Peru grants a record number of Indigenous land titles
Between June 2023 and May 2024, 37 land titles were secured in the Peruvian Amazon in record time, thanks to an innovative, low-cost, high-impact method for expediting the process. Land titles are proven to be the most effective way to protect Indigenous peoples’ land from deforestation, with titled land experiencing a 66% decrease in deforestation. Mongabay
Good news for threatened species in Australia
The populations of more than a third of the 101 threatened species in New South Wales are heading in the right direction. The number of endangered yellow-footed rock wallabies doubled to 144 between 2020 and 2022, and several locally-extinct species reintroduced into parks also increased, including three types of bilby, two types of bettong, bandicoots, and numbats. The West
China’s national park system is helping protect key species
Since 2012, the country’s national park system has helped boost the populations of several flagship species: the population of Tibetan antelope has risen to over 70,000, snow leopard populations have returned to over 1,200, the population of Hainan gibbons has increased from under 10 to 42, and 70% of wild giant panda habitats across the country are now protected. China Daily
A startup is cleaning up Guatemala’s longest river
The Motagua River is one of the most polluted rivers in Central America, pouring 18 million kilograms of rubbish into the ocean each year. In 2023, US-based startup 4ocean installed a floating fence-like barrier to catch debris before it enters the bay. Since then, the boom has saved 45,000 kilograms of debris from reaching the ocean, with plans to capture a lot more. CNN
An interactive atlas for animal migration
Scientists have unveiled the Atlas of Ungulate Migration to track the long-distance travels of hoofed mammals, like red deer in the central Alps, saiga antelope in Kazakhstan, and takin in China. The interactive atlas collects data on 20 species from a dozen countries, and researchers hope the resource will help governments, businesses, and wildlife groups when considering development projects. CMS
The Chumash Marine Sanctuary clears a final hurdle
The first Tribally-nominated national marine sanctuary in the history of the United States—and the first new sanctuary in California in over 25 years—is on track for finalization later this year. The 11,766-km2 sanctuary will protect many at-risk species, such as snowy plovers, southern sea otters, leatherback sea turtles, and blue whales. Chumash Heritage
My father, the late Chief Fred Collins, began the journey to protect these sacred waters many years ago and we have been so proud to continue his work. I am delighted to celebrate his vision, today’s success, and the future of our People who will always be connected to past, present, and future by this special stretch of coastline and the true magic its waters hold.
Violet Sage Walker, Chairwoman, Northern Chumash Tribal Council
Landmark nature law in Islamabad
The Islamabad Nature Conservation and Wildlife Management Act 2024 is a significant victory for the region’s biodiversity, supporting the long-term conservation of Margallah Hills National Park thanks to a provision for internal revenue generation. The new law also introduces fines and penalties to enforce the protection of the environment. The News
Brazilian city grants legal rights to waves
The city of Linhares has granted legal rights to the waves at the mouth of the Dolce River, marking the first time a part of the ocean has been given personhood. In 2015, the collapse of a tailings dam sent billions of gallons of sludge into the river, weakening the waves until a flood in 2022 cleared out the buildup. Hakai Magazine
Nigeria takes action to protect its elephants
The country has launched its first-ever National Elephant Action Plan to reverse the decline of its current population, which is estimated to be 300-400 elephants. The 10-year plan includes the protection of habitats and wildlife corridors, law enforcement to curb poaching, and enhancement of community-shared economic benefits generated by tourism. EPI
More music for those who will listen
- The Ocean Cleanup says they can clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in ten years, for the price of around 100 F-16 fighter jets.
- A village in Scotland saved the Abriachan Forest from development. 'It’s taken 25 years, but it’s a long game we’re playing. You have to be patient.'
- Meanwhile, rewilding efforts in the Scottish Highlands have led to black grouse numbers reaching their highest level in 17 years.
- A judge in Brazil has ordered slaughterhouses to pay for Amazon reforestation—the first of dozens of lawsuits seeking reparations for environmental damages.
- Gray wolves are making a historic comeback in California after being on the verge of extinction.
- A nonprofit in Borneo is getting illegal loggers to hand in their chainsaws in return for financial support to set up sustainable livelihoods.
- Autonomous and solar-powered robot boats are cleaning up Asia’s waterways, collecting 200 kilograms of garbage per hour.
- The largest wetland restoration in the history of Yosemite National Park is underway.
- A victory for the Balkan Rivers campaign, with a decision to halt construction of a hydro power plant on the Una river.
- Scientists are bringing the Santa Cruz River back from the brink—by adding sewage water!
- How 'good fire' is helping wildlife in Nebraska, especially cranes.
- Improvements in water quality in Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro are resulting in healthier sea turtles.
- In recent years, water buffalo have earned a reputation as ‘living tractors’, thanks to their crucial role in bringing nature back to wastelands.
If it bleeds it leads
About a month ago, Brazil's Ministry of Environment and Climate Change released their annual figures on deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon, showing that between August 2023 and July 2024, the area under deforestation alerts dropped by over 45%. This is the largest proportional drop ever recorded for a 12 month period, down to the lowest level since 2016.
If you compare these figures to the last full year under Bolsonaro, it means that the actions of Brazil's environmentalists, led from the front by Lula, have saved something like 6,000 km² of the Amazon, an area roughly equivalent to the entire Everglades National Park in Florida.
It hasn't been easy. The power of the agricultural lobby runs deep in Brazil, there's been heavy political opposition, internal strikes, cat and mouse games with illegal miners, and to make matters even harder, the worst fire season in the Amazon in 20 years. Nevertheless, it's an important story of progress happening in a place that matters more than almost anywhere else for the future of our planet.
If you go searching for stories about deforestation in the Amazon however, this is not what you will find. Instead, you will see wall to wall coverage about this year's record fires, a consequence of the most intense and widespread drought in Brazil's history. Rainforests are not supposed to burn. We are seeing the very real effects of climate change in real time, and it's scary.
Here's the question: what kind of story should the media be telling the world about what's happening in the Amazon right now? The 'race against time' story, which clearly describes the scale of the challenge, but also showcases progress, and explains what is being done about it? Or the 'we're all doomed' story, which uses apocalyptic language, lists one problem after the other, and finishes with a quote from a political scientist claiming we've reached 'the point of no return'?
One of these stories is disaster porn, and it's the story the whole world is hearing about the Amazon right now.
The other story is solutions journalism, and you'll be lucky if you can track it down.
More solutions journalism.
Less disaster porn.
