The Trump Administration’s dismantling of USAID has done more than cut off life-saving humanitarian assistance. It has also eliminated funding for environmental protection and conservation work in dozens of countries, with many programs now being forced to shut down.
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INTERVIEW
How a Former Herder Protected Mongolia’s Vast Grasslands
Batmunkh Luvsandash has fought to protect more than a million acres of steppe lands in his native Mongolia. In an interview with Yale Environment 360, he explains how, by drawing on the knowledge of local herders, he was able to take on the powerful mining industry and win.
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Solutions
A.I. Is Quietly Powering a Revolution in Weather Prediction
Weather forecasts powered by artificial intelligence are usually more accurate — and require less computational energy and fewer human hours — than conventional predictions. But questions remain about A.I. systems’ reliability and their ability to forecast extreme weather events.
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RIVERS
On a Dammed River, Amazon Villagers Fight to Restore the Flow
Indigenous communities that rely on the natural flow of the Xingu River have long fought the Belo Monte dam in Brazil. With the dam now up for relicensing, they are urging the government to allow more water to flow, which would help revive the river and their way of life.
Biodiversity
With the Great Mussel Die-Off, Scientists Scramble for Answers
One of the most endangered animals in the world, freshwater mussels are threatened by pollution, climate change, habitat loss, and invasive species. But in the epicenter of their diversity — the Southeastern U.S. — the root cause of a catastrophic die-off remains a mystery.
E360 Digest
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Wildlife Returns to Site of Devastating Southern California Wildfire
Four months after the Eaton Fire tore through Altadena, California, wildlife is making a comeback. More about Wildlife Returns to Site of Devastating Southern California Wildfire →
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Heat and Fire Making Pollution Worse Across Much of the U.S.
By several measures, air pollution is getting worse in the U.S., a trend due in large part to more severe heat and wildfires, according to a new report. More about Heat and Fire Making Pollution Worse Across Much of the U.S. →
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In a First, Chimps Found Sharing Fermented Fruit
For the first time, wild chimpanzees have been caught on film sharing fermented fruit. The footage comes from Cantanhez National Park in the West African nation of Guinea-Bissau, where camera traps recorded chimps eating fermented breadfruit together on 10 separate occasions. More about In a First, Chimps Found Sharing Fermented Fruit →
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ANALYSIS
Recycling Nuclear Waste: A Win-Win or a Dangerous Gamble?
As interest in nuclear power rises, startups are pursuing plans to recycle spent fuel and reuse its untapped energy to power reactors. Advocates tout new recycling methods as a breakthrough, but many experts warn it will extract plutonium that could be used for nuclear weapons.
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CONFLICT
In War-Torn Sudan, a Gold Mining Boom Takes a Human Toll
As civil war rages in Sudan, a surge in gold production is helping finance and arm the warring factions. Most of the mining is done on a small scale by villagers who process the gold using mercury and cyanide, posing serious threats to their health and to the environment.
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Opinion
With NOAA Cuts, a Proud Legacy and Vital Science Are at Risk
For more than 50 years, NOAA has pioneered climate research and been instrumental in advancing modern weather forecasting. Now labeled by Project 2025 as part of the “climate alarm industry” and facing DOGE-driven cuts, the future of this valuable public asset is in jeopardy.
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Biodiversity
Imperiled in the Wild, Many Plants May Survive Only in Gardens
As the impacts of climate change and other threats mount, conservationists are racing to preserve endangered plant species in botanical garden “metacollections” in the hope of eventually returning them to the wild. But what happens when there is no suitable habitat to return them to?
