Year 13 - Biodiversity Under Threat

Three million cubic metres of sediment from dredging to expand a coal port will be dumped in the Great Barrier Reef marine park, after the park authority approved the move on Friday. The spoil resulting from the Abbot Point port project is to be dumped 24km away at a location near Bowen in north Queensland. The expansion, which hinged on the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's approval of the dumping, means an extra 70m tonnes of coal each year, worth between $1.4bn and $2.8bn, will go through the port, which is also a gateway to the world heritage-listed reef.

Environment secretary Owen Paterson has suggested 100 new trees could be planted for each ancient one destroyed

Tiny particles of waste plastic that are ingested by shoreline "eco-engineer" worms may be negatively affecting biodiversity, a study says.

Brazil says the rate of deforestation in the Amazon increased by 28% between August 2012 and last July, after years of decline.

The MCS points to the latest data (pdf) from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea which shows that North Sea cod stocks are only slightly above what are considered safe levels for the species, despite a decrease in the amount fished.

A project is tracking the phenomenon as global warming and overfishing boost numbers of the venomous sea creature

Sponges soak up nutrients in seawater and turn them into food for reef organisms.

More than 80 elephants have been killed for their ivory by poachers who used cyanide to poison a water hole in Zimbabwe's largest game park.predators which feed on them.

More dead birds eh?

Found by Toby

Badger culling has begun in order to reduce spread of TB. Experts say there are cheaper and more effective methods in order to prevent TB spread.

Is there clear evidence that Badgers give cows TB......... NO!

Rising population in Madagascar puts pressure on forests to "slash-and-burn" areas often rich in flora and fauna, to clear land to plant crops.

Oil exploration activities are thought to have caused an 'alarming' number of whale deaths off the Ghanaian coast.

The grumpy-looking, gelatinous blobfish has won a public vote to become the official mascot of the Ugly Animal Preservation Society.

The government has refused to accept evidence for a ban on pesticides linked to bee decline.