Latest news with #Mongabay
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Government faces outcry over construction of massive 'engines of violence': 'These projects are fraudulently marketed'
A massive industrial development is underway in Indonesia — and it's threatening to displace Indigenous communities and destroy vital rainforests in the name of "green" energy. According to Mongabay, Indonesia and state-owned Malaysian companies are teaming up to build Southeast Asia's largest hydroelectric project in North Kalimantan — a remote province on the island of Borneo, the third largest island in the world. The $20 billion plan includes clearing massive amounts of forests for five dams, expected to generate 9,000 megawatts of electricity to power a sprawling new industrial park. Kalimantan Industrial Park Indonesia is positioned as a future global hub for electric vehicle battery and solar panel manufacturing. But critics warn the dams are already causing harm. One village of around 28 families has already been relocated, and over 500 families face removal as deforestation and construction continue. At a national forestry policy meeting last year, Indigenous leaders and environmental groups warned that locals were not properly informed or consulted, despite government claims that the project reflects the shared vision of all "stakeholders." "Finding fish and animals has already become difficult," Yusmarang, a member of North Kalimantan's Punan Indigenous community, told Mongabay Indonesia. Yusmarang was among those forced to leave his homeland. In 2007, the governments of Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia (three of the countries in Borneo) signed the Heart of Borneo initiative and pledged to conserve nature on the island. But plans for the new dams include flooding more than 600 acres of Kayan Mentarang National Park — the largest unbroken stretch of protected rainforest on the island and home to over 500 types of orchid and hundreds of rare animal species like clouded leopards, Borneo elephants, and sun bears. While these hydro projects count toward international clean energy goals, environmental groups argue they come at a steep cost. Dams can trigger the "forcible displacement and deforestation of high-conservation-value forests," Mongabay Indonesia reported. Do you think governments should ban the production of gas-powered lawn equipment? Absolutely Yes — but not yet I don't know Heck no Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Clearing these forests stops trees from being able to absorb polluting gases and releases stored carbon, which will encourage temperatures to creep up and increase the risk of extreme weather patterns. In Borneo, these forests are also biodiversity hotspots. Their destruction erases crucial habitats and food sources for rare species, and it could even hinder future medical discoveries. What's more, dams disrupt river ecosystems. As submerged vegetation rots, it produces methane — a potent planet-warming gas. Dams also fragment water flows and disrupt aquatic migration. The project raises the question: Is the energy gain worth the environmental and human cost? On the 28th International Day of Action Against Dams in March, communities impacted by dam projects, including those along the Mentarang River, called them "engines of violence, displacement and destruction," per the World Rainforest Movement. "These projects are fraudulently marketed as green energy, as they ravage rivers, forests and Indigenous communities," the statement continued. Moving forward, environmental and community leaders can look to Brazil and the Amazon rainforest as a recent example of successful deforestation reduction, with a reduction of over 80% of clearing activity achieved between 2000 and 2010. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Scroll.in
4 days ago
- General
- Scroll.in
Nepal's sacred tradition of burning sang incense could wither away
In Bhraka village of western Nepal's Manang district, 72-year-old Buddhist nun Tashi Lama sits in silence, chanting as she turns her prayer wheel. Ever since she took her vows at 25, her mornings begin with prayers and the lighting of sang, a sacred incense made from dried branches and leaves of black juniper (Juniperus indica) and wild wormwood (titepati) among others. 'Lighting sang purifies our environment. It's something we do every day wishing that peace prevails in the world,' Lama told Mongabay. 'Its cedar-like scent evokes calm and hope.' Like Lama, thousands of Buddhists in Nepal's Trans-Himalayan regions such as Manang and Mustang, and those with roots to the area residing around the world light the sang as part of a sacred tradition at the break of dawn wherever they are. However, the sacred tradition which has been going on for centuries is under growing threat from overharvesting, tightening conservation regulations and a warming global climate. At the centuries-year-old Kagyu Monastery in Bhraka – situated at an elevation of 3,475 metres (11,400 feet) above sea level – 48-year-old caretaker Karma Chhiring Gurung, also begins his day by lighting the incense. 'Our ancestors taught us that God will be happy and satisfied if we light sang, and we have been doing it ever since,' he told Mongabay. Black juniper, locally known as dhupi, trees grow only between 3,600 metres-4,800 metres (11,800-15,750 ft) above sea level in Nepal, China, Bhutan, India and Pakistan. Although the global conservation authority IUCN classifies the species as ' least concern ' it warns that, in Nepal, subpopulations of the species face the dual challenge of fragmentation and exploitation for incense and firewood. To address these challenges, communities have long designated areas for leaf collection so that plants in specific areas get time to regenerate. This means that collecting leaves within the village bounds is prohibited. Lama and other residents hike to areas such as Tanke to gather leaves for their personal use. But all that is changing, mainly due to migration and demand for the leaves outside of Manang, Nepal's least populated district with just 5,658 residents (0.019% of the national population, 2021 census). Residents continue to leave behind the villages to move to cities such as Pokhara, Kathmandu and Chitwan for better opportunities, but they take with them their reverence for sang and their religious beliefs. Those who have left their ancestral lands, continue to burn sang wherever they go, be it in Nepal or abroad. In addition to this, residents gift sang as a token of love from Manang to their relatives when visiting them. 'Devotees prefer sang from Manang as it has superior quality and aroma,' said 54-year-old Karma Chhiring Ghale. Jandhen Gurung, 82, who now lives with her daughter after her sons left the village, often travels to Kathmandu and prepares sang by collecting, sun-drying and grinding it for these trips. 'The day is not complete without burning the sang, even in the city, I burn sang. I consider it as a gift for relatives. It cheers me up.' As of April, around 4,490 kg of juniper leaves have legally been collected this fiscal year – which ends on July 15 – from Manang. In 2023-'24, the figure stood at 5,000 kg and, in the previous two years, 1,593 kg and 1,488 kg respectively. The uptick in demand for juniper leaves in Manang, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP). To discourage overharvesting, conservation area authorities now issue permits to collect juniper leaves. Under the prevailing rules, each person is allowed to collect only 10 kg of juniper leaves every year for household use. The rules don't allow collection of leaves for commercial use. Rabin Kadariya, chief of ACAP, says that his office came up with the rules recognising the value of the plant to the local community, but it must not be exploited commercially. 'We increased the quota per person from 3 kg to 10 kg after discussions with local communities,' he adds. Former Bhakra ward chair Karma Gurung was once detained by ACAP for allegedly exceeding the 3 kg limit before the rule change. 'We needed more. That's why I advocated to increase the quota to 10 kg,' he says. Even with the rules in place, 'outsiders' are illegally harvesting and selling juniper leaves, says Karma Chhiring. All this is happening as researchers warn that a warming global climate could have devastating impacts on the Himalayan region and its flora and fauna. Of particular concern to scientists is the prolonged winter drought in the region. This year, Manang witnessed snowfall only after the end of the winter season in April, raising concerns about long dry spells and their impact on vegetation. 'Plants take longer to recover when it is dry,' explains Kadariya. Kadariya's statement is corroborated by a 2024 study on juniper in the central Himalaya. The authors of the study suggest that with the increase in droughts, which can be attributed to climate change, are likely to increase the vulnerability of juniper shrubs. Despite difficult environmental conditions, a 2020 study found, juniper shrubs continue to regenerate effectively, due to its deep roots and ability to withstand dry, rocky soils. However, the study also warns of overexploitation. While local religious use may not threaten its survival, commercial harvesting could.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Report uncovers disturbing truth behind monkeys sold for 'corrupt' industry: 'There can be no dispute'
A groundbreaking report from Sandy River Research asserted that large swaths of so-called "captive-born" macaques from Southeast Asian breeding facilities might actually be poached wild monkeys. Endangered long-tailed macaques, native to Southeast Asia, have likely been poached and sold en masse to U.S.-based research facilities. According to Mongabay, Cambodia exported captive-born monkeys for biomedical research purposes during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the numbers reported by these breeding facilities don't add up. In 2022, Cambodia's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries reported over 73,000 captive macaque births in just one month. This is way outside the norm. Mongabay reported that, just two years prior, the total population in these facilities was a little over 69,000. Sandy River suggested that wild monkeys have been captured and sold to breeding facilities, which then forge the birthing rates on official records. Cambodia's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries refuted Sandy River's claims. However, an anonymous poacher told Mongabay that he's been catching and selling long-tailed macaques to middlemen who bribed authorities and transported them to breeding farms in Cambodia and Vietnam. "There can be no dispute that the deficit has been filled by macaques obtained illegally and likely laundered into and out of the K-F site [monkey farm] for export for many years," Sandy River said. This is about more than long-tailed macaques. The anonymous poacher told Mongabay that he's encountered fewer monkeys each year. Though that evidence is anecdotal, long-tailed macaques are already an endangered species. Due to deforestation and trade demand, their population has declined by about 40% in the last 40 years. When a species declines or goes extinct, its ecosystem can be thrown out of balance, harming biodiversity. Humans across the world depend on biodiversity for fresh water, reliable food systems, and about half of modern medicines, according to the World Health Organization. If this report is correct, it seems that the biomedical research industry fuels this illegal trade of endangered species for animal testing. Do you think we use too much plastic in America? Definitely Only some people Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Lisa Jones-Engel, a primate scientist with PETA, said in an email to Mongabay that the biomedical research industry is clearly complicit in supporting "a transnational criminal network that illegally sources wild primates for the violent and corrupt international primate trade." Sandy River suggested that global authorities suspend primate imports until Cambodia and Vietnam can provide proper legal documentation. It also recommended more thorough law enforcement. So far, these actions have not been taken. If you would like to help on an individual level, you can try donating to causes that support endangered species, like the World Wildlife Fund. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New technology revolutionizes the way countries are fighting deforestation: 'The better the chances of taking preventive action'
A forest monitoring platform, Ground (GTID), has launched in Indonesia to fight deforestation by making it easier to track the legality of commodities like palm oil, timber, and other forest-risk products. This comes at a time when Indonesia is reportedly ramping up its efforts to mitigate forest-risk products as the European Union Deforestation Regulation is set to be enforced at the end of the year. The tool will "make it easier to track where supply chain irregularities begin, especially in remote or hard-to-access areas," according to Mongabay. Denny Bhatara, the senior campaigner at Kaoem Telapak, explained that "many incidents occur that we might not be aware of due to distance or a lack of reporting mechanisms. Through GTID, we gather all field-based documentation and compile it into a unified system." The data is then presented in a "bottom-up method," ensuring that there's real-time, verifiable data collection that helps authorities decide whether the deforestation is unlawful and act before environmental damage occurs. "Sometimes, by the time we receive information from remote areas, the damage has already become massive and widespread," Bhatara told Mongabay. "[So] the faster we can share information, the better the chances of taking preventative action." The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimated that 10 million hectares of the forest are subject to deforestation every year. One report has showcased that oil palm plantations have driven extensive deforestation in Indonesia alone for the past two decades. Three million hectares of Indonesia's forest have suffered from the extraction of these commodities. Deforestation is responsible for ecosystem annihilation, a reduction of emission captures to mitigate planet-harming pollution, food insecurity, among several other harms to human communities. In tracking down the cause of significant deforestation through Indonesia's tool, the ability to bar illegal and environmentally damaging trade grows. As Diah Suradiredja, the coordinator of the national dashboard, put it for Mongabay, "GTID is crucial for verification to prevent conflict-ridden products from being exported." Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mastermind of gold smuggling ring faces serious penalties after investigators track down mining operation: 'We have to step up the fight'
A sprawling criminal operation smuggling illegal gold from the Brazilian Amazon into Venezuela is making headlines and drawing renewed calls for action. As reported by Mongabay, Brazilian authorities recently uncovered an elaborate gold trafficking network that bypassed increased domestic enforcement by laundering gold abroad. The organization, known as Flygold, allegedly trafficked at least 1 ton of gold in just over a year — hidden in thermoses, carried in suitcases, and even flown out by private jets. At the center of it all was Adriano Aguiar de Castro, long known to investigators as a master of gold laundering. He's now accused of coordinating the collection and shipment of illegal gold from mining hot spots such as Pará to Venezuela's capital, where it was likely funneled to companies with ties to international tech supply chains. This new strategy of laundering gold across borders underscores how enforcement in one country can push illegal operations into others. "We can see very clearly that the sector has been restructured," said Raoni Rajão, a researcher at Minas Gerais Federal University. "The laundering of this ore may be taking place outside the country, in places with more lenient legislation." Illegal gold mining has had a devastating impact on the Amazon. Beyond deforestation, it has contaminated rivers with mercury and put Indigenous communities at risk. Brazil has fought back with new digital invoice rules and tighter border controls. Gold exports have dropped 29%, and mining activity in the Amazon has slowed. But with smuggling routes growing more sophisticated and crossing into organized crime territory, experts say stronger international cooperation is essential. "This gold is coming out from another corner," said Rodrigo Magalhães de Oliveira of Brazil's Federal Public Ministry. "We have to step up the fight." To protect the Amazon and the people who depend on it, experts say both policymakers and buyers must act. Stricter international gold-tracking regulations, stronger sourcing policies from tech companies, and better consumer awareness can help stop dirty gold from quietly entering the global supply chain. Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
