Indigenous groups win key land rights victory in Brazil’s Supreme Court
Court decides against claims of Mato Grosso state, which wanted compensation for land lost to Indian reserves set up in that Amazonian state by federal government.
Brazil’s Indians on the march in last ditch effort to stop land theft
Indians decry Temer’s backing of “marco temporal,” which could negate legal indigenous claims to millions of hectares in the Amazon and elsewhere, protestors say.
Brazil’s Temer threatens constitutional indigenous land rights
Brazil’s president approves new criteria for indigenous land demarcation to deny Indians their traditional lands; opens door to elite land thieves, agribusiness, opponents say.
Study links most Amazon deforestation to 128 slaughterhouses
Satellites are mechanical reporters of the Amazon deforestation process. By documenting the degradation and gaps created by the clear-cutting process over the years, they deliver the verdict: two-thirds of the…
Thylacine survey: Are we going to rediscover the ‘moonlight tiger’?
The 1980s rock band Cinderella had its biggest hit with the song, “Don’t Know What You Got (Till it’s Gone),” riffing off the age-old proverb. Of course, Cinderella’s song is…
Guatemala declares state of emergency as rainforest goes up in flames
The Guatemalan government declared a 30-day, nationwide state of emergency Tuesday to facilitate efforts to combat and control forest fires. The Maya Biosphere Reserve covering the northernmost fifth of the…
‘A man schooled in the Amazon:’ Q&A with director of new feature film about the fight to save the rainforest
Frontier is a forthcoming feature film by director and producer Matthew Wortman that is being billed as a “modern-day, real-life Western.” It tells the story of John Cain Carter, a…
Palm oil plantations used to ‘reforest’ parts of Brazil despite being wildlife deserts
This red-breasted blackbird (Sturnella militaris) is one of the relatively few bird species that is found in oil palm plantations. Photo by Alexander Lees. It may not surprise you to…
Catch a whiff? Device aims to reveal age, gender, and identity of endangered wolves from the scent of their poop
A Mexican gray wolf waits in a pen before being released to the wild. Photo credit: Arizona Game and Fish Department. Wolves use their noses to track their quarry by…
Indigenous communities in Paraguay threatened by deforestation despite having land rights
An Ayoreo woman in front of a traditional communal Ayoreo house that was abandoned because of bulldozing activity, according to Survival International. Photo courtesy of Survival International. Their children were…
Connecting forests, saving species: conservation group plans extensive wildlife corridor in Panama
Soon, hard rains will hit the steep hillsides of the Azuero Peninsula in Panama, sluicing soil into the rivers and out to the sea. Centuries of slash and burn agriculture…
Featured video: indigenous tribe faces loggers, ranchers, and murder in bid to save their forests
Rainforest in Panama. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler. A new short film, entitled La Trocha, highlights the plight of the Wounaan people in Panama, who are fighting for legal rights…
Brazil begins evicting illegal settlers from hugely-imperiled indigenous reserve
Months after closing sawmills on the fringes of an indigenous reserve for the hugely-imperiled Awá people, the Brazil government has now moved into the reserve itself to evict illegal settlers…
African grass could substantially cut greenhouse gas emissions from livestock industry
Scientists will call for a major push this week to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture through the use of a modified tropical grass. Brachiaria grasses have…
The ultimate bike trip: the Amazon rainforest
An interview with Doug Gunzelmann. Like all commercial roads through rainforests, the 5,300 kilometer long Rodovia Transamazonica (in English, the Trans-Amazonia), brought two things: people and environmental destruction. Opening once-remote…
Controversial changes to Brazilian forest law passes first barrier
An amendment to undermine protections in Brazil's 1965 forestry code has passed it first legislative barrier, reports the World Wide Fund for Nature-Brasil (WWF). Yesterday the amendment passed a special…
Spotted uncontacted native flees, leaving dinner and dish behind
Deforestation threatens uncontacted natives in Paraguay. The man had set up camp and was preparing to cook live turtles for a meal when he was seen by people he did…
Spotted uncontacted native flees, leaving dinner and dish behind
Deforestation threatens uncontacted natives in Paraguay. The man had set up camp and was preparing to cook live turtles for a meal when he was seen by people he did…
Amazon and Atlantic Forest under threat: politicians press to dilute Brazil’s forestry law
A group of Brazilian legislatures, known as the 'ruralistas', are working to change important aspects of the Brazil's landmark 1965 forestry code, undermining forest protection in the Amazon and the…
Wilayah dilindungi yang baru di Brazil berkontribusi atas kejatuhan utama tingkat penggundulan hutan
Wilayah-wilayah yang dilindingi di Amazon Brazil membuktikan tingginya efektifitasnya dalam mengurangi kehilangan hutan di hutan hujan terbesar di dunia, menurut laporan dari sebuah penelitian baru yang berdasar pada analisis tren…
New protected areas in Brazil contribute to major drop in Amazon deforestation rate
Protected areas in the Brazilian Amazon are proving highly effective in reducing forest loss in Earth's largest rainforest, reports a new study based on analysis of deforestation trends in and…