Overall, global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels increased 29% between 2000 and 2008 and 41% from 1990-2008, and the current concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is now at its highest in at least 2 million years, according to a new study in the journal Nature Geoscience.

The new report published this week by an international team of researchers who are part of the “Global Carbon Project” shows emissions trends through 2008 (including changes in emissions causes and in the amount of emissions remaining in the atmosphere) and brings up some major questions for the future as well.

Read more of this story »

A new report, The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB), attempts to bring to the world’s attention the truly great economic value of ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as the benefits of taking these into account when making policies.

The value of the world’s natural ecosystems and biodiversity is something lacking in most economic analyses. Lack of value for what is truly priceless doesn’t just hurt the environment, however. It is also a sort of economic suicide. This new report, hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme and supported by key EU, UK, German, Swedish, Dutch, and Norwegian bodies, attempts to bring all of this to our attention more and show some positive case studies of how taking the environment into consideration can actually save us money.

As the report says: “the failure of markets to adequately consider the value of ecosystem services is of concern not only to environment, development and climate change ministries but also to finance, economics and business ministries.”

Read more of this story »

Read more of this story »

Perhaps fewer than 5,000 Komodo dragons remain in the wild - victims of poaching, human encroachment, and loss of prey due to human hunting.

Wild Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis) inhabit Komodo National Park in the center of Indonesia’s archipelago. The park is comprised of the islands of Komodo, Pada, and Rinca. The limited range of the Komodo dragon makes this species vulnerable to extinction.

To help raise awareness for these large and lovely lizards, here are 11 things you didn’t know about Komodo dragons — and a compilation of adorable photos! Enjoy!

Read more of this story »

You can now explore the Amazon, Madagascar, and Sebangau National Forest in Borneo through Google Earth.

On September 25, I wrote about a Google Earth tour (narrated by AL Gore) and new Google Earth tools and layers which help people to look at the possible effects of climate change under three different scenarios. Now, three new tours have been launched that allow the exploration of critical rainforests and real-life success stories.

The tours (embedded below) have a great wealth of information and inspirational stories bound into succinct Google Earth or YouTube videos.

Read more of this story »

The festivities brought together their field representatives from all over the globe including: Belize, Fiji, Mexico, Indonesia, Honduras, almost anywhere coral reefs have become an endangered species. Over locally produced and multilayered Lagunitas IPA and tasty hors d’oeuvres the crowd mingled and discussed the state of coral reefs worldwide. Talking to the various field reps, we got the idea that they create awareness and educate many locals and tourists with little resources. It was as if the field reps paraphrased a quote from the film The Grapes of Wrath, “Wherever there’s a fight about coral reefs, I’ll be there.”

Read more of this story »

From the proposed bill to protect the North American black bear to the resurgence of elephant poaching in Kenya - and the skinning of a tiger inside an Indonesian zoo - the issues are not over yet.

Lions and tigers and bears … and elephants, whales, and rhino: Here are a few updates - as of today - on nine of my wildlife conservation posts. Four zoo posts are included, as zoos are (ideally) intended to be facilities for protecting precious wildlife.

Read more of this story »

A new survey of Asians finds that they want a strong international climate agreement, and they want a few key world leaders to step up to the plate to make it happen.

Read more of this story »

One of the poachers involved in the recent killing of a critically endangered Sumatran tiger inside Jambi’s Rimbo Zoo has been arrested.

Last month, when Sheila the tiger was poisoned and then skinned inside her enclosure, authorities feared the incident was a horrifying new development in the illegal trade in tiger skin and body parts.

Tragically, they were correct: Now that one of the men who killed Sheila has been arrested, police questioning has revealed that the murder was financed by a Palembang “businessman.”

Read more of this story »

The rate at which virgin tropical rainforests are currently being cleared to plant palm plantations to supply the ravenous growth of worldwide palm oil demand is staggering: In Indonesia alone 4.4 million acres of rainforest disappear each year. Given that one American football field is roughly one acre, that’s just about 4.4 million football fields. Truly staggering.

Together, Malaysia and Indonesia account for 80% of worldwide palm oil production, but they also contain more than 80% of the remaining virgin rainforests in Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, the only remaining lands in Southeast Asia that are also the best for palm oil production are these vast swaths of virgin rainforest.

Read more of this story »

Read more of this story »

A recent study has revealed that the critically endangered Javan rhino faces even more threats than previously thought.

Today, only around 50 Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) remain inside Indonesia’s Ujung Kulon National Park. And, according to the latest study by the Indonesian Rhino Foundation (YABI), now these rhino can add food shortages, water scarcity, and the effects of climate change to an already overwhelming list of threats facing this isolated population.

Read more of this story »

Authorities fear that the killing of Sheila the tiger at Jambi’s Rimbo Zoo is a shocking new development in the illegal wildlife trade. The tiger’s skin, along with body parts in demand for traditional Asian “remedies”, were taken from the tiger’s enclosure.

Officials noted that even the tiger’s blood had been collected.

Read more of this story »

The last population of approximately 50 Javan Rhinos in Indonesia’s Ujung Kulon National Park is to be divided into two groups in hopes of encouraging them to breed.

There is just one population of about 50 Javan Rhinos (Rhinoceros sondaicus) still surviving in Ujung Kulon NP, and experts believe the numbers will increase if a second group of rhinos is established elsewhere. The new “crash” (a group of rhinos) will initially consist of three females and one male.

Having all of the rhinos in just one location increases the risk of extinction, as a single catastrophe, such as disease or a natural disaster, can wipe out an entire population.

In a recent Jakarta Globe article, Ujung Kulon National Park spokesman Enjat Sudrajat said the new location would be close by, in the Gunung Honje area.

WWF project leader of Ujung Kulon National Park, Adhi Rachmat Hariyadi said the idea of a second habitat had been discussed since 1995.

Wildlife authorities anticipate completing the project by 2012.

4. Kenya Fears Link Between Elephant Killings and Chinese Construction Projects

Summary:
The Kenya Wildlife Service suspects it is more than a coincidence that a large number of elephant killings have occurred in areas where Chinese crews have recently arrived for massive construction projects.

Update:
Despite the growing list of suspicious “coincidences”, it is no surprise that the Chinese government officially denied links to elephant poaching in Kenya. Major media outlets did the same by syndicating one article that referred to poaching in the title, but leaving the information about China out of the content altogether.

Later, most sources altered the title of the article and removed the word “poaching” - although a search will reveal the original title in some of the syndicated pages.

The response by China appears to be a little more than the flexing of newly-acquired PR muscles, which the country quickly attempted to develop during the Uighur riots earlier this year. There is more at China Denies Links to Elephant Poaching in Kenya

5. Tiger Killed, Skinned Inside Indonesian Zoo

Summary:
Sheila the tiger was poisoned and then skinned in her enclosure at Jambi’s Rimbo Zoo in Indonesia.

Wildlife authorities fear this crime is a shocking new development in the illegal wildlife trade: The tiger’s skin, along with body parts in demand for traditional Asian “remedies”, were taken from the tiger’s enclosure.

Update:
There has been one arrest in the Indonesian zoo tiger killing. Sadly, it appears that this is only one link in a chain of an organized effort to meet the demands of China’s flourishing illegal trade in tiger skin and body parts.

6. Tiger Poaching Scandal? Goa Forest Official Says Remains ‘Not a Tiger’

Summary:
Suspicion is growing around the investigation of a Goa tiger poaching incident earlier this year which allegedly involved an employee of the home guard department - and now it appears a senior forest official is trying to cover it up.

Chief Conservator of Forests Goa, Shashi Kumar, claims that the Wildlife Institute of India’s investigation shows the slaughtered animal was “not a tiger.” Such a claim is dubious, especially considering eyewitness accounts and published photographs of physical evidence at the location where the tiger was killed.

Update:
It looks like Kumar has changed his tune once again, according to a Thaindian News report on the “official flip flop”:

After initially claiming that a “preliminary” forensic report had ruled out poaching of a tiger in a Goa wildlife sanctuary, the state’s top forest official has now said that he has not seen the forensic report yet. Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Shashi Kumar now maintains that he had made the statement only on the basis of a letter faxed to him by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

Oh, really?

7. 20 Animals Dead This Year at Dhaka Zoo in Bangladesh

Summary:
Negligence, inadequate care, inexperience, and poor living conditions the Dhaka Zoo are to blame for the reported deaths of 20 animals so far this year.

Update:
Just two days after the original post, one of Dhaka zoo’s Bengal tigers, Garjan, died.

There are now apparently ten tigers left at this facility. A photo shows a tiger in a cement enclosure.

Despite the suspension of the zoo’s curator and deputy director, Dhaka Zoo is preparing to welcome holiday visitors, according to an online Bangladesh news source.

The zoo publicity officer, Saiful Islam, said the authorities are taking all measures to entertain the visitors.

By all means, since entertaining the visitors seems to be working great - just great.

8. 14 Deer Dead in One Night at Kanpur Zoo

Summary:
A disturbing discovery at the Kanpur Zoo revealed that thirteen chital (Axis axis) and one swamp deer (Cervus duvauceli) had died overnight. Coincidentally, five black bucks died last at Kanpur Zoo last year within one hour around this same time of year.

Seven employees were suspended.

Update:
Last Wednesday, PETA India held a demonstration in front of the Central Zoo Authority calling for the closure of all zoos, citing this incident as the latest in the rising death toll of animals in India’s zoos.

And last Thursday, an official inspection by a four-member team was conducted at the Kanpur Zoological Park.

During their stay, the team members inspected the enclosures of various animals and observed the cleanliness. They went to the site where the deer were found dead. Kanpur zoo, director, K Praveen Rao was asked to provide documents on the zoo management.

The inspection team is expected to submit a report within 15 days.

9. Tiger Cub Dies at Zoo — To Attract More Tourists

Summary:
A white tiger cub has died at India’s Indore Zoo after zoo authorities decided to keep a litter of sick cubs on display to attract more tourists.

Wildlife experts believe that putting the cubs on display prematurely made them ill in the first place - and zoo authorities knew the cubs had been suffering from bacterial gastroenteritis since late August. A zoo employee reportedly said the cubs were dehydrated and had diarrhea, but were kept in the enclosure anyway so tourists would come and see them.

Update:
It turns out the tragic death of the tiger cub wasn’t the first animal death at the Indore Zoo.

Apparently, three animals - a deer and two male black bucks - died the week before from internal injuries inflicted during a “clash” in their enclosure. And in July, 20 rabbits reportedly died from an infection.

However, it appears that action is being taken in this matter.

Stung by a series of deaths in the Indore zoo, including that of a white tiger cub, the civic agency has removed more than 25 employees, including the superintendent and the zoo in-charge, for negligence of duty, officials said Tuesday.

One of the surviving tiger cubs is still undergoing medical treatment.

Not over yet

At times, it looks as if the world is somehow conspiring against the survival of its wildlife treasures.

The struggle to protect endangered species from poachers and habitat loss - or to provide proper care to zoo inhabitants - seems at times to be a difficult and lonely one. Many believe the battle to save endangered species from extinction is already lost.

Yet, thanks to the dedicated efforts of organizations such as Cook Inletkeeper, Wildlife Direct, International Rhino Foundation (and many more) along with countless, caring individuals, hope for wildlife remains.

And where there is hope for wildlife … perhaps there is hope for humans, too.

Image source: istock.com

In the largest debt-for-nature swap the U.S. government has organized so far under the U.S. Tropical Forest Conservation Act, the United States has signed an agreement with Indonesia to forgive nearly $30 million in debt.

The U.S. government has agreed to forgive $30 million in Indonesian debt in exchange for Indonesia’s agreement to protect Sumatran forests, according to Conservation International.

Indonesia is said to be the world’s largest emitter of carbon dioxide, behind the United States and China, because of its deforestation rate. These forests are home to critically endangered Sumatran rhinos, tigers, orangutans, and other rare wildlife.

How it works (in a nutshell)

Instead of repaying the debt, Indonesia is to place the money in a trust, to be paid over eight years, which will be used to protect 13 forest areas on Sumatra. Grants from the trust will be issued for critical forest conservation and restoration work in Sumatra.

Read more of this story »

For over 20 years, dedicated rangers have been caring for the protected zone off Jakarta’s north coast. They spend three weeks of each month without Internet access or electricity on the uninhabited islet of Penjaliran Timur - where they monitor critically endangered Hawksbill Turtle nests.

Penjaliran Timur is part of Penjaliran’s restricted zone - and home to the critically endangered Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), whose favorite nesting grounds include the beaches of Peteloran Timur and Peteloran Barat (also uninhabited and in the restricted zone).

Using a wooden paddle boat, an important part of the rangers’ daily routine is to travel the relatively short distance from Penjaliran Timur to the nesting areas in order to collect newly laid Hawksbill Turtle eggs. The precious eggs are brought back to Penjaliran Timur, where the rangers carefully bury them in the sand near the guard post, to keep them safe from poachers.

But despite daily heroic efforts, the rangers are not always successful at rescuing the Hawksbill Turtle eggs: Although they can spot the poachers through binoculars from Penjaliran Timur, by the time they reach the nesting grounds via wooden paddle boat, the poachers are long gone - using speedboats.

Read more of this story »

A new species of monitor lizard closely related to the Komodo dragon has been discovered by German scientists in Indonesia.

The discovery was made after close examination of the new specimen using morphological characteristics and DNA analysis. Taxonomically classified as Varanus lirungensis, the new species “illustrates the high diversity of monitor lizards in Indonesia,” according to André Koch, who found the lizard.

Read more of this story »

This week’s environmental protests are all focused around a key theme that leads to public protest: political failure. Often this is because of competing interests like the Indonesian example, but in the Spanish case it seems to be a deeply rooted political antipathy that’s putting the ocean at risk, while in Canada, the problem is that local people want to preserve an ancient resource against potential, rather than actual, harm while political powers want jobs and income for the immediate future.

Read more of this story »

To recap, palm oil is in many common supermarket products such as snacks, candy, and even soaps and detergents. Rainforest Action Network has created a site to educate consumers on the how destructive palm oil is to our global environment. Palm oil destroys vital ecosystems, contributes to global climate change, results in the displacement of Indigenous people and small family farmers, and is produced through exploitative labor practices.

Please help educate grocery shoppers about these facts and take action in anyway possible. RAN tells us: “Palm  oil  plantations  are  expanding  into  the  planet’s  most biodiverse  ecosystems,  including  rainforests,  grasslands  and  peat swamps in South America, Southeast Asia, the Pacific and Africa. These regions are home to millions of plant and animal species, including highly endangered orangutans, clouded leopards, and sun bears.”

Big palm oil companies pay to have important oxygen providing rainforests clear cut for their palm crops and painfully push out the native people that rely on the land. This endangers the plants, animals and waterways that entire communities have thrived on forever.

Read more of this story »

Eyes on the Forest, a conservation coalition, has released a research report on the clash between commercial logging and Sumatran tigers living in forests clear cut by the paper industry.

Their analysis shows that most of the tiger - human violence occurring in Sumatra has taken place near areas being deforested by Asia Pulp and Paper. Over the last 12 years, 55 people and 15 critically endangered Sumatran tigers have lost their lives in the violence. Seventeen of the tigers have been captured alive.

Read more of this story »