A visit to Baltimore’s Cylburn Arboretum finds Morgan Grove, a former Forest Service researcher, examining a white oak tree. The tree was planted by agency scientists, and Grove’s inspection symbolizes a broader discussion about Baltimore’s unique recycling facility and the challenges facing the U.S. Forest Service. Unlike other cities that pay to discard fallen trees, […]
Emergence of New World Screwworm in Texas In Texas, a second instance of New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasitic fly, has been identified in a calf. Canada has responded with a temporary ban on livestock imports from the affected region. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported the detection in Zavala County, close to a […]
The beginning of 2026 has proven particularly challenging for air quality in Southern California. According to statewide air monitoring, the first five months have seen the highest number of unhealthy air days in over a decade. The South Coast air basin, which includes counties such as Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino, recorded 39 […]
Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo shelters several hundred mountain gorillas, representing about a third of their global population. Park rangers are screening visitors for Ebola to protect these primates, who are highly vulnerable to the virus. Emmanuel de Merode, the director of Virunga National Park, describes the area as a scene […]
The severe heat waves in India since April have posed significant challenges for the country’s essential workers. Many of these workers are forced to weigh health concerns against financial necessities. In New Delhi, vendors have been using large umbrellas to create shade at a flea market near Jama Masjid, a well-known mosque. Auto-rickshaw driver Sunil […]
Protests Against Luxury Resort Thousands in Albania have been protesting against a proposed luxury resort, linked to Jared Kushner’s investment firm. The development threatens a protected coastal area, home to flamingos, seals, and sea turtles. Protesters emphasize that Albania is not for sale, carrying slogans like ‘Ivanka! Keep your hands away from Narta,’ referring to […]
An oil lease auction in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge concluded with limited interest. Only about 10 percent of the land was claimed for development. Former President Trump’s predictions of an economic boom through drilling in this area fell flat. The auction generated approximately $3.7 million. Nearly half of this amount came from Alaska’s state-owned […]
As World Environment Day nears, the food and beverage sector will once again showcase a variety of sustainability catchphrases. They describe their coffee as regenerative, their cocoa as responsibly sourced, and their packaging as circular and recyclable. Their supply chain claims to be carbon neutral, environmentally protective, and employing nature-based solutions. Words like green, eco-friendly, […]
Officials in Wellington, New Zealand, have reported the largest-ever confiscation of exotic invertebrates in Australia. Over 100,000 live cockroaches, illegal to keep in Australia, were seized from a breeder in Bathurst, New South Wales. This seizure, valued at 200,000 Australian dollars ($142,000), occurred in May. The confiscated species include Madagascar hissing cockroaches and dubia cockroaches. […]
The New World screwworm, known for its flesh-eating larvae, has unexpectedly returned to the United States after 60 years of eradication efforts. These pests, which inflict serious harm on livestock, wildlife, and pets, have caused concerns among farmers and scientists. Federal officials reported the latest infestation in a Texas calf, marking the screwworm’s first appearance […]