habitat loss
Credit: David Wilson/Flickr
Wildfires are pushing Alberta's caribou to the brink
The relentless wildfires in Alberta are decimating the already endangered woodland caribou population, raising urgent questions about their survival.
In short:
- Alberta's woodland caribou are losing critical habitat to unprecedented wildfires, with 2023 alone seeing over 5% of their range destroyed.
- The caribou, adapted to old-growth forests, now face threats from more frequent and severe fires, further compounded by human disturbances like logging and oil extraction.
- Indigenous communities and environmental groups are increasingly alarmed, noting that without immediate action, caribou may vanish from Alberta's landscape.
Key quote:
“It’s a question that could extend beyond caribou. How do we account for climate change and these larger events, whether it’s wildfires, rain, snow or flooding, in management plans and conservation efforts?”
— Laura Finnegan, caribou program manager, fRI Research
Why this matters:
With only 2,000 of these animals remaining in Alberta, the question looms: can they adapt quickly enough to survive, or are we witnessing the final chapter in the story of these once-thriving herds? Read more: US wildfires’ increasing toll on wildlife.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: Victoria Pickering/Flickr
Migratory species face a global decline, UN warns
Nearly half of the world's migratory animals are declining, with many at risk of extinction, highlighting the urgent need for global conservation efforts.
In short:
- About 44% of migratory species are decreasing in population due to habitat loss, illegal activities, pollution, and climate change.
- The United Nations report emphasizes the critical role of migration in species survival and the interconnectedness of ecosystems across borders.
- Conservation measures and international cooperation are being discussed to protect these species and their habitats.
Key quote:
"Migration is essential for some species. If you cut the migration, you’re going to kill the species."
— Stuart Pimm, ecologist at Duke University.
Why this matters:
The decline of migratory species is emblematic of broader environmental issues that affect global biodiversity and ecosystem health. Migratory animals face a perilous journey, often navigating a toxic trail amongst threatened habitat.
Keep reading...Show less
Image by Andrea Bohl from Pixabay
Some U.S. wolverines to be protected by Endangered Species Act
Officials will add the predators, threatened by climate change and habitat loss in much of the United States, to the Endangered Species List.
Newsletter
Wild turkeys are disappearing, and Thanksgiving has nothing to do with it
Wild turkeys are on the decline nationwide. Scientists are exploring a few possible causes — Including habitat loss, hunting, disease and climate change.
Farmers turn to tech as bees struggle to pollinate
With bee populations struggling, mechanical pollination may be increasingly needed as a back-up.
Photo by Stacie Clark on Unsplash
To protect wild bumblebees, people have to find them first
For six years, hundreds of volunteers have counted bumblebees across the Northwest. Their data is shaping pollinator conservation nationwide.
Hydropower in the Pan Amazon: Belo Monte and the Río Xingu
In spite of its design to minimize upstream impacts, the dam has drastically curtailed the extent, duration and timing of annual floods in the seasonally inundated forests below the dam.
ORIGINAL REPORTING
MOST POPULAR
CLIMATE
