DEFORESTATION AMAZON
Lula beats Trump-aligned Bolsonaro in Brazil Presidential election: What happens next for US ties and the Amazon
In a decisive victory, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has clinched the presidency of Brazil for the fourth time, signaling a potential shift in the nation’s diplomatic ties with the United States under Donald Trump. Lula's agenda includes combatting Amazon deforestation, a stark departure from Bolsonaro's environmental stance. Meanwhile, Flávio Bolsonaro seeks to uphold his father's political legacy.
Brazil Presidential Election run off: Who is winning Donald Trump's ally Flavio Bolsonaro or Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva whom Barack Obama once called 'world's most popular politician'?
Brazil Presidential run off: Lula, who at 80 is one of the world's oldest heads of state, is Brazil's 35th and 39th president, having served from 2003-2010 and again since 2023. Bolsonaro, 45, aims to return his family name to power while his father serves time for attempting a coup to prevent the end of his 2019-2022 presidency.
Swedish-born billionaire once bought 400,000 acres of Amazon rainforest, almost the size of Greater London. Locals worry about green colonialism; around 1000 people lost their jobs
Johan Eliasch generated buzz by securing ownership of 400,000 acres of the Amazon rainforest to combat logging threats. However, his move raised concerns about the fate of roughly 1,000 workers employed in the logging industry. Detractors questioned the appropriateness of foreign ownership in Brazilian lands for conservation ideals. Additionally, Eliasch's partnership in founding Cool Earth reflects the ongoing struggle to balance environmental conservation with the livelihoods of nearby communities.
Swedish billionaire Johan Eliasch bought 4 lakh acres of Amazon rainforest in 2005. What he did next was unusual
Johan Eliasch bought a logging company to save acres of the Amazon rainforest from destruction. Cool Earth, the charity he co-founded, claims that 99% of the rainforest in its conservation partnership areas remains intact. Johan's conservation efforts have helped protect approximately 2.1 million acres of rainforest and 380 million trees.
Brazil election: Lula, Flavio Bolsonaro face off in tight race shaped by Trump factor
Brazilians are preparing to vote in a tight election between President Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro on Sunday. Lula is seeking a fourth term while Bolsonaro aims to take advantage of his father's legacy. Opinion polls indicate neither candidate is expected to achieve a majority in the first round of voting. Key demographics are divided, with Lula favored among low-income voters and Bolsonaro appealing to wealthier groups.
In 2023, a satellite-image model led archaeologists to 13 previously unknown Amazon geoglyphs, including one 444 metres across
In 2023, a groundbreaking AI model trained by researchers unveiled the locations of ancient geoglyphs hidden in the Amazon rainforest. This cutting-edge technology confirmed the presence of previously undiscovered civilizations, revealing complex human settlements that predate European colonization. Historical sites have emerged due to past deforestation, showcasing how human actions can impact archaeological findings. Researchers aim to investigate these sites further while using non-invasive techniques to safeguard the forest ecosystem.
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Humans may be transmitting hepatitis B virus to Amazon monkeys, raising questions about deforestation and disease spillover
A groundbreaking study has revealed the presence of Hepatitis B virus in wild New World primates in the Amazon. This alarming discovery points to a possible spillover from humans to these animals. Researchers found that the infection rates surged in regions marked by high human activity.
Tiny Tilcayo: What you need to know about the new 1.4-kg cat species discovered after 100 years, initially mistaken for a kitten and fed noodles and rice
Scientists have formally named and described a new wild cat species in Bolivia. This small, slender cat, known locally as Tilcayo, was identified after genetic analysis. Local communities had known about this animal for generations before its scientific discovery. Researchers are now working to understand the population size and conservation needs of this new species. The discovery highlights the potential for further undiscovered species in threatened ecosystems.
In 2005, conservationists tackled Atlantic Forest loss after more than 80% of its woodland had vanished. 13 years later, jaguars in Upper Paraná rose 160% to 105 animals
In 2005, severe deforestation destroyed over 80 percent of South America’s Atlantic Forest, pushing local jaguars toward extinction. Conservationists across Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay responded by restoring wildlife corridors, curbing poaching, and working with ranchers. Their joint efforts paid off. Within 13 years, the Upper Paraná jaguar population surged 160 percent to 105 animals, proving that connected habitats can rebuild fragile wild populations.
Can chimpanzees and apes remember friends after 25 years? Johns Hopkins University study reveals surprisingly human-like social memory
Can chimpanzees, apes and bonobos remember friends they have not seen for decades? A Johns Hopkins University surprising study in 2023 found that chimpanzees and bonobos can recognize former groupmates after more than 25 years apart, revealing remarkable social memories that may be surprisingly similar to those of humans. The team worked with chimpanzees and bonobos at Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland, Planckendael Zoo in Belgium, and Kumamoto Sanctuary in Japan.
Amazon trees kept a rainfall diary in their rings; it shows wet seasons grew up to 22% wetter while dry seasons lost up to 13.5% of their rain
Researchers have discovered that ancient Amazonian trees provide vital climate information through their annual rings. By examining oxygen isotopes in these rings, scientists can identify changes in water patterns. While the wet season has become even wetter, the dry season is increasingly parched. Furthermore, deforestation aggravates these shifts, making forests more prone to fires and diminishing rainfall, underscoring a critical need for conservation in the Amazon rainforest.
Brazilian government commits $617.5M to Amazon ecological investment
Brazil is investing over 3 billion reais to boost ecological projects in the Amazon. This initiative supports sustainable tourism and the bioeconomy. The Eco Invest program aims to attract private investment, with foreign investors playing a key role. This comes as Brazil works towards net-zero emissions by 2050. The country is committed to reducing deforestation despite recent legislative challenges.
Trump's tariff fight with China means trouble for a vast wilderness in Brazil
As the trade rift between China and the United States deepens, Brazilian soybeans are gaining unprecedented traction in global markets. This boom is igniting a wave of agricultural expansion across the Cerrado savanna, where farmers are rapidly converting forests into farmland. This aggressive land use threatens the region's biodiversity, raising serious alarms for environmental conservation.
A corporate deal that protected the Amazon from soy farming starts to show cracks
Brazilian soy farmers are expanding into the Amazon, exploiting a loophole in the Amazon Soy Moratorium that excludes secondary forests. This expansion threatens the rainforest, with deforestation increasing despite the Moratorium's aim to protect old-growth forests. While the soy industry defends the agreement, environmentalists call for stronger protections to prevent further ecological damage and address climate change.
EU delays deforestation ban but discards changes
The European Commission in October proposed a 12-month delay until Dec. 30, 2025 after complaints from 20 EU countries, some companies and countries such as Brazil and Indonesia. EU governments backed the move.
Where is he going? Wandering Joe Biden becomes butt of jokes on the Internet as he walks off into the Amazon rainfores
Joe Biden has become the first sitting US president to visit the Amazon rain-forest.
Deforestation in Brazilian Amazon halved in 2023
Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon fell by half last year as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government strengthened environmental policing. However, clear-cutting in the Cerrado savanna reached a new annual record. Satellite monitoring from the national space research agency's DETER surveillance program detected a 50% reduction in forest cover destruction in the Amazon. On the other hand, the Cerrado, a biodiversity hotspot linked to the Amazon, lost a record amount of native vegetation. The destruction in both regions is driven by farming and cattle ranching in Brazil.
What do COP28, money laundering and the Amazon have in common?
The law enforcement meeting, dubbed "a historic collaboration", is organized by the International Initiative of Law Enforcement for Climate (I2LEC), a joint initiative between the Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates and the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Amazon Forest talks: Leaders of 8 countries meet on protecting Amazon Forest, why is it so important?
Will the leaders of eight countries be able to reach an agreement on combatting deforestation and crime in the Amazon rainforest area?
Brazil's Amazon megaprojects threaten Lula's green ambitions
The BR-319 highway connects Porto Velho to Manaus. It was abandoned in the 1980s after falling into disuse, but the government has shown signs of wanting to repave it to facilitate the export of commodities. Environmentalists and scientists warn that could lead to uncontrolled deforestation in the region by increasing land speculation and giving easy access to land grabbers. After Bolsonaro announced that a section of the road would be repaved, deforestation in nearby areas quickly surged, according to Brazil’s national space agency.
Flying Rivers: The essential lifelines that keep Amazon Forest alive
Flying rivers are crucial for rainfall, and are considered essential to keep the Amazon forest basin healthy. However, in recent years, it has been impacted by deforestation.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro says Elon Musk's Twitter takeover offers "breath of hope"
Elon Musk discussed projects to protect the Amazon rainforest with President Jair Bolsonaro, ministers said, in a boost for the far-right leader who is facing increasing criticism at home and abroad for surging deforestation on his watch. Bolsonaro, who criticizes major tech firms for their efforts to combat misinformation on social media, celebrated the news that Twitter accepted Musk's initial bid for the company.
Deforestation: Why COP26 agreement will struggle to reverse global forest loss by 2030
Saving the world's dwindling forests is essential if we are to avoid dangerous climate change. Forests soak up carbon from the atmosphere and cutting them down releases it. On balance, forests removed about 7.6 billion tonnes of carbon every year over the last two decades. This is roughly 15% of global emissions.
From chocolate to soybeans, tropical forests were illegally cleared to make way for everyday foods
Illegal clearance for commercial agriculture was behind the loss of 4.5 mn hectares of forest.
Brazilian President criticises Leonardo DiCaprio, says actor paid money to set Amazon on fire
Jair Bolsonaro said the actor had funded nonprofit groups that were partly responsible for Amazon fires.
Google integrates Brazil's indigenous territories into its maps
New York, July 2 (IANS) In a bid to prevent deforestation and preserve culture, Google on Sunday announced the integration of Brazil's indigenous territories into its maps.
How making chocolate is adding up to deforestation, emissions & climate change
Demand for cacao is rising so fast that production in West Africa, which accounts for 70% of global output, has been unable to keep up.
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