Rappler's latest stories on biodiversity
Aussie scientists turn to drones to protect sea turtles
Stunning drone footage released by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation shows thousands of turtles swimming in the crystal blue ocean
Nations seek biodiversity accord to stave off mass extinction
'This degradation of nature is unprecedented in the history of mankind,' says IPBES executive secretary Anne Larigauderie
Half-a-million insect species face extinction – scientists
The decline of butterflies, beetles, ants, bees, wasps, flies, crickets, and dragonflies have consequences far beyond their own demise
Biodiversity, autism awareness come together in benefit exhibit
The exhibit will showcase 40 paintings of 22-year old Samantha Kaspar expressing visual art and inspiration from nature and biodiversity
Tubbataha’s Angelique Songco receives biodiversity award
Songco receives the KfW Bernhard Grzimek Prize for her exemplary work in protecting the reef’s extraordinary biodiversity while also meeting the needs of the local population and tourists
Species conservation: Some success, many failures
Ahead of the release of a landmark UN report on the state of Earth's biodiversity, here are some successes and failures in conservation efforts
Lack of tenure, proper gear take toll on Mindoro's tamaraw rangers
(UPDATED) These rangers have devoted their lives to protecting the tamaraws despite lack of tenure, lack of proper tools and gear, and the dangers that come with the job
U.N. biodiversity conference to lay groundwork for nature rescue plan
(UPDATED) The destruction of nature threatens humanity 'at least as much as human-induced climate change,' says UN biodiversity chief Robert Watson
Poachers threaten precious Madagascar forest and lemurs
Madagascar's 9 million hectares of forests are shrinking each year by between 50,000 and 100,000 hectares. A football field is roughly one hectare.
1 million species risk extinction due to humans – draft U.N. report
The report says the accelerating loss of clean air, drinkable water, CO2-absorbing forests, pollinating insects, protein-rich fish and storm-blocking mangroves poses no less of a threat than climate change
5 governors commit to protect Visayan Sea
The agreement seeks to restore, conserve, and protect the Visayan Sea's marine biodiversity
Gabon's unique 'orange crocodiles' intrigue scientists
'When I approached with the torch in the cave, I saw red eyes... crocodiles!' said geo-archaeologist Richard Oslisly. It was only two years later when they hauled one out into the light that they realized it was orange.
In fight vs plastic, 'challenge is changing people's mindset, lifestyle'
A study shows that the Philippines generates 2.7 million metric tons of plastic garbage every year
Greenpeace to DENR: Opening protected areas to businesses leads to exploitation
'We would like to remind the Philippine government that our environment is not for sale,' says Vince Cinches, Greenpeace Southeast Asia-Philippines political campaigner
Palawan pangolin habitat eyed for conservation
The establishment of critical habitats is part of the 25-year strategy designed to safeguard the future of the species
Private landowners vow to protect endangered species in Boracay
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources prods local government units, residents, businesses, and private landowners to work together on a conservation plan that could make demolition orders unnecessary
DENR to identify 'critical habitat' areas in Boracay
(UPDATED) Existing resorts and infrastructure projects would be affected as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources seeks to protect biodiversity in the world-famous island
Land decay to displace tens of millions, global survey warns
Scientists say land decay caused by unsustainable farming, mining, pollution, and city expansion is undermining the well-being of some 3.2 billion people or 40% of the global population
After warnings of species plight: solutions in sight
Experts say it's not too late to halt the rate of destruction of nature, and maybe even reverse some of it
Indonesians arrested for shooting an orangutan some 130 times
The suspects, farmers from the island of Borneo, admit killing the animal, saying it ruined their crops at a pineapple and palm oil plantation, according to authorities
How many undiscovered creatures are there in the ocean?
[The Conversation] Numerous new marine species are discovered every year – yet working out how many species there are in total is a much more difficult process
11 billion pieces of plastic bring disease threat to coral reefs
[The Conversation] A study reveals another significant threat to the world’s corals and the ecosystems and livelihoods they support
Marine scientist calls for stronger action to protect Philippine seas
Marine scientist Dr. Daniel Pauly says that their report has shown that the catch of fisheries across the globe is not only much higher than what is being reported by FAO – it has also been declining in the past two decades.
2017 top science stories: Space 'visitors', smartphone addiction, and your pet dog
What are the biggest stories, discoveries and ideas in science this 2017? The Mind Movers of the Mind Museum list down some of the most important ones from the past 12 months.
Sea turtles' sad fate: From restaurant menus to plastic 'soup'
Plastic ocean pollution is a key item on the menu for ministers from over 100 countries gathering in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi for a 3-day UN Environment Assembly
Sumatra's receding forests pushing tigers to the brink
Deforestation to make way for palm oil plantations is driving critically endangered Sumatran tigers towards extinction, researchers warn
UNEP: 'We need to speed up' on climate change
'The train has left the station, the train is speeding up, but we need to speed up more,' says United Nations Environment Programme head Erik Solheim
Bring politics of biodiversity at same level as climate change – UNEP
'Every other nation [has] accepted the climate message, and we should be at the same place by 2020 with biodiversity,' says United Nations Environment Programme head Erik Solheim at an international wildlife conference in Manila
Menyoal pragmatisme masyarakat Indonesia terhadap laut di Social Good Summit 2017
Sebagian besar masyarakat Indonesia belum menyadari betapa pentingnya menjaga kehidupan bawah laut
Ajak masyarakat ikut jaga kehidupan bawah laut melalui SGS 2017
Manusia merupakan mahkluk yang paling banyak mengeksploitasi kehidupan laut
Chile's Easter Island declares huge marine protection zone
Indigenous people who live on Chile s Easter Island far out in the Pacific vote to create a vast marine protection zone covering an area of 720 000 square kilometers 280 000 square miles around the island
Nearly 400 new species discovered in Amazon
The report by the WWF and Brazil s Mamiraua Institute released in Sao Paulo listed 216 previously unknown plants 93 fish 32 amphibians 19 reptiles one bird and 20 mammals two of them fossils
WATCH: Surviving baby panda closely monitored at French zoo
The first baby panda born in France is now nearly a month old and in good health growing under the watchful eyes of his mother and zookeepers
Local, foreign volunteers help revive coral reefs in Albay Gulf
Local and foreign divers band together to regenerate corals and build artificial reefs in Albay
WATCH: How sharks are killed at Pasay market
Of the country s approximately 200 shark and ray species only two are protected by Philippine laws
Philippines to host international wildlife conference
This is the first time that the Philippines will host a meeting this huge This is the first COP that will be held in the Philippines says Environment Undersecretary Ernesto Adobo Jr
Rappler Talk: Meet the ASEAN Biodiversity Heroes
MovePH s Voltaire Tupaz talks to two ASEAN Biodiversity Heroes on Rappler Talk at 8 pm Tuesday August 8 Bookmark this page to watch the interview
ASEAN region to lose 70-90% of habitats by 2100 – report
The ASEAN Center for Biodiversity releases the second edition of the ASEAN Biodiversity Outlook as it opens its new headquarters in UP Los Baños
Extinction by people, for people and eventually, of people
So far we humans have done such a sweeping job of causing other species to vanish
WATCH: Singapore zoo marks 44th birthday with feast for its orangutangs
The Singapore Zoo celebrates its 44th birthday with a durian feast for its orangutang family who are seen as mascots of the park
Dutch scientists fete rare meteorite find
The meteorite weighing about 500 grams one pound crashes through the roof of a shed in the small town of Broek in Waterland just north of Amsterdam in January
Hope, love prevail in conserving endangered Philippine cockatoo
How an endangered species is being saved by the same community that once hunted it
The story behind the giant shipworm discovery that broke the internet
While locals in Sultan Kudarat Philippines have known the giant shipworm for quite a while the scientific world is yet to understand it
Elusive giant shipworm, oceanic 'unicorn,' finally discovered
The giant shipworm Kuphus polythalamia a rare giant worm like clam is finally discovered in a shallow bay in Mindanao by a team of scientists from the US and the Philippines
Endangered species poached in protected areas – WWF
Species listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species CITES face the threat of illegal harvesting and trafficking in 45 of the more than 200 natural world heritage sites on the planet WWF says
Securing our food now and into the future
It s about time to protect the oceans
Lopez denies her family operates open-pit mine in watershed
Carlo Arcilla who opposes Lopez s confirmation as environment secretary claims First Balfour is doing open pit mining in a watershed in Lobo Batangas
News Briefs: February 27, 2017
Stories from across the Philippines on Monday February 27
New Zealand beached whale crisis 'over' say rescuers
The news comes as a relief for the hundreds of exhausted volunteers who has spent 3 days comforting the stranded animals and keeping them cool while waiting to refloat them on the high tide
Support reef conservation, Palawan gov tells reef-fish-for-food industry
Palawan authorities are cracking down on illegal fishing that destroys coral reefs and imperils the sustainability of the lucrative industry
