Rare Madagascan tortoises stolen

Four of the world’s rarest tortoises have been stolen from a captive breeding programme in Madagascar.

Beavers return after 400 year gap

A total of 11 beavers have been released into the wild in Argyll as part of a reintroduction programme.

Directive Limits Activity in Roadless Areas of Forests

Stepping into a major environmental dispute, the Obama administration said Thursday that no new timber-cutting or road project could begin in roadless areas of national forests without the permission of the secretary of agriculture.

Chinese skyscraper designed to set efficiency benchmark

China is in the middle of the greatest building boom in human history, with armies of construction workers erecting skyscrapers that will soon eclipse anything in New York City in terms of height and energy consumption.

Va. to continue blue crab restrictions

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission yesterday voted unanimously to leave in place emergency restrictions on the harvest of the Chesapeake Bay’s blue crab population.

Carbon Sequestration – an optimal clean technology?

While coal-fueled power plants are directly responsible for roughly one-third of our CO2 emissions, the DOE indicates that coal is expected to dominate our domestic power generation at least for the next 25 years. Globally, the increased demand for coal-fueled electricity will translate into a 57% rise in related CO2 emissions by 2030 according to the IEA.

Yale Study Finds Evidence that Damaged Ecosystems Can Recover Rapidly

A recent study by Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies reports that if humans commit to the restoration effort, most ecosystems can recover from very major disruption within decades to half-centuries.

Toxin Is Accelerating Demise of Fossil Fish

A chemical applied to ship hulls is robbing Chinese sturgeon of their eyes and causing other deformities, according to a new study. The toxin may deal a death blow to the already-endangered fish, a living fossil that the Chinese government considers a “national treasure.”

Shining a (Natural) Light on Green Schools

Faced with a large stock of deteriorating public school buildings, school districts across the country are experimenting with new construction and renovations that save energy as well as improve educational facilities.

Business Opportunities in Rising Seas?

Sea levels are expected to rise in coming decades, creating new opportunities for companies that can offer services aimed at protecting coastlines.

Yemen: Qat Cultivation Draining Water Reserves

The tall green shrubs on Yehia Abdullah’s farm in the Haraz mountains produce the bitter-tasting leaves that feed the nation’s number one addiction. More than seven million Yemenis chew qat, the mildly narcotic leaf of the Catha edulis tree. Expanding cultivation of qat to meet growing national demand is rapidly depleting Yemen’s limited groundwater resources, experts warn.

Emissions traders expect U.S. carbon market soon

Carbon market professionals hope speedy U.S. Congressional approval of a federal cap and trade scheme will boost emissions trading, which is threatened by recession and slow U.N. climate talks.