Since 1990, 420 million hectares of forest have been lost as a result of human activity including land clearing for agricultural farming and logging. As of 2020, forest cover accounts for about 31% of the world’s total land area. Though the rate of deforestation has decreased over the past three decades, we’re losing thousands of hectares more with every passing day. September 2022 went down in history as a record-breaking month for deforestation in the Amazon, the world’s largest and most important rainforest. Here are 10 stunning deforestation facts you need to know and why we need to protect our forests more than ever. 

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10 Deforestation Facts

1. We lose around 10 million hectares of forest every single year

The world has been chopping down 10 million hectares of trees every year to make space to grow crops and livestock, and to produce materials such as paper. This accounts for about 16% of total tree loss cover. 96% of deforestation takes place in tropical forests. 

2. Deforestation contributes about 4.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year

One of the most stunning deforestation facts is that forest loss contributes nearly 5 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year, which is equivalent to nearly 10% of annual human emissions. NASA researchers found that accelerated slashing and burning methods of land clearing in Borneo, the third-largest island in the world and home to one of the oldest rainforests in the world, contributed to the largest single-year global increase in carbon emissions in two millenniums, driving Indonesia up towards a leading source of carbon emissions. 

3.75 million hectares of tropical primary rainforests were lost in 2021 alone. This resulted in 2.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the annual fossil fuel emissions of India and nearly 10 soccer pitches a minute.

3. Beef is responsible for 41% of global deforestation

The farming industry needs to clear substantial pasture lands for cattle (and livestock) in order to keep up with global demand for beef. An estimated 81,081 square miles of forest land is lost every year for meat production, 80% of which occurs in the Amazon. Developed countries such as the US and China, the latter happens to be the world’s biggest beef consumer, devouring almost one-third of the world’s meat, are some of the biggest culprits of deforestation. But developing countries are catching up and are on track to rise by four times as much as in the developed world by 2028. Many are calling for people to adopt a plant-based diet as a method of combat deforestation, which will also help slash greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural industry and slow down global warming. 

4. Chocolate and biscuits are major contributors to deforestation

Aside from beef production, the palm oil industry is also responsible for a significant amount of deforestation around the world. Palm oil is used in over two thirds of the food products that we consume everyday, from vegetable oil to chocolate to biscuits, as well as in other household products like soap and shampoo. To keep up with the demand, forest land equivalent to 300 football fields is being cleared every hour to make room for palm plantations, destroying important habitats of critically endangered species such as the orangutan and Sumatran tiger. 

Many forests have also been converted into monoculture plantations, meaning planting the same single plant species across the land, which not only threatens biodiversity of the ecosystem, but increases the risks of soil erosion while reducing nutrient content. 

You might also like: How Does Cocoa Farming Cause Deforestation? 

5. Brazil and Indonesia account for almost Half of tropical deforestation

And one-third of tropical deforestation happens in Brazil alone. That amounts to approximately 1.7 million hectares each year. Both Brazil and Indonesia are home to some of the world’s largest and biodiverse tropical forests in the world. As the agricultural industry continues to practice land clearing for crop and livestock farming, the threat to biodiversity only worsens. Studies say observed animal populations have experienced an average 68% decline in population numbers. In Borneo, Indonesia, the critically endangered orangutan lost nearly 80% of its population within the last 50 years. 

6. Soy plays a big role in deforestation

While most think of soy in the form of soy milk, tofu and other soybean products that make up a plant-based diet, soy in fact has been mostly used as animal feed and to support the massive demand of meat production. Animal feed makes up 77% of soy production, while only 19.2% goes directly into human food products. Globally, soy is responsible for about 12% of deforestation. Due to the fact that soy only offers one yield per life cycle, soy cultivation requires a lot more land use, where the total area of land used to cultivate soy takes up the combined area of the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany. Seeking an alternative source of animal feed and reducing global meat consumption could both significantly drive down the rate of deforestation. 

You might also like: 12 Major Companies Responsible for Deforestation

7. Deforestation has turned the Amazon Rainforest into a carbon source

One of the most shocking deforestation facts in recent years is that the Amazon, the world’s most biologically diverse ecosystems and important carbon sinks, is found to emit a greater amount of carbon dioxide than it is absorbing as a result of deforestation, wildfires and climate change. According to a study between 2010 and 2018, deforestation in eastern Amazonia has led to greater warming and moisture stress to the forest especially during dry seasons, making it more susceptible to wildfires. Forest fires, in turn, produce three times more carbon than the forests can absorb, creating a negative loop. The study also revealed that the forest emitted about a billion tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, equal to the annual emissions released in Japan, the world’s fifth-biggest polluter.

A recent report similarly found 10 UNESCO world heritage forests have become sources of carbon over the past 20 years due to the same factors, naming the Yosemite national park in the US and the Greater Blue Mountains area in Australia among the affected sites. 

8. No company in the world achieved its net-zero deforestation commitment 

A 2020 analysis found that more than half of the 100 most significant tropical timber and pulp companies have failed to commit to protecting biodiversity and 44% have yet to publicly commit to net zero deforestation (meaning the rate of land clearing is equal to the rate of reforestation or replanting). Out of the companies that have pledged to reach net zero deforestation by 2020, only eight companies were found to have deployed comprehensive forest and land-use management practices but none were able to successfully achieve net zero. 

9. Leading banks financed $119 billion to companies linked to deforestation

One of the most shocking facts about deforestation is that the world’s top global banks and lenders have extended a total of USD$119 billion of financing to 20 major agricultural companies linked to deforestation in just the span of five years. Banks such as JPMorgan, HSBC, and Bank of America were among the biggest investors, backing projects and businesses including Brazilian meat producer JBS to support its cattle and poultry farms. Each of the banks have reportedly struck dozens of funding deals between 2016 and 2020 despite a number of firms having adopted ‘no-deforestation’ policies. There is a glaring lack of monitoring and enforcing mechanisms in the financial sector, allowing widespread land degradation to persist. 

You might also like: 10 Stunning Amazon Rainforest Deforestation Facts to Know About

10. More than 100 countries have pledged to end deforestation by 2030

Despite the current state of deforestation, there is good news. At last year’s COP26 climate conference, a UN summit for world leaders to conduct and negotiate policy agreements on emissions reduction and climate change mitigation, more than 100 countries have joined a pledge to stop and reverse deforestation by the end of the decade. Combined, these 100+ countries make up 85% of the world’s forests. Some of the most notable signatories include Brazil, Russia, Colombia, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The pact will see US$19.2 billion of private and public funds to help combat this global environmental problem, from restoring degraded land and supporting indigenous communities to mitigating wildfire damage.

The post International Day of Forests: 10 Deforestation Facts You Should Know About appeared first on Earth.Org.

Air pollution is one of the most dire environmental problems in the world right now. Constant exposure to air pollutants poses incredibly high risks of health issues and premature deaths to the world’s population. We believe the first step in tackling a problem is to have knowledge of the issue at hand, so here are 10 breathtaking facts about air pollution. 

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10 Facts About Air Pollution

1. Less than 1% of global land area has safe air pollution levels

According to a 2023 study, just about 30% of days in 2019 had daily concentrations of PM2.5 lower than 15 μg/m3. Moreover, researchers found that about 0.18% of the global land area and only 0.001% of the world’s population had an annual exposure to PM2.5 below the safe threshold of 5 μg/m3.

Eastern and Southern Asia were the regions with the highest air pollution levels, followed by Northern Africa. At the other side of the spectrum are Australia and New Zealand, followed by other regions in Oceania and South America. Here, PM2.5 concentrations are the lowest, though they experienced an increase in air pollution levels over the past two decades, driven partly by intensified and prolonged wildfire seasons. Stricter regulations led instead to a decrease in pollutants in Europe and North America over the same period.

2. At least 1 in 10 people die from air pollution-related diseases

One of the most stunning facts about air pollution is that it is a leading risk factor for chronic health diseases and premature death in the world. In 2017, air pollution was responsible for an estimated 5 million deaths globally, amounting to nearly 9% of the world’s population. Constant exposure to polluted air increases the risk of coronary and respiratory disease, stroke, diabetes and lung cancer. South East Asian countries tend to suffer the brunt of the impacts from outdoor air pollution. Air pollution-related deaths in the region accounted for 15% of deaths globally while rich nations contributed only to 2%, according to data in 2017, demonstrating a glaring disparity between developed and developing countries. 

You might also like: Half of 500,000 Air Pollution-Related Deaths in EU in 2021 Could Have Been Avoided, Study Shows

3. Air pollution is a greater threat to life expectancy than smoking, HIV or war

Air pollution is literally cutting years from the lives of billions of people around the world. According to a 2021 report by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, residents in India, which is home to the highest levels of air pollution on the planet, lose an average of 5.9 years from their lives as a result of poor air quality. Though all top five countries with the worst air pollution are located in Asia, air pollution is a rapidly rising threat in Central and West Africa, where average life expectancy has dropped by two to five years, making it a larger threat to human health than “well-known killers like HIV/AIDS and malaria.”

4. Air pollution has a nearly US$3 trillion economic cost, or 3.3% of the world’s GDP

A report released in 2020 by Greenpeace Southeast Asia and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air revealed the human and economic costs of air pollution from fossil fuels. Air pollution-related deaths are estimated to have a $2.9 trillion economic cost, and was responsible for 1.8 billion days of work absence – lowering participation rates in labour forces – 4 million new cases of child asthma, which causes children to miss more school, increasing healthcare needs and impacting guardians time away from their work, as well as 2 million preterm births in 2018. The report also points out disability from chronic diseases caused by poor air quality cost the world’s economy $200 billion, with sick leave and preterm births costing $100 billion and $90 billion respectively.

5. Death rates from air pollution are highest in low-to-middle income countries

One of the most distressing facts about air pollution is that people living in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia regions are significantly more likely to die from outdoor air pollution than those residing in Europe and North America, where death rates are 100 times greater. Indoor air pollution rates, which refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structure, are similarly higher in lower-income nations due to a reliance on solid fuels such as wood, crop wastes, charcoal and coal, as well as kerosene in open fires, for cooking. About 2.6 billion people in the world continue to rely on this cooking method and are vulnerable to illnesses caused by indoor air pollution. 

You might also like: Air Pollution in South Asia Cuts Life Expectancy By 5 Years on Average: Report

6. Climate change increases risks of wildfires and air pollution from it

Extreme weather events and wildfires have become more frequent and intense as a result of climate change. As drought seasons become more prolonged, as well as growing deforestation rates to make way for agriculture development, so do the risks of wildfires. Large-scale wildfires release carbon emissions, smog and pollutants into the air, which can spread across countries and regions. In July 2021, unprecedented heatwave and wildfires in the western regions of the US and Canada caused cities on the East Coast including New York to be shrouded in smoke and polluted air. Similarly, Siberia experienced one of the worst wildfires during the same period where smog reached to dangerously high levels, forcing more than 280,000 residents to remain at home. 

7. Only 7 countries in the world met WHO air quality standards in 2023

Exceptions made for Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius, and New Zealand, all countries exceeded the annual level last year, Swiss air quality organization IQAir said in its annual report, with several regions recording highly dangerous pollution levels. These include Bangladesh, historically among the most polluted countries in the world and the worst in 2023, with PM2.5 levels more than 15 times higher than WHO standards, Pakistan (more than 14 times higher), and India (more than 10 times higher). Tajikistan and Burkina Faso followed closely.

More on the topic: Mapping the Most Polluted Cities in the World in 2023

8. Particulate pollution in China dropped by 29% within 6 years

Despite China being the world’s largest carbon emitter and the country with the worst air pollution on the planet (with 2013 reaching its highest pollution level) where 1.25 million Chinese residents die early each year from air pollution, studies have shown the nation to have made major progress in reducing air pollution thanks to strict policy action. Within six years, particulate pollution has declined by 29% and dropped below 1990 levels. 

China has also invested more in solar energy than any other nation, representing 45% of all global investment in solar and is expected to generate twice as much power from solar as the US by 2024.  However, currently,  98% of the nation’s urban areas still exceed WHO guidelines and 53% exceed China’s own less stringent national standards. 

9. None of the world’s 100 biggest cities are able to meet WHO’s updated guidelines

One of more recent facts about air pollution: the WHO issued new stringent guidelines on air pollution in September 2021, following new research showing fine particulate matter to be more harmful than previously thought where an estimated 8.7 million people a year die early due to breathing air from coal, oil and gas burning. This accounts for 20% of global deaths.

To push countries to ramp up efforts to improve air quality, WHO’s new acceptable limit for PM2.5 has been slashed by half while nitrogen dioxide (NO2), produced mainly from diesel engines, is lowered by 75%. Based on these new guidelines, no major city is able to meet it according to an analysis by Greenpeace. The WHO says that if the world collectively reduced its air pollution levels to within the new limits, nearly 80% of air pollution-related deaths could be prevented. 

You might also like: What Are the Biggest Causes and Effects of Air Pollution?

10. Air pollution contributed to the spread of Covid-19

A recent preliminary study from Harvard University found a positive correlation between Covid-19-related mortalities and air pollution, adding that there is a plausible association of airborne particles assisting the viral spread. Based on studies observing Covid-19 related deaths and air pollution – noting that Northern Italy is one of the most polluted areas in Europe – the investigation discovered even a small increase of 1 μg/m3 in PM2.5 levels was associated with an 8% increase in Covid-19-related fatality.

The post All You Need to Know About Air Pollution appeared first on Earth.Org.

Coral reefs are the world’s most diverse marine ecosystems. Despite covering only 2% of the ocean area across more than 100 countries, coral reef systems are home to 25% of all marine species. Aside from their rich biodiversity, coral reefs are vital in protecting coasts from erosion and slow storm surges. They are economically significant, too, generating US$2.7 trillion per year in revenue across the food, tourism, and pharmaceutical industries around the world. Yet the health and survival of our precious coral reefs are teetering as global temperature rises and oceans become more acidic, causing widespread coral bleaching across the world’s oceans. We take a look at what coral bleaching is as well as its causes and effects. 

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What Is Coral Bleaching?

Coral bleaching is a phenomenon in which coral reefs expel the microscopic marine algae called zooxanthellae that live in their tissues when under stress – be it heat, ocean acidification, or human activity. As a result, coral tissues become transparent and lose their signature vibrant colours, exposing their white exoskeleton underneath.

While coral bleaching does not mean that the corals have died, it increases their vulnerability to marine disease and starvation, which could eventually lead to mortality. The longer corals are bleached under various stresses, the more difficult it will be for algae to return, making it impossible for reefs to be revived.

Coral bleaching is a natural process that takes place during summers when ocean temperatures are warmer. However, recent large-scale marine heatwaves have led to more frequent and severe mass coral bleaching events around the world, with reefs’ natural recovery processes struggling to keep up. 

One of the best examples of coral bleaching is the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest and longest reef system located off the coast of Queensland, Australia, which covers about 350,000 square kilometres – an area that is larger than the UK and Ireland combined. The stunning coral reef system has already suffered five mass bleaching events in 1998, 2002, 2016, 2017 and 2020. The events in 2016 and 2017 were so severe that it led to the death of 50% of the iconic reef.

According to the most recent report by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN), analysis showed that the world has lost approximately 14% of corals since 2009. Aside from Australia, coral death has been particularly pronounced in regions such as South Asia, the Pacific, East Asia, the Western Indian Ocean, The Gulf, and Gulf of Oman.

You might also like: What Are Coral Reefs and Why Are They So Important?

Causes of Coral Bleaching

As mentioned, coral bleaching can be a natural process that occurs due to rising oceans temperatures, particularly during summer seasons and natural phenomena such as El Niño, a quasi-periodic fluctuation in oceanographic and atmospheric conditions that brings in warm water. But worsening mass bleaching events have been brought on and exacerbated by human activities and influence. 

Human-induced climate change has led global ocean temperatures to persistently rise. Within the last century, sea temperatures rose at an average rate of 0.13C every decade. Warmer waters make coral reefs more vulnerable to bleaching outside of summer seasons while impeding their ability to naturally recover. 

Warmer waters and soaring carbon dioxide in the atmosphere also lead to ocean acidification – oceans act as carbon sinks to absorb and store CO2, changing the chemical balance. Today, coral reefs are experiencing more acidity than they have at any time in the last 400,000 years, which reduces the water’s carrying capacity for calcium carbonate for coral reefs to rebuild their exoskeletons.

Changes in sun exposure and coastal development are contributing factors as well. Soaring plastic pollution in particular has been a plague to oceans and marine ecosystems in recent years, where animals mistakenly ingest plastic debris as food and get entangled in abandoned fishing gears. Plastics and smaller plastic particles called microplastics are also impacting water quality, and can suffocate and restrict sunlight access for the reefs. 

Overfishing and our overall damaging practices in ocean-floor ecosystems for coastal development such as dredging, quarrying, and bottom trawling, not to mention sediment pile ups from agriculture, all have a hand in delivering devastating damages and bleaching to coral reefs, too. 

Coral bleaching, however, does not occur equally due to the aforementioned conditions. They are most common in regions experiencing more frequent and extreme heat waves, while areas with more stable temperatures and less heat stress see fewer corals bleached. To use the Great Barrier Reef as an example again, it faces much higher risk of bleaching every summer and mass bleaching events are attributed to the fact that Australia has warmed by 1.4C since the Industrial Revolution, a rate that is faster than the global average.

You might also like: 5 Coral Reefs That Are Currently Under Threat and Dying

The Effects of Coral Bleaching

Coral reefs play a significant role in ocean habitats and the ecosystem for marine life, but based on current temperature rise and ocean acidification trends, scientists have estimated that they could be completely wiped by 2050. 

The State of the Coral Reef 2020 report found that the world lost 14% of its coral reefs between 2009-2018 due to rapid increases in sea surface temperatures, which amounts to about 4,500 square miles or more than the size of all the living corals in Australia. Each mass bleaching event makes it harder for coral reefs to recover and replenish its cover. The 1998 mass bleaching event saw global hard coral cover drop by 32.5%. By 2009, corals managed to recover to a very healthy level. But with each mass bleaching event, coral growth has struggled to match the rate of bleaching and death. 

As coral reefs support 25% of all marine species in the world, a reduced biodiversity of coral reefs could see the elimination of key species. There will be less habitat for the hundreds of thousands of species, threatening their survival and population numbers, throwing entire ecosystems and food webs off balance. 

Worsening climate change brings with it more severe and frequent storms and extreme weather events, producing excessive nutrient or sediment runoff. Without the protection of coral reefs, coastal communities face a higher risk of storm surges as well. 

What’s more, considering the staggering amount of revenue coral reefs generate across different industries including tourism, the loss of coral reefs could cost billions of dollars along with jobs and livelihoods across the world. 

The Future of Coral Reefs

As the Great Barrier Reef faces its sixth mass bleaching event, we urgently need stronger policies and solutions to protect our highly vulnerable coral reefs. We need to give up our dependence on fossil fuels to slow down global warming, which reduces ocean acidification and temperature rise. We need to overhaul our fishing and coastal development practices, on top of tackling ocean plastic pollution, to improve water quality and minimise runoff. Finally, we need far more investment in reef management and conservation, coupled with funding for research into reef resilience.

However, it’s not all bleak. According to the aforementioned report, most coral reefs are hardy enough to recover on their own if the environmental conditions prevail. Global cover for instance has rebounded to pre-1998 levels within a decade. Some recovery was also observed in 2019 with coral reefs regaining 2% of their cover.

You might also like: Coral Reef Breakthrough Launches to Prevent Extinction of One of the World’s Most Threatened Ecosystems

Some coral reefs have also been found to be more resilient than others. The corals in the Gulf of at the northernmost tip of the Red Sea have shown signs to have developed higher thresholds in withstanding warmer temperatures than most corals. A new coral reef in the waters of the southern Pacific Ocean off the coast of Tahiti was also recently been discovered to have been untouched by coral bleaching, offering new hope that many more unknown, and possibly pristine, coral reefs remain in the ocean. 

The post Explainer: What Is Coral Bleaching? appeared first on Earth.Org.

Smart cities around the world have made huge strides in their smart city initiatives and in adopting innovative smart technologies as a way to make their home cities more sustainable and energy efficient as well as minimising carbon emissions.  Here’s how seven cities are doing it. 

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The United Nations predicts that 70% of the world’s population will be living in cities and urban areas by 2050, meaning emissions and energy usage will continue to rise with every passing year. The need for smarter urban transport networks, environmentally-friendly water disposal facilities, and buildings with high energy efficiency are more critical than ever.

This is where smart city programmes and initiatives come in. Incorporating smart technology including the Internet of Things (IOT) – objects that are embedded with sensors for data exchange –  in urban cities not only improves the quality of life of its citizens but also the overall public safety. 

Singapore, Helsinki and Zurich have topped the list as the world’s smartest cities in the 2020 Smart City Index. The annual report, conducted by the Institute for Management Development with Singapore University for Technology and Design (SUTD), ranks cities based on economic and technological data, along with their citizens’ perceptions of how “smart” their cities are. As more international cities join the movement in investing in smart technology, here are seven smart cities that are leading the pack with their smart city projects. 

Top 7 Smart Cities in the World in 2023

1. Singapore

Topping most lists when it comes to smart cities is often Singapore. Since launching its Smart Nation initiative in 2014, Singapore has introduced a wide range of smart technologies in both its public and private sectors. Contactless payment technology has been widely adopted to efficiently direct movement and payments for Singapore’s 7.5 million passengers who use public transports. To help elevate the pressure of an ageing population, a digital health system was introduced – normalising video consultations at the same time – as well as wearable Internet of Things devices to monitor patients. What’s more, Singapore announced in 2021 its plans for a new eco-smart city that is entirely vehicle-free. To be located in Tengah in the western region of Singapore, the planned forest city will be home to five residential districts with 42,000 houses, as well as safe zones for both pedestrians and cyclists. 

You might also like: How Sustainable Cities like Singapore Succeed in Green Urban Development

2. Helsinki, Finland

Helsinki has set themselves an aim of going carbon neutral by 2035 and they are proved to be on their way in reaching the goal. Even back in 2017, the city managed to lower emissions by 27% than it was in 1990. Another goal Helsinki is working towards is reducing traffic emissions by 69% within three decades by 2035, with measures like transitioning the entire city bus fleet to electric, and expanding its Metro and electric car charging networks. Since heating accounts for more than half of Helsinki’s emissions, the city is focused on implementing energy-efficiency measures during renovations, which could reduce emissions from buildings by 80%, as well as incorporating more renewable energy use in the city’s buildings.

3. Zurich, Switzerland

For Zurich, it all started with a streetlight project. The city introduced a series of streetlights that adapted to traffic levels using sensors, which increased its brightness or dim accordingly. The project enabled an energy saving of up to 70%. Since then, Zurich has expanded its smart streetlights across the city, and established a greater range of sensory technologies that can collect environmental data, measure the flow of traffic and act as a public WiFi antenna. A smart building management system, which connects the city’s heating, electricity and cooling has been shown to be highly effective as well. 

4. Oslo, Norway

The Norwegian capital is going all in with electric cars and plans for all vehicles in the entire city to go electric by 2025, which is impressive considering its population of approximately 670,000 citizens. Incentives for zero-emission cars have already been put in place, including free parking, the use of bus lanes, and lower taxes and prices at tolls. As part of the city’s target for becoming carbon neutral by 2050, other smart projects are also already well underway in Oslo including zero-emission construction sites and retrofitting existing buildings to develop circular waste management and green energy systems.

You might also like: ​​Importance of Smart Cities in the Fight Against Climate Change

5. Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Amsterdam’s smart city project started in 2009 and features more than 170 different operations across the city. What particularly stood out for Amsterdam is its ability to stay innovative, whether it’s the utilisation of renewable energy for electric garbage trucks, installing solar-powered bus stops, billboards and lights, or constructing floating villages to combat overcrowding and provide an alternative to land reclamation. Throughout the city, thousands of operating businesses and households have already been modified with energy efficient roofing insulation, automatically dimming light switches, smart meters, and ultra-low energy LED lights.

6. New York, United States

Hundreds of smart sensors and technologies have been tested and placed through the different districts in New York City as part of its smart city pilot programme in 2020. The programme amasses data to help manage services like waste management and collection more efficiently. New York has also seen the introduction of smart hubs with contactless technology, WiFi capabilities as well as online charging stations in place of phone booths. Car sharing services are also huge in the Big Apple, which helps reduce total emissions and traffic congestions. As an attempt to culminate more local perspectives and creativity, New York City holds an annual contest – with a generous cash prize –  for apps that best utilise the city’s open data sets.

You might also like: Top 10 Smart Cities in the US

7. Seoul, South Korea

Home to Songdo, also known as the world’s first smart city, Seoul’s smart technology campaigns have only gone from strength to strength since launching its initiatives as early as 2014. Data is at the heart of Seoul’s smart city projects. Through the accumulation and analysis of urban patterns such as traffic flow, speed and air quality measured by sensors and CCTV deployed across the city, form a strong basis for a smart infrastructure and services. Focusing the technology towards the city’s ageing population, a safety initiative was launched in aid of senior citizens who live alone. When there’s no movement detected over a certain period of time or if abnormal temperature, humidity, or lighting are picked up by environmental sensors, relevant case workers and emergency services would be contacted immediately. Likewise, Seoul is looking into using the data platform creating an AI detective to flag up potential crime patterns. At the moment, thanks to the 5G network, the Korean capital is also amongst the first cities to utilise 5G technology in mobility and transportation.

Featured image by: Pixabay

The post Top 7 Smart Cities in the World in 2024 appeared first on Earth.Org.

In the past 50 years, the planet has experienced rapid growth of human population, development, and urbanisation, deforesting hundreds of million acres of forests across the globe along the way. As a result, wildlife is losing more habitats and food by the day. According to a 2020 analysis, the sixth mass extinction of wildlife on Earth is accelerating with more than 500 species of land animals on the brink of extinction that will likely be lost within the next two decades. As India is one of the most densely populated countries in the world,  it comes as no surprise that human activity and land development are increasing rapidly. These are just 10 endangered species in India that are under threat and urgently need protecting. 

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10 Endangered Species in India  

1. Bengal Tiger

Bengal tigers account for about half of the world’s total tiger population, 70% of which can be found living in India. Though this big cat is an adaptable animal that can live in various habitats including forests, mangroves and wetlands, and has the ability to cope with hot or cold temperatures, Bengal tiger populations have plummeted over the years. The animal has been endangered following decades of persistent poaching for its skin and body parts, trophy hunting, and severely reduced habitat from urban development. The species now live in just 7% of their historical habitat range, with fewer than 2,000 individuals left in the wild. In a densely populated country like India, human-wildlife conflict is also a contributing factor to its dwindling numbers. 

2. Asiatic Lion

The Asiatic lion is about 10-20% smaller than its African cousins with a larger tail tuft and a distinct belly fold. As the name suggests, the Asiatic Lion was historically native across south-west Asia to eastern India. But now, the species’ entire population can only be found in India and restricted to the Gir National Park and environs in Gujarat. Listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 2010, the Asiatic lion only has about 500-650 individuals left in the country. While the animal is mostly confined to the Gir Forest, many farmers still use crude and illegal electrical fences to protect their crops where lions often get caught up in it. Likewise, nearly 20,000 open wells dug by farmers in the area for irrigation have led to many accidental drownings of lions.

3. Snow Leopard

Much like the Asiatic Lion, snow leopards used to have much larger habitats and prowled across the mountain ranges of Asia. Now, they can only be found in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the western and eastern parts of the Himalayas, with population numbers down to about 500 in India. Unsurprisingly, this drop is the result of human interference, namely animal poaching for its pelt and body parts, and a rapid decline of prey due to increasing domestic livestock, which depletes the high altitude pasture lands. Conflicts between remote communities and snow leopards have also been a threat to the species, as well as hydroelectric and mining projects, which reduces the leopard’s natural habitat. As female snow leopards tend to produce only one to two cubs once every two years, it also makes it harder for the species to recover its numbers. 

4. One-horned Rhinoceros

Also known as the Indian rhinoceros, this animal is mostly found in India and the foothills of Himalayas. One-horned rhinoceros has been heavily targeted for their horns for decades, which allegedly have medicinal properties, and killed as agricultural pests. The population is also impacted by frequent flooding seasons, forcing rhinos to move to higher ground and outside of national parks, increasing risks of human-wildlife conflicts. These factors have consequently driven the population to near extinction at the start of the 20th century, dropping down to as little as 200 animals. But with the help of strict and targeted conservation measures, current population numbers have risen back up to around 3,700 in northeastern India and the Terai grasslands of Nepal, making it “one of the most successful conservation efforts in history”.

5. Blackbuck

Due to severe poaching – hunted especially in the princely states of India for their pelts – and habitat loss, the blackbuck, or Indian antelope, is now one of the most endangered species in India. In 1947, there were around 80,000 blackbucks. But that number had fallen to 8,000 in less than 20 years. Despite conservation efforts that help population numbers go back up to around 25,000, factors such as preying stray dogs – which India has one of the highest rates of – pesticides and moving vehicles all continuing threats to the species. You can find blackbucks in small herds in open grasslands, dry scrub areas, and thinly forested areas across India, and have been introduced in Argentina and the United States to help increase their numbers. 

You might also like: 10 of the Most Endangered Species in the US

6. Lion-tailed Macaque

Endemic to the small and severely fragmented rainforests of Western Ghats of South India, the lion-tailed macaque is a recognisable monkey identifiable by its silver-white mane that surrounds its head. Estimates place the total wild population of the macaque around 4,000 individuals, and is projected to decline more than 20% in the next 25 years should threats like hunting, roadkills and habitat loss persist. These rare primates are mostly shy and tend to remain in the upper canopies of rainforest, which continues to dwindle due to deforestation and land clearing. The species’ easy access to human food is also changing their behaviours, driving the animal to spend less time foraging for food. 

7. Resplendent Tree Frog 

This mysterious frog species was only discovered in 2010 at the highest peak of the Western Ghats, and has a striking orange hue and several big glands covering its body surface. The resplendent tree frog is so rare that they can only be found in the Anamudi summit in Kerala within the Eravikulam National Park. Scientists estimate that there are only about 300 remaining animals and recommend top-priority conservation for this species. 

8. Kashmiri Red Stag

The Kashmiri red stag has been listed as a critically endangered species by the IUCN for decades and is among the top 15 species of high conservation priority by the Indian Government. As a result, the species is now largely restricted within a 141 sq km area in Dachigam National Park. In the early 1990s, the number of red stags was estimated to be around 5,000 but dramatically decreased to about 150 in 1970, and around 110-130 in 2015. Habitat fragmentation, land encroachment for grazing, and very low fawn-female ratio are attributed to be the main causes behind red stag’s population decline. Many ongoing conservation drives are attempting to tackle these issues to help protect this critically endangered species in India. 

9. Nilgiri Tahr

This endangered mountain goat species only has about 2,500-3,000 individuals remaining in the wild. Much like the other animals are on the list, wildlife poaching and habitat loss has led the nilgiri tahr to be contained within the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, covering less than 10% of their former range. But for these mountain goats, climate change is expected to be an even bigger threat. The animal lives in high-altitude mountainous grasslands and rocky cliffs of the Western Ghats, and is projected to become unsuitable habitats for the goats as global surface temperatures rise.

10. Indian Bison (Gaur)

The largest and tallest in the family of wild cattle, the Indian bison is an animal native to South Asia and South-East Asia but one that is severely threatened by wildlife poaching (for its meat, horns and medicinal products), shrinking habitats and food scarcity from the destruction of grasslands. Famously the inspiration behind the branding of the popular energy drink, Red Bull, the bison has unfortunately lost more than 70% of its population in many parts of their range. The gaur is listed as a vulnerable species by the IUCN and is protected by India’s 1972 Wild Life Protection Act, which calls for the reintroduction of native plants and regulation of indiscriminate cattle grazing around areas where the gaurs roam.

You might also like: 12 of the Most Endangered Animals in the World

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The Amazon Rainforest, often referred to as the “Lungs of the Earth,” is facing a grave threat from deforestation. In this article, we present 10 crucial facts about Amazon deforestation that shed light on the alarming rate at which this vital ecosystem is disappearing.

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The Amazon is the world’s largest rainforest – spanning 6.9 million square kilometres (2.72 million square miles) and covering around 40% of the South American continent. Making up half of the planet’s remaining tropical forests, the Amazon rainforest is also one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems and is home to about three million species of plants and animals, as well as one million indigenous people.

Unfortunately, deforestation is threatening the health and future of this important rainforest, not to mention the wildlife and services that it supports. The victory of former president Lula at Brazil’s presidential elections after years of overexploitation under climate-denier Jair Bolsonaro raised hope for the future of the rainforest, but the road to recovery is long and not without obstacles.  

10 Stunning Amazon Rainforest Deforestation Facts to Know About

1. Over 40% of global tropical deforestation occurs in Brazil 

Globally, we lose about 5 million hectares of forest a year due to land clearing for agriculture and livestock farming, logging activities to produce materials like paper, palm oil and soy production, as well as gold mining. The Amazon rainforest covers land across nine countries including Colombia and Peru, but around 60% of it lies within Brazil. Despite efforts to protect forest land, legal deforestation is still rampant, and about a third of global tropical deforestation occurs in Brazil’s Amazon forest, amounting to 1.5 million hectares each year. 

2. Beef production is the biggest driver for deforestation in the Amazon

The global demand for beef continues to rise. Though the US and China are currently the world’s top beef consumers – they’re responsible for almost a third of global meat consumption – developing countries are on a trajectory to consume four times as much by 2028. An estimated 81,081 square metres of forest land is lost every year for meat production, 80% of which occurs in the Amazon. In the period between August 2018 to July 2019 alone, the Amazon lost over 3,800 square miles, which is equivalent to over 1.8 million football fields, for expansions of pasture for beef production.

3. Gold mining in the Amazon is on the rise

One of more worrying facts about Amazon rainforest deforestation is that gold mining projects have increased across the wider Amazon region in recent years, especially along the Guiana Shield, as the global gold market steadily grows. Mining projects occur deep in the forests and degrade crucial habitats, posing significant risks of water contamination from toxic leaks and soil erosion. Gold mining activities often spreads into protected areas, such as Indigenous Lands and Conservation Units. Studies have also found that gold mining poses detrimental impacts on the health of the forest and limits their regrowth, where forest trees are discovered to have a lower capacity to accumulate carbon, and costing an estimated 2 million tons of forest carbon. 

4. Soybean production is a growing threat

Soybean production is responsible for about 12% of global deforestation, which is mainly used as animal feed and to support the massive demand of meat production. Despite the rising popularity of soy milk, tofu and other soybean products, only 19% of soybean production goes into human food products. Brazil currently accounts for around one-third of global soybean production, where in 2018, the country produced 118 million tonnes of soy to support its massive meat production. 

5. The Blue Macaw is one of the many species under threat

The Hyacinth Macaw, also known as the Blue Macaw, is native to the Amazon. But the species’ natural habitats and resources grow smaller and smaller every day with illegal logging, agricultural land clearing and urban development. Today, it exists only in small areas including central Pará, the epicentre of deforestation, which saw 203,460 hectares deforested in 2019. While the strikingly blue parrot is currently classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), they are at the precipice of becoming endangered. 

Likewise, Milton’s Titi, an incredibly rare primate that was only first discovered in 2011, and can found only in a small area of lowland rainforest between the Roosevelt and Aripuanã River in the Amazon. As these monkeys cannot swim well or cross mountainous terrain, the live exclusively on treetops and can only remain in this specific area. Due to rising deforestation, the region lost 3,130 hectares of land in 2019, which could prove fatal for the survival of the species. 

You might also like: 12 Major Companies Responsible for Deforestation

6. Deforestation has turned the Amazon Rainforest into a carbon source

The Amazon rainforest is a natural carbon sink and provides one of the greatest services for the planet: absorbing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Its ability to do so is crucial in our fight against the climate crisis. Yet, as a result of persistent deforestation and a sharp increase in wildfires, the Amazon has been converted into a source of carbon, and is found to emit a greater amount of carbon dioxide than it is absorbing. Forest fires produce three times more carbon than the forests can absorb, thus creating a negative loop. The study also revealed that the forest emitted about a billion tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, equal to the annual emissions released in Japan, the world’s fifth-biggest polluter.

7. Deforestation rates rose sharply under Bolsonaro’s presidency

One of the most startling facts about Amazon rainforest deforestation is that since the President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro took office in January 2019, deforestation rates have soared to record high levels. According to data from both the Brazilian government and Imazon, an NGO that independently tracks forest destruction, deforestation is distinctly higher under the Bolsonaro administration than at any time during Brazil’s two previous presidencies. 

The right-wing former military officer has no qualms in deforestation and openly calls for mining and logging in Indigenous territories. Despite speaking out against “illegal deforestation”,  Bolsonaro’s administration has been reducing budgets for law enforcement, forgiving fines for illegal deforestation, and rolling back laws restricting forest clearing. In response to his reckless attitude on deforestation, multiple complaints have been filed against Bolsonaro at the International Criminal Court, accusing him of crimes against humanity for his assault on the Amazon, undermining Indigenous rights, and inciting incursions and violence through calls for mining and land development. 

The recent victory of former President at Brazil’s 2022 presidential elections marks a turning point on environmental issues and sparks optimism on the fight against climate change and the future of the Amazon.

You might also like: 10 Deforestation Facts You Should Know About

8. Indigenous communities are key to protecting the rainforest

Indigenous territories and communities play a big role in protecting the Amazon’s biodiversity and unlocking the carbon potential of forest trees and soil.  Indigenous people not only have the incentives to protect their homes, but they have boundless knowledge of the lands and best practices for conservation efforts. Studies have found that Indigenous lands are effective buffers against deforestation and while other research saw providing Indigenous Peruvians with smartphones and satellite data has helped overall reduction of tree cover loss in the Amazon. But these efforts are under increasing threat as the current Brazilian government is pushing legislation through Congress that will make it harder for new Indigenous lands to be established and potentially allowing the government to repossess existing lands.

9. More than 100 countries, including Brazil, pledged to end deforestation by 2030

At the COP26 UN climate summit, more than 100 countries committed to halting and reversing deforestation by 2030. And much to the surprise of many, Brazil –  despite President Bolsonaro being notably absent at the conference – joined in the pledge. However, many environmentalists are skeptical about Bolsonaro’s commitment in light of his track record and disregard for environmental governance. Though there have been recent efforts to increase forest protection, including hiring 700 more environmental enforcement agents and the allocation of greater funding to the country’s environmental protection bodies, Brazil’s commitment to end deforestation remains to be seen. 

Despite slower forest destruction rates throughout 2021, the vital goal set out by the Deforestation Pledge to end and reverse global deforestation by the end of the decade will be missed without urgent action, according to the recently published Forest Declaration Assessment.

You might also like: World Is Not On Track to Meet Global Deforestation Pledge Goal by 2030: Study

10. The EU is banning food imports from deforested areas

Here’s one of the few encouraging facts about Amazon rainforest deforestation – The European Union is moving to ban six agricultural and food commodities linked to areas of deforestation to help protect the world’s most vulnerable forests including the Amazon. Should the legislation pass, European companies would be required to prove that products they sell did not contribute to legal and illegal deforestation or forest degradation.

The post 10 Amazon Rainforest Deforestation Facts to Know About appeared first on Earth.Org.

In September 2021, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, a government agency dedicated to the conservation, protection, and enhancement of wildlife and its habitat, declared 23 birds, fish, and other species to be extinct, and proposed to remove them from the 1973 Endangered Species Act. Experts believe these species have passed the point of recovery. The 1973 Endangered Species Act is the country’s most effective law in protecting at-risk species from extinction, with a success rate of 99%. However, persistent human activity including land conversion for agriculture and development purposes, pollution, and climate change makes it difficult for species already listed as endangered, as well as other vulnerable species, to recover and stay protected. These are just 10 of the most endangered species in the US. 

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Endangered Species in the US

1. Red Wolf

Identifiable by its reddish fur behind their ears, neck and legs, the red wolf is the world’s most endangered wolf with only 15-17 individuals left. Once common in eastern and south central regions of the US, the red wolf was listed as a species “threatened with extinction” under the Endangered Species Preservation Act in 1967, after population numbers have dropped significantly due to decades of human activity including gunshots and vehicle collisions. Under the Act, the US Fish and Wildlife Service reintroduced them in eastern North Carolina to help conserve and recover the rare species.

2. Florida Panther

As the name suggests, the Florida panther is native to the state of Florida, where the remaining 100-180 individuals continue to roam in the wild. However, the wildcat, once ranged throughout the southeastern United States, now survives only in a tiny area of South Florida as a result of habitat destruction and widespread urbanisation to accommodate the growing human population. Inland development such as roads and highways also pose a danger to panthers attempting to cross the land. Since 1967, the Florida panther has been listed as an endangered species. The panthers can be spotted in forests, prairies, and swampland such as the Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve. 

3. The Florida Manatee

The Florida manatee. Photo: The US Fish and Wildlife Service/Flickr

Florida is also home to another notable US endangered species: the manatee. In 1967, the manatee was among the first wildlife species to be protected under the newly-created Endangered Species Preservation Act. Thanks to decades of conservation efforts, manatee numbers have recovered to the point where the US Fish and Wildlife Service decided to de-list the species from endangered in 2017. However, recent water pollution from industry and urban development has heavily impacted its ecosystem, killing off seagrass beds – manatees’ main source of food – have led to the deaths of at least 881 manatees in Florida since the start of 2021 , far exceeding the annual average of 578 deaths between 2015 and 2020, in an occurrence  in which The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is calling an “unusual mortality event.” Scientists and environmentalists are arguing for the species to be considered endangered again. 

4. Loggerhead Sea Turtle

The Loggerhead sea turtle first joined the endangered species list in 1978 following population decline from the destruction of its beach nesting habitats and overharvesting of its eggs. The turtles are also common victims of bycatch in commercial fishing and trawling. As 95% of its US breeding population is located in Florida – though they can be also be found in South and North Carolina, and the Alabama coasts in the Gulf of Mexico – loggerhead sea turtles were heavily impacted by the development boom there, especially in recreational beach activities in which the Sunshine State is famous for. With decades of dedicated conservation efforts, the species managed to increase 24% of its population number between 1989 and 1998, with an estimated total of more than 100,000 nests each year. 

More on the topic: 7 Interesting Facts About Sea Turtles

5. California Condor

Though the bald eagle is the most recognisable bird of the prey in the US, the California condor is the largest known wild bird in North America. But it was all but extinct in the 1980s with only about six individuals left in the wild. The staggering number was a result of lead poisoning, where birds often accidentally ingest bullet fragments left in animal carcasses, and reduced eggshell thickness – which prevents the species to repopulate – from consuming pesticide DDT. The remaining six condors were then captured for an intensive breeding recovery programme, which helped boost population numbers up to 223 by 2003. 

6. Mississippi Gopher Frog

It’s estimated that there are fewer than 100-250 dusky gopher frogs left in the US, all of which can only be found in the state of Mississippi, from stump holes and burrows in longleaf pine forests – though 98% of America’s native longleaf-pine forest has since been destroyed – to isolated wetlands. The frogs lay eggs in shallow ponds that easily dries up for several months of the year, which deters fish from ingesting them. The amphibian was listed as an endangered species in 2001, where the US Fish and Wildlife Service designated over 7,000 acres of protected critical habitat in Mississippi and Louisiana to help its population recovery. 

7. San Joaquin Kit Fox

San Joaquin kit fox. Photo: Carley Sweet/USFWS/Flickr

San Joaquin kit foxes are about 51 cm long with​ big conspicuous ears, and are the smallest foxes in North America. As the name suggests, the fox inhabited much of California’s San Joaquin Valley prior to 1930 but like most endangered species, they’ve been threatened by extensive habitat loss and land conversion for agriculture and cities, as well as rodenticides in soil, which are crucial to kit fox burrows and denning. By 1979, less than 7% of the valley’s original wildlands remained undeveloped. Though it was listed as an endangered species in 1967, the kit fox population remains fewer than 7,000. 

8. Franklin’s Bumblebee

The Franklin’s bumblebee has not been sighted since 2006. One of the rarest bumblebees in the US, the species can only be found between southern Oregon and northern California. Population numbers have plummeted since 1998 due to habitat loss, widespread use of agricultural pesticides, as well as diseases transported through commercial greenhouses. Though the species is only listed as a “species of concern” with no conservation measures currently in place, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) described the bee as “imperilled”, stating that the species’ population has dropped to dangerously low levels.

You might also like: The American Bumblebee Population Has Dropped By 90% Within 20 Year

9. Black-Footed Ferret

Black-footed ferret. Photo: J. Michael Lockhart/USFWS/Flickr.

This adorable member of the weasel family is an animal that not only has black feet, but a black face mask and a black-tipped tail as well. Black-footed ferrets are the only ferret species native to the Americas and depend exclusively on prairie dog burrows for food and shelter. Conversion of native grasslands to agricultural land, widespread prairie dog eradication programmes, and non-native disease have all reduced black-footed ferret populations to less than 2% of their original range. Since falling under the protection of the Endangered Species Act in 1967 and captive breeding programmes, the black-footed ferret has recovered to close to 340 individuals in the wild. 

10. Lange’s Metalmark Butterfly

Lange’s metalmark butterfly is one of the most endangered species in the US and has been protected since 1976. They can only be found in the Antioch Dunes at the southern end of San Francisco Bay. The population of the butterfly has dived to just 45 in 2006, compared to its 250,000 in historic times because of habitat loss and degradation, the mining of sand for bricks, and the invasion of non-native plants.  Currently, there are only about 150 individuals remaining.

You might also like: 10 of the World’s Most Endangered Animals in 2023

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Australia is home to some of the world’s most unique and rare animal species. However, since European settlements in 1788, the country has experienced widespread habitat destruction and degradation, and the introduction of non-native predators such as cats and foxes, causing more than 100 endemic species to go extinct over the past 200 years. According to a recent study, Australia’s wildlife has also experienced unprecedented losses, with 202 new animal and plant species making the list of threatened species between 2016 and 2021. Many more animals are currently threatened or at risk of extinction as urban development and bushfire events persist. Here are 10 endangered species in Australia that are in dire need of protection.

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Most Endangered Species in Australia

1. Koala

Undoubtedly the most iconic animal species in Australia, koalas unfortunately have been hit hard in recent years due to a combination of factors including severe bushfires and droughts, and persistent habitat loss from land clearing. As koalas are arboreal, meaning that they spend most of their lives in trees, losing forest land critically impacts the survival of the species. Within the past three years, the koala population has plummeted down from eight million to 32,000 with many experts fearing that the marsupial will go extinct very soon. Every region across Australia saw a decline in population with zero evidence of any upward trends. In some areas, the loss has led to only five to 10 koalas remaining. 

You might also like: Australia Has Lost a Third of Its Koala Population in Just Three Year’s Time

2. Mountain Pygmy-possum

One of the starkest examples of a species facing extinction due to climate change, the Mountain Pygmy-possum is a tiny mammal no larger than a mice that are only found in the snowy mountain tops in Victoria and New South Wales. The marsupial goes through a prolonged hibernation over winter of up to seven months under two to four metres of snow. With rising temperatures, the length of time snow stays on mountain tops are lessened, shortening the possum’s hibernation period and impacting its food foraging activities. Along with added impacts from the 2019-2020 summer bushfires, losing critical habitats as a result, the species is highly vulnerable with only about 2,000 individuals left in the wild. 

3. Long-footed Potoroo

This small kangaroo-like marsupial can mostly be found in southeast Victoria and up across the border with New South Wales. Much like significant portions of wildlife in Australia, the long-footed Potoroo was severely impacted by the 2019-2020 bushfires, and lost much of its range and habitats. However, the animal has played a crucial role in the recovery of burnt areas, dispersing the spores of a fungi in its droppings that helps re-establish plant life in the affected areas. The Potoroo remains listed as Endangered in both the states of Victoria and New South Wales, as well by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Estimates place less than 2,500 individuals left in the wild and the species’ population continues to decline and fragmented from other factors like timbering and predators. 

Photo: Dash Huang/Flickr

4. Greater Glider

With soft toy-like bushy ears and tail, the Greater Glider is a nocturnal animal that travels the highest parts of the forest canopy across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria at night while denning in hollowed trees by day. Recent bushfires have destroyed the majority of its critical habitats while logging activities in the country saw its population drop by 80% within the last 20 years. Though the species is currently listed as vulnerable, experts predict they will likely become endangered in the next five years as land clearing and other destructive practices for urban development continue. 

5. Numbat

Also known as the banded anteater, the Numbat exclusively feed on termites – up to 20,000 every day – with its long sticky tongue. Land clearing, habitat loss and predation by feral predators such as cats, foxes, dingoes and birds of prey have driven the species to lose 99% of its historical range by the 1970s, pushing the animal to be endangered as a result. There are two naturally occurring populations remaining in the southwestern portion of Western Australia. While other populations have been reintroduced in New South Wales and South Australia, there are still only less than 1,000 individuals left in total in the country. 

You might also like: 10 Australian Extinct Animals That Came Back from the Dead

6. Regent Honeyeater

As its name suggests, the Regent Honeyeater feeds primarily on nectar from a small number of eucalypt plant species and other plant sugars. These birds play a crucial role as pollinators for many flowering plants. They can mainly be found in eucalypt forests and woodlands but land clearing, fragmentation and degradation of its natural habitats as well as competition for nectar from larger, more aggressive honeyeaters have driven its population to drop by more than 80% within three generations. The honeyeater is now listed as critically endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 with only just 300 individuals remaining in the wild. The species has become so threatened that scientists have found that it has started to lose its bird’s song. 

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

7. Orange-bellied Parrot

One of only three migratory parrot species in the world, the Orange-bellied Parrot migrates from Tasmania to coastal Victoria and South Australia to spend autumn and winter every year. While habitat loss and degradation are contributing factors, increased predators and noxious weeds as well as disease in their breeding region have all pushed the bird species to the brink of extinction – some estimates within three to five years – with only up to 50 mature individuals remaining. The lack of female parrots in the wild also makes it difficult to help with species recovery. 

8. Eastern Quoll 

The Eastern Quoll was once found throughout south-east Australia and has disappeared from the mainland Australian for more than half century due to disease, predation by foxes, feral cats and domestic dogs, poisoning and persecution. Today, they can only be found in Tasmania. This nocturnal catlike carnivorous marsupial not only hunts for invertebrates such as spiders, cockroaches and grasshoppers but also rabbits, mice and rats, acting as natural pest control and helping maintain the ecosystem. Other threats such as vehicle collision and trappings in some areas continue to hinder conservation efforts. 

You might also like: Australia’s Wildlife And Habitats Are Disappearing Rapidly: Report

9. Eastern Curlew

The Eastern Curlew is the largest shorebird in the world where it uses its impressive bill to dig through mud for crabs and molluscs. Wetland destruction and alteration to the chain of coastal wetlands along their migratory path, which have been degraded by urban development, flood mitigation, agriculture and pollution, have caused its population to plummet by more than 80% in the last 40 years, and is now critically endangered species in Australia. Additionally, the shorebird is also impacted by bycatch in fishing nets, disturbance of nest sites and degradation of coastal mudflats.

10. Woylie

Once widespread throughout Australia, this rabbit-sized marsupial has been threatened by the introduction of predators of foxes and cats, causing their rapid decline. Disease, competition with rabbits for food and impact from grazing animals from agricultural activities have all contributed to its status as a critically endangered species in Australia. Woylie plays an important role in the desert ecosystem as they disperse fungal spores that help native plants grow. Losing this species could have long-term effects on the larger natural environment. 

You might also like: 10 of the World’s Most Endangered Animals in 2022

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According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species – the world’s most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species – at least 37% of the world’s sharks and rays, 33% of reef corals, 26% of mammals (including marine) and 21% of reptiles are threatened with extinction. Many of these species live in oceans and marine environments, but overfishing, habitat loss and degradation, pollution, as well as climate change, have plagued many animals to the brink of extinction. These are just 11 examples of the most endangered species in the ocean that are in urgent need of protection. 

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Endangered Species in the Ocean in 2024

1. Vaquita 

This timid and highly elusive dolphin is found exclusively on Mexico’s Gulf of California. Measuring in at just 1.5 metres, the vaquita is also the smallest of all cetacean species. Despite its relatively recent discovery in 1958, rampant and unregulated fishing practices, particularly the use of gill nets, in its limited habitats have pushed the animal to the brink of extinction with only a mere 10 individuals remaining in the wild. Bycatching alone, whereby large amounts of unwanted sea animals are captured during the fishing for a particular species, have led to a 94% population decline between 1997 and 2016. Despite increased awareness of its plight and attempted conservation efforts, Mexico has rolled back previous protective measures including a fishing-free vaquita refuge and increased fishing boat quotas in native vaquita habitats. 

If you want to learn more about the vaquita, check out our Endangered Species Spotlight series

2. North Atlantic Right Whale

By 2021, the North Atlantic right whale population was estimated to have plummeted down to fewer than 340 individuals, a sharp decline from the 480 individuals in 2011. The dramatically decreasing whale population is doubly harmed by ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear. Initiatives such as the deployment of ‘ropeless’ fishing gear aim to reduce ongoing threats to the species, but in many parts of the world, limited or lack of fishing restrictions have slowed conservation efforts. In Maine, US for example, its lobster fishery – a major contributor of the state’s economy – has been locked in an adversarial relationship with conservationists over designated protected areas. 

3. Yangtze Finless Porpoise 

The clue is in the name, this marine mammal is endemic to the Yangtze River in China – the longest river in Asia that generates as much as 20% of China’s GDP – and one of the few cetaceans that live in freshwater systems. The finless porpoise has been heavily impacted by local fisheries such as bycatching and entanglement. The waterways the porpoise live in are often packed with boat traffic, increasing the risk of collisions and injuries. Additionally, the river has suffered industrial and plastic pollution as well as agricultural runoff. As result, the porpoise population plunged to only 1,040 (from the latest figures in 2017).The annual decline rate of 13% means these animals are expected to become extinct within 10 years if there are no effective conservation actions in place. 

4. Hawaiian Monk Seal

Native to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, the Hawaiian Monk Seal is one of the two remaining in the monk seal species and one of the earless seals living in warm beaches (instead of typically colder climates). Historically, the monk seal has been heavily poached and hunted for its meat, oil and skin, devastating its population numbers. But the survival of the species is further threatened by plastic pollution and marine debris and entanglement in fishing nets in and around Hawaiian waters. According to recent research, its total population is estimated to be about 1,400. 

5. Hawksbill Turtles and Kemp’s Ridley Turtles

Of the seven species of sea turtle found all over the world, six of them are classified as either threatened or endangered. Hawksbill Turtles and Kemp’s Ridley Turtles, however, are considered critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, with the latter’s population estimated to be less than 10,000. Coastal development, marine pollution, overfishing and hunting are the biggest threats to these endangered species in the ocean. Over the past few decades, the sea turtles have been impacted by reduced amount of viable land where they can lay their eggs as well as targets from poachers for their eggs, shells, meat and skin. Climate change also poses specific challenges such as harsher storms, rising sea levels, shifting current, and hotter sands – sand temperature determines the sex of hatchlings when eggs develop, warmer temperatures thereby skew the sex ratio of populations. Additionally, artificial light sources from urban buildings have been known to confuse and misdirect new hatchlings. 

To learn about more endangered species in the ocean, read: The Impacts of Noise Pollution in the Ocean

6. Giant Manta Ray

A 2020 IUCN report found that giant manta ray had undergone a population decline of between 50% and 79% within 87 years, which they attributed to be a direct result of unsustainable fishing practices. Giant manta rays are targeted and harvested for their gill plates, which they use to filter feed on small zooplankton from the water column, especially in the emerging market in Asia. Combined with the fact that manta rays give birth to just one offspring every few years in the wild, with the young often left unprotected, population recovery has been particularly slow and challenging. Though information on the global distribution of giant manta rays is lacking, regional population sizes are estimated to range from around 100 to 1,500 individuals. 

7. Whale Shark

Among the most endangered species in the ocean are also whale sharks. Contrary to its name, the whale shark is not a whale species but is both the largest species of shark and the largest species of fish. Broadly found across tropical and warm temperate seas with large populations in the Atlantic Ocean and the Indo-Pacific Ocean, whale sharks are big contributors to the resilience of tropical marine ecosystems. They provide habitat and shelter for smaller sea creatures and maintain a mutually beneficial relationship with tuna. But anthropogenic threats, namely from the fishing industry and cargo traffic (and noise pollution), are devastating the species. In the Indo-Pacific region, where approximately 75% of all whale sharks remain, a decline of 63% was inferred over a period of 75 years. As a filter-feeder, the whale shark is also at greater risk of ingesting toxic or indigestible pollutants entering the oceans, including plastics and industrial runoffs. 

8. Northern Fur Seal

Northern fur seals spend most of the year in water  – covering from Japan to the Channel Islands of California – and only come to shore to breed. The seal was hunted extensively for their fur in the late 1800s until the US finally banned commercial harvest and placed the fur seals under the protection of the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1985, making it illegal to kill them except for research or native subsistence. Despite the respite, there are only about 1.1 million individuals left worldwide and continues to face challenges such as competition with commercial fishing industries, bycatch, and climate change. 

9. Southern Bluefin Tuna

This commercially important fish species has recently moved from being listed as a ‘critically endangered’ species to ‘endangered’ following a decade of regional fishing quotas and ​​crack down on illegal fishing. But the threat of overfishing remains while some tuna stocks are still “severely depleted” in certain regions. Rising ocean temperatures poses another challenge for the Southern bluefin tuna, affecting their respiratory and circulatory systems. And since tunas swim continuously and at high speed, therefore have a high demand for oxygen, climate change is also impacting the oxygen concentration in the water. 

10. Dugong

Commonly known as “sea cows”, dugongs – which are cousins of manatees – graze peacefully on sea grasses in shallow coastal waters of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. These friendly giants are threatened by coastal development, loss of habitat and food (seagrass) and water pollution. The Persian Gulf has the second-largest dugong population in the world, inhabiting most of the southern coast, and the current population is believed to range from 5,800 to 7,300. 

11. Coral Reefs

Global coral reef systems have no doubt been hit hardest by rising ocean temperatures and climate change. Coral reefs are one of the most important and diverse marine ecosystems;  despite covering only 2% of the ocean area, they house 25% of all marine life. Though stony corals make up most tropical reefs, there is a stunning variety of corals found across the ocean floor. Increasingly warmer waters and acidification in recent years have led to a number of major coral bleaching events, where corals loose their vibrant colours leaving only their exoskeleton, causing the death of many corals. In the latest Status of Coral Reefs of the World report, global coral cover has been halved since the 1950s, attributing to human-driven climate change, highly-damaging practices such as overfishing, dredging, quarrying, and bottom trawling, and pollution from poorly recycled sewage water and pervasive plastics. The shrinking of coral cover has translated into a 60% loss in reef biodiversity and toll on coastal populations. 

You might also like: 15 Facts About Overfishing

The post 11 of the Most Endangered Species in the Ocean in 2024 appeared first on Earth.Org.

Following the latest IPCC report published in March, warning that we are running out of time to limit global warming to 1.5C, the climate crisis is accelerating at a pace like never before. From deforestation to plastic pollution, several factors are causing the exacerbation of climate change. As part of Earth.Org’s ‘Environmental Issues’ series, here are some of the biggest ones Hong Kong faces in 2024. 

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Biggest Environmental Issues in Hong Kong

1. Outdoor Air Pollution

One of the top environmental issues in Hong Kong is air pollution. According to a 2022 study of global mortality and pollution levels published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal, 9 million people around the world die from outdoor air pollution every year. Long-term exposure to severe air pollution also poses serious health problems ranging from chronic respiratory infections and diseases to increased risk of cancer. 

Based on Hong Kong Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) records, street-level air pollution in densely populated areas including Causeway Bay, Central and Mong Kok often exceed WHO guidelines, reflecting a sizeable number of Hong Kong residents breathing in air that contains high levels of pollutants every day.  

Causes of air pollution in Hong Kong derive from sources like fossil fuel motor vehicles and regional smog, which is caused by pollutants from marine vessels and industrial power plants within the city and from mainland China. 

Though the Hong Kong government has announced plans to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, the current rate of carbon emissions shows no signs of slowing down. As for 2021, the number of private motor vehicles registered in Hong Kong reaches up to 657,000, nearly 30,000 more vehicles compared to the previous year. Despite being home to one of the best public transportation systems in the world, Hong Kong residents still heavily rely on private cars when commuting in the city and that proportion continues to grow with each passing year. Within the past decade, the volume of private cars has increased by almost a third, contributing massive amounts of carbon emissions in the city. 

You might also like: 10 Facts About Air Pollution That’ll Take Your Breath Away

While the government has made efforts to regulate emissions from industrial power plants and marine vessels that pass through our waters, smog from the Pearl River Delta region has proven difficult to control. Collaboration efforts with Guangdong authorities have been made in improving air quality in the Great Bay Area region, but improvements in air quality have yet to be seen. 

One of three strategic landfill sites in Tuen Mun, Hong Kong. Photo: Edwin Lee/Flickr.

2. Landfill Waste

One of the most glaring environmental issues Hong Kong currently faces is landfill waste. Every year, about 4.17 million tonnes of solid waste make its way to our landfills, and during to the coronavirus pandemic, local waste has exponentially grown thanks to the increased use of food takeout boxes, plastic cutleries and single-use masks. Landfill gases, which are emissions from landfills decompose organic waste, will continue to surge as a result and contribute towards global warming, especially when you consider 40-60% of landfill emissions are methane gases, and have 10 times the warming potential than carbon dioxide. 

As one of the most densely populated cities in the world with a population of almost 7.5 million people, Hong Kong is in an immensely difficult position to create new dedicated landfills sites. Reducing and recycling waste is the only viable long term solution in dealing with the city’s insurmountable landfill waste problem. And while the Waste Charging Scheme passed by the Legislative Council in late 2021 – 16 years after it was first proposed – is a good first step, much more is needed to tackle the issue.

More on the topic: Can the Municipal Waste Charging Scheme Help With Waste Reduction in Hong Kong?

3. Plastic Pollution 

Even before the coronavirus pandemic, Hong Kong generate about 3.9 billion disposable food and drink containers every year. This amounts to 170 takeaway meals and 180 disposal drinks for every Hongkonger. As restaurants limit opening hours and seating capacities during the pandemic, people rely on takeaway options and the amount of plastic containers and cutleries used and disposed of has only soared. In 2020, plastics made up 21% of the city’s total municipal solid waste (MSW), accounting for the third-largest share of MSW after food waste and paper. The city’s beaches and waterways are drowning in plastic, and microplastic levels in the sea are 40% higher than the global average. According to estimates,  more than 5,000 pieces of microplastic can be found in every square metre of sea.

Some F&B companies have made the effort to adopt biodegradable and even compostable takeaway packaging and utensils, but a majority of local restaurants and small businesses still opt for low-cost materials like styrofoam. 

The lack of an efficient recycling infrastructure is a major contributing factor in the plastic crisis in Hong Kong. In 2019, less than 20% of plastic packaging waste was recycled due to the lack of adequate recycling facilities. Prior to China’s Waste Ban, where the country placed a ban on importing unprocessed materials, Hong Kong used to offload the city’s rubbish to the mainland for recycling. Since the policy implementation, Hong Kong has yet developed enough recycling plants to compensate. While some government interventions such as the Plastic Recycling Pilot Scheme seem to be working, as Hong Kong experienced a 27% increase in locally recycled plastics in 2020, plastic problem is still haunting the city.

You might also like: China’s Refusal to Take Back Food Containers Exposes Hong Kong’s Broken Plastic Waste Management System

4. Food Waste

Known as an international food paradise, Hong Kong has a reputation for affordable and a stunning variety of international cuisines. Consequently, this means that food waste is equally high in the city and without a doubt one of the biggest environmental issues that Hong Kong faces. 

Food waste in Hong Kong accounts for about 30% of municipal solid waste that goes straight to landfills. In 2019, a recorded 1,067 tonnes of food waste were produced from commercial and industrial sources such as restaurants, hotels and wet markets. The amount of food waste has also been on the rise especially in the F&B industry where it grew from 800 tonnes per day in 2012 to 1,000 tonnes of waste generated per day in 2019. 

While the government has introduced educational initiatives and an operating organic waste recovery center OPARK, over 3,600 tonnes of food waste are still being sent to Hong Kong’s landfills each day, contributing to over hundred thousand tonnes of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. 

Land reclamation site for Central piers, Hong Kong. Photo: Piqsels.

5. Biodiversity Loss

Hong Kong has surprisingly rich biodiversity thanks to its large natural terrain and coastal waters. In fact, 40% of the city’s land belongs to country parks and protected areas, which supports more than 3,300 species of vascular plants, 57 species of terrestrial mammals, and more than 540 species of birds. Our waters also support over 1,000 species of fishes, too. 

However, in order to make space for the city’s already dense and growing population, Hong Kong has devoted much effort in urbanisation and land reclamation. Land development, be it deforestation or illegal waste dumping, is one of the growing environmental issues be in Hong Kong, and has led to significant impacts to the local biodiversity and habits. 

The pink dolphin, also known as the Chinese white dolphin, is a prime example of how local species are threatened by continued land development. The waters surrounding Hong Kong have been part of the dolphins’ habitat for centuries, with recorded sightings going back to the Tang Dynasty. The number of pink dolphins that frequent Hong Kong coastlines has dropped to about 300 in recent years due to heavy vessel traffic and most importantly, its shrinking habitat. The development of the Chek Lap Kok island, which is home to the Hong Kong International Airport, and the associated land reclamation have reduced the amount of fish dolphins can eat while dredging has unearthed pollution from the seafloor causing water pollution. A massive 1,700 hectares land reclamation plan near the easter waters of Lantau Island that was proposed in 2018 will further deteriorate the dolphin habitat as well as increase vulnerabilities to rising sea levels. 

You might also like: ‘The Oyster Odyssey’: A Journey to Restore Hong Kong’s Coastal Ecosystems 

Another serious threat to Hong Kong biodiversity is illegal wildlife trafficking. The city is home to one of the largest hubs for the illegal wildlife trafficking industry thanks to its free ports, geographical location in the Greater Bay Area and accessibility to other Asian countries. Every year, the city sees millions of live animals and their derivatives pass through its ports. In 2019 alone, more than 7,000 endangered animals were illegally traded in the city, including pangolins and live turtles. However a landmark bill was passed in August 2021 which will treat illegal wildlife trading and seizures as a serious crime while placing greater attention on organised criminals and networks instead of carriers and mules. The passage of the amendment aims to deter smuggling operations and supply networks in the city. 

6. Water Pollution 

Hong Kong is a unique city surrounded by the South China Sea, where marine waters cover about 1700 km² and home to a wide range of different marine environments. In the early 1970s and 80s, most of the city’s sewage and wastewater were discharged into the sea, with little to no treatment. As a result, Hong Kong waters experienced a surge in organic and inorganic pollutants, a reduction of oxygen content, and increased bacteria levels. By 2005, Hong Kong generated about 2 million tonnes of wastewater as well as industrial effluents every day, making it one of the main sources of water pollution in Hong Kong. 

Marine pollution has also been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic as an additional 4,680 to 6,240 metric tonnes of marine plastic waste made its way into the Hong Kong waters. An estimated 1.56 billion face masks were dumped into the ocean during this period, which experts have said will take as long as 450 years to break down. Microplastics from single-use masks are also incredibly harmful to marine life and the ecosystem, potentially killing up to 100,000 marine mammals and turtles, and over a million seabirds. 

You might also like: 15 Biggest Environmental Problems Of 2024

The post 6 Biggest Environmental Issues in Hong Kong in 2024 appeared first on Earth.Org.