaii. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/7688 2011-04-04T19:19:00Z 2015-01-26T22:56:55Z The saola: rushing to save the most 'spectacular zoological discovery' of the 20th Century

The saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) may be the most enigmatic, beautiful, and endangered big mammal in the world—that no one has ever heard of. The shy ungulate looks like an African antelope—perhaps inhabiting the wide deserts of the Sahara—but instead it lives in the dense jungles of Vietnam and Laos, and is more related to wild cattle than Africa's antelopes. The saola is so unusual that is has been given its own genus: Pseudoryx, due to its superficial similarities to Africa's oryx. In the company of humans this quiet forest dweller acts calm and tame, but has yet to survive captivity long. Yet strangest of all, the 200 pound (90 kilogram) animal remained wholly unknown to science until 1992. Jeremy Hance tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/7608 2011-03-20T20:35:00Z 2011-03-20T20:37:57Z India government: forest target 'unrealistic' Not long ago much of India was covered in vast and varied forests. Today just over one-fifth (21%) of the nation remains under forest cover, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) but an ambitious plan hopes to bring the forest cover percentage to 33%, or one third of the country. However that goal has been dubbed 'unrealistic' by India's influential Minister for Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh, as reported by The Hindu. Jeremy Hance


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Lower cost, lower operating expenses, easier poling, less draft, and more fun—that about sums up the 168 Banshee Extreme. First, look at the math: this boat costs less than most new cars, even when rigged with a 60-hp Evinrude E-Tec outboard and a trailer, because you can own this rig paying in the mid 20's. And though it sounds small, that 60-hp E-Tec is plenty of power for this boat. When I tested it we jumped on plane and broke 30-mph in mere seconds. An outboard this small also ensures low operating costs. Cruise around in the bay in the mid 20's, and you'll only be burning a couple gallons per hour.
If you like fishing the shallows in stealth mode you'll find this an easy boat to pole, thanks to the light weight and poling strakes on the hull bottom, which improve tracking. The poling platform itself is sturdy and when I climbed up top and rocked back and forth, felt no sway or wiggle in the supports. And unlike many small technical poling skiffs, the Banshee Extreme has rod racks built in which can accommodate full-size fly rods, at 14' long. Spinning and conventional rods can rest in the four vertical holders lining the sides of the center console, and there's even a reinforced spot on the transom that's ready to be fitted with a Power Pole.
Does an inexpensive, small skiff have to come bare-bones? Ranger says no way. The Banshee Extreme has high-end touches like a stainless steel steering wheel with a suicide knob, Lenco trim tabs, a hydraulic jack plate, and hydraulic tilt steering. Jazz it up with all the options, however, and price will climb into the low 30's. Other down-sides? Just those you'd expect with a boat this small. Big waves cause launching, spray, and a bit of discomfort. Hey – size does matter. On the flip side, a rig this compact is easy to get into tight creeks and channels, and it's a breeze to tow.
Why do I say this boat is also more fun? Fun is tough to quantify, but when you take a test run you'll experience it for yourself. Sit at the elevated helm—which makes spotting channels, tailing fish, and potential hotspots easier than on most flats boats—firewall the throttle, and spin that wheel. Feel the hull grab and turn, reacting as quickly as your brain can get the message to your hands. Leap off a few wakes, then weave among some crab trap floats. Fun? Darn straight. In fact, it's so much fun you could call it Extreme.
Get Ranger's two cents at www.rangerboats.com.
Beam – 6'9"
Draft – 5.5"
Dry weight – 540
Fuel capacity - 17
Max HP – 60
Price – Mid 20's to low 30's.
Observed performance w/2 people and half fuel, 60 HP Evinrude ETEC outboard, swinging a 13 7/8" x 15" three-bladed stainless-steel prop.
Cruise RPM
Speed in MPH
Gallons Per Hour
Miles per gallon
Slow cruise/3500
Fast cruise/4500
Wide open/6000

subset: commoncrawl


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Search all RK Properties Apartments For Rent in -112.186, 33.6229
Ravello TownhomesLas Vegas, NV 89115
Ravello is located in the northeast area of Las Vegas, NV. We offer two and three bedroom with den option apartments for rent. Amenities include washer and dryer, two tone paint, track lighting, 9 foot ceilings, full kitchens with granite counter tops, custom hardwood cabinetry, designer fixtures and appliance package. We also offer walking paths, BBQ picnic areas, attached garages and pets up to 75 pounds are welcome. Come visit our friendly on-site staff today!+−Preview Details
SunCrest TownhomesNorth Las Vegas, NV 89032
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Villaggio Di Murano is located in the SW area of Las Vegas, NV. We offer 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments for rent. Amenities include pool & spa with waterfall, mountain views, garden tub, full-size washer & dryer, patio or balcony, walk-in closet, fireplace, vaulted ceiling, storage closets, covered parking and large pets are welcome! We are convenient to shopping, dining, freeways and our apartments for rent are directly on the CAT bus line.+−Preview Details
The IvyLas Vegas, NV 89117
The Ivy is located in the beautiful Summerlin/Lakes area of Las Vegas, NV. We offer 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments for rent and are conveniently located close to businesses, schools, golf courses & freeway access. Amenities include full-size washer & dryer, fireplace, private patio, microwave, 24 hour maintenance, clubhouse, fitness center, business center, pool, spa, tanning bed, playground, covered parking and we are a pet friendly community located directly on the CAT bus line.+−Preview Details
Pinnacle Fort UnionSalt Lake City, UT 84121
Pinnacle Fort Union Apartments, in Cottonwood Heights, Utah has beautiful 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartment homes for rent that include breathtaking views, washer/dryer included, garages, fully-equipped kitchens, high-speed internet and more!+−Preview Details
Village at Fair OaksFair Oaks, CA 95628
Offering spacious one and two bedroom apartments for rent in Fair Oaks, CA featuring air conditioning, fireplace, broadband internet access, extra storage, patio or balcony and washers and dryers in select homes. Community features a sparkling pool, wooded common areas, and is located near grocery stores, dining, and schooling. Fair Oaks Elementary is right across the street. We are located in the Oakdale Joint Unified School District.+−Preview Details
Walnut Village ApartmentsSacramento, CA 95841
Located in Sacramento California, Walnut Village offers 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartment Homes! We offer a quiet community with mature landscaping and in each Home you will find Walk-in closets, custom fit mini blinds, wood burning, modern kitchens with large pantries, washers and dryers in select homes, private patios and balconies, Sparkling Pool, Covered Parking, Easy Freeway Access to Downtown.+−Preview Details
The Crossing at RiverlakeSacramento, CA 95831
The Crossing at Riverlake offers one and two bedroom apartments for rent in Sacramento, California. We feature Private detached garages, easy access to I-5, private patios, resort style pool and spa and full-size washers and dryers. We are also located near grocery stores, dining, and schooling. Call for more details!+−Preview Details
Windward at the Villages ApartmentsWest Palm Beach, FL 33409
The 1- and 2-bedroom apartment homes for rent at Windward at the Villages in West Palm Beach, Florida offer a gated community, spacious rooms, brand new appliances, full size washer and dryers, boat storage and tile roofs imported from Spain.+−Preview Details
Wilton TowerWilton Manors, FL 33305
Here at Wilton Tower, We're not just a Building, We're a Lifestyle. We offer 1 and 2 Bedroom Spacious Apartments, High Rise Living within Wilton Manor with Beautiful City and Water Views, walking distance to Shopping and Dining.+−Preview Details
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Norway payments to Brazil for reducing deforestation reach $670 millionmongabay.com
December 06, 2012
Norway's deposit pushed its total payments into the Amazon Fund to $670 million, making it by far the largest contributor to the voluntary fund. Norway has committed up to $1 billion by 2015 to the fund if Brazil meets its deforestation reduction targets.
Brazil is using the money to support programs to reduce deforestation, including incentives for ranchers and farmers to adopt "greener" practices, improved law enforcement, and better monitoring. Norway has pledged 3 billion krone ($530 million) per year toward global efforts to reduce deforestation. Other beneficiaries of its largess to date include Indonesia, Guyana, and Tanzania. Norway's payments are performance-based for reducing emissions from deforestation, but do not generate "credits" or "offsets".
Brazil has seen its annual deforestation rate plunge by more than 80 percent since 2004. While the government has taken a number of steps to reduce forest clearing, economic trends have helped create favorable conditions for slowing deforestation. However some civil society groups fear that new investments in roads, dams, and energy extraction could reverse some of the recent gains. They further argue that a relaxation of the country's Forest Code, which regulates forest conversion on private lands, could erode progress on cutting deforestation, which has tracked higher since this August after registering a 27 percent decline over the previous 12 months.
Brazil has the world's largest extent of tropical forest. Nearly two-thirds of the Amazon rainforest lies within its borders.
Related articles
REDD+ negotiations in Doha at impasse, potentailly delaying decisions on safeguards another year
(12/03/2012) Negotiations over a program that would pay tropical countries for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and degradation — or REDD+ — are stuck at an impasse over how emissions reductions would be verified, reports Ecosystem Marketplace. The disagreement, which has been characterized as a standoff between Brazil, which is potentially a beneficiary of REDD+, and Norway, which is the world's largest funder of tropical forest conservation, could push any final decisions on REDD+ out another year.
Brazil's deforestation at record low from 2011-2012
(11/27/2012) Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon fell to the lowest rate since annual record-keeping began in 1988 according to provisional data released Tuesday by Brazil's National Space Research Agency (INPE). 1,798 square miles (4,656 square kilometers) of Amazon forest was chopped down during the 12 months ending July 31, 2012, 27 percent less than the year earlier period.


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Located outside San Diego in San Marcos, eaves San Marcos is an Avalon community with convenient shopping, Restaurant Row and colleges nearby. Easy access to major highways including 15 and 78 and a short drive to some of the area's best beaches.
Up to 2 Cats welcome with $500.00 deposit, $65.00 rent.
Up to 2 Dogs welcome with $500.00 deposit, $65.00 rent.
Sunday: Closed
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9:30AM to 6:30PM
Wednesday: 9:30AM to 6:30PM
Thursday: 9:30AM to 6:30PM
Friday: 8:30AM to 5:30PM
Saturday: 8:30AM to 5:30PM
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