Tanzania Takes Major Step Towards Curbing Land Grabs
From January 2013, Tanzania will start restricting the size of land that single large-scale foreign and local investors can “lease” for agricultural use. The decision follows both local and international criticism that major investors are grabbing large chunks of land…
Forests, Fruit and Fish Could Save Coastal Communities
Faced with the threat of a massive humanitarian and ecological crisis in the coming decades, the government of Bangladesh is no longer willing to remain silent.
Drought, icemelt, superstorms … a review of 2012’s environmental news
A look at the biggest moments of what was a tumultuous year for nature and green politics.
Human Wellbeing Can Strengthen Case For Conservation
The growing evidence linking green spaces to human wellbeing could help strengthen the case for conservation, a conference has been told.
Environmental Uncertainties Halt Deep Sea Mining
The world’s first deep sea mineral (DSM) mining venture in the Bismarck Sea off the northern coast of Papua New Guinea in the southwest Pacific has come to a halt after two years of development.
Deforestation Wreaks Havoc Along Guatemala’s Northeast Caribbean Coast
The province of Izabal along Guatemala’s northeast Caribbean coast is one of the areas with the highest deforestation rates in the country, according to two government studies.
Caribbean Tsunami Risk Overlooked
Deadly tsunamis threaten Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the rest of the Caribbean and are an overlooked hazard in the region, geologists reported at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union last week.
Argentina Making Strides in Protection of Ocean Areas
Argentina is creating protected marine areas at a rate of knots. In the last 10 years, the preservation of saltwater areas has expanded, and for the first time an Atlantic ocean zone is being added to the list.
Does Economic Valuation Really Influence Coastal Policy?
Governments, corporations, and development agencies are increasingly interested in putting a dollar value on ecosystems in order to balance conservation and development needs, a concept known as “economic valuation.”