endangered species
Newsletter
Flawed federal assessment for Gulf oil drilling is thrown out by court
A U.S. District Court has rejected a flawed federal environmental assessment that underestimated the risks of offshore drilling to endangered marine species in the Gulf of Mexico.
In short:
- The court found the National Marine Fisheries Service's 2020 biological opinion underestimated the risks of oil spills and failed to protect endangered species like the Rice’s whale.
- The court ruled that the opinion violated the law by assuming that large oil spills, like the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster, were unlikely to occur.
- The federal agency must produce a new, legally compliant assessment by December 2024.
Key quote:
“This decision means the Fisheries Service must comply with the law to put in place meaningful safeguards for the Gulf’s rarest marine species.”
— Chris Eaton, senior attorney with Earthjustice’s Oceans Program
Why this matters:
Endangered species in the Gulf face severe risks from oil drilling, with flawed assessments potentially worsening these threats. Proper environmental oversight is crucial to prevent further ecological disasters.
Read more: Oil companies pursue offshore drilling, touting lower emissions
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Duke University's decision to close major plant collection sparks outrage
Duke University has announced the closure of its herbarium, a significant blow to biodiversity research.
In short:
- Duke University plans to shut down its herbarium, home to more than 825,000 plant, fungi, and algae specimens, due to financial constraints.
- The scientific community, including Erika Edwards from Yale Herbarium, has expressed shock and concern over the potential loss of this vital resource.
- Despite efforts to relocate the collection, no suitable home has been found, raising fears of the collection being forgotten or lost.
Key quote:
“This is such a devastating blow for biodiversity science.”
— Erika Edwards, curator of the Yale Herbarium
Why this matters:
The closure of Duke's herbarium not only impacts scientific research but also poses a significant threat to our understanding of environmental changes and biodiversity. This decision reflects broader challenges in funding and prioritizing scientific resources, crucial for informed health and environmental policies.
Read: A small group of new farmers have seeded a movement to change the local food industry.
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Newsletter
Most money for endangered species goes to a small number of creatures, leaving others in limbo
Since passage of the Endangered Species Act 50 years ago, more than 1,700 plants, mammals, fish, insects and other species in the U.S. have been listed as threatened or endangered with extinction.
Newsletter
Illegal cocoa farming threatens a Nigerian rainforest
As the world’s demand for chocolate grows, farmers in Nigeria are moving into protected areas of a forest reserve that’s home to endangered species like African forest elephants.
Newsletter
More than 1 million gallons of oil leaks into Gulf of Mexico, potentially putting endangered species at risk
Officials have yet to find the source of the oil spill, which has left chunky globules and long slicks near a 67-mile-long pipeline system off the coast of Louisiana.
Australia crackdown on climate protesters grows amid fight against gas project
This is on trend with a general increasing intolerance toward environmental protesters in Australia and an uptick in the use of direct action by protesters who feel the time is running out to meet climate targets and protect endangered species.
Canada rejects emergency order to save spotted owls
The federal cabinet rejected Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault’s request for an order to protect the endangered spotted owl in Canada.
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