The world’s consumption overshoot may be stabilising
After increasing almost every year for decades, the global annual overshoot date has stabilised, indicating that we may have finally reached a turning point in overconsumption. Overshoot days occur when demand for ecological resources and services in a year exceeds what the planet can regenerate that year. DW
United States backs global plastic treaty
A watershed moment in the fight against plastic as the US, one of the world's biggest plastic makers, supports a major policy shift to reduce the quantity of new plastic produced each year. The move will boost the prospect of UN agreement on a manufacturing cap, with the final round of negotiations due to take place in late November. Reuters
South Korea recycles 98% of its food waste
When the country started tackling the problem 20 years ago, it threw away 98% of its food waste; today, leftovers from homes and restaurants are turned into compost, animal feed, and even energy. It’s one of the few countries with a nationwide system for food waste management, and its 50 million people now consider food recycling a part of daily life. Washington Post
Kenya has planted more than 241 million trees
The Jazamiti app is enabling Kenyans to plant trees based on their ecological zones. It's part of the country’s mission to restore over 30% of its tree cover by 2032 to fight the impact of climate change. The country is well on its way to meeting that target—as of July 2024, more than 241 million trees had already been planted. RESET
Amazon deforestation rate falls to lowest level in eight years
The rate of deforestation in the Amazon is now at its lowest level since 2016, with satellite data showing close to a 50% drop compared to previous years. While much remains to be done to end the destruction, this represents remarkable progress, driven mostly by new policies under President Lula, who aims to end deforestation entirely by 2030. AP
A landmark project to protect Ecuador’s mangroves
Since 1969 Ecuador has lost nearly a quarter of its mangroves, threatening the lives and homes of nearly 200,000 people who live in flood-prone areas. A new $45.9 million project will now protect 150,000 hectares of mangroves and restore 4,850 hectares of degraded mangroves. The project will also cooperate with local communities to promote sustainable shrimp farming practices across 20,000 hectares. Conservation International
Belize delivers on Blue Fund deal
Two and a half years ago, the Belize Fund was set up to help the country protect its marine ecosystems while alleviating national debt. To date, BZ$7.3 million has benefitted 40 coastal communities and 14 marine protected areas—covering over 527,000 hectares—and facilitated training for 66 individuals. Caribbean News
When we closed the historic Belize Blue Bond transaction in November 2021, it felt momentous yet incomplete. It wasn’t until I saw the Belize Fund team in action, translating those debt restructuring funds into tangible marine protection initiatives, that I realized the full potential of what we had set in motion.
Leah Carriere, Nature Conservancy’s Nature Bonds Program
New Caledonia works to protect endangered flightless bird
The population of the flamboyant Cagou has almost tripled since 2017, thanks to monitoring and threat management. Local efforts began in the 1980s, when a zoo in Noumeā started raising cagous in captivity and releasing them at the Blue River Provincial Park. Around 60 birds lived in the park in 1984; today there are over 1,000. The Guardian
Fishing ban in the Yangtze River is working
The ban was imposed in 2021, and last year 227 native fish species were identified in the river, an increase of 34 from 2022. The number of protected species found in the river has also increased, including the population of the endangered Yangtze finless porpoise, which has rebounded to 1,249, marking a significant turnaround from 445 a decade ago. China Daily
Plenty of good news for whales
There has been an upswing in the number of humpback whales in Icelandic waters; in the US, the federal government is creating a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to conserve and recover endangered North Atlantic right whales with $82 million in funding; and a district court in Maryland has ordered the government to enhance whale protections in the Gulf of Mexico to protect them from offshore oil and gas drilling.
How Copenhagen cleaned up its harbour
Thirty years ago, the city's harbour was polluted with industrial waste and sewage. Then the government decided to clean it up, an effort spearheaded by a sewage system modernisation programme that cost an estimated €125 million. The benefits for hygiene, health, and daily life are clear, as today the harbour is swimmable and a playground for everyone. Outdoor Swimming Society
More music for those who will listen
Local communities are saving endangered baby sea turtles from poaching and tourists in Sri Lanka.
Shanxi province is tackling the ecological and environmental issues in the Yellow River, the second-longest river in China.
There’s been steady growth in the population of Chinese white dolphins, nicknamed the 'giant panda of the sea,’ thanks to conservation measures.
The plans to safeguard 118,221 acres along the Laos-Vietnam border to protect the critically-endangered ‘Asian unicorn.’
A team of Cameroonian rangers and biologists are using GPS collars to support anti-poaching patrols and conserve lions in Central Africa.
Conservationist Maximiliano Bello explains how Chile became a leader in ocean protection: 'Twenty years ago, Chileans had no idea we have whales.'
A decade-old effort to restore the once-parched Colorado River delta in northwestern Mexico appears to be succeeding.
How the combination of ancient tracking skills and technology is protecting Namibia’s endangered pangolins.
Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Zambia are working together to create the 39,165-km² ZIMOZA Transfrontier Conservation Area to boost tourism and conservation.
