Stories

New research reveals unexpected climate resilience in up to 36 percent of the Amazon forest. Low-water-table wetland areas survived major droughts in 2010 and 2015 without increased tree mortality. Instead these forests gained aboveground biomass and showed strong seedling regeneration thanks to local hydrology and soil conditions. Led by Flavia Costa, the long term field study highlights them as potential refugia for biodiversity and stable carbon storage.

In Kenya, where more than 85 percent of the population identifies as Christian, faith is emerging as a significant force for environmental protection. This commentary challenges long held narratives blaming Christianity for ecological harm, such as impacts on Maasai sacred forests. It spotlights positive efforts by groups like A Rocha Kenya safeguarding the Dakatcha Woodland and Creation Stewards International promoting sustainable livelihoods, alongside the Anglican Church naming 2026 the year of care for the environment.

In March 2024, a supervisory interpretive ranger and botany volunteer discovered tiny fuzzy plants in a remote area of Big Bend National Park in Texas. Scientists confirmed the find as a new genus and species, Ovicula biradiata, in the daisy family, following genetic analysis and expert review. Nicknamed the woolly devil for its fuzzy leaves and horn-like petals, the plant is vulnerable to drought and known from only one location.

A traditional owner on the Tiwi Islands has captured rare photos of the endangered masked owl endemic to the region. Craig Kurrujuwa Winston spotted the bird known as pinjoma in his Melville Island yard as it watched a brushtail possum. The images mark the first for the species on iNaturalist. Winston hopes they will highlight the biodiversity hotspot and boost conservation efforts.

Blue-and-yellow macaws have returned to Tijuca National Park in Rio de Janeiro after an absence of more than 200 years. Four birds rescued from captivity received nearly a year of training to adapt to the wild. As part of the Refauna project, they are helping restore the Atlantic rainforest ecosystem through seed dispersal. Their presence is already delighting visitors to the urban park.

Interior Salish women in British Columbia are reclaiming traditional cultural burning practices to manage wildfires and protect their homelands. Leaders including Jaci Gilbert, Sheresa Brown, and Leona Antoine are integrating Indigenous knowledge into modern firefighting, overcoming gender barriers, and advocating through the Salish Fire Keepers Society. Recent gatherings and legal changes support their efforts to restore fire-dependent ecosystems and preserve culturally modified trees for future generations.

Delegates at the Migratory Species Summit in Brazil approved new protections for 40 migratory species, including 33 marine animals such as sharks, seabirds, and shorebirds. New data reveals nearly half of monitored populations are declining, while one quarter faces extinction risks. The conference recognized vital marine flyways, designated seamounts as critical habitats, and urged caution on deep-sea mining.

Spanish conservationist Luis Arranz has embraced what he calls an impossible mission as he works to turn around the fortunes of Salonga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At age 70, the veteran leader is promoting ecotourism and sustainable agriculture to reduce hunting pressure in Africa’s largest tropical rainforest park, home to bonobos and forest elephants. His efforts include building infrastructure and habituating great apes to visitors while supporting local communities.

At the 37th annual Bioneers conference in Berkeley from March 26 to 28, thousands of scientists, Indigenous leaders, youth organizers, and creatives gathered for a vibrant ecocultural event. They explored solutions centered on interdependence, reciprocity, and land stewardship. The gathering demonstrated how hope becomes a daily practice of relationship building, responsibility, and courageous action to address climate challenges, strengthen democracy, and advance Indigenous sovereignty.

Recent southern calamari squid sightings in South Australian waters are raising hopes for recovery after a harmful algal bloom devastated populations last year. Large squid have been spotted off Kangaroo Island, and smaller ones near Port Elliot. Unfortunately, the Gulf of St Vincent remains heavily impacted. Fishers urge authorities to extend fishing restrictions to aid the full rebound of the fast-growing species.

Over forty countries will gather in Santa Marta Colombia this April for the first international conference on transitioning away from fossil fuels. Co-hosted by the Netherlands and Colombia the meeting aims to build on last year’s COP30 talks where no global phaseout deal was reached. Indigenous nations in the Amazon who have long opposed oil drilling in their territories insist their demands for rights-based justice and an immediate end to extraction must shape the outcome.

As another wildfire season looms, the Salish Fire Keepers Society hosted its spring gathering Reigniting The Land in Tk’emlúps on March 17 and 18. About 100 members from Interior Salish Nations including Nlaka’pamux, syilx, Secwepemc and St’at’imc came together to exchange knowledge on cultural prescribed burns, protecting sacred sites like pictographs during fires, involving youth in stewardship, and collaborating with the BC Wildfire Service. They also discussed restoring traditional practices suppressed for more than a century.