California condors return to Sequoia National Park for first time in 50 years
By 1985, only nine condors remained in the wild. This sighting signals that federal efforts to bring the California condor back from near-extinction are working.
Flora & fauna
Endangered tiger populations in India and Thailand are rebounding
In a triumphant moment for the endangered species, new photos released today on World Tiger Day 2020, revealed sightings of numerous new tigers in a region of western Thailand for the first time in four years.
Ocean Voyages Institute sets record with largest open ocean clean-up in history
Ocean Voyages Institute’s marine plastic recovery vessel, S/V KWAI completed a 48-day expedition, successfully removing 103 tons of fishing nets and consumer plastics from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
The Ecosia search engine team has just planted its 100-millionth tree
For eleven years, the search engine Ecosia has used most of the revenue from advertising on its website and app towards planting trees—and this month they planted their 100-millionth tree.
More than 2 million people in India gather to plant 250 million trees
More than 2 million people gathered Sunday at river banks, farmlands and government buildings in northern India while trying to practice social distancing to plant 250 million trees as part of a government plan to tackle climate change.
Pakistan to establish 15 new national parks
Under the Protected Area Initiative, a national park will be made in each province. Under the initiative, the coverage of the protected area in the country will be enhanced to 15 per cent of the country’s land area from the current 13 per cent.
Sephora bans all mink fur eyelashes
Sephora just banned all fur eyelashes including mink and will instead produce synthetic and faux fur alternatives. The decision follows pressure from PETA and over 280,000 emails from concerned consumers.
Unilever lays out plans for $1 billion investment in climate and nature fund
The consumer goods powerhouse, which owns brands including Marmite, Ben & Jerry’s and Lipton, said the investment will be spent over the next ten years on projects including water preservation, landscape restoration, wildlife protection and carbon sequestration.
E.U. pledges to raise $20 billion a year to boost biodiversity
The European Commission has committed to protecting 30% of the EU’s land and oceans by 2030. The 10-year plan includes reducing chemical pesticides by 50% and planting 3 billion trees by 2030.
Critically endangered Hainan gibbons return from brink of extinction
“Even though the numbers are still small, you can see a future for this animal,” said senior conservation officer Philip Lo Yik-fui of Hong Kong-based Kadoorie Conservation China, which was driving efforts to protect the gibbons and expand their habitat.