Who protects nature better: The state or communities? It’s complicated

Who protects nature better: The state or communities? It’s complicated

By Shreya Dasgupta via Mongabay In a new study, more than 50 researchers conducted a review comparing the effectiveness of state-managed protected areas and areas managed by Indigenous peoples and local communities. The review found that comparing the two was very challenging for various reasons, including the difficulty in figuring out who was managing an area, as well as a lack of comparable data and different groups of researchers measuring […]

January 9, 2024 17

Environment

Do carbon credits really help communities that keep forests standing?

By John Cannon via Mongabay Communities play a critical role in REDD+, a forest conservation strategy that aims to reduce emissions that can be sold as credits to raise money for forest protection. REDD+ projects often include components for the benefit of the communities, such as a focus on alternative livelihoods and provision of health care and education. But reports that REDD+ communities have faced abuses and rights violations have emerged […]

January 9, 2024 16

Environment

‘No end in sight’ for potential of conservation tech: Q&A with Megan Owen

By Abhishyant Kidangoor via MongaBay For the past seven years, the conservation technology lab at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has been working to develop and deploy technology that can automate the collection and processing of wildlife data. Running a tech lab in a zoo has the benefit of providing scientists with a setting where they can use the wildlife in their care to validate the data and calibrate […]

January 9, 2024 13

Environment

Namibia records decrease in Rhino poaching

Namibia has recorded a decrease in Rhino poaching however, the Minister of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, on Monday, in his end-of-year statement, said that poaching remains an issue, despite the recorded decrease over the year 2023. According to Shifeta, 48 rhinos were poached in 2023 compared to 92 in the previous year, while eight elephants were poached in 2023, compared to four in 2022. Meanwhile, the Namibia Press […]

December 19, 2023 11

Environment

Environment Ministry flags increase in Pangolin trafficking

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism has confiscated 18 pangolin skins, 12 live pangolins, and 146 pangolin scales from September to November this year. This resulted in 23 criminal cases, with 38 suspects arrested, surpassing combined cases for elephants and rhinos. Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda says the majority of incidents took place in the northern regions of the country.

December 19, 2023 8

Environment

MEFT records confiscation of 18 pangolin skins

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) has recorded a total of 18 pangolin skins, 12 live pangolins and 146 pangolin scales that were confiscated between September and November this year. This is according to the ministry’s spokesperson Romeo Muyunda, who in a press statement on Monday said as a result 23 criminal cases have been registered and 38 suspects arrested. These numbers, Muyunda said surpass that of […]

December 19, 2023 7

Business / Economics

In reversal, Mexico calls for moratorium on international deep-sea mining

By Elizabeth Claire Alberts via Mongabay Creature of the deep sea. Image by NOAA. On Nov. 21, Mexico became the latest nation to call for a moratorium on deep-sea mining in international waters. Before this announcement, some Mexican delegates to the International Seabed Authority, the UN-associated body tasked with regulating the activity, had expressed support for fast-tracking mining rules that would enable mining to start. This announcement came two weeks […]

November 29, 2023 11

Africa

Congo’s waters are hotspot for endangered sharks & rays, reveals data from artisanal fishers

By Molly Herring via Mongabay An African wedgefish (Rhynchobatus luebberti) landed by artisanal fishermen and sold in Songolo (Critically Endangered, IUCN Red List). Credit: Godefroy De Bruyne A new shark census off the coast of the Republic of the Congo relied on hard-earned trust between researchers and artisanal fishermen. The team found endangered sharks and rays on potential nursery grounds, including juveniles and two species thought to be gone from the […]

November 29, 2023 31

Environment

Silent Extinction: Giraffe Reveal Stunning Genetic Diversity and Urgent Need for Conservation

Giraffe numbers in Africa have dropped significantly in the last 35 years and latest estimates by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) have their numbers at only 117,000 animals in the wild. This means that there is only one giraffe for every four elephant remaining in Africa. This rather perturbing situation is exacerbated by the recent understanding that there are four distinct species of giraffe and not only one as previously […]

October 23, 2023 7