biodiversity protections
Credit: Diego Tirira/Flickr
Ecuador’s forest win sets global precedent for nature’s legal rights
The Los Cedros forest in Ecuador’s Andes has become a global symbol of how granting nature legal rights can protect biodiversity from industrial threats like mining.
In short:
- The Los Cedros forest, one of the world’s most biodiverse places, was saved from mining by a landmark court ruling that recognized nature’s legal rights.
- The ruling builds on Ecuador’s 2008 constitution, which grants nature rights, setting a precedent for protecting ecosystems worldwide.
- Challenges remain in implementing these protections, with concerns about illegal activities and nearby industrial threats.
Key quote:
“There was no case before this, there was no precedent. It was a case of science winning over extractive industries.”
— Josef DeCoux, conservationist
Why this matters:
This ruling is part of a global movement to give legal rights to nature, offering new tools to protect ecosystems essential to human health and survival, especially in the face of biodiversity loss and climate change. Read more: Could the Ohio River have rights? A movement to grant rights to the environment tests the power of local control.
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Credit: YouTube/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdy1xD2elZo&t=6s
Motionless turbines could reduce wind energy’s noise and wildlife impact
A new “motionless” wind energy system, quieter and safer for birds, has been installed on the roof of BMW’s MINI plant in Oxford, offering a scalable, renewable energy solution.
In short:
- A U.S. company, Aeromine, has developed a “motionless” wind turbine system that reduces noise and wildlife risks.
- The system works alongside rooftop solar panels to maximize energy output, particularly in low-solar conditions like evenings or winter.
- Funding for the project comes from BMW’s Startup Garage, which acts as a customer to drive innovation.
Key quote:
“Our ‘motionless’ wind energy technology is designed to work seamlessly alongside solar systems, maximizing the renewable energy output from rooftops.”
— Claus Lønborg, managing director at Aeromine
Why this matters:
With Europe already ahead of the curve in renewable adoption, if these prototypes prove effective, we could see them on rooftops across the continent, fitting in snugly where traditional turbines struggle .Read more: In the race for clean energy, the US is both a leader and a laggard — here’s how.
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Credit: Michael Mees/Flickr
Solar farms provide more than clean energy by supporting pollinators
As solar farms expand, some developers are using the land beneath panels to nurture pollinator habitats, but the success of these efforts varies widely.
In short:
- Solar farms can combat both climate change and biodiversity loss by providing habitats for pollinators like bees and butterflies.
- Standards for pollinator-friendly solar farms are inconsistent, with accusations of greenwashing in cases where habitat efforts are minimal.
- Studies show that well-designed solar farms can significantly increase insect populations, but many projects fall short of their ecological potential.
Key quote:
“It’s not fair if some people are truly stepping up to do this right and another company is barely doing anything and saying they’re pollinator friendly."
— Scott Black, executive director of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
Why this matters:
Despite the promise, these nature-friendly setups are still the exception rather than the rule. If scaled up, we could start to see solar farms not just as green energy producers but as critical players in reversing habitat loss. Read more: We must adapt to climate change. Can we do it in ways that solve other problems too?
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Credit: Kandukuru Nagarjun/Flickr
Global South demands fairness in genetic data sharing amid growing biopiracy concerns
In a world where digital genetic information is becoming a billion-dollar business, countries rich in biodiversity are demanding their fair share of the profits.
In short:
- Multinationals are extracting genetic information from diverse organisms, often without compensating the countries where these organisms are found.
- A global agreement on sharing the benefits from digital genetic codes, called digital sequencing information (DSI), is under negotiation, with tensions running high.
- Countries in the Global South argue that they are being exploited while richer nations profit from their biodiversity without sharing the wealth.
Key quote:
“There will be a Cop decision and then after that, it’ll be up to everyone to play nicely and turn it into a resource mobilisation engine for looking after biodiversity.”
— Pierre du Plessis, Namibian negotiator at Cop15
Why this matters:
With the biodiversity summit in Colombia looming, there's hope that a groundbreaking agreement might finally address this tug-of-war over genetic resources. Countries rich in biodiversity, often in the Global South, argue that they should see a slice of the profits, not just for fairness but to fund conservation efforts crucial for preserving these ecosystems. Read more: The economics of biodiversity.
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Credit: 12º CBA ABA-Agroecologia/Isis Medeiros/CBA/Flickr
Indigenous author Ailton Krenak advocates for a future rooted in Indigenous wisdom
Brazilian Indigenous author Ailton Krenak argues that society must reconnect with nature and ancestral knowledge to address today’s environmental crises.
In short:
- Krenak’s book, Ancestral Future, criticizes the over-reliance on technology and calls for a worldview centered on nature.
- He emphasizes that Indigenous ways of living, which prioritize the environment, offer crucial insights for addressing climate change.
- Krenak’s experiences, including the displacement of his family in rural Brazil, fuel his advocacy for strengthening humanity's connection to the natural world.
Key quote:
“He almost literally comes from a different world, and so provides an extraordinarily useful testimony. There are very few human beings in quite that same position, very few writers.”
— Bill McKibben, environmental author and activist.
Why this matters:
In a world obsessed with quick fixes and innovation, Krenak’s message is a reminder that the answers might just be simpler—and closer to home—than we think. His work challenges us to rethink our relationship with the Earth and to see environmental stewardship not as a new-age trend but as a return to a more balanced way of living. Read more: Colonialism, the climate crisis, and the need to center Indigenous voices.
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Credit: Andy Morffew/Flickr
Biden administration safeguards millions of acres in Alaska from industrial harm
The Biden administration announced protections for 28 million acres in Alaska, blocking industrial activities to preserve Indigenous communities, wildlife and ecosystems.
In short:
- The Interior Department has blocked a 211-mile road essential for a planned copper and zinc mine, citing potential harm to Alaska Native communities and wildlife.
- The protected lands include critical habitats and have been at the center of a long-standing debate over industrial development versus environmental conservation.
- Alaska lawmakers are pushing back, with some introducing legislative measures to counter the administration's decisions.
Key quote:
“D1 lands in the Yukon-Kuskokwim region are vital to our people’s way of life — these protections ensure future generations will be able to live safely with and on the land, carrying our customary and traditional knowledge.”
— Anaan’arar Sophie Swope, executive director of the Mother Kuskokwim Tribal coalition
Why this matters:
Protecting these lands helps protect Alaska Native cultures and ecosystems, addressing long-standing environmental and subsistence concerns while increasing the tension between economic development and conservation efforts in the resource-rich region. Read more: Biden’s Arctic drilling go-ahead illustrates the limits of democratic problem solving.
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Credit: Wild & Scenic Rivers/Flickr
Preserving the Owyhee Canyonlands: the push for monument status
Local advocates are urging President Biden to create new national monuments in order to meet his administration's conservation goals, but the push has encountered resistance from some locals in the region.
In short:
- The Owyhee Canyonlands are one of the last intact sagebrush habitats in the Western U.S., spanning around 7 million acres across three states.
- Threats to the region include invasive species, mining, and suburban development, leading advocates to push for national monument designation to protect the area.
- A coalition is working to urge President Biden to use the Antiquities Act to protect 1 million acres of the canyonlands, but legislation faces political hurdles.
Key quote:
“National monuments really are the most effective tool that we have as a country to protect biodiversity and ward off this extinction crisis.”
— Kate Groetzinger, communications manager for the Center for Western Priorities
Why this matters:
Conserving the Owyhee Canyonlands is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and protecting the region's fragile ecosystem, which is threatened by development and climate change. Read more: Giving Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante the protection they deserve.
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