EcoAméricas

08/19/2024

Santa Cruz province has recently approved sport hunting of native animals like pumas, Andean foxes, and guanacos from April to August. Critics argue this move prioritizes ranchers' interests over wildlife conservation.

While ranchers claim these native species harm their sheep and compete for forage, experts suggest that climate change and overgrazing are bigger issues. Conservationists urge exploring non-lethal methods, such as protective measures for livestock, instead of resorting to hunting.

To read more on the debate and why experts believe there are better solutions for balancing wildlife and ranching, click here: https://bit.ly/4cwSLHW

A decision to allow sport hunting of native animals in Argentina’s largest Patagonian province has drawn concern not only from academics and environmental groups, but also segments of the public nationwide. In March, Santa Cruz province authorized sport hunting of animals including the puma (Puma ...

08/15/2024

Colombia has just sent its first-ever beef shipments to China following a major agreement to boost agricultural exports. This move is expected to significantly increase beef production, with projections estimating exports could exceed 100,000 tons annually by 2025—more than double last year's total. 📈

While this is a major economic boost, it's raising environmental concerns. The rapid expansion of beef production could lead to increased deforestation in the Amazon as ranchers clear land to meet soaring demand. Experts warn that without proper traceability, the surge in beef exports might drive illegal land clearing, putting even more pressure on our precious rainforests. 🥩

Efforts to implement a chain-of-custody tracking system are underway, but political hurdles have delayed progress. Advocates urge for immediate action to prevent further environmental damage and ensure sustainable practices. 🌍

This article was published in the July 2024 issue of EcoAméricas, available now: https://bit.ly/3SOSAkt

Having signed a protocol last year to boost agricultural exports to China, Colombia last month sent its first-ever beef shipments to that country. Access to China’s market is expected not only to spur dramatic expansion of Colombia’s beef production, but also to drive up its deforestation rates ...

08/13/2024

The Brazilian Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland, has experienced the greatest number of fires in the first half of 2024 than in the same period of any year since official record keeping of burns in the region began in 1998.

From January 1 to July 7, a staggering 3,919 wildfires have ravaged 7,629 square kilometers—an area larger than Delaware.

🔹 June's Surge: Nearly 70% of the fires started in June, a month earlier than usual, fueled by extreme drought conditions exacerbated by El Niño and record-breaking warming.

🔹 Who’s Responsible?: The fires are believed to have been ignited by various human activities, including cattle ranching and waste burning. The exact causes are still under investigation, with both private landowners and traditional communities under scrutiny.

🔹 Efforts to Combat: Federal and state authorities are mobilizing massive resources, including 21 planes, 9 helicopters, and over 1,200 firefighters. President Lula has also pledged R$137 million (US$25 million) for firefighting efforts. 🚁

Read what experts are saying regarding the Pantanal fires here: https://bit.ly/3WK2Co3

Brazil’s Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland, has experienced the greatest number of fires in the first half of 2024 than in the same period of any year since official record-keeping of burns in the region began in 1998. From Jan. 1 to July 7, an unprecedented 3,919 wildfires torched ...

08/12/2024

In December, Ana María Vidal de Lamas was appointed by President Javier Milei as the head of Argentina’s Environmental Undersecretariat. This reorganization demotes the agency from a full cabinet-level ministry to an undersecretariat within the new Secretariat of Tourism, Environment, and Sports. This move has sparked criticism from environmental groups and reflects Milei’s skepticism about mainstream climate change science, which he previously dismissed as “a lie of socialism.”

Despite this shift, Vidal de Lamas, a seasoned environmental attorney, remains focused on advancing Argentina’s environmental agenda. She acknowledges the challenges posed by reduced upper-level positions but is committed to maintaining the core functions of the agency with a dedicated team of around 1,000 staff.

Vidal de Lamas clarifies that her personal views on climate change are secondary to her role. Her priority is addressing climate variations and implementing adaptive measures to mitigate impacts. She also recognizes the tension between developed and developing countries regarding emissions limits but emphasizes Argentina’s need to balance adaptation with ambitious mitigation goals, particularly through energy efficiency and regenerative agriculture.

The entire interview is available now

Ana María Vidal de Lamas became Argentina’s lead environmental official in December, when newly sworn-in President Javier Milei appointed her to head the Environmental Undersecretariat. The agency had been a full-fledged cabinet-level ministry with its own secretariats and undersecretariats. But ...

08/08/2024

Half a century ago, the history of Easter Island became a cautionary tale about the collapse that would occur if humans overran their environment. More recently, that narrative has changed when it comes to Easter Island, the remote Chilean territory in the southeast Pacific that is famed for its monumental statues, called moai.

New research using advanced satellite imagery reveals that the island’s early population might have been smaller than previously thought—around 3,000 to 4,000 people, not 10,000+.

Researchers analyzed rock gardens using shortwave infrared (SWIR) imagery, which offers clearer insights than past methods. 🌱 The findings show that despite challenges, the island’s inhabitants practiced remarkable resilience and adaptation, transforming their environment sustainably rather than facing total collapse.

This new view highlights the adaptability of the Rapa Nui people and suggests a more hopeful lesson for modern societies dealing with environmental challenges. 🌍

To learn how cutting-edge technology is reshaping our understanding of Easter Island’s history, check out the most recent issue of EcoAméricas, available now: https://bit.ly/3WVwS0r

Half a century ago, the history of Easter Island became a cautionary tale about the collapse that would occur if humans overran their environment. More recently, that narrative has changed when it comes to Easter Island, the remote Chilean territory in the southeast Pacific that is famed for its mon...

08/06/2024

Venezuela, known for its rich natural heritage with 28% of its land protected, is facing an unprecedented environmental disaster. Over the past two decades, corruption, economic collapse, and negligence have ravaged its pristine jungles, polluted rivers, and devastated coastlines. Key issues include:

Illegal Mining: Small-scale gold mining is rampant, spreading across national parks and protected areas, with devastating impacts on ecosystems and local communities.

Deforestation: Mining activities and agriculture are leading to massive deforestation, altering landscapes and threatening biodiversity.

Pollution: From unchecked oil spills to poor waste management, pollution is wreaking havoc on Venezuela's natural resources.

The entire article was published in this month’s issue of EcoAméricas, available now: https://bit.ly/3WUpqD5

Venezuela has a long history of environmental protection. National parks, reserves, and monuments cover some 28% of its territory and there are limits on development spanning more than half the country. But corruption, negligence and economic collapse over the past two decades now threaten its south...

07/17/2024

Meet Mimi Foyle, an extraordinary advocate for conservation in Ecuador's Andean Chocó region!

For over five decades, Mimi has dedicated her life to preserving the rich biodiversity of this unique biogeographic area. Starting in Colombia, she now resides in Pacto, Ecuador, where she co-owns the stunning Río Guaycuyacu Reserve. This 77-acre sanctuary not only nurtures 600 species of tropical fruits but also safeguards 37 acres of native forest. 🌿🌳

Mimi co-founded the National Corporation of Forests and Private Reserves of Ecuador (CNBRPE), pioneering efforts to finance private reserves through carbon and tax credits. Despite challenges like illegal mining and deforestation, Mimi's work underscores the critical role of private initiatives in biodiversity conservation. 🐾🌱

Click the link below to read her insights on Ecuador's conservation efforts and the importance of private reserves in protecting our planet's precious ecosystems. https://bit.ly/3Lv9m4a

Mimi Foyle, a U.S.-born fruit grower and conservationist, has lived and worked in the Andean Chocó región for five decades. She spent the first 11 of those years in the Colombian portion of the Chocó—a highly species-diverse biogeographic region that stretches from Panama through Colombia and E...

07/12/2024

Roadkill in Brazil poses a serious threat to its diverse wildlife, with over 475 million vertebrate animals lost annually. 🚗 🐾

Meet Gabriel Souto Ferrante and his team at the University of São Paulo’s Institute of Mathematical and Computer Sciences. They're pioneering an AI-driven system to alert drivers about wild animals crossing roadways in real time. 🦡🚦

In collaboration with the Brazilian Center for the Study of Road Ecology (CBEE), Gabriel and his colleagues have trained AI models to recognize endangered species like pumas, giant anteaters, tapirs, maned wolves, and jaguarundis. Their research, recently published in Scientific Reports, marks a significant step towards reducing wildlife fatalities on Brazilian roads.

The next phase? Integrating this AI system with existing traffic cameras and navigation platforms like Google and Waze, ensuring instant alerts for drivers. 📲

While challenges remain, including securing support from highway concessionaires and government bodies, the potential impact is immense—not just for wildlife preservation, but for safeguarding human lives too.

Continue reading online at: https://bit.ly/3VPGqZg

A group of Brazilian computer scientists, alarmed by the amount of roadkill in their highly biodiverse country, are devising a system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to alert drivers to wild animals attempting to cross roadways. Roadkill is a serious problem in Brazil given the country’s ab...

07/10/2024

🌎🐢 On May 9, 2023, Ecuador took a monumental step towards marine conservation with the world’s largest debt-for-nature swap.

Today, little over a year later, the nonprofit corporation established to supervise allocation of the conservation funding, Galápagos Life Fund (GLF), has gained legal status in Ecuador and set up offices on the archipelago’s island of Santa Cruz to begin its work.

Established to oversee $223 million in conservation projects over nearly two decades, GLF will dedicate a third of its funding to enhancing marine reserves surrounding the Galápagos Islands. This initiative not only supports the Galápagos Marine Reserve but also extends to the newly created Hermandad Reserve, totaling 198,000 square kilometers of protected waters!

Under GLF's stewardship, $18 million will kickstart efforts to strengthen monitoring and enforcement across these reserves, ensuring sustainable practices in marine tourism and fishing.

"We're paving the way for long-term conservation strategies," says Mónica Calvopiña, GLF's Executive Director. "This funding allows us to protect migratory species and establish a sustainable blue economy."

Despite challenges, including the need for continued collaboration with Costa Rica, where further protective measures are essential, Ecuador remains committed to expanding these vital marine corridors.

Continue reading online at: https://bit.ly/3xOLULN

On May 9, 2023, Ecuador announced the world’s biggest debt-for-nature swap. Under the agreement, international creditors would reduce the country’s debt obligations by more than US$1 billion and Ecuador would use roughly a third of these savings to strengthen marine conservation in the waters ar...

07/09/2024

🌍🇲🇽 Following her historic election victory, Claudia Sheinbaum pledges a new era for Mexico, focusing on renewable energy and sustainable water management. A stark departure from past policies, Sheinbaum vows to prioritize renewables, aiming to fulfill Mexico’s commitments under the Paris Agreement despite previous setbacks.

A climate scientist by training, Sheinbaum champions a vision where clean energy plays a central role in national development. Her appointment of Alicia Bárcena as environment minister signals a strong commitment to green initiatives and international climate negotiations.

Yet, challenges loom large. Sheinbaum inherits complexities from her predecessor’s energy strategy, heavily invested in fossil fuels. Balancing these interests while advancing renewables will demand innovative solutions and collaboration with private sectors.

With Mexico’s ambitious climate targets in sight, Sheinbaum plans significant investments in clean energy infrastructure. Her agenda includes boosting solar and wind energy capacity, alongside enhancing energy efficiency and public transport electrification.

However, the journey ahead isn’t without obstacles. Water scarcity remains a critical issue, exacerbated by outdated infrastructure and privatization concerns. Sheinbaum faces tough decisions to ensure equitable access to water while preserving environmental integrity.

As Mexico embarks on this transformative path, Sheinbaum’s leadership promises a blend of scientific rigor and political pragmatism.

Continue reading this month’s centerpiece at: https://bit.ly/4bCTpmO

07/08/2024

🌍🇲🇽 Following her historic election victory, Claudia Sheinbaum pledges a new era for Mexico, focusing on renewable energy and sustainable water management. A stark departure from past policies, Sheinbaum vows to prioritize renewables, aiming to fulfill Mexico’s commitments under the Paris Agreement despite previous setbacks.

A climate scientist by training, Sheinbaum champions a vision where clean energy plays a central role in national development. Her appointment of Alicia Bárcena as environment minister signals a strong commitment to green initiatives and international climate negotiations.

Yet, challenges loom large. Sheinbaum inherits complexities from her predecessor’s energy strategy, heavily invested in fossil fuels. Balancing these interests while advancing renewables will demand innovative solutions and collaboration with private sectors.

With Mexico’s ambitious climate targets in sight, Sheinbaum plans significant investments in clean energy infrastructure. Her agenda includes boosting solar and wind energy capacity, alongside enhancing energy efficiency and public transport electrification.

However, the journey ahead isn’t without obstacles. Water scarcity remains a critical issue, exacerbated by outdated infrastructure and privatization concerns. Sheinbaum faces tough decisions to ensure equitable access to water while preserving environmental integrity.

Continue reading this month’s centerpiece at: https://bit.ly/4bCTpmO

Just hours after winning Mexico’s presidential election on June 2, Claudia Sheinbaum promised to continue the work of her mentor, outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. But in her victory speech, the former Mexico City mayor highlighted one critical difference between the two: her commi...

07/08/2024

🐝🌿 Reviving Ancient Wisdom: In the heart of the Yucatán Peninsula, Mayan communities are reclaiming their heritage with stingless beekeeping, known as meliponiculture.

🍯 These bees, revered since ancient times for their medicinal honey and role in biodiversity, face threats from climate change and habitat loss. Organizations like Educampo are empowering local women like Manuela Yam Pech to sustainably manage hives, producing honey and eco-friendly products while conserving native bee species.

Learn more at: https://bit.ly/3zn2TVW

07/08/2024

🐝🌿 Reviving Ancient Wisdom: In the heart of the Yucatán Peninsula, Mayan communities are reclaiming their heritage with stingless beekeeping, known as meliponiculture.

🍯 These bees, revered since ancient times for their medicinal honey and role in biodiversity, face threats from climate change and habitat loss. Organizations like Educampo are empowering local women like Manuela Yam Pech to sustainably manage hives, producing honey and eco-friendly products while conserving native bee species.

Learn more at: https://bit.ly/3zn2TVW

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Ancient Mayans considered bees a gift from the gods. Community beekeepers across the Yucatán Peninsula kept honey-producing stingless bees in log hives to provide antibiotic honey for medicinal purposes, pollen, and other bee products prized by the Mayans. Today, various organizations are helping M...

07/03/2024

🦈 Peru has established the Tropical Mar de Grau National Reserve, covering over 115,676 sq km of tropical marine habitat in northern Peru. This diverse area, where warm and cold currents meet, supports unique marine life including whale sharks and rare sea slugs found nowhere else.

While this reserve promises crucial protection, concerns linger about potential impacts from oil production and industrial fishing that will still be allowed. The Mancora Bank, a deep-sea hotspot within the reserve, remains particularly vulnerable to practices like bottom trawling, threatening delicate coral reefs and undiscovered species.

Despite these challenges, Peru aims to finalize a comprehensive management plan by 2025 to safeguard this vital ecosystem for future generations.

To learn more about the new reserve, visit EcoAméricas at: https://bit.ly/3XSXbW3

07/02/2024

🐧🛰️ In a groundbreaking collaboration, researchers have embarked on an incredible journey alongside 20 Magellanic penguins from Argentine Patagonia to the southern waters of Uruguay and Brazil. Equipped with state-of-the-art satellite transmitters, these penguins are not just winging their way south—they’re teaching us invaluable lessons about their annual migration patterns.

Led by the Global Penguin Society (GPS) and supported by partners like National Geographic, Stanford University, and Argentina’s Parks Administration, this project aims to uncover the mysteries of these resilient creatures’ migration.

Follow along in real time as our feathered friends—aptly named after legends like Lionel Messi and Taylor Swift—brave the vast Atlantic Ocean, facing challenges from oil exploration to plastic pollution.

“As both terrestrial and marine animal, penguins are impacted by both global threats like climate change and local threats like habitat loss and degradation,” National Geographic researcher Luisa Arnedo told EcoAméricas in this month’s issue, available here:  https://bit.ly/4eH3EcN

07/02/2024

🐧🛰️ In a groundbreaking collaboration, researchers have embarked on an incredible journey alongside 20 Magellanic penguins from Argentine Patagonia to the southern waters of Uruguay and Brazil. Equipped with state-of-the-art satellite transmitters, these penguins are not just winging their way south—they're teaching us invaluable lessons about their annual migration patterns.

Led by the Global Penguin Society (GPS) and supported by partners like National Geographic, Stanford University, and Argentina's Parks Administration, this project aims to uncover the mysteries of these resilient creatures' migration.

Follow along in real time as our feathered friends—aptly named after legends like Lionel Messi and Taylor Swift—brave the vast Atlantic Ocean, facing challenges from oil exploration to plastic pollution.

“As both terrestrial and marine animal, penguins are impacted by both global threats like climate change and local threats like habitat loss and degradation,” National Geographic researcher Luisa Arnedo told EcoAméricas in this month’s issue, available here: https://bit.ly/4eH3EcN

In an unprecedented collaboration, specialists from public and private organizations have equipped 20 Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) with satellite transmitters and are following them electronically on their annual austral-winter migration from Argentine Patagonia to the waters of Uru...

06/25/2024

Meet Constantino Aucca, a Quechua biologist from Peru who has dedicated two decades to ecosystem restoration in the Andes. Acción Andina—born from a partnership with Aucca and the U.S.-based conservation group Global Forest Generation—works with Indigenous communities in the Andes to restore forests, cut biodiversity loss, and secure water sources. Since 2018, they’ve planted 10 million trees across Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, and Argentina, aiming for 100 million more on a million hectares. Recognized by the UN, Acción Andina’s model integrates Incan wisdom for climate resilience worldwide. 🌍

Catch the whole interview at https://bit.ly/3VZaQIP

06/25/2024

Meet Constantino Aucca, a Quechua biologist from Peru who has dedicated two decades to ecosystem restoration in the Andes. Acción Andina—born from a partnership between Aucca and the U.S.-based conservation group Global Forest Generation—works with Indigenous communities in the Andes to restore forests, cut biodiversity loss, and secure water sources. Since 2018, they've planted 10 million trees across Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, and Argentina, aiming for 100 million more on a million hectares. Recognized by the UN, Acción Andina's model integrates Incan wisdom for climate resilience worldwide. 🌍

Catch the whole interview here:

Constantino Aucca, a Peruvian biologist of Quechua origin, engaged for over two decades with Andean communities in ecosystem restoration. Then Global Forest Generation, a U.S.-based conservation group, partnered with Aucca to expand his model. The result was Acción Andina, a nonprofit now working w...

06/24/2024

The Indigenous Awá people are fighting for justice in Colombia. They’re demanding that Ecopetrol and Cenit, along with state agencies, take responsibility for the environmental damage caused by over 440 oil spills from the TrasAndino Oil Pipeline that runs through their lands.

📜 Their efforts are backed by a lawsuit filed by Indigenous Unity of the Awá People (Unipa), representing 20 Awá reserves, challenging the dismissal of their case by lower courts. Now, Colombia’s Constitutional Court has agreed to review it, marking a crucial step towards justice.

⛽️ Since 2014, these spills, often caused by bombings and criminal activities, have devastated their environment. While regulations mandate cleanup, there’s no obligation to restore the affected areas, leaving communities to bear the long-term consequences.

🔗 Learn more about the cleanup process in our latest article. https://bit.ly/4csKncV  

06/24/2024

The Indigenous Awá people are fighting for justice in Colombia. They're demanding that Ecopetrol and Cenit, along with state agencies, take responsibility for the environmental damage caused by over 440 oil spills from the TrasAndino Oil Pipeline that runs through their lands.

📜 Their efforts are backed by a lawsuit filed by Indigenous Unity of the Awá People (Unipa), representing 20 Awá reserves, challenging the dismissal of their case by lower courts. Now, Colombia’s Constitutional Court has agreed to review it, marking a crucial step towards justice.

⛽️ Since 2014, these spills, often caused by bombings and criminal activities, have devastated their environment. While regulations mandate cleanup, there's no obligation to restore the affected areas, leaving communities to bear the long-term consequences.

🔗 Learn more about the cleanup process in our latest article. https://bit.ly/4csKncV

The Indigenous Awá people are pressing Colombia’s state-owned oil company Ecopetrol, its transport subsidiary Cenit, and various state agencies, to conduct environmental remediation to reverse ecological damage caused by spills from an oil pipeline that traverses Indigenous lands. Their demands u...

06/20/2024

🇵🇦 Despite recent showers marking the start of Panama’s rainy season, the country still faces critical water challenges.

A key question on that score is how to meet the vast water-supply needs of the Panama Canal while simultaneously serving those of the country’s growing population—all without depriving key ecosystems.

The answer, many experts argue, is more water storage—namely, the construction of one and perhaps two new reservoirs, which, given their large footprint and expense, would pose a steep political challenge.

⏳ The urgency is clear. Without action, canal revenues could decline significantly over the coming decades.

🔗 Learn more about Panama’s water crisis and the proposed solutions in our latest article. https://bit.ly/3VQWcUW

06/20/2024

🇵🇦 Despite recent showers marking the start of Panama's rainy season, the country still faces critical water challenges.

A key question on that score is how to meet the vast water-supply needs of the Panama Canal while simultaneously serving those of the country’s growing population—all without depriving key ecosystems.

The answer, many experts argue, is more water storage—namely, the construction of one and perhaps two new reservoirs, which, given their large footprint and expense, would pose a steep political challenge.

⏳ The urgency is clear. Without action, canal revenues could decline significantly over the coming decades.

🔗 Learn more about Panama's water crisis and the proposed solutions in our latest article. https://bit.ly/3VQWcUW

As Panamanians chose a new president on May 5, showers marked the start of the rainy season, raising hopes that the country would exit a punishing drought linked to the most recent El Niño weather pattern. The winner, center-right President-elect José Raúl Mulino, faces thorny domestic challenges...

06/18/2024

Hopes rose in 2022 for improved water quality at the U.S.-Mexican border with a promising settlement to tackle cross-boundary pollution. However, two years later, challenges persist as untreated wastewater continues to flow into the Pacific Ocean from Tijuana, impacting communities on both sides.

The settlement outlined plans to expand the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant in San Diego County, aiming to reduce ocean-bound wastewater by 80% once completed in late-2027. Despite commitments and funding increases, including $300 million from the USMCA, the road to cleaner waters remains arduous.

San Diego Coastkeeper’s Executive Director Phillip Musegaas says securing court monitoring of the South Bay Treatment Plant is a major objective of the litigation.

In April, the U.S. conservation organization American Rivers named the binational Tijuana River the ninth most endangered river in the United States in the latest version of its annual list of the 10 most endangered U.S. rivers.

“I’ve been working on water pollution issues for 20 years, and this is the worst I’ve seen,” Musegaas sys. “It’s something like the 1950s before we had the Clean Water Act or any regulation of water pollution.”

For more details, please visit: https://bit.ly/4cs2Qqg