Found only in Nepal, the spiny babbler is the country’s sole endemic bird, yet it remains understudied and vulnerable to habitat loss. Scientists are calling for global attention to protect this elusive species and its threatened habitat. @bibekbhandari.bsky.social reports for #Mongabay.

A shy bird found only in Nepal is waiting for the world to notice

Nepal’s shrubby hillsides are home to a medium-sized bird with brownish upperparts, distinctive black streaks from the shafts of its feathers and, sometimes, a chalky white facial patch. It’s the…

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I want leadership like this for New Orleans. Instead we got the guy who nixed a huge coastal restoration project that the legislature had already approved because it “messes with Louisiana’s way of life”

Mongabay@mongabay.com · 4h ago

To mitigate tsunami impacts, a project in Japan has planted over 680,000 trees along the coast, drawing on traditional "guardian forests." While these natural barriers offer proven protection, many communities continue prioritizing concrete seawalls. Jonathan Vit reports for #Mongabay.

Facing logging threats and stalled government action, 41 villages in Papua New Guinea signed a legally binding conservation deed. The community-led pact bans logging, mining, and hunting across the Torricelli Mountains, securing protection for threatened species. @john-cannon.bsky.social reports.

New ‘conservation deed’ aims to protect tree kangaroos, forests, people in Papua New Guinea

It happened with a few strokes of a pen on a hilltop in northwestern Papua New Guinea on June 30: The leaders of the Tenkile Conservation Alliance (TCA) finalized an agreement to protect the densely…

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To mitigate tsunami impacts, a project in Japan has planted over 680,000 trees along the coast, drawing on traditional "guardian forests." While these natural barriers offer proven protection, many communities continue prioritizing concrete seawalls. Jonathan Vit reports for #Mongabay.

In coastal Japan, one project is planting forests to stand against tsunamis

MINAMISOMA, Japan — Kazuo Monma stepped out onto the small stage and looked at the large crowd with a sense of relief. The weather report had called for rain all weekend, and the mayor of Minamisoma,…

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Relying solely on carbon markets will not save Southeast Asia’s remaining concession forests, according to a new study. To protect 42 million hectares of vulnerable forest, researchers say finance models must combine carbon credits with blended finance and ecosystem service payments.

Carbon markets alone won’t keep Southeast Asia’s forests standing, study says

Lush, leafy and luxuriantly diverse, tropical forests are home to an immense array of plants, animals and fungi. They also provide humanity with water, clean air and flood protection, and lock vast…

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A new investigation reveals that Nicaragua’s gold boom is encroaching on protected areas and Indigenous territories. Driven by government backing and rapid concession growth, expanding mining operations now threaten local forests, clean water, and ancestral lands. By Maxwell Radwin for #Mongabay.

Nicaragua’s gold boom is now encroaching on protected areas and Indigenous land

In Nicaragua, the mining sector has steadily grown over the last two decades, with gold becoming a top export and a pillar of the national economy. For most of that time, the growth was gradual. But…

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With nearly 1,500 deaths in ten weeks, the DRC is experiencing its fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record. While neighboring Uganda nears the end of its outbreak, local DRC responders continue battling misinformation, severe funding cuts, and ongoing conflict. Elodie Toto reports for #Mongabay.

Ebola responders persevere in the DRC as Uganda nears end of outbreak

Several members of the Ebola response gathered on July 15, 2026, outside the Ebola Treatment Center (ETC) in Bunia, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to protest their working conditions.…

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Plastic pollution has reached the ocean’s deepest extremes. Researchers found microplastics in nearly every sampled snail and mussel inhabiting hydrothermal vents in the Indian and Pacific Ocean. “I expected to detect some. I did not expect 92% of the specimens.” María Paula Rubiano A. reports.

Deep-sea snails and mussels in Indian and Pacific Oceans contain microplastics, study finds

Three days away from shore, in the darkened control room of a huge ship, all eyes are fixed on a glowing wall of screens. Live images of mussels and snails appear. The animals are packed around a…

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Home to some of the world's richest marine biodiversity, Raja Ampat remains vulnerable to nickel mining. Though Indonesia revoked several permits following public backlash, state-owned PT Gag Nikel continues operations and multiple firms still seek mining rights in the region.

Mining threat persists in Raja Ampat, Indonesia’s ‘Amazon of the Seas’

JAKARTA — Raja Ampat, one of the world’s most biodiverse marine regions, remains under pressure from Indonesia’s expanding nickel industry as three companies continue to seek permission to develop…

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As dams and pollution alter Kashmir’s freshwater ecosystems, native species like the critically endangered Kashmir catfish struggle to survive. Meanwhile, resilient introduced fish thrive, highlighting a growing threat to regional aquatic biodiversity. Fellow @s-abir.bsky.social reports.

Introduced fish thrive amid Kasmir’s freshwater habitat degradation

Native fish in the lakes and rivers of India’s Kashmir Valley are under increasing pressure from pollution, habitat loss, dam construction and other human activities, a recent review finds. These…

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[Commentary] Behind cheap instant coffee lies widespread deforestation in Vietnam. A new op-ed by Etelle Higonnet (@coffeewatch.bsky.social) details how Robusta production pushes tigers and elephants into shrinking habitats, calling on consumers to pressure companies for ethical supply chains.

Cheap coffee is killing Vietnam’s priceless tropical forests (commentary)

Vietnam is now the world’s largest producer of robusta, the bitter, sturdy bean behind instant coffee, supermarket blends, and the overall global appetite for cheap caffeine. But behind its meteoric…

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Amid intensifying climate threats, experts from 90+ nations met at the International Coral Reefs Symposium to confront the crisis facing global marine ecosystems, advancing critical mapping and Indigenous-led conservation strategies. Edward Carver reports for #Mongabay.

Coral reef experts press on, with climate looming over international conference

AUCKLAND — Lest anyone think scientific conferences must be staid affairs, the International Coral Reefs Symposium closed with inspiration from none other than U.S. rap metal band Rage Against the…

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Despite a 50% population drop and an endangered IUCN status, the U.S. has twice declined to protect long-tailed macaques under the Endangered Species Act. As the world's largest importer, the U.S. brings in 30,000+ of these monkeys annually for biomedical research. Bobby Bascomb reports.

US declines to protect endangered monkeys used in medical research

Long-tailed macaques, monkeys native to Southeast Asia, have been listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2022 after their populations declined by at least 50% over 30 years. Yet, the U.S.…

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Who owns Belize's land? New records show Mennonite communities using collective trusts to buy large properties faster than competitors, while nearby residents survive on small plots. Learn more in this investigation by Maxwell Radwin for #Mongabay. 👇️ mongabay.cc/10eQ8x

Land records reveal how Mennonites are reshaping Belize’s forests

SPANISH LOOKOUT, Belize — When the Mennonite community here purchased a property four years ago in the middle of the Maya Forest Corridor, a government-recognized stretch of land designed to connect…

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How does gender shape climate change, conflict, and conservation stories? Join Mongabay’s webinar “How to Cover Gender and the Environment” and explore underreported gender angles across environmental coverage. 📅 Aug. 11, 2026 Register now! 👉️ mongabay.cc/gender-webin...

[Founder's briefs] Marking a decade of impact, @mongabaylatam.bsky.social celebrated its milestone with #PUMAFEST, uniting 400 voices. From empowering Indigenous journalists to building 90+ media partnerships, the network advances vital coverage throughout Latin America. Writes Rhett Ayers Butler.

PUMA FEST and the community Mongabay Latam has helped build

Founder’s Briefs: An occasional series where Mongabay founder Rhett Ayers Butler shares analysis, perspectives and story summaries. When Mongabay Latam began publishing in 2016, the aim was to…

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A new documentary, Out of Mined, explores the heavy toll of diamond mining along South Africa's 450-kilometer West Coast. Featuring voices from the Indigenous Nama peoples and conservationists, the film highlights ecosystem strains as the region now faces a new wave of heavy mineral mining.

Documentary captures impacts of diamond mining along South Africa’s West Coast

Stretching 450 kilometers (280 miles) from Cape Columbine, two hours north of Cape Town, to the Orange River which marks the country’s natural border with Namibia, South Africa’s West Coast is vast,…

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Hydropower failures in Southern Africa are driving a renewed turn back to coal, risking Paris Agreement targets and export competitiveness. Decentralized rooftop solar offers a path forward, but policy biases & financial hurdles continue to delay a clean energy transition. Chisapi Kumbutso reports.

Climate shocks hit hydropower in Southern Africa, reviving interest in coal

LUSAKA —For years, Zambia and Zimbabwe have boasted of enviable success in harnessing hydropower. More than 80% of Zambia’s power supply and about half of neighboring Zimbabwe’s supply came from…

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Found in just one 1.5-square-mile area in Namibia, the succulent Lithops werneri is down to fewer than 200 plants in the wild. Listed as critically endangered, the dwarf plant faces severe threats from climate change, drought and poaching. @shreyadg.bsky.social reports for #Mongabay.

Rare living stone plant, found in a tiny area in Namibia, is critically endangered

In a small area of Namibia’s Erongo Mountains, a tiny, pebble-like plant grows on a very thin layer of gravel. This succulent, Lithops werneri, is found in just one tiny 4 square-kilometer (1.5…

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@mongabay.com California #condors are nesting in the Pacific Northwest for the first time in a century. A pair reintroduced by the #YurokTribe, to whom the bird is sacred, appears to be incubating an egg in an old-growth redwood. The species crashed to 22 birds in 1982 and now numbers 607.

California condors nesting in Pacific Northwest for first time in a century, on Yurok territory

A pair of California condors reintroduced to the Pacific Northwest by the Yurok Tribe appears to have established the species’ first nest in the region in more than 100 years, program officials announ...

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A protected palustrine wetland in Costa Rica was allegedly cleared and burned by a major banana exporter. The critical ecosystem in the Limón province provides key habitat for migratory birds and replenishes regional aquifers, according to court filings. Maxwell Radwin reports for #Mongabay.

Costa Rica banana plantation destroyed protected wetland, complaint alleges

A legal complaint in Costa Rica has alleged that a banana plantation destroyed parts of a protected wetland in Bananito Sur, located in the Valle La Estrella district in the central province of…

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With El Niño expected to bring dry weather to Sri Lanka, paddy farmers and irrigation officials are adopting new water preservation strategies. While field-level techniques offer immediate relief, researchers emphasize that closing data gaps is vital to guide climate decision-making.

Sri Lanka prepares for impending El Niño with traditional and new approaches

COLOMBO — Even though Sri Lankan authorities are preparing to face an impending El Niño phenomenon, Rathnayaka Mudiyanselage Suwandarathne feels that the country may not be impacted as forecasted. A…

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Indonesian authorities are wrongfully prosecuting environmental and Indigenous defenders who protest land grabs and deforestation, according to @hrw.org. A new report highlights how vague laws and corporate complaints are weaponized to criminalize community activists. @npbrao.bsky.social reports.

Report: Indonesian authorities weaponize laws to silence environmental and Indigenous defenders

Indonesian authorities are wrongfully prosecuting environmental defenders and Indigenous leaders who protest deforestation, pollution and land grabs, says a new report by international nonprofit…

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Conservationists secured a major victory with a court ruling that curtails bottom trawling in the North Sea's Dogger Bank. However, experts warn that the protected marine nursery still faces severe pressure from offshore wind farm developments and oil extraction. Christina Egerstrom reports.

Wind farms join bottom trawlers and oil rigs in a protected North Sea sandbank

In the North Sea, the vast, shallow sandbank known as Dogger Bank was once among the most productive marine nurseries in Europe. The area stretches across U.K., Dutch, German and Danish waters, and…

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Environmental factors like human population & habitat connectivity increase yellow fever risks for golden lion tamarins in Brazil. New research pinpointing vulnerable zones will help guide targeted vaccination efforts to safeguard the species. Learn more in this story by @alexmegerle.bsky.social.

Researchers find ‘priority zones’ for yellow fever vaccination of golden lion tamarins

After a two-hour drive from the airport in Rio de Janeiro, you reach a special park dedicated to a special animal in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. There, you can take a guided tour through the green and…

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With El Niño expected to intensify Amazon forest fires through 2027, newly launched satellites promise faster, more precise data for emergency crews. Yet without stronger local infrastructure, rural biomes remain vulnerable to out-of-control blazes. Story by @benjaminrswift.bsky.social.

New fire satellites offer hope for Amazon and other biomes, but local barriers remain

Record wildfires devastated South America in 2024, raging out of control in biomes where fire is a natural part of the ecosystem, but also entering rainforests that had never burned before. Driven by…

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[Commentary] Record gold prices are driving illicit mining across the Amazon, devastating forests, rivers and Indigenous territories. In a new op-ed, researcher @muggah.bsky.social argues central banks and major buyers must enforce stricter supply chain traceability to stop laundered gold.

The global gold rush consuming the Amazon (commentary)

In November 2025, Brazilian authorities, supported by Interpol, disabled 277 dredges used for illegal gold mining along the Madeira River. The machinery was valued at about $6.8 million. The…

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A proposed coal mine expansion in British Columbia is moving forward despite pollution concerns across the U.S.-Canada border. Decades of mining have caused severe downstream selenium contamination in Montana and Idaho, where experts warn current cleanup efforts remain inadequate.

Proposed mine expansion raising pollution concerns in Canada and US

The Elk Valley in southeast British Columbia is home to Canada’s four largest coal mines. With a proposed mine expansion moving through environmental assessment, people on both sides of the…

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World Ranger Day honors the front-line protectors of the natural world and remembers those killed in the line of duty. With at least 147 rangers killed across 40 countries between 2025 and 2026, conservationists are calling for systemic support and justice for these front-line guardians.

World Ranger Day: Justice for the protectors of the wild

July 31 is World Ranger Day, which celebrates the work rangers do for the natural world and commemorates those killed or injured in the line of duty. Among them was Anton Mzimba, head ranger at…

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The unexplained deaths of 15 elephants in southern Kenya have raised alarms among conservationists and local leaders. With poaching largely eliminated in the area through community efforts, experts urge continued scientific monitoring as officials work to identify the cause. Lynet Otieno reports.

Kenya investigates mysterious deaths of 15 elephants in Amboseli

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is investigating the deaths of 15 elephants in the Amboseli savannah ecosystem, near the border with Tanzania. KWS told Mongabay that some preliminary laboratory…

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