Biodevastation

The Western Indian Ocean is a connected ecosystem, with migratory species, shared habitats and coastal communities linking countries across the region. Protecting these systems requires cooperation that extends beyond national borders and finance capable of supporting conservation over the long term. The article examines regional efforts to build sustainable blue economies, strengthen ocean governance and meet the goal of protecting 30% of marine and coastal areas by 2030. It highlights community-led conservation initiatives, the role of the Nairobi Convention and the proposed Western Indian Ocean Regional Conservation Trust Fund as mechanisms for sustaining cross-border conservation and regional leadership.

Rivers are ecological systems that sustain food, livelihoods, landscapes and human settlements. Yet modern development increasingly treats them as infrastructure for dams, water extraction, waste disposal and other demands. Climate change is intensifying pressures through changing rainfall, droughts, floods, rising temperatures and glacier retreat. Pollution from sewage, industry, plastics and agriculture further threatens ecosystems and communities. Advocate Sudhakar Shunmugam examines rivers through the principles of environmental justice, public trust and ecological limits, arguing that development must respect the systems that sustain rivers. Protecting floodplains, wetlands and water quality, while involving affected communities, is essential to sustaining rivers and human civilization.

A cancer-linked pesticide banned in more than 60 countries around the world contaminates an estimated 25% of river and stream miles in the lower 48 US states, including many waterways used for drinking water, according to a new analysis.

Ocean ecosystems are undergoing profound changes as warming waters, declining oxygen levels and marine heatwaves disrupt food webs. The article examines the expansion of oceanic hypoxic dead zones, the decline of gray whale populations, widespread fish deaths and growing pressures on species such as Antarctic krill. It traces how melting Arctic sea ice is disrupting the food chain that sustains gray whales, while extreme heat is causing mass mortality in marine and aquaculture environments. With ocean temperatures continuing to rise and carbon dioxide remaining in the atmosphere, the article considers the shrinking time available to address climate change and its consequences for marine life.

Coral reefs support about a quarter of all marine life and sustain the livelihoods of more than a billion people through fisheries, tourism and other marine industries. Yet rising global temperatures, ocean acidification, sewage and industrial pollution are driving unprecedented coral dieback. The article examines why coral reefs may represent one of the first climate tipping points and the consequences of their decline for marine ecosystems and coastal communities. It also highlights “Super Reefs” that have shown unusual resilience to heat and the work of scientists seeking to identify and protect these surviving coral strongholds, alongside efforts to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.

Hot composting offers a faster way to turn household and garden waste into useful soil. Also known as Berkeley composting, the method relies on heat-generating aerobic bacteria, supported by a careful balance of carbon- and nitrogen-rich materials. With proper preparation and regular turning, a compost pile can reach temperatures high enough to destroy weed seeds and many plant diseases, while processing organic waste in weeks rather than months. Brian Kaller explains the principles behind hot composting, the materials and ratios involved, temperature management, and possible uses for the heat generated. The method also offers practical benefits for reducing household waste and fossil-fuel use.

Twenty years ago, the Gates and Rockefeller foundations launched the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), promising agricultural transformation from improved seeds, synthetic fertilizers, mechanization, and commercial markets. Now, nearly 20 years of data are in, and AGRA’s results fall far short of its promises. They raise fundamental questions about AGRA, the Gates Foundation and their influence on African governments and institutions.

Photographs, storytelling, poetry, and well-documented research unveil the immense suffering, ecological devastation, worker exploitation, and economic injustice caused by the animal agricultural industry.

Scientists are wary of glyphosate. MAHA loathes it. And our yearlong investigation shows California is spraying it everywhere.