The Earth Press (2025)

11/05/2024

The Castlebar River in County Mayo has been contaminated by an oil spill, with investigations currently underway.

After being alerted by Inland Fisheries Ireland, Mayo County Council swiftly responded to the environmental crisis that began on May 7.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the pollutant is likely kerosene or heating oil, entering the river via underground drainage systems.

Efforts to identify the spill's source have led to a focused search around the Turlough road area, including door-to-door inquiries and potential CCTV drainage inspections.

In response, the council has installed oil absorbent booms in the river and affected drains to minimize environmental damage.

Local residents and businesses are being urged to check their oil tanks and pipelines for leaks and report any findings to the council's Environment section.

This environmental mishap underscores the need for vigilant infrastructure maintenance and community cooperation in pollution prevention.

10/05/2024

Alaska, once a key supplier of liquefied natural gas to Japan, may soon become the final destination for Japan's carbon emissions.

The Biden administration is initiating a study to explore the feasibility of capturing, liquefying, and shipping Japanese carbon emissions back to Alaska for underground storage in Cook Inlet.

This initiative stems from cooperative agreements between the US and Japan and aims to leverage Alaska's potential as a global carbon storage site.

While the concept faces skepticism and concerns over costs and the continuation of fossil fuel dependence, it represents a novel approach to tackling climate change by decarbonizing hard-to-address industries.

The study will also consider the technical and economic viability of such cross-border carbon shipment projects.

10/05/2024

California faces a new wildlife health challenge as chronic wasting disease (CWD) is detected for the first time in the state's deer population.

State Department of Fish and Wildlife officials announced on Tuesday that two deer—one found dead in Madera County and another struck by a vehicle in Inyo County—tested positive for the fatal neurological disease.

These detections, occurring in widely separated locations, suggest CWD might have been present in California for some time.

Chronic wasting disease affects deer, elk, and moose, leading to weight loss, behavioral changes, and ultimately death.

The disease, similar to mad cow disease but not known to affect humans, has been found in 34 states and five Canadian provinces since its discovery in 1967.

California wildlife officials have been monitoring deer and elk for CWD since 2000, conducting over 6,500 tests to prevent the disease's spread.

10/05/2024

In Mongolia, the expanding livestock numbers due to high demand for cashmere, primarily from China, are threatening the nation's wildlife.

The livestock population has surged from 20 million in 1990 to 60 million today, encroaching on lands traditionally inhabited by wild animals such as the snow leopard and Mongolian gazelle.

This overgrazing has led to conflicts between herders and wildlife, spread of disease, and challenges in conservation efforts.

Climate change exacerbates the situation, changing migration patterns and intensifying extreme weather events. Experts emphasize the need for sustainable livestock practices to protect both the economy and the natural ecosystem.

10/05/2024

In a significant environmental restoration effort, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) is spearheading a project to rewild the Kebara region, turning it from agricultural and fish farming lands back into its historic swamp state.

Located in northeastern Israel near Zichron Ya’akov, the Kebara swamps, once a thriving ecosystem, were drained for agriculture and fish farming.

Now, plans to restore approximately 2,250 acres over the next five years aim to revive the area's natural beauty, attract migratory birds, enhance local tourism, and support biodiversity.

Collaborating with the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and the Carmel Coast Drainage Authority, SPNI's initiative seeks to recreate a natural habitat for wildlife and a serene spot for tourists, contributing to the region's environmental and economic revival.

10/05/2024

As the Olympic flame journeys to France for the 2024 Games, ArcelorMittal, a leading steelmaker, is under fire from environmental groups for allegedly greenwashing its practices.

The company, responsible for carbon emissions comparable to Belgium's, is accused of prioritizing profits over environmental commitments.

Despite promises of investing $1.5 billion in decarbonization, a report by SteelWatch claims only a third of this pledge was honored, with disproportionate returns to shareholders.

ArcelorMittal defends its strategy, aiming for a 25% emission cut by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050, highlighting efforts in India to employ greener production methods.

However, the accusation of a dual approach to decarbonization, with continued reliance on coal in some regions, remains a concern. This controversy unfolds as ArcelorMittal sponsors the Paris Olympics, promoting its low-carbon steel in the Olympic torch and rings.

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10/05/2024

Zimbabwe has recently exported 24 elephant calves to China, causing a stir among animal rights advocates.

The Conservation Taskforce's Johnny Rodrigues revealed that these elephants were taken from Hwange National Park and transported under harsh conditions.

This move has been criticized for being cruel, especially the separation of young elephants from their mothers. Zimbabwe defends the action as a fundraising strategy for conservation, citing the country's elephant population exceeds its capacity.

However, critics, including celebrity Pamela Anderson, argue for alternative population management methods. The sale comes amid Zimbabwe's struggle with significant poaching issues, further emphasizing the need for protective measures over commercial transactions.

09/05/2024

Border officials have intensified their crackdown on wildlife smuggling, a crime that has surged by over 150% from 2018 to 2021, according to a Moody’s Analytics report.

This illegal trade, now the fourth largest revenue source for criminal organizations, generates approximately $23 billion annually, posing significant threats to biodiversity and pushing numerous species towards extinction.

Recent incidents include the arrest of a man attempting to smuggle two howler monkeys into Texas and a woman caught with 21 parrots and a toucan in California.

These cases highlight the escalating challenge at the southern border, exacerbated by the ease of trading wildlife through online marketplaces.

The Department of Homeland Security has responded by establishing a new Wildlife and Environmental Crimes Unit in 2023, aiming to enforce anti-trafficking laws more effectively.

This initiative, alongside partnerships like the Wildlife Confiscations Network, seeks to protect endangered species and combat the intertwined crises of wildlife trafficking and drug trade.

09/05/2024

A recent report released at the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF19) in New York has raised concerns about the reduction of forests to mere carbon sinks due to market-oriented approaches to carbon sequestration.

The report, titled "International Forest Governance: A Critical Review of Trends, Drawbacks, and New Approaches," emphasizes the need for alternative governance strategies, including state regulation and community-led initiatives.

It criticizes the current trend of commodifying forests for their carbon storage potential, which overlooks their ecological and social roles.

The findings suggest a move towards more just and effective forest policies that prioritize social inclusion and environmental justice.

The report marks a significant moment in global forest governance, urging a reevaluation of forest management practices to ensure sustainable and equitable outcomes.

09/05/2024

In an inspiring environmental victory, activist Alok Shukla has been awarded the Goldman Prize for his relentless efforts to protect India's Hasdeo Aranya forest from coal mining projects.

Leading a decade-long campaign against major conglomerates, including Adani Group, Shukla's movement resulted in the government establishing a 445,000-acre elephant reserve in 2021, safeguarding the forest from further mining.

Despite this win, challenges persist as six proposed sites remain outside the reserve, with one already operational.

Shukla, alongside the forest's tribal communities, continues the fight, emphasizing the campaign's broader critique of prevailing economic development models.

India, as the world's third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, faces the daunting task of balancing energy needs with environmental conservation.

**

09/05/2024

Malaysia has announced a unique approach to counteract the environmental backlash against its palm oil industry, known as 'orangutan diplomacy'.

This strategy aims to gift orangutans to major palm oil-importing countries, mirroring China's 'panda diplomacy'.

The move comes in response to the European Union's ban on imports linked to deforestation, which threatens Malaysia's palm oil sector.

The world's second-largest palm oil producer, Malaysia, faces criticism for this initiative from wildlife groups urging for habitat protection and sustainable practices instead.

The plan's details remain scant, but it underscores Malaysia's commitment to biodiversity and sustainable palm oil production.

Conservationists emphasize the critical endangerment of orangutans, advocating for in-country conservation efforts over international gifting.

09/05/2024

A team of researchers has developed a novel method for measuring forest fragmentation, as detailed in their study published in Ecological Indicators.

The innovative approach, based on the Jensen-Shannon similarity index, evaluates forest fragmentation by comparing the pattern of a forested area with that of a fully forested region.

This method not only allows for the calculation of fragmentation at various scales but also integrates these calculations into a single multifaceted index.

The newly proposed index offers improved identification and assessment of forest complexes' fragmentation. Flexible in its application, this approach can also be adapted for analyzing urban or agricultural area fragmentation.

The team demonstrated the effectiveness of this method through applications to both a specific forest-covered region and on a national scale in Poland, showcasing its potential benefits over traditional indicators like the FAD-APP index.

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