In short:

• The Yurok Tribe has regained control of 17,000 acres around the Klamath River, finalizing a 47,097-acre restoration effort that doubles their land base and designates key areas as salmon sanctuaries.
• This return follows the removal of four major dams from the river, reopening over 400 miles of spawning habitat for salmon and reviving Indigenous stewardship of crucial ecosystems.
• The deal was orchestrated with the help of the Western Rivers Conservancy and funded through a patchwork of private, state, and federal resources, including carbon credit sales and conservation loans.

Key quote:

“The Klamath River is our highway. It is also our food source. And it takes care of us. And so it’s our job, our inherent right, to take care of the Klamath Basin and its river.”

— Joseph James, Chairman, Yurok Tribal Council

Why this matters:

Restoring Indigenous stewardship of land has direct benefits for public health and biodiversity — protecting forests that sequester carbon, watersheds that sustain salmon, and ecosystems that support clean air and water. It’s part climate fix, part cultural revival — a living example of what environmental justice looks like when it’s done with purpose and persistence.

Read more: Restoring our waters is restoring ourselves

In short:

• Colombia’s deforestation fell from 40,219 hectares in early 2024 to 27,000 hectares in early 2025, with the largest reductions seen in the Amazon’s national parks.
• The government cited a national action plan involving law enforcement and local communities as key to the decline, but watchdogs warned that protected areas remain under pressure from coca growing and illegal mining.
• Upcoming regional meetings, beginning in Villavicencio, aim to deepen collaboration with Indigenous and territorial leaders to reinforce conservation measures.

Key quote:

“In the Amazon’s national parks, deforestation dropped by 54% ... which is a very good result.”

— Lena Estrada Añokazi, Colombia’s environment minister

Why this matters:

The Amazon rainforest helps regulate the global climate and supports extraordinary biodiversity, but Colombia’s portion of the forest has long been under siege from illegal activities like mining, logging, and coca cultivation. Although recent government enforcement has reduced forest loss, threats persist, especially in areas officially protected by law. The surge in unauthorized development — driven by the global drug trade and weak rural governance — continues to fragment habitat and pollute rivers with mercury and other toxic byproducts. This affects not just remote ecosystems but also downstream communities that rely on forest cover for clean water, food, and protection from landslides and droughts. Colombia’s progress offers a rare sign of hope, but it remains fragile amid political shifts, economic pressures, and ongoing violence in rural areas.

Learn more: How a deforestation hub in the Amazon became a model for sustainability