When people picture sand spread across idyllic beaches and endless deserts, they understandably think of it as an infinite resource. But as we discuss in a just-published perspective in the journal Science, over-exploitation of global supplies of sand is damaging the environment, endangering communities, causing shortages and promoting violent conflict.
Increased conservation advocacy by groups including the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation and the World Wildlife Fund encouraged the Mexican government to renew efforts to save the critically endangered vaquita porpoise from extinction. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has signed a memorandum of understanding that includes stricter enforcement of a permanent ban on fishing nets in Mexico's Upper Gulf of California, where about 30 vaquitas are estimated to be left.
A new study calculates that the island of Borneo lost nearly 150,000 orangutans in the period between 1999 and 2015, largely as a result of deforestation and killing. There were an estimated 104,700 of the critically endangered apes left as of 2012. The study also warns that another 45,000 orangutans are doomed by 2050 under the business-as-usual scenario, where forests are cleared for logging, palm oil, mining and pulpwood leases. Orangutans are also disappearing from intact forests, most likely being killed, the researchers say.
As part of its CanopyStyle initiative, environmental NGO Canopy has released an updated and expanded edition of its Hot Button Report, a ranking of eleven viscose and rayon producers that represent 70 percent of global viscose production. The report is the first tool of its kind to enable fashion brands and retailers to robustly assess producers' impacts on the world's forests, as well as their leadership in forging solutions to eliminate endangered forest fiber from the rayon and viscose supply chain.
Last month, the first comprehensive study on global bush meat consumption found that 113 species in Southeast Asia have dwindled to precarious numbers, primarily due to bush meat hunting and trapping. But while this region may be one of the worst affected, the study, published in Royal Society Open Science, reports that bush meat hunting is driving many of the world's mammals to the brink of extinction. "The large mammals are much more threatened than the small ones," says William Ripple, a professor of ecology at Oregon State University and lead author of the study. "This is likely because there is more meat on large mammals."
designed to eventually cut carbon dioxide emissions by 250,000 tons per year,
save the equivalent of the annual energy consumption of 750,000 households, and
slash the country’s overall energy bill by 200 million Euros ($266
million).
“reduce the print of artificial lighting on the nocturnal environment
lighting in many parts of the world is endangering our health and the health of
the ecosystems on which we
The good news is that light pollution is readily within our grasp to
control.rely
ecological light pollution, warning that disrupting these natural patterns of
light and dark, and thus the structures and functions of ecosystems, is having
profound impacts
China, India, Brazil, and numerous other countries are becoming increasingly
affluent and urbanized
glowing white
Connecticut and California — have enacted regulations to reduce light pollution,
but most nations and cities still do little to dial down the excessive use of
light
LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, can improve our ability to reduce and better
regulate lighting
“blue-rich
disruptive to circadian rhythms.
reducing
or Loss of Night
studies on light pollution, ranging from research into the socio-political
challenges of cutting light pollution in the Berlin metropolitan area to the
effects of light pollution on nocturnal mammals
bright lights
All are potentially impacted by our burgeoning use of artificial light
We have levels of light hundreds and thousands of time higher than the natural
level during the night
computer-generated maps that dramatically depict the extent of light pollution
across the globe
Every flip of a light switch contributes to altering ancient patterns of mating,
migration, feeding, and pollination, with no time for species to adapt
2012 study of leatherback turtles
“artificial lighting of the nesting beaches is the biggest threat
to survival of hatchlings and a major factor in declining leatherback turtle
populations.”
eflected light of the stars and moon from the beach to the ocean
follow the light of hotels and streetlights
drawn off-course by artificial light
between 100 million and 1 billion, we don’t really know — killed each year by
collision with human-made structures
our outdoor lights are irresistible flames, killing countless moths and other
insects, with ripple effects throughout the food chain
natural pest control
for bats
artificial light disrupts patterns of travel and feeding since many bat species
avoid illuminated areas.
that street lighting influences the migratory pattern of Atlantic
salmon,
30 percent of vertebrates and more than 60 percent of invertebrates are
nocturnal
composition of entire communities of insects and other invertebrates.
blue wavelength light tells our brain that night is over,
consequences of excessive exposure to light at night include an increased risk
for obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease
American Medical Association
“risks and benefits of occupational and environmental exposure to light-at-night
“new lighting technologies at home and at work that minimize circadian
disruption
are concerned about the impact of some new lighting
make LEDs a
these lights may actually make things significantly worse
often brighter than the old lights they are replacing
LEDs could “exacerbate known and possible unknown effects of light pollution on
human health (and the) environment” by more than five times.
the Model
Lighting Ordinance
recommends limits for the amount of light in five different zones of lighting
intensity
banning unshielded lighting in all zones.
researchers have identified numerous practical steps to reduce light
pollution:
spectral composition of lighting (
limiting the duration of lighting
altering the intensity
preventing areas
simple act of shielding our lights — installing or retrofitting lamp fixtures
that direct light downward to its intended target — represents our best chance
to control light pollution
lines of shielded lighting fixtures
light equals safety, and darkness danger
with little compelling evidence to support common assumptions.
The objection
For example, ever-brighter lights can actually diminish security by casting
glare that impedes our vision and creates shadows where criminals can
hide.
As evidence mounts that excessive use of light is harming wildlife and adversely affecting human health, new initiatives in France and elsewhere are seeking to turn down the lights that flood an ever-growing part of the planet
mounts that excessive use of light is harming wildlife and adversely affecting human health, new initiatives in France and elsewhere are seeking to turn down the lights that flood an ever-growing part of the planet.
Deforestation due to palm oil production is the single biggest threat to orangutans, but new deforestation-free standards that cover about 60% of the industry could help secure the primate's future. "We can now break the link between palm oil and the extinction of orangutans," says Michelle Desilets, executive director of the Orangutan Land Trust.
On eBay and elsewhere on the Internet, illegal wildlife and wildlife parts - from elephant ivory to tiger skins to monkey and crocodile skulls - are being sold. Bringing an end to this illicit activity is proving to be a daunting challenge.
In this animation, animals sing an emotional rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables. The video opens with the creatures existing happily in their habitats: a blue whale breaches, a brown pelican skims the water, a rhinoceros runs with her calf, and a pair of baby harp seals play in the snow.