Every year on August 19, the world celebrates International Orangutan Day. There’s no better time to celebrate all things related to the tree-dwelling animal. Here are some fun facts about orangutans you might not know about. 

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11 Fun Facts About Orangutans

1. There are three species of orangutans

Bornean, Sumatran and Tapanuli are all species of orangutans. Easily identifiable by their reddish, ginger-tinted fur, the three orangutans species have many similarities including the presence of beards and moustaches in adult males – and for some adult females. However, Bornean orangutans tend to have darker and redder coats and rounder faces. 

2. Orangutans can live up to 60 years

Most orangutans in the wild live up to 30-40 years but some have been recorded to reach the age of 50 years or, in some rare cases, more. The animal also significantly differs in sizes between males and females. Male orangutans can often weigh more than 90 kilograms (198 pounds), whereas females are a third or half their sizes. 

3. Orangutans are the largest tree-dwelling mammals

Orangutans are large apes that share nearly 97% of the same DNA as humans, making them one of our closest relatives. The word “orang-hutan” literally translates into English as “person of the forest.” They also spend 80% of their time in the tree, from climbing, travelling and building sleeping nests in trees. 

4. Orangutans have signature long arms

Orangutans have an average height of about 1.5 meters (4.9 feet). One of the most interesting facts about orangutans is that they have disproportionately long arms that can span up to 2.2 meters (7.2 feet). Their arms tend to be one and a half times longer than their legs, and can be stretched to their ankles when standing. The orangutan uses its long arms to form a secure hook that allows them to travel from tree to tree. Despite spending most of their time in trees, orangutans are semi-terrestrial and walk on all fours when travelling on the ground. 

5. Some male orangutans develop large cheek pads on their faces

Not all, but some male orangutans develop large cheek pads, also known as flanges, on the side of their faces. They’re essentially fatty tissues which are developed when the males are fully matured, at around 35 years old. Apparently, many female orangutans find these flanges to be attractive and take them into consideration when they’re choosing a mate. Males also have a throat sac, which they use to vocalise, locate and advertise their presence to females or warn other males away.

You might also like: The Project Working to Provide a Lifeline For Trafficked Orangutans

6. Orangutans are astonishingly intelligent animals

Extensive research and laboratory tests in the last few decades have revealed that orangutans are a highly intelligent species for their ability to use a variety of sophisticated tools and build elaborate sleeping nests from branches and foliage. Orangutans have been named the world’s most intelligent animals in a study that places them even above chimpanzees and gorillas.

7. Orangutans have incredibly close bonds with their mothers

While most mammals tend to stay close to their mothers during the early stages of their lives, orangutans stick to their mothers for much longer, most at least until the age of seven. Young orangutans will ride on their mothers’s body when they’re travelling and sleep in their nests. During this period, they will absorb all the knowledge Mum has to share including food hunting and how to use tools. 

8. Orangutans have opposable thumbs and toes 

Much like us humans, the great ape’s opposable thumbs and big toes come in handy when they’re hunting for food, and have often been known to make use of tools such as sticks and branches to reach termites and ants out of small spaces. Orangutans eat more than 300 different kinds of fruits, and they’ve learned to use leaves to form a protective glove when handling pricklier fruits. 

9. Orangutans are critically endangered 

All three species of orangutans are currently considered to be “critically endangered” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). There are fewer than 70,000 Bornean, 14,000 Sumatran and 800 Tapanuli orangutans left in the wild. As they’re only found in swamp forests of Borneo and Sumatra, the species is incredibly vulnerable due to increasing harmful human activities. 

You might also like: 12 Incredible Facts About Elephants

10. Deforestation is the largest threat to orangutans

Commercial agriculture such as palm oil, urbanisation, infrastructure and increased land uses have been the biggest drivers of deforestation in the last few decades. Borneo alone is projected to lose about 220,000 km sq of forest between 2010 and 2030, approximately 30% of its total land area. However, the countries of Indonesia and Malaysia have made significant efforts to limit deforestation, and rates of its forest loss have been slowing down. That being, as the effects of climate change worsens, risks of wildfires increases, which poses significant impacts to orangutan habitats. 

11. Orangutans are victims of wildlife trade and tourism

Orangutans have been victims of illegal wildlife trading across the world and a significant amount of the population have been exploited for entertainment as part of wildlife tourism. For example, in Thailand, orangutans have been forced to perform in mock boxing matches, as documented by award-winning photographer Aaron Gekoski, as well as take part in circus-style shows for tourists. 

This article was first published on August 19, 2022.

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Elephants play a vital role in their ecosystems and contribute to tourism and community incomes in many areas. Unfortunately, with only 40,000-50,000 left in the wild, this species is classified as endangered. To celebrate World Elephant Day 2024, an international day dedicated to the preservation and protection of this wonderful animal, here are 12 facts about elephants you might not know about. 

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12 Facts About Elephants You Might Not Know About

1. Elephants are the world’s largest land animal

As the largest land mammal on the planet, an average male elephant can measure up to three meters (13 feet) in height and weigh up to six tonnes. Elephants also have large brains – they weigh about 4-6kg, the largest for terrestrial mammals. Those that live in the wild can grow to be 60-70 years old. 

2. African Elephants and Asian Elephants are the two main species

Aside from their geographical locations, African Elephants are distinctly larger in size with bigger ears shaped like the African continent. Asian elephants, on the other hand, are smaller sized with more rounded ears. The two species also have different trunks: while African elephants have two identifiable spikes at the tip of their trunks, Asian elephants have just one.

Recent estimates suggest there are approximately 415,428 African elephants left in the wild, half of which are located in southern Africa’s Botswana and Namibia, whilst the Asian variety has fallen to below 30,000 individuals. 

3. Asian Elephants are endangered

The Asian elephant is currently listed as an endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, and its population continues to drop with every day. Some estimates have put the 50% population loss within the last 75 years and possibly as low as 20,000 Asian elephants are left in the wild.

They can be found in forested regions of India and throughout Southeast Asia, including Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos, with about a third of Asian elephants currently living in captivity, many of which are forced into wildlife tourism. 

4. Elephants communicate with vibrations through their feet

Here’s one of the most interesting facts about elephants: they can communicate with their feet. There are many ways in which elephants can communicate. They can trumpet call each other –  usually when greeting family members – use body language, and typical senses such as touching and scenting. However, one of the most unique communication methods elephants use is through seismic signals, where they create vibrations in the ground, allowing other elephants to detect and absorb them through their feet and bones. The communication channel can work at incredibly vast distances and speed.

5. Elephant family units are matriarchal 

The matriarch of an elephant unit is typically the oldest and largest adult female member of the family, and they are the ones leading the herd when travelling long distances for food and water. The matriarch is also responsible for providing stability and conflict resolutions. However, members of a family unit have also often displayed extraordinary teamwork when it comes to group defence, food hunting, and sharing the responsibilities of caring for a young calf. 

6. Elephant trunks function as their hands

An elephant’s trunk is more than just a nose for smelling and breathing, and it also functions very much like a long arm to grab food and items, dig through soil and tree trunks, and even play. Elephants also rely on their trunks to consume water. They can pour up to 12 litres of water into their mouths. They enjoy a refreshing shower by sucking up water and spraying it back over their bodies with the handy trunks. There are around 100,000 different muscles in the trunk alone, with the “finger” or spikes located at the end to help pick up small objects. 

You might also like: Rhino, Elephant Poaching Continues to Decline in Africa

7. Elephants tusks are actually their teeth

Elephant tusks are actually enlarged incisor teeth that first appear when elephants are around two years old. These tusks serve several important functions for elephants. They are used for digging to access food and water sources, as well as for stripping bark off of trees. For male elephants, the tusks are especially crucial – they tend to be larger in size and are used in battles to establish dominance within the herd.

8. Elephants are vegetarians 

Elephants are herbivores, with a diet consisting entirely of vegetation. Despite being the largest land mammal on the planet, their entire diet consists of roots, grasses, fruits, and bark. However, it’s the sheer volume of food they consume that helps the animal get to their massive size. An adult elephant can eat up to 300 pounds of food in a single day.

9. Elephants have incredible thick skin

Elephants’ thick hides do not mean they don’t get upset easily, but rather that the animal physically has very thick skin that protects them from the brutal heat and sun. The skin is also extremely dry, and the numerous folds and wrinkles can collect and store moisture when elephants bathe in water and mud.

10. Elephants are highly intelligent creatures 

Elephants are regarded as one of the world’s most intelligent animals, comparable to great apes and dolphins. They have demonstrated the ability to make and use tools with their trunks, experience complex emotions such as compassion and grief, and have shown evidence of self-awareness when presented with a mirror.

11. Elephant poaching for ivory has destroyed 90% of elephant population in the past century

One of the most unfortunate facts about elephants is their relationship with the ivory trade. Ivory, found in elephant tusks, has been an incredibly lucrative industry for centuries, often seen as a status symbol. Due to massive illegal poaching in the 1970s and 1980s to satisfy the demand for ivory, particularly in Asia, around 90% of Africa’s elephant population has been wiped out in the past century. Although many countries have now banned the ivory trade, more than 20,000 elephants are still killed every year to meet the continuing demand in places like China and Japan.

12. Human-elephant conflicts have been on the rise

Due to growing human population density and farming expansion, particularly in countries in Africa, the overlap between human settlements and wildlife habitats has fueled conflicts. From crop-raiding elephants in local farms, which are often the sole source of income for many people, to the degradation of natural habitats due to land development, the conservation of elephants and their ecosystems is greatly needed.

Featured image by EO Photographer: William Fortescue

You might also like: All You Need to Know About the Endangered Asian Elephant

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Plastic has become ubiquitous in our daily lives thanks to its convenience and low prices. But it comes with a cost. Our mistreatment and mismanagement of the material have made it one of the biggest environmental problems of our lifetime. Millions of tons of plastic waste are dumped every year, a majority of which makes its way into the oceans, harming wildlife and ecosystems in the process. Yet 91% of all plastic that has ever been made is not recycled. With negotiations for a global plastic treaty in full swing, we take a look at some shocking plastic pollution statistics, and why it is crucial to take action now to reduce our global plastic consumption and production before it’s too late to reverse the damage.

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8 Plastic Pollution Statistics to Know About

1. The world generates 400 million tonnes of plastic waste a year

The first commercially available plastic product was launched in 1907 but mass production didn’t start until 1952. Since then, annual plastic production has increased nearly 200-fold where today, we produce as much plastic globally as two-thirds of humanity’s total mass. Our reckless plastic use and consumption has driven the world to generate approximately 400 million tonnes of plastic waste each year to keep up with demand, 60% of which ends up in our natural environment or landfills.

2. The US produces 42 million metric tons of plastic every year, the highest in the world

The world’s biggest contributor of plastic pollution is none other than the US, according to a 2021 US congressional report. The country, which is already one of the world’s top contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, generates about 42 million metric tons of plastic waste each year, amounting to 130kg (287 pounds) per person. In comparison, the US produces almost twice as much as China, and more than all the countries in the European Union combined. An estimated 1.13-2.24 million metric tons of that waste is leaked into oceans and the environment every year. 

You might also like: COP27 Sponsor Coca-Cola Increased Plastic Use Ahead of Summit

3. More than 8 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans every year

When plastic waste is dumped into landfills or irresponsibly discarded, significant amounts are leaked into natural environments and at least eight million tonnes of plastic ends up in ocean waters every single year. It is estimated that roughly 40% of the ocean’s surface is covered in plastic debris and if our plastic consumption and behaviour continues, scientists warn that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean as soon as 2030.

4. Ocean plastic pollution on track to rise to 29 million metric tons by 2040

As mentioned, about 11 million metric tons (or eight million tons) of plastic waste and pollution enters the world’s oceans every year, which has detrimental impacts on marine wildlife and the health of ecosystems – animals can ingest plastic, get entangled in them, and plastic debris increases the risk of invasive species to just list a few. A 2020 report found that should no action be taken, plastic pollution is set to grow to 29 million metric tons per year in less than 20 years from now. But scientists in the same report say it is possible to slash 80% of that pollution: by reducing the growth of virgin plastic production, improving waste collection systems, and investing in recyclable plastics. 

Aside from these plastic pollution statistics, you might also like: 15 Ways to Reduce Your Plastic Waste

5. 100,000 animals die from plastic entanglement each year 

Aside from the debris consisting of plastic bottles, containers, and even face masks, between 500,000 and one million tons of ghost fishing equipment – fishing gear that are lost, abandoned or discarded left by fishermen – enters the ocean each year. These equipment are either dumped from fishing boats or washed away from ships and shorelines. As a result, at least 100,000 marine animals die from getting entangled in fishing litter, from either asphyxiation or trapped from travelling for food and are starved to death.  

6. Humans ingests 5 grams of plastic every week

Many marine animals accidentally ingest plastic waste or microplastics, in which larger plastic debris breaks down into smaller plastic particles that are invisible to the human eye. As that plastic travels up the food chain, it is inevitable that humans will end up consuming plastic. According to a 2019 Reuters infographic, humans ingest about five grams of plastic every week – a spoonful that weighs about as much as a bottle cap and equivalent to about half a rice bowl. Combined throughout a year, the amount of plastic we ingest amounts to a full dinner plate. In 10 year’s time, we would have eaten five pounds of plastic and 44 pounds worth of plastics over the course of a lifetime. 

You might also like: Solution for Plastic Pollution: 6 Policies and Innovations Tackling Plastics

7. Plastics set to release more GHG emissions in the US than coal by 2030

Plastic pollution is more than just waste that is discarded and left to rot in the environment, its production is also contributing to air pollution and global warming. In the United States, plastic production is currently responsible for 232 million metric tons of greenhouse gases every year, which is the equivalent of 116.5 gigawatts of coal plants. But the production will outpace coal plants in the country by 2030, according to a 2021 report. What’s more, to produce plastic food packaging and drink bottles, gases need to be fracked from the ground, transported, and processed industrially, processes which contribute millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane, which is considered to be 25 times as potent as carbon dioxide.

8. Covid-19 has added 25,900 tonnes of plastic pollution in the ocean

To mitigate the contagion of COVID-19, single-use surgical face masks, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and plastic bottles of disinfectant have become essential daily needs. Lockdowns and safety measures have also driven up the use of food takeaway packaging. But this extensive increase of plastic consumption has resulted in an estimated 8.4 million tonnes of plastic waste generated from 193 countries since the start of the pandemic, 25,900 tonnes of which – equivalent to more than 2,000 double decker buses – has leaked into the ocean, according to recent research.

Featured image by: EO Photographer Vincent Kneefel

The post 8 Shocking Plastic Pollution Statistics to Know About appeared first on Earth.Org.

Since 1990, 420 million hectares of forest have been lost as a result of human activity including land clearing for agricultural farming and logging. As of 2020, forest cover accounts for about 31% of the world’s total land area. Though the rate of deforestation has decreased over the past three decades, we’re losing thousands of hectares more with every passing day. September 2022 went down in history as a record-breaking month for deforestation in the Amazon, the world’s largest and most important rainforest. Here are 10 stunning deforestation facts you need to know and why we need to protect our forests more than ever. 

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10 Deforestation Facts

1. We lose around 10 million hectares of forest every single year

The world has been chopping down 10 million hectares of trees every year to make space to grow crops and livestock, and to produce materials such as paper. This accounts for about 16% of total tree loss cover. 96% of deforestation takes place in tropical forests. 

2. Deforestation contributes about 4.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year

One of the most stunning deforestation facts is that forest loss contributes nearly 5 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year, which is equivalent to nearly 10% of annual human emissions. NASA researchers found that accelerated slashing and burning methods of land clearing in Borneo, the third-largest island in the world and home to one of the oldest rainforests in the world, contributed to the largest single-year global increase in carbon emissions in two millenniums, driving Indonesia up towards a leading source of carbon emissions. 

3.75 million hectares of tropical primary rainforests were lost in 2021 alone. This resulted in 2.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the annual fossil fuel emissions of India and nearly 10 soccer pitches a minute.

3. Beef is responsible for 41% of global deforestation

The farming industry needs to clear substantial pasture lands for cattle (and livestock) in order to keep up with global demand for beef. An estimated 81,081 square miles of forest land is lost every year for meat production, 80% of which occurs in the Amazon. Developed countries such as the US and China, the latter happens to be the world’s biggest beef consumer, devouring almost one-third of the world’s meat, are some of the biggest culprits of deforestation. But developing countries are catching up and are on track to rise by four times as much as in the developed world by 2028. Many are calling for people to adopt a plant-based diet as a method of combat deforestation, which will also help slash greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural industry and slow down global warming. 

4. Chocolate and biscuits are major contributors to deforestation

Aside from beef production, the palm oil industry is also responsible for a significant amount of deforestation around the world. Palm oil is used in over two thirds of the food products that we consume everyday, from vegetable oil to chocolate to biscuits, as well as in other household products like soap and shampoo. To keep up with the demand, forest land equivalent to 300 football fields is being cleared every hour to make room for palm plantations, destroying important habitats of critically endangered species such as the orangutan and Sumatran tiger. 

Many forests have also been converted into monoculture plantations, meaning planting the same single plant species across the land, which not only threatens biodiversity of the ecosystem, but increases the risks of soil erosion while reducing nutrient content. 

You might also like: How Does Cocoa Farming Cause Deforestation? 

5. Brazil and Indonesia account for almost half of tropical deforestation

And one-third of tropical deforestation happens in Brazil alone. That amounts to approximately 1.7 million hectares each year. Both Brazil and Indonesia are home to some of the world’s largest and biodiverse tropical forests in the world. As the agricultural industry continues to practice land clearing for crop and livestock farming, the threat to biodiversity only worsens. Studies say observed animal populations have experienced an average 68% decline in population numbers. In Borneo, Indonesia, the critically endangered orangutan lost nearly 80% of its population within the last 50 years. 

6. Soy plays a big role in deforestation

While most think of soy in the form of soy milk, tofu and other soybean products that make up a plant-based diet, soy in fact has been mostly used as animal feed and to support the massive demand of meat production. Animal feed makes up 77% of soy production, while only 19.2% goes directly into human food products. Globally, soy is responsible for about 12% of deforestation. Due to the fact that soy only offers one yield per life cycle, soy cultivation requires a lot more land use, where the total area of land used to cultivate soy takes up the combined area of the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany. Seeking an alternative source of animal feed and reducing global meat consumption could both significantly drive down the rate of deforestation. 

You might also like: 12 Major Companies Responsible for Deforestation

7. Deforestation has turned the Amazon Rainforest into a carbon source

One of the most shocking deforestation facts in recent years is that the Amazon, the world’s most biologically diverse ecosystems and important carbon sinks, is found to emit a greater amount of carbon dioxide than it is absorbing as a result of deforestation, wildfires and climate change. According to a study between 2010 and 2018, deforestation in eastern Amazonia has led to greater warming and moisture stress to the forest especially during dry seasons, making it more susceptible to wildfires. Forest fires, in turn, produce three times more carbon than the forests can absorb, creating a negative loop. The study also revealed that the forest emitted about a billion tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, equal to the annual emissions released in Japan, the world’s fifth-biggest polluter.

A recent report similarly found 10 UNESCO world heritage forests have become sources of carbon over the past 20 years due to the same factors, naming the Yosemite national park in the US and the Greater Blue Mountains area in Australia among the affected sites. 

8. No company in the world achieved its net-zero deforestation commitment 

A 2020 analysis found that more than half of the 100 most significant tropical timber and pulp companies have failed to commit to protecting biodiversity and 44% have yet to publicly commit to net zero deforestation (meaning the rate of land clearing is equal to the rate of reforestation or replanting). Out of the companies that have pledged to reach net zero deforestation by 2020, only eight companies were found to have deployed comprehensive forest and land-use management practices but none were able to successfully achieve net zero. 

9. Leading banks financed $119 billion to companies linked to deforestation

One of the most shocking facts about deforestation is that the world’s top global banks and lenders have extended a total of USD$119 billion of financing to 20 major agricultural companies linked to deforestation in just the span of five years. Banks such as JPMorgan, HSBC, and Bank of America were among the biggest investors, backing projects and businesses including Brazilian meat producer JBS to support its cattle and poultry farms. Each of the banks have reportedly struck dozens of funding deals between 2016 and 2020 despite a number of firms having adopted ‘no-deforestation’ policies. There is a glaring lack of monitoring and enforcing mechanisms in the financial sector, allowing widespread land degradation to persist. 

You might also like: 10 Stunning Amazon Rainforest Deforestation Facts to Know About

10. More than 100 countries have pledged to end deforestation by 2030

Despite the current state of deforestation, there is good news. At last year’s COP26 climate conference, a UN summit for world leaders to conduct and negotiate policy agreements on emissions reduction and climate change mitigation, more than 100 countries have joined a pledge to stop and reverse deforestation by the end of the decade. Combined, these 100+ countries make up 85% of the world’s forests. Some of the most notable signatories include Brazil, Russia, Colombia, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The pact will see US$19.2 billion of private and public funds to help combat this global environmental problem, from restoring degraded land and supporting indigenous communities to mitigating wildfire damage.

The post 10 Deforestation Facts You Should Know About appeared first on Earth.Org.

Air pollution is one of the most dire environmental problems in the world right now. Constant exposure to air pollutants poses incredibly high risks of health issues and premature deaths to the world’s population. We believe the first step in tackling a problem is to have knowledge of the issue at hand, so here are 10 breathtaking facts about air pollution. 

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10 Facts About Air Pollution

1. Less than 1% of global land area has safe air pollution levels

According to a 2023 study, just about 30% of days in 2019 had daily concentrations of PM2.5 lower than 15 μg/m3. Moreover, researchers found that about 0.18% of the global land area and only 0.001% of the world’s population had an annual exposure to PM2.5 below the safe threshold of 5 μg/m3.

Eastern and Southern Asia were the regions with the highest air pollution levels, followed by Northern Africa. At the other side of the spectrum are Australia and New Zealand, followed by other regions in Oceania and South America. Here, PM2.5 concentrations are the lowest, though they experienced an increase in air pollution levels over the past two decades, driven partly by intensified and prolonged wildfire seasons. Stricter regulations led instead to a decrease in pollutants in Europe and North America over the same period.

2. At least 1 in 10 people die from air pollution-related diseases

One of the most stunning facts about air pollution is that it is a leading risk factor for chronic health diseases and premature death in the world. In 2017, air pollution was responsible for an estimated 5 million deaths globally, amounting to nearly 9% of the world’s population. Constant exposure to polluted air increases the risk of coronary and respiratory disease, stroke, diabetes and lung cancer. South East Asian countries tend to suffer the brunt of the impacts from outdoor air pollution. Air pollution-related deaths in the region accounted for 15% of deaths globally while rich nations contributed only to 2%, according to data in 2017, demonstrating a glaring disparity between developed and developing countries. 

You might also like: Half of 500,000 Air Pollution-Related Deaths in EU in 2021 Could Have Been Avoided, Study Shows

3. Air pollution is a greater threat to life expectancy than smoking, HIV or war

Air pollution is literally cutting years from the lives of billions of people around the world. According to a 2021 report by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, residents in India, which is home to the highest levels of air pollution on the planet, lose an average of 5.9 years from their lives as a result of poor air quality. Though all top five countries with the worst air pollution are located in Asia, air pollution is a rapidly rising threat in Central and West Africa, where average life expectancy has dropped by two to five years, making it a larger threat to human health than “well-known killers like HIV/AIDS and malaria.”

4. Air pollution has a nearly US$3 trillion economic cost, or 3.3% of the world’s GDP

A report released in 2020 by Greenpeace Southeast Asia and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air revealed the human and economic costs of air pollution from fossil fuels. Air pollution-related deaths are estimated to have a $2.9 trillion economic cost, and was responsible for 1.8 billion days of work absence – lowering participation rates in labour forces – 4 million new cases of child asthma, which causes children to miss more school, increasing healthcare needs and impacting guardians time away from their work, as well as 2 million preterm births in 2018. The report also points out disability from chronic diseases caused by poor air quality cost the world’s economy $200 billion, with sick leave and preterm births costing $100 billion and $90 billion respectively.

5. Death rates from air pollution are highest in low-to-middle income countries

One of the most distressing facts about air pollution is that people living in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia regions are significantly more likely to die from outdoor air pollution than those residing in Europe and North America, where death rates are 100 times greater. Indoor air pollution rates, which refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structure, are similarly higher in lower-income nations due to a reliance on solid fuels such as wood, crop wastes, charcoal and coal, as well as kerosene in open fires, for cooking. About 2.6 billion people in the world continue to rely on this cooking method and are vulnerable to illnesses caused by indoor air pollution. 

You might also like: Air Pollution in South Asia Cuts Life Expectancy By 5 Years on Average: Report

6. Climate change increases risks of wildfires and air pollution from it

Extreme weather events and wildfires have become more frequent and intense as a result of climate change. As drought seasons become more prolonged, as well as growing deforestation rates to make way for agriculture development, so do the risks of wildfires. Large-scale wildfires release carbon emissions, smog and pollutants into the air, which can spread across countries and regions. In July 2021, unprecedented heatwave and wildfires in the western regions of the US and Canada caused cities on the East Coast including New York to be shrouded in smoke and polluted air. Similarly, Siberia experienced one of the worst wildfires during the same period where smog reached to dangerously high levels, forcing more than 280,000 residents to remain at home. 

7. Only 7 countries in the world met WHO air quality standards in 2023

Exceptions made for Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius, and New Zealand, all countries exceeded the annual level last year, Swiss air quality organization IQAir said in its annual report, with several regions recording highly dangerous pollution levels. These include Bangladesh, historically among the most polluted countries in the world and the worst in 2023, with PM2.5 levels more than 15 times higher than WHO standards, Pakistan (more than 14 times higher), and India (more than 10 times higher). Tajikistan and Burkina Faso followed closely.

More on the topic: Mapping the Most Polluted Cities in the World in 2023

8. Particulate pollution in China dropped by 29% within 6 years

Despite China being the world’s largest carbon emitter and the country with the worst air pollution on the planet (with 2013 reaching its highest pollution level) where 1.25 million Chinese residents die early each year from air pollution, studies have shown the nation to have made major progress in reducing air pollution thanks to strict policy action. Within six years, particulate pollution has declined by 29% and dropped below 1990 levels. 

China has also invested more in solar energy than any other nation, representing 45% of all global investment in solar and is expected to generate twice as much power from solar as the US by 2024.  However, currently,  98% of the nation’s urban areas still exceed WHO guidelines and 53% exceed China’s own less stringent national standards. 

9. None of the world’s 100 biggest cities are able to meet WHO’s updated guidelines

One of more recent facts about air pollution: the WHO issued new stringent guidelines on air pollution in September 2021, following new research showing fine particulate matter to be more harmful than previously thought where an estimated 8.7 million people a year die early due to breathing air from coal, oil and gas burning. This accounts for 20% of global deaths.

To push countries to ramp up efforts to improve air quality, WHO’s new acceptable limit for PM2.5 has been slashed by half while nitrogen dioxide (NO2), produced mainly from diesel engines, is lowered by 75%. Based on these new guidelines, no major city is able to meet it according to an analysis by Greenpeace. The WHO says that if the world collectively reduced its air pollution levels to within the new limits, nearly 80% of air pollution-related deaths could be prevented. 

You might also like: What Are the Biggest Causes and Effects of Air Pollution?

10. Air pollution contributed to the spread of Covid-19

A recent preliminary study from Harvard University found a positive correlation between Covid-19-related mortalities and air pollution, adding that there is a plausible association of airborne particles assisting the viral spread. Based on studies observing Covid-19 related deaths and air pollution – noting that Northern Italy is one of the most polluted areas in Europe – the investigation discovered even a small increase of 1 μg/m3 in PM2.5 levels was associated with an 8% increase in Covid-19-related fatality.

The post All You Need to Know About Air Pollution appeared first on Earth.Org.

Coral reefs are the world’s most diverse marine ecosystems. Despite covering only 2% of the ocean area across more than 100 countries, coral reef systems are home to 25% of all marine species. Aside from their rich biodiversity, coral reefs are vital in protecting coasts from erosion and slow storm surges. They are economically significant, too, generating US$2.7 trillion per year in revenue across the food, tourism, and pharmaceutical industries around the world. Yet the health and survival of our precious coral reefs are teetering as global temperature rises and oceans become more acidic, causing widespread coral bleaching across the world’s oceans. We take a look at what coral bleaching is as well as its causes and effects. 

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What Is Coral Bleaching?

Coral bleaching is a phenomenon in which coral reefs expel the microscopic marine algae called zooxanthellae that live in their tissues when under stress – be it heat, ocean acidification, or human activity. As a result, coral tissues become transparent and lose their signature vibrant colours, exposing their white exoskeleton underneath.

While coral bleaching does not mean that the corals have died, it increases their vulnerability to marine disease and starvation, which could eventually lead to mortality. The longer corals are bleached under various stresses, the more difficult it will be for algae to return, making it impossible for reefs to be revived.

Coral bleaching is a natural process that takes place during summers when ocean temperatures are warmer. However, recent large-scale marine heatwaves have led to more frequent and severe mass coral bleaching events around the world, with reefs’ natural recovery processes struggling to keep up. 

One of the best examples of coral bleaching is the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest and longest reef system located off the coast of Queensland, Australia, which covers about 350,000 square kilometres – an area that is larger than the UK and Ireland combined. The stunning coral reef system has already suffered five mass bleaching events in 1998, 2002, 2016, 2017 and 2020. The events in 2016 and 2017 were so severe that it led to the death of 50% of the iconic reef.

According to the most recent report by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN), analysis showed that the world has lost approximately 14% of corals since 2009. Aside from Australia, coral death has been particularly pronounced in regions such as South Asia, the Pacific, East Asia, the Western Indian Ocean, The Gulf, and Gulf of Oman.

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Causes of Coral Bleaching

As mentioned, coral bleaching can be a natural process that occurs due to rising oceans temperatures, particularly during summer seasons and natural phenomena such as El Niño, a quasi-periodic fluctuation in oceanographic and atmospheric conditions that brings in warm water. But worsening mass bleaching events have been brought on and exacerbated by human activities and influence. 

Human-induced climate change has led global ocean temperatures to persistently rise. Within the last century, sea temperatures rose at an average rate of 0.13C every decade. Warmer waters make coral reefs more vulnerable to bleaching outside of summer seasons while impeding their ability to naturally recover. 

Warmer waters and soaring carbon dioxide in the atmosphere also lead to ocean acidification – oceans act as carbon sinks to absorb and store CO2, changing the chemical balance. Today, coral reefs are experiencing more acidity than they have at any time in the last 400,000 years, which reduces the water’s carrying capacity for calcium carbonate for coral reefs to rebuild their exoskeletons.

Changes in sun exposure and coastal development are contributing factors as well. Soaring plastic pollution in particular has been a plague to oceans and marine ecosystems in recent years, where animals mistakenly ingest plastic debris as food and get entangled in abandoned fishing gears. Plastics and smaller plastic particles called microplastics are also impacting water quality, and can suffocate and restrict sunlight access for the reefs. 

Overfishing and our overall damaging practices in ocean-floor ecosystems for coastal development such as dredging, quarrying, and bottom trawling, not to mention sediment pile ups from agriculture, all have a hand in delivering devastating damages and bleaching to coral reefs, too. 

Coral bleaching, however, does not occur equally due to the aforementioned conditions. They are most common in regions experiencing more frequent and extreme heat waves, while areas with more stable temperatures and less heat stress see fewer corals bleached. To use the Great Barrier Reef as an example again, it faces much higher risk of bleaching every summer and mass bleaching events are attributed to the fact that Australia has warmed by 1.4C since the Industrial Revolution, a rate that is faster than the global average.

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The Effects of Coral Bleaching

Coral reefs play a significant role in ocean habitats and the ecosystem for marine life, but based on current temperature rise and ocean acidification trends, scientists have estimated that they could be completely wiped by 2050. 

The State of the Coral Reef 2020 report found that the world lost 14% of its coral reefs between 2009-2018 due to rapid increases in sea surface temperatures, which amounts to about 4,500 square miles or more than the size of all the living corals in Australia. Each mass bleaching event makes it harder for coral reefs to recover and replenish its cover. The 1998 mass bleaching event saw global hard coral cover drop by 32.5%. By 2009, corals managed to recover to a very healthy level. But with each mass bleaching event, coral growth has struggled to match the rate of bleaching and death. 

As coral reefs support 25% of all marine species in the world, a reduced biodiversity of coral reefs could see the elimination of key species. There will be less habitat for the hundreds of thousands of species, threatening their survival and population numbers, throwing entire ecosystems and food webs off balance. 

Worsening climate change brings with it more severe and frequent storms and extreme weather events, producing excessive nutrient or sediment runoff. Without the protection of coral reefs, coastal communities face a higher risk of storm surges as well. 

What’s more, considering the staggering amount of revenue coral reefs generate across different industries including tourism, the loss of coral reefs could cost billions of dollars along with jobs and livelihoods across the world. 

The Future of Coral Reefs

As the Great Barrier Reef faces its sixth mass bleaching event, we urgently need stronger policies and solutions to protect our highly vulnerable coral reefs. We need to give up our dependence on fossil fuels to slow down global warming, which reduces ocean acidification and temperature rise. We need to overhaul our fishing and coastal development practices, on top of tackling ocean plastic pollution, to improve water quality and minimise runoff. Finally, we need far more investment in reef management and conservation, coupled with funding for research into reef resilience.

However, it’s not all bleak. According to the aforementioned report, most coral reefs are hardy enough to recover on their own if the environmental conditions prevail. Global cover for instance has rebounded to pre-1998 levels within a decade. Some recovery was also observed in 2019 with coral reefs regaining 2% of their cover.

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Some coral reefs have also been found to be more resilient than others. The corals in the Gulf of at the northernmost tip of the Red Sea have shown signs to have developed higher thresholds in withstanding warmer temperatures than most corals. A new coral reef in the waters of the southern Pacific Ocean off the coast of Tahiti was also recently been discovered to have been untouched by coral bleaching, offering new hope that many more unknown, and possibly pristine, coral reefs remain in the ocean. 

The post Explainer: What Is Coral Bleaching? appeared first on Earth.Org.

Smart cities around the world have made huge strides in their smart city initiatives and in adopting innovative smart technologies as a way to make their home cities more sustainable and energy efficient as well as minimising carbon emissions.  Here’s how seven cities are doing it. 

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The United Nations predicts that 70% of the world’s population will be living in cities and urban areas by 2050, meaning emissions and energy usage will continue to rise with every passing year. The need for smarter urban transport networks, environmentally-friendly water disposal facilities, and buildings with high energy efficiency are more critical than ever.

This is where smart city programmes and initiatives come in. Incorporating smart technology including the Internet of Things (IOT) – objects that are embedded with sensors for data exchange –  in urban cities not only improves the quality of life of its citizens but also the overall public safety. 

Singapore, Helsinki and Zurich have topped the list as the world’s smartest cities in the 2020 Smart City Index. The annual report, conducted by the Institute for Management Development with Singapore University for Technology and Design (SUTD), ranks cities based on economic and technological data, along with their citizens’ perceptions of how “smart” their cities are. As more international cities join the movement in investing in smart technology, here are seven smart cities that are leading the pack with their smart city projects. 

Top 7 Smart Cities in the World in 2023

1. Singapore

Topping most lists when it comes to smart cities is often Singapore. Since launching its Smart Nation initiative in 2014, Singapore has introduced a wide range of smart technologies in both its public and private sectors. Contactless payment technology has been widely adopted to efficiently direct movement and payments for Singapore’s 7.5 million passengers who use public transports. To help elevate the pressure of an ageing population, a digital health system was introduced – normalising video consultations at the same time – as well as wearable Internet of Things devices to monitor patients. What’s more, Singapore announced in 2021 its plans for a new eco-smart city that is entirely vehicle-free. To be located in Tengah in the western region of Singapore, the planned forest city will be home to five residential districts with 42,000 houses, as well as safe zones for both pedestrians and cyclists. 

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2. Helsinki, Finland

Helsinki has set themselves an aim of going carbon neutral by 2035 and they are proved to be on their way in reaching the goal. Even back in 2017, the city managed to lower emissions by 27% than it was in 1990. Another goal Helsinki is working towards is reducing traffic emissions by 69% within three decades by 2035, with measures like transitioning the entire city bus fleet to electric, and expanding its Metro and electric car charging networks. Since heating accounts for more than half of Helsinki’s emissions, the city is focused on implementing energy-efficiency measures during renovations, which could reduce emissions from buildings by 80%, as well as incorporating more renewable energy use in the city’s buildings.

3. Zurich, Switzerland

For Zurich, it all started with a streetlight project. The city introduced a series of streetlights that adapted to traffic levels using sensors, which increased its brightness or dim accordingly. The project enabled an energy saving of up to 70%. Since then, Zurich has expanded its smart streetlights across the city, and established a greater range of sensory technologies that can collect environmental data, measure the flow of traffic and act as a public WiFi antenna. A smart building management system, which connects the city’s heating, electricity and cooling has been shown to be highly effective as well. 

4. Oslo, Norway

The Norwegian capital is going all in with electric cars and plans for all vehicles in the entire city to go electric by 2025, which is impressive considering its population of approximately 670,000 citizens. Incentives for zero-emission cars have already been put in place, including free parking, the use of bus lanes, and lower taxes and prices at tolls. As part of the city’s target for becoming carbon neutral by 2050, other smart projects are also already well underway in Oslo including zero-emission construction sites and retrofitting existing buildings to develop circular waste management and green energy systems.

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5. Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Amsterdam’s smart city project started in 2009 and features more than 170 different operations across the city. What particularly stood out for Amsterdam is its ability to stay innovative, whether it’s the utilisation of renewable energy for electric garbage trucks, installing solar-powered bus stops, billboards and lights, or constructing floating villages to combat overcrowding and provide an alternative to land reclamation. Throughout the city, thousands of operating businesses and households have already been modified with energy efficient roofing insulation, automatically dimming light switches, smart meters, and ultra-low energy LED lights.

6. New York, United States

Hundreds of smart sensors and technologies have been tested and placed through the different districts in New York City as part of its smart city pilot programme in 2020. The programme amasses data to help manage services like waste management and collection more efficiently. New York has also seen the introduction of smart hubs with contactless technology, WiFi capabilities as well as online charging stations in place of phone booths. Car sharing services are also huge in the Big Apple, which helps reduce total emissions and traffic congestions. As an attempt to culminate more local perspectives and creativity, New York City holds an annual contest – with a generous cash prize –  for apps that best utilise the city’s open data sets.

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7. Seoul, South Korea

Home to Songdo, also known as the world’s first smart city, Seoul’s smart technology campaigns have only gone from strength to strength since launching its initiatives as early as 2014. Data is at the heart of Seoul’s smart city projects. Through the accumulation and analysis of urban patterns such as traffic flow, speed and air quality measured by sensors and CCTV deployed across the city, form a strong basis for a smart infrastructure and services. Focusing the technology towards the city’s ageing population, a safety initiative was launched in aid of senior citizens who live alone. When there’s no movement detected over a certain period of time or if abnormal temperature, humidity, or lighting are picked up by environmental sensors, relevant case workers and emergency services would be contacted immediately. Likewise, Seoul is looking into using the data platform creating an AI detective to flag up potential crime patterns. At the moment, thanks to the 5G network, the Korean capital is also amongst the first cities to utilise 5G technology in mobility and transportation.

Featured image by: Pixabay

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In the past 50 years, the planet has experienced rapid growth of human population, development, and urbanisation, deforesting hundreds of million acres of forests across the globe along the way. As a result, wildlife is losing more habitats and food by the day. According to a 2020 analysis, the sixth mass extinction of wildlife on Earth is accelerating with more than 500 species of land animals on the brink of extinction that will likely be lost within the next two decades. As India is one of the most densely populated countries in the world,  it comes as no surprise that human activity and land development are increasing rapidly. These are just 10 endangered species in India that are under threat and urgently need protecting. 

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10 Endangered Species in India  

1. Bengal Tiger

Bengal tigers account for about half of the world’s total tiger population, 70% of which can be found living in India. Though this big cat is an adaptable animal that can live in various habitats including forests, mangroves and wetlands, and has the ability to cope with hot or cold temperatures, Bengal tiger populations have plummeted over the years. The animal has been endangered following decades of persistent poaching for its skin and body parts, trophy hunting, and severely reduced habitat from urban development. The species now live in just 7% of their historical habitat range, with fewer than 2,000 individuals left in the wild. In a densely populated country like India, human-wildlife conflict is also a contributing factor to its dwindling numbers. 

2. Asiatic Lion

The Asiatic lion is about 10-20% smaller than its African cousins with a larger tail tuft and a distinct belly fold. As the name suggests, the Asiatic Lion was historically native across south-west Asia to eastern India. But now, the species’ entire population can only be found in India and restricted to the Gir National Park and environs in Gujarat. Listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 2010, the Asiatic lion only has about 500-650 individuals left in the country. While the animal is mostly confined to the Gir Forest, many farmers still use crude and illegal electrical fences to protect their crops where lions often get caught up in it. Likewise, nearly 20,000 open wells dug by farmers in the area for irrigation have led to many accidental drownings of lions.

3. Snow Leopard

Much like the Asiatic Lion, snow leopards used to have much larger habitats and prowled across the mountain ranges of Asia. Now, they can only be found in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the western and eastern parts of the Himalayas, with population numbers down to about 500 in India. Unsurprisingly, this drop is the result of human interference, namely animal poaching for its pelt and body parts, and a rapid decline of prey due to increasing domestic livestock, which depletes the high altitude pasture lands. Conflicts between remote communities and snow leopards have also been a threat to the species, as well as hydroelectric and mining projects, which reduces the leopard’s natural habitat. As female snow leopards tend to produce only one to two cubs once every two years, it also makes it harder for the species to recover its numbers. 

4. One-horned Rhinoceros

Also known as the Indian rhinoceros, this animal is mostly found in India and the foothills of Himalayas. One-horned rhinoceros has been heavily targeted for their horns for decades, which allegedly have medicinal properties, and killed as agricultural pests. The population is also impacted by frequent flooding seasons, forcing rhinos to move to higher ground and outside of national parks, increasing risks of human-wildlife conflicts. These factors have consequently driven the population to near extinction at the start of the 20th century, dropping down to as little as 200 animals. But with the help of strict and targeted conservation measures, current population numbers have risen back up to around 3,700 in northeastern India and the Terai grasslands of Nepal, making it “one of the most successful conservation efforts in history”.

5. Blackbuck

Due to severe poaching – hunted especially in the princely states of India for their pelts – and habitat loss, the blackbuck, or Indian antelope, is now one of the most endangered species in India. In 1947, there were around 80,000 blackbucks. But that number had fallen to 8,000 in less than 20 years. Despite conservation efforts that help population numbers go back up to around 25,000, factors such as preying stray dogs – which India has one of the highest rates of – pesticides and moving vehicles all continuing threats to the species. You can find blackbucks in small herds in open grasslands, dry scrub areas, and thinly forested areas across India, and have been introduced in Argentina and the United States to help increase their numbers. 

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6. Lion-tailed Macaque

Endemic to the small and severely fragmented rainforests of Western Ghats of South India, the lion-tailed macaque is a recognisable monkey identifiable by its silver-white mane that surrounds its head. Estimates place the total wild population of the macaque around 4,000 individuals, and is projected to decline more than 20% in the next 25 years should threats like hunting, roadkills and habitat loss persist. These rare primates are mostly shy and tend to remain in the upper canopies of rainforest, which continues to dwindle due to deforestation and land clearing. The species’ easy access to human food is also changing their behaviours, driving the animal to spend less time foraging for food. 

7. Resplendent Tree Frog 

This mysterious frog species was only discovered in 2010 at the highest peak of the Western Ghats, and has a striking orange hue and several big glands covering its body surface. The resplendent tree frog is so rare that they can only be found in the Anamudi summit in Kerala within the Eravikulam National Park. Scientists estimate that there are only about 300 remaining animals and recommend top-priority conservation for this species. 

8. Kashmiri Red Stag

The Kashmiri red stag has been listed as a critically endangered species by the IUCN for decades and is among the top 15 species of high conservation priority by the Indian Government. As a result, the species is now largely restricted within a 141 sq km area in Dachigam National Park. In the early 1990s, the number of red stags was estimated to be around 5,000 but dramatically decreased to about 150 in 1970, and around 110-130 in 2015. Habitat fragmentation, land encroachment for grazing, and very low fawn-female ratio are attributed to be the main causes behind red stag’s population decline. Many ongoing conservation drives are attempting to tackle these issues to help protect this critically endangered species in India. 

9. Nilgiri Tahr

This endangered mountain goat species only has about 2,500-3,000 individuals remaining in the wild. Much like the other animals are on the list, wildlife poaching and habitat loss has led the nilgiri tahr to be contained within the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, covering less than 10% of their former range. But for these mountain goats, climate change is expected to be an even bigger threat. The animal lives in high-altitude mountainous grasslands and rocky cliffs of the Western Ghats, and is projected to become unsuitable habitats for the goats as global surface temperatures rise.

10. Indian Bison (Gaur)

The largest and tallest in the family of wild cattle, the Indian bison is an animal native to South Asia and South-East Asia but one that is severely threatened by wildlife poaching (for its meat, horns and medicinal products), shrinking habitats and food scarcity from the destruction of grasslands. Famously the inspiration behind the branding of the popular energy drink, Red Bull, the bison has unfortunately lost more than 70% of its population in many parts of their range. The gaur is listed as a vulnerable species by the IUCN and is protected by India’s 1972 Wild Life Protection Act, which calls for the reintroduction of native plants and regulation of indiscriminate cattle grazing around areas where the gaurs roam.

You might also like: 12 of the Most Endangered Animals in the World

The post 10 of the Most Endangered Species in India in 2024 appeared first on Earth.Org.

The Amazon Rainforest, often referred to as the “lungs of the Earth,” is facing a grave threat from deforestation. In this article, we present 11 crucial facts about Amazon deforestation that shed light on the alarming rate at which this vital ecosystem is disappearing.

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The Amazon is the world’s largest rainforest – spanning 6.9 million square kilometres (2.72 million square miles) and covering around 40% of the South American continent. Making up half of the planet’s remaining tropical forests, the Amazon rainforest is also one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems and is home to about three million species of plants and animals, as well as one million indigenous people.

Unfortunately, deforestation is threatening the health and future of this important rainforest, not to mention the wildlife and services that it supports. The victory of former president Lula at Brazil’s presidential elections after years of overexploitation under climate-denier Jair Bolsonaro raised hope for the future of the rainforest, but the road to recovery is long and not without obstacles.  

11 Amazon Rainforest Deforestation Facts

1. Over 40% of global tropical deforestation occurs in Brazil 

Globally, we lose about 5 million hectares of forest a year due to land clearing for agriculture and livestock farming, logging activities to produce materials like paper, palm oil and soy production, as well as gold mining. The Amazon rainforest covers land across nine countries including Colombia and Peru, but around 60% of it lies within Brazil. Despite efforts to protect forest land, legal deforestation is still rampant, and about a third of global tropical deforestation occurs in Brazil’s Amazon forest, amounting to 1.5 million hectares each year. 

2. Beef production is the biggest driver for deforestation in the Amazon

The global demand for beef continues to rise. Though the US and China are currently the world’s top beef consumers – they’re responsible for almost a third of global meat consumption – developing countries are on a trajectory to consume four times as much by 2028. An estimated 81,081 square metres of forest land is lost every year for meat production, 80% of which occurs in the Amazon. In the period between August 2018 to July 2019 alone, the Amazon lost over 3,800 square miles, which is equivalent to over 1.8 million football fields, for expansions of pasture for beef production.

3. Gold mining in the Amazon is on the rise

One of more worrying facts about Amazon rainforest deforestation is that gold mining projects have increased across the wider Amazon region in recent years, especially along the Guiana Shield, as the global gold market steadily grows. Mining projects occur deep in the forests and degrade crucial habitats, posing significant risks of water contamination from toxic leaks and soil erosion. Gold mining activities often spreads into protected areas, such as Indigenous Lands and Conservation Units. Studies have also found that gold mining poses detrimental impacts on the health of the forest and limits their regrowth, where forest trees are discovered to have a lower capacity to accumulate carbon, and costing an estimated 2 million tons of forest carbon. 

4. Soybean production is a growing threat

Soybean production is responsible for about 12% of global deforestation, which is mainly used as animal feed and to support the massive demand of meat production. Despite the rising popularity of soy milk, tofu and other soybean products, only 19% of soybean production goes into human food products. Brazil currently accounts for around one-third of global soybean production, where in 2018, the country produced 118 million tonnes of soy to support its massive meat production. 

5. The Blue Macaw is one of the many species under threat

The Hyacinth Macaw, also known as the Blue Macaw, is native to the Amazon. But the species’ natural habitats and resources grow smaller and smaller every day with illegal logging, agricultural land clearing and urban development. Today, it exists only in small areas including central Pará, the epicentre of deforestation, which saw 203,460 hectares deforested in 2019. While the strikingly blue parrot is currently classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), they are at the precipice of becoming endangered. 

Likewise, Milton’s Titi, an incredibly rare primate that was only first discovered in 2011, and can found only in a small area of lowland rainforest between the Roosevelt and Aripuanã River in the Amazon. As these monkeys cannot swim well or cross mountainous terrain, the live exclusively on treetops and can only remain in this specific area. Due to rising deforestation, the region lost 3,130 hectares of land in 2019, which could prove fatal for the survival of the species. 

You might also like: 12 Major Companies Responsible for Deforestation

6. Deforestation has turned the Amazon Rainforest into a carbon source

The Amazon rainforest is a natural carbon sink and provides one of the greatest services for the planet: absorbing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Its ability to do so is crucial in our fight against the climate crisis. Yet, as a result of persistent deforestation and a sharp increase in wildfires, the Amazon has been converted into a source of carbon, and is found to emit a greater amount of carbon dioxide than it is absorbing. Forest fires produce three times more carbon than the forests can absorb, thus creating a negative loop. The study also revealed that the forest emitted about a billion tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, equal to the annual emissions released in Japan, the world’s fifth-biggest polluter.

7. Deforestation rates rose sharply under Bolsonaro’s presidency

One of the most startling facts about Amazon rainforest deforestation is that since the President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro took office in January 2019, deforestation rates have soared to record high levels. According to data from both the Brazilian government and Imazon, an NGO that independently tracks forest destruction, deforestation is distinctly higher under the Bolsonaro administration than at any time during Brazil’s two previous presidencies. 

The right-wing former military officer has no qualms in deforestation and openly calls for mining and logging in Indigenous territories. Despite speaking out against “illegal deforestation”,  Bolsonaro’s administration has been reducing budgets for law enforcement, forgiving fines for illegal deforestation, and rolling back laws restricting forest clearing. In response to his reckless attitude on deforestation, multiple complaints have been filed against Bolsonaro at the International Criminal Court, accusing him of crimes against humanity for his assault on the Amazon, undermining Indigenous rights, and inciting incursions and violence through calls for mining and land development. 

The recent victory of former President at Brazil’s 2022 presidential elections marks a turning point on environmental issues and sparks optimism on the fight against climate change and the future of the Amazon.

You might also like: 10 Deforestation Facts You Should Know About

8. Up to 47% of Amazon Rainforest is at risk of collapse by mid-century

An analysis of the evidence for five drivers of water stress in the region and critical thresholds that risk triggering the system’s collapse published in February 2024 concluded that between 10% and 47% of Amazonian forests are at risk of collapsing by 2050.

“The region is increasingly exposed to unprecedented stress from warming temperatures, extreme droughts, deforestation and fires, even in central and remote parts of the system,” the study, published Wednesday in the scientific journal Nature, read, adding that crossing potential critical thresholds – or tipping points – might trigger “local, regional, or even biome-wide forest collapse” and knock-on effects for regional climate change.

“Once we cross this tipping point, we will lose control of how the system will behave,” said ecologist Bernardo Flores of the University of Santa Catarina in Brazil, lead author of the report. “The forest will die by itself.”

9. Indigenous communities are key to protecting the rainforest

Indigenous territories and communities play a big role in protecting the Amazon’s biodiversity and unlocking the carbon potential of forest trees and soil.  Indigenous people not only have the incentives to protect their homes, but they have boundless knowledge of the lands and best practices for conservation efforts. Studies have found that Indigenous lands are effective buffers against deforestation and while other research saw providing Indigenous Peruvians with smartphones and satellite data has helped overall reduction of tree cover loss in the Amazon. But these efforts are under increasing threat as the current Brazilian government is pushing legislation through Congress that will make it harder for new Indigenous lands to be established and potentially allowing the government to repossess existing lands.

10. The EU is banning food imports from deforested areas

Here’s one of the few encouraging facts about Amazon rainforest deforestation: the European Union is moving to ban six agricultural and food commodities linked to areas of deforestation to help protect the world’s most vulnerable forests including the Amazon. Should the legislation pass, European companies would be required to prove that products they sell did not contribute to legal and illegal deforestation or forest degradation.

11. More than 100 countries, including Brazil, pledged to end deforestation by 2030

At the COP26 UN climate summit, more than 100 countries committed to halting and reversing deforestation by 2030. And much to the surprise of many, Brazil –  despite President Bolsonaro being notably absent at the conference – joined in the pledge. However, many environmentalists are skeptical about Bolsonaro’s commitment in light of his track record and disregard for environmental governance. Though there have been recent efforts to increase forest protection, including hiring 700 more environmental enforcement agents and the allocation of greater funding to the country’s environmental protection bodies, Brazil’s commitment to end deforestation remains to be seen. 

You might also like: World Is Not On Track to Meet Global Deforestation Pledge Goal by 2030: Study

Despite slower forest destruction rates throughout 2021, the vital goal set out by the Deforestation Pledge to end and reverse global deforestation by the end of the decade will be missed without urgent action, according to the recently published Forest Declaration Assessment.

The post 11 Amazon Rainforest Deforestation Facts to Know About appeared first on Earth.Org.

In September 2021, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, a government agency dedicated to the conservation, protection, and enhancement of wildlife and its habitat, declared 23 birds, fish, and other species to be extinct, and proposed to remove them from the 1973 Endangered Species Act. Experts believe these species have passed the point of recovery. The 1973 Endangered Species Act is the country’s most effective law in protecting at-risk species from extinction, with a success rate of 99%. However, persistent human activity including land conversion for agriculture and development purposes, pollution, and climate change makes it difficult for species already listed as endangered, as well as other vulnerable species, to recover and stay protected. These are just 10 of the most endangered species in the US. 

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Endangered Species in the US

1. Red Wolf

Identifiable by its reddish fur behind their ears, neck and legs, the red wolf is the world’s most endangered wolf with only 15-17 individuals left. Once common in eastern and south central regions of the US, the red wolf was listed as a species “threatened with extinction” under the Endangered Species Preservation Act in 1967, after population numbers have dropped significantly due to decades of human activity including gunshots and vehicle collisions. Under the Act, the US Fish and Wildlife Service reintroduced them in eastern North Carolina to help conserve and recover the rare species.

2. Florida Panther

As the name suggests, the Florida panther is native to the state of Florida, where the remaining 100-180 individuals continue to roam in the wild. However, the wildcat, once ranged throughout the southeastern United States, now survives only in a tiny area of South Florida as a result of habitat destruction and widespread urbanisation to accommodate the growing human population. Inland development such as roads and highways also pose a danger to panthers attempting to cross the land. Since 1967, the Florida panther has been listed as an endangered species. The panthers can be spotted in forests, prairies, and swampland such as the Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve. 

3. The Florida Manatee

The Florida manatee. Photo: The US Fish and Wildlife Service/Flickr

Florida is also home to another notable US endangered species: the manatee. In 1967, the manatee was among the first wildlife species to be protected under the newly-created Endangered Species Preservation Act. Thanks to decades of conservation efforts, manatee numbers have recovered to the point where the US Fish and Wildlife Service decided to de-list the species from endangered in 2017. However, recent water pollution from industry and urban development has heavily impacted its ecosystem, killing off seagrass beds – manatees’ main source of food – have led to the deaths of at least 881 manatees in Florida since the start of 2021 , far exceeding the annual average of 578 deaths between 2015 and 2020, in an occurrence  in which The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is calling an “unusual mortality event.” Scientists and environmentalists are arguing for the species to be considered endangered again. 

4. Loggerhead Sea Turtle

The Loggerhead sea turtle first joined the endangered species list in 1978 following population decline from the destruction of its beach nesting habitats and overharvesting of its eggs. The turtles are also common victims of bycatch in commercial fishing and trawling. As 95% of its US breeding population is located in Florida – though they can be also be found in South and North Carolina, and the Alabama coasts in the Gulf of Mexico – loggerhead sea turtles were heavily impacted by the development boom there, especially in recreational beach activities in which the Sunshine State is famous for. With decades of dedicated conservation efforts, the species managed to increase 24% of its population number between 1989 and 1998, with an estimated total of more than 100,000 nests each year. 

More on the topic: 7 Interesting Facts About Sea Turtles

5. California Condor

Though the bald eagle is the most recognisable bird of the prey in the US, the California condor is the largest known wild bird in North America. But it was all but extinct in the 1980s with only about six individuals left in the wild. The staggering number was a result of lead poisoning, where birds often accidentally ingest bullet fragments left in animal carcasses, and reduced eggshell thickness – which prevents the species to repopulate – from consuming pesticide DDT. The remaining six condors were then captured for an intensive breeding recovery programme, which helped boost population numbers up to 223 by 2003. 

6. Mississippi Gopher Frog

It’s estimated that there are fewer than 100-250 dusky gopher frogs left in the US, all of which can only be found in the state of Mississippi, from stump holes and burrows in longleaf pine forests – though 98% of America’s native longleaf-pine forest has since been destroyed – to isolated wetlands. The frogs lay eggs in shallow ponds that easily dries up for several months of the year, which deters fish from ingesting them. The amphibian was listed as an endangered species in 2001, where the US Fish and Wildlife Service designated over 7,000 acres of protected critical habitat in Mississippi and Louisiana to help its population recovery. 

7. San Joaquin Kit Fox

San Joaquin kit fox. Photo: Carley Sweet/USFWS/Flickr

San Joaquin kit foxes are about 51 cm long with​ big conspicuous ears, and are the smallest foxes in North America. As the name suggests, the fox inhabited much of California’s San Joaquin Valley prior to 1930 but like most endangered species, they’ve been threatened by extensive habitat loss and land conversion for agriculture and cities, as well as rodenticides in soil, which are crucial to kit fox burrows and denning. By 1979, less than 7% of the valley’s original wildlands remained undeveloped. Though it was listed as an endangered species in 1967, the kit fox population remains fewer than 7,000. 

8. Franklin’s Bumblebee

The Franklin’s bumblebee has not been sighted since 2006. One of the rarest bumblebees in the US, the species can only be found between southern Oregon and northern California. Population numbers have plummeted since 1998 due to habitat loss, widespread use of agricultural pesticides, as well as diseases transported through commercial greenhouses. Though the species is only listed as a “species of concern” with no conservation measures currently in place, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) described the bee as “imperilled”, stating that the species’ population has dropped to dangerously low levels.

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9. Black-Footed Ferret

Black-footed ferret. Photo: J. Michael Lockhart/USFWS/Flickr.

This adorable member of the weasel family is an animal that not only has black feet, but a black face mask and a black-tipped tail as well. Black-footed ferrets are the only ferret species native to the Americas and depend exclusively on prairie dog burrows for food and shelter. Conversion of native grasslands to agricultural land, widespread prairie dog eradication programmes, and non-native disease have all reduced black-footed ferret populations to less than 2% of their original range. Since falling under the protection of the Endangered Species Act in 1967 and captive breeding programmes, the black-footed ferret has recovered to close to 340 individuals in the wild. 

10. Lange’s Metalmark Butterfly

Lange’s metalmark butterfly is one of the most endangered species in the US and has been protected since 1976. They can only be found in the Antioch Dunes at the southern end of San Francisco Bay. The population of the butterfly has dived to just 45 in 2006, compared to its 250,000 in historic times because of habitat loss and degradation, the mining of sand for bricks, and the invasion of non-native plants.  Currently, there are only about 150 individuals remaining.

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