A global study of 18,000 forest patches reveals unwritten social rules in small communities effectively limit slash-and-burn farming's environmental impact, preserving forest health and biodiversity.
In Guatemala's Maya Biosphere Reserve, community forestry concessions are successfully combating rampant deforestation, maintaining near-zero forest loss. Strict management plans, FSC standards, and value-added timber products provide livelihoods and restore degraded land, demonstrating a sustainable model for conservation and economic development.
Amazon forest fires in Brazil hit a record low in 2025 (3.1M hectares), a sharp reversal from 2024's peak. This was due to shifting weather, lower deforestation, and community action. A potential "super El Niño" threatens future progress.
A successful voluntary agreement, the Amazon Soy Moratorium, which prevented deforestation-linked soy expansion since 2008, has effectively ended. A new analysis in Science predicts this collapse will cause an additional 1.4 million hectares of deforestation in Brazil over the next decade, releasing carbon emissions equivalent to Canada's annual output.
Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforest has fallen to its lowest level in a decade during the first half of 2026, with an estimated 1,295 sq km cleared, a 38% drop from last year, according to government figures. This marks a milestone for President Lula da Silva's environmental efforts.
The UK's proposed deforestation rules, modeled on the EU's, are causing friction with the US. Washington fears the regulations will create trade barriers and lacks flexibility for low-risk exporters, potentially impacting US-UK trade relations.
Costa Rica transformed from a deforested nation to a global conservation leader by implementing ambitious environmental policies, including the Payment for Environmental Services program, national parks, and ecotourism, doubling its forest cover since the 1980s.
O Regulamento da União Europeia sobre Produtos Livres de Desmatamento (EUDR), que entrará em vigor gradualmente até junho de 2027, dificultará a exportação de café brasileiro para o bloco, especialmente para pequenos produtores. Um estudo da UFRJ aponta que 51,2% do café brasileiro vai para a UE, que classifica o Brasil como país de "risco padrão", exigindo rigorosa rastreabilidade e levantando questões de "protecionismo verde".
Colombian farmers in Guaviare worry about the future of Peasant Reserve Zones (ZRCs) if a far-right candidate wins the upcoming election. These zones aim to protect rural communities and biodiversity but face uncertainty due to political polarization and ongoing conflict.
Brazil's Billings reservoir, a vital water source for São Paulo, is severely polluted by waste and illegal development. Activists and planners warn of a system collapse if authorities don't act against corruption and neglect.
The US administration has proposed a 25% tariff on imports from Brazil, citing unfair trade practices, digital trade issues, and illegal deforestation. The tariffs, to be imposed under Section 301, follow an investigation into Brazil's trade arrangements with Mexico and India. Public comment is open until July 1.
The Trump administration has proposed a 25% tariff on many Brazilian imports, citing unfair trade practices in areas like digital trade and illegal deforestation. The measures, under Section 301, exclude items like beef and coffee and are subject to public consultation.
In Nigeria's Katsina state, gang leader Abu "Abu Radde" Bello denies being a criminal, claiming his group fights to support families amid conflicts over resources. The article details the brutal banditry crisis, its roots in farmer-herder disputes exacerbated by climate change, and the blurring lines between banditry and jihadism.
The IUCN reports over 4,300 species in Southeast Asia are critically endangered or endangered, with tigers, pangolins, and vultures among those facing urgent threats, largely due to wildlife trafficking.
The IUCN reports over 4,300 species in Southeast Asia are critically endangered or endangered, including tigers, giant catfish, gibbons, pangolins, and vultures. Wildlife trafficking is identified as a major threat.
A Serbian environmental group successfully crowdfunded the purchase of a 2-hectare woodland, Nightingale's Forest, to protect it from deforestation and serve as a model for conservation efforts in a region facing significant environmental challenges.
