‘Rediscovered’ species in Papua spotlight importance of Indigenous knowledge It started with a set of photographs, taken of an animal captured in 2015 on the Bird’s Head Peninsula in Indonesian Papua, the western half of the island of New Guinea. The smallish animal with…

Two marsupial species thought extinct for 6,000 years live on in the forests of Indonesian Papua. The research revealing their existence involved Indigenous knowledge and Western science. Read more at @Mongabay.com.

‘Ancient’ carbon venting from lakes in the Congo Basin peatlands: Study Across the central Congo Basin lies a bastion of carbon that scientists are just beginning to understand. First mapped only about a decade ago, the Cuvette Centrale peatlands are the size of England…

Scientists have discovered that Congo Basin lakes release carbon far older than previously thought. This "ancient" release challenges our understanding of peatland carbon dynamics and highlights the urgent need for more research into these ecosystems.

@john-cannon.bsky.social reports for #Mongabay.

Singapore resort said to halt controversial dolphin sourcing, breeding SINGAPORE — The Resorts World Sentosa casino and entertainment complex in Singapore has halted sourcing dolphins from the wild for its aquarium, Mongabay has learned. The resort’s Oceanarium has also…

Singapore’s Resorts World Sentosa is reportedly halting wild dolphin sourcing and suspending its captive breeding program. With 20+ Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins involved, experts are now assessing the potential for rehabilitation and transfer to natural sea pens.

By Robin Hicks for #Mongabay.

‘Extraordinary’: Second set of rare mountain gorilla twins born in DRC’s Virunga Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo recorded the birth of a second set of mountain gorilla twins this year. According to park authorities, the twins were born into the Baraka…

Mountain gorilla twins occur in less than 1% of births, yet Virunga just welcomed its second pair of 2026.

This "extraordinary" growth reflects the tireless work of rangers in the DRC to protect this endangered species from poaching and conflict.

More in this report by David Akana for #Mongabay.

Meaningful conservation demands truth, not just facts, says political ecologist The people and policies that control how humans treat the natural world are increasingly dominated by a small class of elite political entities and corporations, argues our guest, political ecologist ...

How humans treat the natural world is increasingly dominated by a small class of elite political entities and corporations, argues political ecologist Bram Buscher on this week’s @mongabay.com Newscast. Speaking truth to this power is essential for the environmental movement to succeed, he says.

Kick off your morning with a very nice write up in Mongabay about our recent Lac Mai paper. @johansix.bsky.social @jordonhemingway.bsky.social @saegroupethz.bsky.social

‘Ancient’ carbon venting from lakes in the Congo Basin peatlands: Study Across the central Congo Basin lies a bastion of carbon that scientists are just beginning to understand. First mapped only about a decade ago, the Cuvette Centrale peatlands are the size of England…

A recent study reveals that lakes in the Congo Basin are releasing ancient carbon from peatlands. Read more in my latest for @mongabay.com

In South Africa’s Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, rewilding meets climate action. By restoring and managing native wildlife, the reserve boosts soil carbon storage. #Rewilding #ClimateAction #CarbonCredits #WildlifeConservation

More at @mongabayorg: buff.ly/wc00bUt

PNG’s New Ireland coastal waters causing fish deaths, human sickness For several months, the waters around New Ireland province in Papua New Guinea have been causing illness, skin irritation and the death of sea life, according to communities living along the east…

PNG’s New Ireland coastal waters causing fish deaths, human sickness, with little response from government authorities so far. My latest for @mongabay.com:

"- ...If they change existing ecosystems or use too much land...the importance of more careful site selection for these projects.

- The authors of the study also note the importance of reducing humanity’s CO2 emissions, rather than relying solely on removing CO2 from the atmosphere later on."

Cambodia’s Supreme Court denies release of five imprisoned environmental activists Five environmental activists in Cambodia will remain in prison, where they have been for more than 622 days, after the country’s Supreme Court decided not to allow them to go free as they appeal…

Five environmental activists from Mother Nature Cambodia remain imprisoned after the Cambodian Supreme Court denied their release.

Thun Ratha, Ly Chandaravuth, Yim Leanghy, Long Kunthea & Phuon Keoraksmey have been held for more than 600 days.

Learn more in this report by @john-cannon.bsky.social.

Climate or biodiversity? Global study maps out forestation’s dilemma Planting trees is a vital strategy to combat both climate change and the biodiversity crisis. As forests grow, they sponge carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and provide renewed habitat for…

My latest for @mongabay.com: Planting trees helps fight climate change & restore biodiversity. But a new study finds that land-intensive carbon removal projects like reforestation or bioenergy crops often overlap with global biodiversity hotspots.

Big biodiversity goals run up against small funding realities Mexico’s sundry landscapes have few parallels. Straddling the northern boundary of the Tropic of Cancer, the country boasts low-lying deserts and humid rainforests, scrubby chaparral and tangled…

My latest for @mongabay.com: The 2022 Global Biodiversity Framework Fund is helping channel resources to nations & Indigenous communities, but funding is still far short of what’s needed. #Biodiversity #Conservation

Risk-taking comes earlier in chimpanzees than in humans, study finds Chimpanzees appear to be the biggest daredevils when they’re infants. Humans tend to take more chances and put themselves in the most danger in adolescence, so the expectation has been that…

Wild chimps are boldest in infancy, not adolescence like humans, according to a recent study. Young chimps take the biggest physical risks in trees, then mellow with age, hinting that human caregiving may delay risk-taking. Read more from @mongabay.com.

Earth Rover Program seeks to track the world’s soil health With a synchronized tap from run-of-the-mill hammers on metal plates resting on the ground, researchers kneeling in nine fields across four continents believe they’ve hit upon more than just the earth...

The Earth Rover Project is focused on assessing soil health and providing the data -- and perhaps one day the actionable advice -- that could help farmers around the world. More from @mongabay.com:
news.mongabay.com/2026/01/eart...

Ditches on peatland oil palm plantations are an overlooked source of methane: Study The water-filled ditches that laced through the oil palm plantation in Sarawak, a Malaysian state on the island of Borneo, nagged at Kuno Kasak when he saw them in 2022. He knew that these canals,…

Drainage ditches in peatland oil palm plantations are an overlooked climate threat. New research shows these water-filled channels emit outsized amounts of methane, meaning emissions from drained peatlands may be far higher than previously estimated. Read more from @mongabay.com:

‘The bargain of the century’: An economist’s vision for expanding clean energy access in Africa Many observers see industrialization as the key to boosting clean electricity access for people living in Africa and across the Global South. They argue that building up economies with industry will…

Clean energy access in Africa could be central to “the bargain of the century.” Economist Fadhel Kaboub says it’s not just about tech, but jobs, industry and fairness. Read more from @mongabay.com:

10 notable books on conservation and the environment published in 2025 The year 2025 might be seen as one of backsliding when it comes to tackling the environmental crises that face our planet. Political leadership in places like the U.S. and elsewhere chose to throw…

The past year has seen climate backsliding, rising fossil fuel support and stalled protections. But @mongabay.com's annual book list highlights changemakers confronting hard truths and turning hope into action for people, wildlife and the planet. Read more:

Researchers find concerning gaps in global maps used for EUDR compliance A recent scientific review of forest maps used to ensure compliance with the European Union’s Regulation on Deforestation-free products, known as the EUDR, suggests that most may over- or…

Satellite maps will be a critical tool for compliance with the EU's deforestation regulation (EUDR), set to go into effect at the end of 2026. But analyses show gaps in what's available, making the use of other tools necessary. More from @mongabay.com

‘The perfect ingredients’: WRI Africa deputy director shares vision for the continent’s energy transition The quest to bring energy to Africans who need it often centers on the relatable electrical needs that arise in the home: lighting, phone charging, and a connection to what’s going on in the broader…

Amid discussions of the energy transition in Africa at #COP30, WRI's Rebekah Shirley discusses what it will take to expand energy access across the continent. More @Mongabay.com

What does the just energy transition mean for Africa? When two Mongabay reporters visited the village of Lukwangulo in the Democratic Republic of Congo, they encountered a reality that’s common in many parts of rural Africa: Families spend valuable time…

The energy access gap for millions of Africans has sparked calls for a “just” energy transition that expands renewable energy without unfairly burdening people, communities or countries. Read more in my latest piece for @mongabay.com as #COP30 begins in Brazil.

Opinion | The Reality of Living With Wolves, Bears and Mountain Lions

Interesting perspective from @nytimes.com centering on recent events in Sierra Valley near my home:

The Reality of Living With Wolves, Bears and Mountain Lions www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/o...

Much of the habitat of whitebark pine, an iconic, high-elevation tree species in western North America, won't be suitable by 2050, says a new study. The new maps the authors produced will help guide ongoing restoration efforts. More from @mongabay.com: buff.ly/YmC5KDw

‘We can have abundant rivers and wildlife’: Director of ‘The American Southwest’ on new film At its roots, The American Southwest, from Fin and Fur Films, is a natural history documentary. “I’m a wildlife guy,” says director Ben Masters, who founded Fin and Fur in 2012. His infatuation with…

The American Southwest, a new film that traces the path of the Colorado River, is now available to stream. Read my interview with director Ben Masters, now up at @mongabay.com:

Warmer climate could slash threatened whitebark pine territory within decades: Study Hotter and drier conditions could whittle away 80% of land where whitebark pine grows by the middle of this century, according to a recent study. Scattered across the highest parts of the Rocky Mounta...

Some media exposure for our new paper on whitebark pine.
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Thanks to @mongabay.com journalist @john-cannon.bsky.social for the great reporting.

When does beaver reintroduction make sense? This is the second installment of Mongabay’s coverage of beaver restoration in California. Read the first story. TÁSMAM KOYÓM, U.S. — “It’s a little wet!” Ben Cunningham shouted over his shoulder as…

The second of my two stories about beavers in California for @mongabay.com looks at the promise and perils of translocating beavers to parts of their former range in the hopes that they'll bring ecosystem benefits

Beavers restored to tribal lands in California benefit ecosystems This is the first installment of Mongabay’s coverage of beaver restoration in California. Read the second story. CHESTER, Calif. — The pictograph, an ochre-red outline with four paws and an…

Here's part 1 of my coverage of beaver restoration in California for @mongabay.com. Turns out, the recent releases wouldn't have happened without decades of effort from organizations, tribes and scientists.

Global CO2 storage capacity may be drastically overstated, study finds A new analysis suggests that the “prudent” storage available for carbon dioxide to head off further global warming is more limited than other recent estimates. Accounting for the risks associated…

Global CO2 storage capacity may be drastically overstated, study finds

My latest for @mongabay.com looks where we might find space to CO2 drawn from the atmosphere -- and where it might be too risky. Global CO2 storage capacity may be drastically overstated, study finds buff.ly/TQy2MNO

Old forests, new fires, and a scientific standoff over active management This is the second installment of Mongabay’s coverage of active management tools for forest fires. Read Part 1. Photographs of forests in the western U.S. from the mid-1800s show a starkly different…

My second article on active forest management for @mongabay.com digs deeper into the science around fires and forests, the legacies of logging and fire exclusion and differing conclusions about a way forward. Old forests, new fires, and a scientific standoff over active management