biodiversity

Rare Underground Flowering Palm Species Discovered in Borneo

Rare Underground Flowering Palm Species Discovered in Borneo

Palm trees with their feathery fronds are a long-standing symbol of the tropics… aboveground. Now, researchers with Royal Botanic Gardens (RBC), Kew have documented a unique member of the Arecaceae, or palm, family that produces its flowers and fruits almost exclusively beneath the soil, a press release from RBC, Kew said. The species, which the […]

Join our newsletter

The best of EcoWatch, right in your inbox. Sign up for our email newsletter!

    Newly Adopted UN High Seas Treaty Gives Ocean a ‘Fighting Chance’

    Newly Adopted UN High Seas Treaty Gives Ocean a ‘Fighting Chance’

    After almost two decades of negotiations, the 193 United Nations Member States have adopted a landmark legally binding marine biodiversity treaty for the high seas beyond national boundaries, covering two thirds of Earth’s oceans, UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced yesterday during the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity in New York. The purpose of the High […]

    After 17-Year Absence, White Rhinos Return to the DRC

    After 17-Year Absence, White Rhinos Return to the DRC

    The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) recently welcomed the reintroduction of 16 southern white rhinoceroses to Garamba National Park, according to officials, as Phys.org reported. The last wild northern white rhino was poached there in 2006. The white rhinos were transported to Garamba, which lies in the northeastern part of the country, from a […]

    Nearly Half of Earth’s Animal Species Are in Decline, Study Finds

    Nearly Half of Earth’s Animal Species Are in Decline, Study Finds

    In a study on more than 71,000 animal species around the world, researchers discovered that about 48% are declining. The research, led by Queen’s University Belfast, is one of the most comprehensive and alarming studies on biodiversity loss. The researchers analyzed population data on mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish and insects. More From EcoWatch What […]

    Human Activities Have Drastically Reduced Habitats for Asian Elephants

    Human Activities Have Drastically Reduced Habitats for Asian Elephants

    Despite their iconic status and long association with humans, Asian elephants are one of the most endangered large mammals. Believed to number between 45,000 and 50,000 individuals worldwide, they are at risk throughout Asia due to human activities such as deforestation, mining, dam building and road construction, which have damaged numerous ecosystems.

    <strong>Urbanization Stresses Wild Bees, but Green Spaces Can Help</strong>

    Urbanization Stresses Wild Bees, but Green Spaces Can Help

    Urban environments can be stressful places for wild animals. They are not only exposed to loud noises, vehicles and humans, but to other environmental stressors like lack of adequate food sources and fragmented habitats. In a new study, researchers from Canada’s York University looked at the increased environmental stressors — such as difficulty finding mates […]