In a remarkable display of community-led conservation in Tiaro, a small town in Queensland, Australia, residents have rallied to protect the endangered Mary River turtle, known for its distinctive algae-covered head resembling a mohawk and its unique ability to breathe underwater through its cloaca.
This species, exclusive to the Mary River, faced drastic population declines due to egg harvesting, habitat changes, and predator threats.
However, since 2001, the Tiaro & District Landcare Group's efforts have significantly contributed to the species' recovery by protecting nests from cattle and predators and fostering research through innovative fundraising.
Their collaboration with scientists has produced vital research, influencing policy decisions like the cancellation of the Traveston Crossing Dam project. With a bronze turtle statue symbolizing their achievements, Tiaro stands as a beacon of successful community conservation, offering hope for the Mary River turtle and highlighting the importance of local involvement in environmental protection.
#maryriverturtle #conservation #communityaction #tiaro #endangeredspecies #wildlifeprotection #environmentalawareness #sustainableliving #biodiversity #freshwaterturtles
In Honolulu, the Moana Surfrider's Veranda is hosting a butterfly-themed afternoon tea every second Saturday of the month to support the endangered monarch butterflies.
This unique event, reported by Annalisa Burgos and Lili Hurd, allows guests to interact closely with these beautiful creatures, courtesy of the nonprofit Paradise Monarchs.
Attendees have the opportunity to feed and take photos with both caterpillars and butterflies before their release into the wild. Paradise Monarchs' owner, Henry Fang, is dedicated to educating the public about the monarchs' declining population, attributing it to predators, climate change, and habitat destruction.
The afternoon tea includes a variety of artisanal teas, a tea-infused mimosa flight, and exquisite pastries.
This initiative not only provides an intimate experience with nature but also aims to raise awareness and contribute to the conservation of the monarch butterfly population in Hawaii.
#monarchbutterfly #moanasurfrider #butterflytea #conservation #endangeredspecies #savethemonarchs #hawaiiwildlife #afternoontea #natureconservation #hawaii #honolulu #butterfly
Recent scientific analysis has revealed that climate change has significantly intensified the extreme rainfall events in the United Arab Emirates and Oman, contributing to the historic floods experienced in these countries.
A group of 21 scientists from the Global Weather Attribution Initiative concluded that climate change, exacerbated by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, has made these rainfall events between 10 and 40 percent more intense.
The world, now warmer by approximately 1.2 degrees Celsius since the pre-industrial era, has led to an atmosphere capable of holding 8.4% more moisture, thereby increasing the likelihood and intensity of heavy rain events.
Although the exact impact of climate change on the likelihood of such floods remains uncertain, the analysis strongly suggests that global warming is the primary driver behind these increased rainfall events, underscoring the urgent need for actions to mitigate climate change.
#climatechange #globalwarming #extremerainfall #uae #oman #floods #environment #sustainability #carbonpollution #stopdeforestation #fossilfuels #weatherpatterns #globalweather #science #climateaction
In a tragic unfolding of events, Uttarakhand, India, faces severe wildfires that have claimed five lives, including a 65-year-old woman who succumbed to injuries while fighting the flames near her property.
The fires, raging since November 2023, have devastated over 1,000 hectares (approximately 2,470 acres) of forest, marking a significant environmental and economic blow to the region.
The state's forest department reports a financial loss exceeding $33,000. Authorities have responded by apprehending individuals linked to starting fires, amidst efforts to control the situation.
The forecasted rain in the coming days offers a glimmer of hope for combating the fires. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami emphasizes the urgent need for coordinated action and preventive measures to safeguard the state's natural heritage.
This crisis highlights the broader challenges of forest management and the impact of climate variability on wildfire incidence globally.
#uttarakhandfires #wildfirecrisis #climateaction #environmentalsafety #globalwarming #forestconservation #emergencyresponse #india #wildlife #asia
Namibia's desert-adapted lions, a unique species surviving in the country's harsh Kunene Region, are facing a significant threat due to drought and human conflict.
A recent survey conducted by Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, in collaboration with Lion Rangers, revealed a decline of up to 21% in their population over the past year.
The current count estimates around 57-60 adult lions and 14 cubs, with 8 to 12 lions lost mainly due to human conflict.
The drought has led to a dramatic decrease in the lions' prey, such as gemsbok, zebra, and springbok, pushing the lions to hunt livestock, which exacerbates conflicts with local communities.
Despite the challenges, there is hope for population stability with the sighting of 32 new cubs not accounted for in the 2022 survey. Conservation efforts focus on mitigating human-lion conflicts and ensuring coexistence.
#namibia #desertlions #wildlifeconservation #drought #humanwildlifeconflict #lionrangers #environment #biodiversity #africa #conservationefforts #lion #africa #theearthpress
Climate change is exacerbating the spread of malaria, with new cases emerging in the United States, signaling a shift in the geographic reach of the disease.
However, in Africa, malaria remains a persistent threat, causing significant morbidity and mortality. In Nigeria's Makoko, residents like 66-year-old Funmilayo Kotun struggle with the disease amid poor living conditions that facilitate mosquito breeding.
Despite the introduction of new vaccines, with Cameroon launching a campaign for a vaccine with about 30% efficacy, challenges such as drug and insecticide resistance persist.
The WHO reports an increase in global malaria cases from 233 million in 2019 to 249 million in 2022, with deaths rising to 608,000. Africa, bearing the brunt of these figures, faces additional hurdles due to the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting healthcare services.
The link between climate change and malaria is becoming increasingly significant, with extreme weather conditions and invasive mosquito species introducing the disease to new regions.
#malariaawareness #climatechange #fightmalaria #globalhealth #africafightsmalaria #vaccineprogress #endmalaria #climatecrisis #publichealth #insecticideresistance #healthcarechallenges #covid19impact #worldmalariaday #savelives #climateaction #africa
On May 4, 2024, Al Jazeera reported on the ongoing global challenge of plastic pollution, highlighting that the issue extends beyond visible items like plastic bags to include "invisible plastics" found in everyday products.
These include toothpaste, tea bags, sunscreen, aluminum cans, receipts, and various toiletries, which contain microplastics that harm the environment.
Despite efforts to address this issue, including the fourth round of treaty talks by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution in Ottawa, disagreements persist on limiting global plastic production.
Environmental experts emphasize the necessity of reducing plastic manufacture to combat pollution effectively. The talks aim to draft a treaty by year-end, with a final session scheduled in South Korea. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has moved to ban plastic-containing wet wipes.
This situation underscores the complex challenge of tackling plastic pollution, which requires international cooperation and significant reductions in plastic production.
#plasticpollution #invisibleplastics #microplastics #environmentalawareness #sustainableliving #banplastic #globaltreaty #reduceplastic #environmentalaction #oceanconservation
A study has revealed that wildfires in the wet, tropical forests of West and Central Africa, specifically the Congo Basin, have seen a significant increase, doubling over the last 18 years.
This first large-scale analysis, led by Michael Wimberly of the University of Oklahoma, attributes the rise to hotter, drier conditions and human activities such as deforestation.
Published in Geophysical Research Letters, the study utilized satellite imagery from 2003 to 2021 to track fire patterns, showing a stark increase in fire frequency, especially in the Northwest Congolian Lowland Forests.
This escalation is closely linked to climate variables like high temperatures and vapor pressure deficit, indicating plant water stress.
The findings underscore the urgent need to reconsider the impact of climate change on tropical forests and take measures against the increasing threat of wildfires, especially during El Niño years that exacerbate dry and hot conditions.
#africa #climatechange #deforestation #congobasinfires #tropicalforestfires #globalwarming #environmentalconservation #saveourforests #climateaction #ecoawareness #congo #theearthpress #wildfire #climatecrisis
Antarctic wildlife, including penguins and seals, faces increased risk from prolonged exposure to UV radiation due to the ozone hole staying open longer, scientists have discovered.
This extended exposure, attributed to climate change and events like the Australian wildfires and volcanic eruptions, poses threats like potential eye damage similar to cataracts in humans.
The study highlights the adaptation strategies of Antarctic life, such as mosses developing sunscreens and krill diving deeper to escape the harmful rays, but emphasizes the energy cost of these adaptations.
Researchers stress the urgent need to combat climate change, specifically by reducing carbon emissions, to alleviate pressure on the ozone layer’s recovery and protect Antarctic ecosystems.
#climatechange #ozonehole #antarcticwildlife #uvexposure #environmentalprotection #theearthpress
On April 17, Wintersville, Ohio, faced an environmental challenge when motor oil was dumped into a storm drain at Walnut Street Park.
The hazardous spill prompted an immediate response, with a hazmat team efficiently containing and cleaning up the spill. After a thorough investigation, the village council, led by Mayor Mike Petrella, identified the responsible party.
In a recent council meeting, Mayor Petrella assured the community that the individual, who caused the spill accidentally, would bear the cleanup costs, estimated between $67,000 and $75,000, ensuring taxpayers are not burdened.
This incident highlights the importance of environmental responsibility and the swift actions of Wintersville's officials and emergency services in protecting the community and environment.
#Wintersville #ohio #OilSpill #EnvironmentalCleanup #CommunitySafety #Accountability #theearthpress
A recent study led by Roxy Mathew Koll at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology reveals the Indian Ocean is on the brink of a severe heatwave crisis, with temperatures expected to rise between 1.7°C and 3.8°C by 2100.
This rapid warming extends down to 2000 meters, threatening a near-permanent state of marine heatwaves, increasing from 20 to 220-250 heatwave days per year by 2050.
This drastic change could devastate marine ecosystems, leading to coral bleaching, seagrass destruction, and the collapse of kelp forests, severely impacting coastal communities reliant on fisheries.
The study also forecasts more extreme weather events, ocean acidification, and urges immediate action to mitigate these effects through emissions cuts and sustainable practices.
#climatechange #indianocean #marineheatwave #globalwarming #sustainableliving #oceanconservation #environmentalaction
In a recent study published in the journal Oryx, it's revealed that nearly all of the world's Mongolian gazelles, totaling 2.14 million, are facing significant threats due to human activities.
These gazelles, known for their incredible speed and vast migrations across the Mongolian steppe, play a crucial role in their ecosystem.
They act as natural landscapers, fertilizers, and are key prey for predators, maintaining balance within their habitat. However, increasing human encroachment through development, alongside a rise in domestic livestock numbers, is leading to habitat fragmentation and competition for resources.
This, combined with the potential for disease transmission and the effects of climate change, poses severe risks to their populations. Experts call for strategic planning to include wildlife corridors and advocate for sustainable practices to ensure the coexistence of development and wildlife conservation.
This situation underscores the urgent need for concerted conservation efforts to preserve the Mongolian steppe's ecological integrity and its iconic gazelles.
#mongoliangazelles #habitatloss #climatechange #wildlifeconservation #sustainabledevelopment #mongolia #habitatdestruction
Researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst have revealed the significant environmental impact oil palm plantations have on water quality in Indigenous communities.
Focusing on the Kais River watershed in West Papua, the study found that transitioning from rainforest to plantation increases sedimentation, nitrogen, and phosphorus levels, leading to poorer water quality. Indigenous Papuans, who rely on this water, face heightened public health risks.
The research, published in Science of the Total Environment, utilized a sophisticated watershed model to project future impacts, showing that while some pollutants may decrease over time, overall water quality will remain compromised.
The study emphasizes the need for better regulation, including pesticide use limitations and improved water quality monitoring, to protect vulnerable downstream communities from the adverse effects of palm oil production.
#palmoil #watershedimpact #indigenousrights #environmentalhealth #kaisriver #habitatfragmentation
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