Indonesia’s Supreme Court has upheld the government’s decision to block further expansion of the Tanah Merah oil palm project in Papua, preserving a Jakarta-sized swath of primary rainforest. The ruling strengthens the forestry ministry’s authority to halt deforestation and was influenced by testimonies from the Indigenous Awyu tribe, who rely on the forest for survival. By Hans Nicholas Jong
Conservation news
Indonesian court blocks palm oil expansion, but leaves Indigenous land rights in limbo
JAKARTA — The Indonesian Supreme Court has upheld a government decision to curb the expansion of a multibillion-dollar oil palm plantation projec...
 #News #Conservation #Environment #IndigenousPeoples #Indonesia
Nearly all deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon in the past year was illegal, a new report finds. Between August 2023 and July 2024, 91% of forest clearing in the Amazon lacked authorization, according to an analysis by the NGO Center of Life Institute (ICV). In the Cerrado, an expanding agricultural frontier and the world’s most biodiverse tropical savanna that covers a quarter of Brazil, the figure for unauthorized clearing was 51%. By Shanna Hanbury
Conservation news
91% of Brazilian Amazon deforestation last year was illegal, report finds
Nearly all deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon in the past year was illegal, a new report finds. Between August 2023 and July 2024, 91% of forest...
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In Mekar Raya, a semi-remote pocket of Ketapang district near the west coast of Indonesian Borneo, the local Dayak Simpan Indigenous society are navigating the complex bureaucracy of the state in a bid to gain semi-autonomous control of their customary forest. By Aseanty Pahlevi
Conservation news
Indigenous Dayak community makes strides on Borneo toward forest autonomy
MEKAR RAYA, Indonesia — Yulius Yogi kneels under the forest canopy here on the island of Borneo, surveying land he plans to reclaim for his Dayak...
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Water canals worldwide are causing widespread wildlife drownings, with significant losses recorded in Argentina, Mexico, Spain, Portugal and the U.S., particularly impacting threatened species. Scientists emphasize the lack of awareness and research on this issue, warning that canals act as “wildlife traps,” exacerbating biodiversity loss and habitat fragmentation. By Aldem Bourscheit
Conservation news
‘Silent killing machines’: How water canals threaten wildlife across the globe
Deadly drownings of animals in water canals for irrigation and other purposes have been observed in various countries. The dry and semiarid regions...
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As insectivorous, burrowing mammals, pangolins play a key role in our ecosystem by controlling insect populations, recycling soil nutrients and sheltering other animals in their abandoned burrows. A recent study provides the first evidence of Chinese pangolins’ role as ecosystem engineers, whose burrows help restore biodiversity in forest patches gutted by fires. By Spoorthy Raman
Conservation news
Pangolin burrows are biodiversity magnets in burnt forests, study shows
Pangolins, the world’s most trafficked mammals, hit the headlines more often for the illegal trade in their scales and meat than for their cheris...
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Despite commitments to transition away from coal, Indonesia faces major hurdles in closing coal-fired power plants due to economic concerns, legal risks, and political resistance. Indonesia’s climate envoy has cast doubt on the country’s commitment to the Paris Agreement, calling coal plant closures “economic suicide,” threatening the $20 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). By Hans Nicholas Jong, Jeff Hutton
Conservation news
As Indonesia, US back away from climate goals, hopes fade to retire coal plants early
As a summit of Southeast Asian leaders in Jakarta fast approached in September 2023, Indonesia’s state-run electricity provider, PLN, partially s...
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One of South America’s largest ecosystems saw an increase in deforestation last year, with agriculture, livestock and fires contributing the most to the destruction of native dry forests. The problem has led some conservation groups to speak out about weak environmental regulations that allow land-use change to go unpunished. By Maxwell Radwin
Conservation news
Deforestation boom in Gran Chaco raises alarm over Argentina’s forest law
One of South America’s largest ecosystems saw an increase in deforestation last year, with agriculture, livestock and fires contributing the most...
 #News #Deforestation #Environment #Conservation #Forests
Scientists are training the first generation of rats in Tanzania to detect illegal wildlife trafficked products. Their research shows that African giant pouched rats can locate concealed wildlife products such as pangolin scales, rhino horns and ivory in shipments. This innovative approach could reshape antitrafficking efforts and shed new light on the illegal wildlife trade. By Lucía Torres
Conservation news
Meet the giant rats fighting wildlife trafficking
MOROGORO, Tanzania — Often dismissed as pests, rats have long been misunderstood. But the African giant pouched rat (Cricetomys ansorgei), the wo...
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Small-scale fishers in Indonesia face declining catches as illegal trawlers deplete fish stocks in near-shore waters, violating exclusion zone regulations. Trawling, a destructive fishing method banned in certain areas, is widely practiced due to weak law enforcement, with local authorities citing budget constraints for lack of patrols. By Tonggo Simangunsong
Conservation news
Unchecked illegal trawling pushes Indonesia’s small-scale fishers to the brink
TANJUNG LEIDONG, Indonesia — At around 5:30 a.m., after the tide starts to recede, Zulkifli Dalimunthe rushes to the shore a stone’s throw from...
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Indonesia is considering withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, arguing it is unfair for developing nations to comply when a major polluter like the U.S. has pulled out, again. Officials highlight Indonesia’s lower per capita emissions and stress the need for more financial aid to transition away from coal. By Hans Nicholas Jong
Conservation news
Indonesia mulls Paris Agreement exit, citing fairness and energy transition costs
JAKARTA — Indonesia, one of the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters, has signaled it might follow in the footsteps of the U.S. and withdraw...
 #News #Conservation #Environment #ParisAgreement #Indonesia #Energy #EnergyTransition