Prime Indonesian Jungle To Be Cleared For Palm Oil
The man known as Indonesia’s “green governor” gave a palm oil company a permit to develop land in one of the few places on earth where orangutans, tigers and bears still can be found living side-by-side, violating Indonesia’s new moratorium on concessions in primary forests and peatlands. That’s why 5,000 villagers living on the edge of a rich, biodiverse peat swamp in this tsunami-ravaged Aceh province feel so betrayed…
EPA Implicates Fracking In Pollution
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday for the first time that fracking, a controversial method of improving the productivity of oil and gas wells, may be to blame for causing groundwater pollution.
Wetlands focus on climate talks sideline
Wetlands, critical for the health of South Africa’s coasts and river systems, already have been degraded or seriously altered by human activity, and experts fear global warming threatens them further.
Fishing Community Against Mining Sea For Sand, India
Fishing community in the Kerala state, under the banner of the National Fishworkers Forum, has opposed finance minister K M Mani’s suggestion to mine sea sand for use in local construction, and sand exportation, mainly to Singapore.
Chinese Boat Seized Over Illegal Sand Mining In Kinmen, Taiwan
Coastguards have arrested the captain of a chinese sand dredger illegally dredging sand in Kinmen waters. So far it is the fourth chinese boat arrested for attempting to steal sand from around the island.
Arctic settles into new phase: warmer, greener, and less ice
An international team of scientists who monitor the rapid changes in the Earth’s northern polar region say that the Arctic is entering a new state, one with warmer air and water temperatures, less summer sea ice and snow cover, and a changed ocean chemistry.
Number of sea turtles visiting Kerala shores dwindling, India
Unpolluted Kerala beaches have always been the favourite nesting grounds for marine turtles, but their imprints may soon be washed away for ever.
Mangrove: The Root Of The Matter
In the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami disaster that struck Indonesia, India, Thailand and Sri Lanka, scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey explored how these unique trees hemming the shorelines, which make up valuable forest ecosystems called mangroves, help safeguard lives, property and beaches during hurricanes, tsunamis and floods.
Climate Change And Global Security
Once viewed as an issue of interest only to greens or academics, the threat posed by climate change to security is now eyed with deepening concern by politicians and defence chiefs. Droughts and floods which devastate crops and rising seas which imperil coastal cities will become potent triggers for tensions and unrest, say experts.