Articles Index
Global Population Hits 7 Billion
World population reached an all-time high 7 billion in 2011, and the population is still growing rapidly. What effects can we expect from having 7 billion people living on Earth?
Nations of the World Pledge to Conserve Biodiversity
The Nagoya Protocol and other strategic plans to conserve biodiversity were adopted by 193 nations in October 2010 in Nagoya, Japan, but 50 countries must ratify the Nagoya Protocol by February 1, 2012, before it can take effect.
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.
How 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.
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?
What Have We Learned About Honeybees Disappearing?
Years after the first reports of honeybees disappearing, honeybees are still threatened. What's the latest info on honeybees disappearing, and how does organic farming affect honeybees disappearing?
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.
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.
Is African Wildlife Headed for Extinction?
Why are African wildlife numbers dwindling? Find out what threatens African elephants, hippos, rhinos and lions, plus how you can help save African wildlife.
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.
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.
Brazil Pledges to Cut Amazon Deforestation by 70 Percent
Brazil has unveiled a plan to slow deforestation in the Amazon rainforest by more than 70 percent by 2018, which will significantly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, protect wildlife habitat, and preserve valuable medicinal plants.
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.
Condoms to Help Preserve 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.
Bird Extinctions Occurring Faster Than Previously Believed
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.
Polar Bears Threatened by Global Warming, says Bush Administration
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.