First cases of avian flu found in Antarctic region

Researchers identify species and areas most vulnerable to spread of infection

A complement, not a substitute

Cash transfer is effective only if basic services are in place

Sao Paulo

Lethal messenger

El Niño brings deadly disease to South America

Four possible consequences of El Niño returning in 2023

It’s possible that Earth’s rising temperature will temporarily exceed the 1.5°C threshold of the Paris agreement some time …

Growing tension

NEWS SNIPPETS

Wheat blast: A fungus that spread to three continents can threaten food security globally

Magnaporthe oryzae fungus was first reported in South America, from where it independently spread to Asia and Africa

Brazil launches operation against mining mafia on Indigenous land

Special forces destroy aircraft and seize weapons; non-profit Amazon Watch asks for probe into those behind the ‘horror’

Indigenous defenders stand between illegal roads, survival of Amazon rainforest — elections in Brazil, Peru could be a turning point

A victory for sustainability, conservation and culture in Brazil could resonate across political borders into Peru and the other seven countries …

2015-16 El Niño: Wildfires in Amazon led to over 30 million tonnes of CO2 emission

Almost one million hectare of primary and secondary forests was burned during the 2015–2016 El Niño season

Brazil’s sewage woes reflect the growing global water quality crisis

Wastewater treatment systems are hamstrung by outdated tests that don't identify a growing array of pathogens

Death in the devil’s paradise

British colonial history is tainted by its involvement in rubber collection from the Peruvian Amazon, writes Survivor International

City scan

How happy are people living in cities?

Temples of doom

The Mayans penchant for building places of worship brought their downfall

South America’s High Andes may pay for the world’s ‘green’ electric vehicle switch

Global rush to decarbonising cars is overlooking lithium mining techniques, which might dry out the region

Brazilian government cancels mega dam on the Amazon’s Tapajós River

The project could have caused flooding of lands and forced displacement of indigenous Munduruku people

Megadrought in Chile: Both natural climate factors, human-induced global warming to blame

A quarter of reduction of rainfall a direct result of sea-surface warming    

World’s forests continue shrinking, but at a slower pace: FAO report

Countries now have more knowledge of their forest resources and indicators reveal positive progress in forest management

Facts, at last

The first ever field study of the anaconda - the dreaded predator snake - has revealed a number of fascinating facts about the reptile's habits

The curse of coca

The move to use a new herbicide to eradicate the coca plant spells trouble for South America's rainforests

Green eye in the sky

A voyage into space for a three-dimensional monitoring of the polluted environment

Who dares trash them?

Is time ticking for coal

Business-as-usual will not work to combat climate crisis. Difficult targets must be set to reduce carbon emissions

Scientists characterise a natural pathogenic fungi to help save eucalyptus forests from devastating pest

Eucalyptus snout beetle can cause great damage, but fungi could be used to develop a bio-pesticide for sustainable forestry