Environmental Issues: Biodiversity & Conservation
How do changes to the environment affect the many species of plants and animals on the planet? Learn about the environmental issues that affect biodiversity, and about conservation efforts that can maintain biodiversity around the world.
U.S. Lists Polar Bears as Threatened Species, but Fails to Ban Oil Drilling
The United States has listed polar bears as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, but at the same time left the door open for continued oil drilling in polar bear habitat.
The United States has listed polar bears as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, but at the same time left the door open for continued oil drilling in polar bear habitat.
Condoms to Help Preserve the Amazon Rainforest
Condoms are used by millions of people worldwide to prevent pregnancy and stop the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, but now Brazil has come up with a new use for condoms: preserving the Amazon rainforest.
Condoms are used by millions of people worldwide to prevent pregnancy and stop the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, but now Brazil has come up with a new use for condoms: preserving the Amazon rainforest.
Global Population Growth is Creating Serious Environmental Problems
Population growth is placing tremendous stress on Earth's resources and the natural environment, creating a scarcity of food and water and leading to problems such as deforestation and increased global warming. Learn what can be done to achieve a sustainable balance between human population and available resources.
Population growth is placing tremendous stress on Earth's resources and the natural environment, creating a scarcity of food and water and leading to problems such as deforestation and increased global warming. Learn what can be done to achieve a sustainable balance between human population and available resources.
Can Ocean Desalination Solve the World's Water Shortage?
As ocean desalination plants are being built, environmentalists are expressing concerns about the long-term envionmental effects of desalination. Learn why desalination may not be the best solution to our water shortage.
As ocean desalination plants are being built, environmentalists are expressing concerns about the long-term envionmental effects of desalination. Learn why desalination may not be the best solution to our water shortage.
Is African Wildlife Headed for Extinction?
Are hunting and
Are hunting and
Why are Honeybees Disappearing?
Honeybee colonies are dying or disappearing in record numbers. What is causing the dramatic decline in honeybee populations in the U.S. and elsewhere, how is the honeybee loss affecting agriculture and food supplies, and what is being done to solve the problem?
Honeybee colonies are dying or disappearing in record numbers. What is causing the dramatic decline in honeybee populations in the U.S. and elsewhere, how is the honeybee loss affecting agriculture and food supplies, and what is being done to solve the problem?
Does Classroom Dissection Deplete Species, Encourage Cruelty to Animals?
Dissecting frogs and other creatures has been a standard teaching practice in science classes for generations, but collecting amphibians, birds and other animals for dissection puts added pressure on species that are struggling to survive the habitat loss and other environmental changes. Meanwhile, some studies have shown dissection may not achieve the educational goals teachers once thought, and new digital teaching tools offer alternatives that carry no environmental consequences.
Dissecting frogs and other creatures has been a standard teaching practice in science classes for generations, but collecting amphibians, birds and other animals for dissection puts added pressure on species that are struggling to survive the habitat loss and other environmental changes. Meanwhile, some studies have shown dissection may not achieve the educational goals teachers once thought, and new digital teaching tools offer alternatives that carry no environmental consequences.
Bush Administration: Polar Bears Threatened by Global Warming
Polar bears need to be protected from the effects of global warming, according to a proposal by the Bush administration to make polar bears a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. But does the Bush administration's new concern for polar bears also signal a new intention to address the broader problems of global warming?
Polar bears need to be protected from the effects of global warming, according to a proposal by the Bush administration to make polar bears a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. But does the Bush administration's new concern for polar bears also signal a new intention to address the broader problems of global warming?
What Good are Greenbelts?
Greenbelts are areas of undeveloped land around urban areas, intended to provide open space and control development. But are greenbelts more than decoration or a concession to environmentalists? Do greenbelts serve any real purpose? Learn more about the vital role of greenbelts in urban design and global resources management.
Greenbelts are areas of undeveloped land around urban areas, intended to provide open space and control development. But are greenbelts more than decoration or a concession to environmentalists? Do greenbelts serve any real purpose? Learn more about the vital role of greenbelts in urban design and global resources management.
Would Removing Dams Restore Wild Salmon Runs?
Hydroelectric dams harnessed U.S. rivers and brought light into the darkness in a cleaner, more sustainable way than most other power plants could claim. But the dams also created an impenetrable barrier that blocked migrating salmon, making it impossible for them to reach the sea or return to their spawning grounds. Today, many dams are being studied for possible removal, which could create a new era of restoration for wild salmon runs.
Hydroelectric dams harnessed U.S. rivers and brought light into the darkness in a cleaner, more sustainable way than most other power plants could claim. But the dams also created an impenetrable barrier that blocked migrating salmon, making it impossible for them to reach the sea or return to their spawning grounds. Today, many dams are being studied for possible removal, which could create a new era of restoration for wild salmon runs.
Bird Extinctions Occurring Faster Than Previously Known
Bird species are disappearing far more quickly than previously known--at the rate of about one species per year--according to the most comprehensive analysis of global bird species ever conducted
Bird species are disappearing far more quickly than previously known--at the rate of about one species per year--according to the most comprehensive analysis of global bird species ever conducted
Scientist Says Reduce Human Beings by 90 Percent to Help Environment
A professor at the University of Texas at Austin believes planet Earth would be better off if Mother Nature simply killed off 90 percent of the human population -- and he predicts that is exactly what will happen in the not-too-distant future. What's behind this controversial theory?
A professor at the University of Texas at Austin believes planet Earth would be better off if Mother Nature simply killed off 90 percent of the human population -- and he predicts that is exactly what will happen in the not-too-distant future. What's behind this controversial theory?
Global Water Supply Drying Up as Population Grows
Water covers 70 percent of the Earth's surface, yet billions of people lack access to clean water. Population growth in many water-stressed countries, plus excess water use in developed countries, is shrinking water resources worldwide and raising fears about water scarcity. Learn what you can do to help.
Water covers 70 percent of the Earth's surface, yet billions of people lack access to clean water. Population growth in many water-stressed countries, plus excess water use in developed countries, is shrinking water resources worldwide and raising fears about water scarcity. Learn what you can do to help.
Amazon Rainforest: Half of Remaining Rainforest Could Soon Disappear
Preserving the Amazon rainforest in South America, as well as other rainforests worldwide, remains an important global environmental issue, even when the news media turns its attention elsewhere. Although they cover a relatively small percentage of the planet, rainforests are home to about half of the plant and animal species on Earth. Yet, according to the United Nations, at least 37.5 million acres of rainforests are lost every year. Find out more.
Preserving the Amazon rainforest in South America, as well as other rainforests worldwide, remains an important global environmental issue, even when the news media turns its attention elsewhere. Although they cover a relatively small percentage of the planet, rainforests are home to about half of the plant and animal species on Earth. Yet, according to the United Nations, at least 37.5 million acres of rainforests are lost every year. Find out more.
Biodiversity Hotspots
The most remarkable places on Earth are also among the most threatened, where biodiversity is under seige by the dual pressures of poverty and overdevelopment, and where many endangered species are at risk of extinction.
The most remarkable places on Earth are also among the most threatened, where biodiversity is under seige by the dual pressures of poverty and overdevelopment, and where many endangered species are at risk of extinction.
U.S. Office of Habitat Conservation
The Office of Habitat Conservation, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, interacts with the NOAA Fisheries Regional Offices to manage, conserve and enhance habitats for fishery resources, protected species and other marine life.
The Office of Habitat Conservation, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, interacts with the NOAA Fisheries Regional Offices to manage, conserve and enhance habitats for fishery resources, protected species and other marine life.
What is Fisheries Habitat?
Information about a critical environmental issue from the NOAA Fisheries Office of Habitat Conservation.
Information about a critical environmental issue from the NOAA Fisheries Office of Habitat Conservation.
Ethics for a Small Planet
Subtitled "A Communications Handbook on the Ethical and Theological Reasons for Protecting Biodiversity," this book explores the subject of conservation in a broad and unusual context, and offers tools and tips for discussing biodiversity in terms of ethics and faith.
Subtitled "A Communications Handbook on the Ethical and Theological Reasons for Protecting Biodiversity," this book explores the subject of conservation in a broad and unusual context, and offers tools and tips for discussing biodiversity in terms of ethics and faith.
The Biodiversity Project
This independent nonprofit organization, based in Madison, Wisconsin, develops and promotes communication strategies to help Americans understand the critical links between biodiversity and their own lives.
This independent nonprofit organization, based in Madison, Wisconsin, develops and promotes communication strategies to help Americans understand the critical links between biodiversity and their own lives.