Tootfinder

"Half a million hectares of rainforest were saved — in part thanks to journalism"
#Rainforest #Environment

Half a million hectares of rainforest were saved — in part thanks to journalism
Founder’s Briefs: An occasional series where Mongabay founder Rhett Ayers Butler shares analysis, perspectives and story summaries. In a packed event held in Palo Alto, California, at the end of SF Climate Week in April, Willie Shubert, the vice president of programs and executive editor at Mongabay, shared a compelling example of how Mongabay’s journalism […]

Peru seizes record 4-ton mercury shipment in fight against illegal gold mining https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/07/peru-seizes-record-4-ton-mercury-shipment-in-fight-against-illegal-gold-mining/

Peru seizes record 4-ton mercury shipment in fight against illegal gold mining
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Peruvian customs officials have seized a record-breaking shipment of illegal mercury, exposing a cross-border smuggling network fueling illicit gold mining in the Amazon. The 4-ton haul, discovered in June at the port of Callao, was hidden in gravel bags and bound for Bolivia, officials said on Thursday. Experts say it could […]

And when I'm president we'll all be saying monkeypox again. Happy monkeypox, everybody! Happy monkeypox!

2,000 species at high risk of extinction from natural disasters, study finds https://news.mongabay.com/2025/07/2000-species-at-high-risk-of-extinction-from-natural-disasters-study-finds/

2,000 species at high risk of extinction from natural disasters, study finds
In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria’s assault on the Caribbean island of Dominica in 2017, researchers made a heartbreaking discovery: dead and dying hummingbirds scattered across the forest floor. Among them were purple-throated caribs (Eulampis jugularis), the specialized pollinators of the island’s Heliconia plants. This single storm threatened an evolutionary partnership millions of years in […]

"Study highlights dangers of declaring conservation success too soon"
#Animals #Conservation

Study highlights dangers of declaring conservation success too soon
The IUCN Red List has long been the globally recognized gauge for assessing how close to extinction a given species is. An improvement in the species’ conservation status from a higher to a lower threat category, known as downlisting, can signal conservation success. But a recent study says this must be done cautiously to avoid […]

"Of mushrooms and mycelium: How fungi are powering eco-friendly solutions"
#Mushrooms #Fungi

Of mushrooms and mycelium: How fungi are powering eco-friendly solutions
Often hidden from view, fungi are a critical part of our ecosystems. Some can be eaten as mushrooms; others help trees and forests thrive. But that’s not all: they’re also helping us create low-cost, sustainable housing materials and additional income for farmers, says Gabriela D’Elia, director of the Fungal Diversity Survey and a fungi enthusiast, […]

"Singapore’s regreening is a model for cities everywhere"
#Singapore #Environment
https://

Singapore’s regreening is a model for cities everywhere
Singapore has come a long way since the 1880s, when only roughly 7% of its native forests remained. Since the 1960s, when the city-state gained independence, it has implemented a number of urban regreening initiatives, and today, nearly 47% of the city is considered green space, providing numerous benefits to human residents and wildlife, like […]

"Indigenous divers on Chile’s island restore seabed to protect seafood sources"
#Chile #Environment

Indigenous divers on Chile’s island restore seabed to protect seafood sources
Daniel Caniullán has been diving in the cold waters of the Guaitecas Archipelago in northern Patagonia, Chile, for more than 30 years. “Just by looking at the seabed landscape, you can tell what species you are going to find,” he says. Just as it is possible to recognize the loss of a diverse forest on […]

"Will tropical dry forests survive the next 50 years?"
#Forests #Environment
https://

Will tropical dry forests survive the next 50 years?
In 1978, renowned ecologist Dan Janzen jumped into a ravine in Costa Rica, broke three ribs, and spent the first month of the rainy season watching the tropical dry forest from inside a shack. At night, a simple 25-watt bulb drew in so many moths that they plastered the walls like a live wallpaper. The […]

"World’s smallest snake rediscovered in Barbados after 20-year absence"
#Barbados #Snakes #Animals

World’s smallest snake rediscovered in Barbados after 20-year absence
“I was making a joke and in my head I said, ‘I smell a threadsnake,'” Justin Springer, Caribbean program officer for the NGO Re:wild, recalled. “I just had a feeling, but I couldn’t be sure because we turned over a lot of rocks before that and we saw nothing.” Springer’s intuition proved correct when his […]