deforestation

Endangered Species 101: Everything You Need to Know

Endangered Species 101: Everything You Need to Know

Quick Key Facts The Endangered Species Act To understand what “endangered species” means, it’s important to unpack the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which followed the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966, the first piece of federal endangered species legislation. Enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1973, the ESA states that the federal government has a […]

Join our newsletter

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

    Tropical Forests 101: Everything You Need to Know

    Tropical Forests 101: Everything You Need to Know

    Quick Key Facts What Are ‘Tropical Forests’? Tropical forests are rich ecosystems located in tropical zones surrounding the equator. They have a dense upper canopy of broad-leafed trees and an astonishingly diverse array of animal and plant life. These forests pack an enormous amount of biodiversity into the six percent of the planet’s land surface […]

    Brazil and Colombia Destroy Illegal Gold Mines in Amazon Rainforest

    Brazil and Colombia Destroy Illegal Gold Mines in Amazon Rainforest

    Brazil and Colombia have blown up 19 illegal gold mining operations in the Amazon rainforest. Colombia’s armed forces said the mines were producing about $1.5 million worth of the rare metal every month and polluting the rainforest’s rivers with mercury, reported the BBC and Reuters. The unlawful activity was producing 50.71 pounds of gold a […]

    Deforestation in Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands Could Make El Niño Southern Oscillation More Unpredictable, Study Finds

    Deforestation in Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands Could Make El Niño Southern Oscillation More Unpredictable, Study Finds

    Every two to seven years, a climate phenomenon known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) occurs in the tropical Pacific Ocean. ENSO is associated with air pressure changes from east to west, reported Phys.org. El Niño events cause westerly trade winds blowing along the equator to become weaker, leading to wind speed and air pressure […]

    Flooding 101: Everything You Need to Know

    Flooding 101: Everything You Need to Know

    Quick Key Facts What Is ‘Flooding’? Flooding occurs when water submerges land that is typically dry. That water can come from a variety of sources, such as rainfall, a storm surge or high tide, a river overflowing its banks, a dam bursting or snow or ice melting. Some types of flooding can be beneficial for […]

    Researchers Develop PALM-ALT as a More Sustainable Alternative to Palm Oil

    Researchers Develop PALM-ALT as a More Sustainable Alternative to Palm Oil

    About half of all packaged goods found in grocery stores contain palm oil, because this product is versatile, grows efficiently for better yields and has low production costs. However, palm oil comes at a high cost to the environment, and its production is a leading cause of deforestation around the world.  As a potential alternative, […]