From rigs to reefs: turning old oil rigs into vertical reefs
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have published a study on efforts to turn old oil rigs into permanent reefs that could be home to millions of marine plants and animals off the coast of...
Tagged: biodiversity
Microplastics becoming a major problem for mussels
Plastic pollution is potentially threatening the survival of mussels by causing them to lose their grip, according to a new study from Anglia Ruskin University. The researchers from Anglia Ruskin University and the Portaferry...
Genetically engineered forests?
Scientists are exploring whether genetically engineered or gene-edited trees – also known as biotech trees – can counter the threats facing our forests, such as higher temperatures, droughts and pests. But this raises both...
Palau islands build resilience by tackling ‘overtourism’
The tiny South Pacific nation of Palau faced a huge environmental challenge a few years ago. Its people have now shown how even a small country can devise a big-impact strategy to cultivate sustainability....
Scientists warn against seabed mining
Mining on the seafloor could provide a treasure trove for businesses seeking precious and base metals and other resources. But it could also destroy fragile ecosystems that humanity has yet to touch, scientists at...
Historic efforts underway to regenerate Great Barrier Reef
Scientists in Australia are using millions of coral spawn to regenerate the Great Barrier Reef in what is the biggest coral reseeding project in history. The Larval Restoration Project aims to repair the reproductive...
Cod, the climate refugee
If temperatures increase by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius, there is a high probability of losing cod breeding grounds, according to a new study by experts at the Alfred Wegner Institute (AWI) Helmholtz Centre...
UN Climate Change Conference sets the course for International Coral Reef Symposium in Bremen
On December 3, 2018, the UN Climate Change Conference began in Katowice, Poland. The results will also have a major impact on the future of tropical coral reefs. Global CO2 emissions pose a threat...
#NotInMyTank fights palm oil in biodiesel
Environmental NGOs across Europe have launched a new initiative urging the European Commission to phase out palm oil in biodiesel by 1 February 2019. Sixty-nine per cent of Europeans are in favour of this....
World on track to meet conservation targets
Around 15 per cent of the world’s land surface are now designated ‘protected areas’, as are over 7 per cent of the world’s oceans, putting the world squarely on track to meet its conservation...
Epigenetic inheritance helps plants face climate change
Climate change is likely to alter the environmental conditions in many of the world’s regions within a short period of time. Plant species that can quickly adapt to changes are thus becoming increasingly important....
New report unveils extent of human impact on the planet
Human activity is having a devastating impact on the world’s wildlife, forests, oceans, rivers and climate, according to WWF’s latest Living Planet Report. The findings show that the way we eat, fuel and finance...
Calculating the future of cod in the Barents Sea
Together with a Norwegian team of scientists, coastal researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht have developed a statistical procedure that will help predict future cod stocks in the Barents Sea. This new method could sustainably improve...
The Maltese Experiment
Around 475,000 people live on the 316 square kilometres that comprise Malta, an island nation smack in the middle of the Mediterranean. They are now embarking on an experiment in sustainable living that could...
Plastic waste in remote South Atlantic increases tenfold in a decade
The amount of plastic washing up on the shores of remote South Atlantic islands is 10 times greater than it was a decade ago, according to new research from the British Antarctic Survey. Plastic...
Fewer biofuels, more green space: climate action researcher calls for urgent shift
Growing and harvesting bioenergy crops – corn for ethanol or trees to fuel power plants, for example – is a poor use of land, which is a precious resource in the fight against climate...
UN aims to protect ‘Klondike’ of DNA and other marine resources
Fishing, deep-sea mining and patenting the genes of marine life could soon be subject to new international regulations. John Dyer reports. Diplomats kicked off negotiations at the United Nations Intergovernmental Conference on Sustainable Use...
How the forest copes with the summer heat
Between April and August this year, Switzerland and central Europe experienced the driest summer season since 1864. Especially the forest seems to suffer from this dry spell: As early as August, trees began to...
Saving the world one oyster at a time
Oysters are more than a tasty, nutritious food. They’re also a key tool in cleaning ocean water, preventing erosion and rebuilding ravaged ecosystems. John Dyer reports from Boston. In the 19th century, oysters were...
AccorHotels embraces urban gardening
French hospitality giant AccorHotels has announced that it is now using urban food gardens at 600 of its locations worldwide, 26 of which are in the UK. The move is part of the company’s...
