No. 286, May 25, 2023
Hello Revelator readers,
Our addiction to online shopping is killing us. Shipping all those cardboard boxes requires first building massive warehouses, and that brings dangerous pollution to the neighborhoods around them. And nowhere is worse than California’s Inland Empire.
Reforestation efforts around the world aim to plant billions of trees, but are they worth the effort? Many planted trees don’t survive, and some projects can do more harm than good.
Is life for wild animals all a dangerous quest for survival? Not necessarily. New research argues that most animals enjoy positive experiences throughout their lives. Understanding that can help their conservation.
Asian elephants are running out of room. But the history of how humans fragmented their habitat can provide clues to ensuring that the pachyderms have a healthy future.
Meet the Matschie’s tree kangaroo — an elusive, arboreal marsupial. This remarkable species lives in forests of towering trees, where locals call it the “ghost of the forest.”
From the archives:
Australia’s Bellinger River snapping turtle nearly went extinct in just months — before anyone knew it was in trouble. Conservationists are working to make sure it doesn’t disappear forever.
Subscriber bonus: The Wild 5
Here are five more stories we’re watching this week.
1. Biodiversity: Almost Half of Animals in Decline, Research Shows (BBC)
2. Historic Colorado River Deal Not Enough to Stave Off Long-Term Crisis, Experts Say (The Guardian)
3. Pennsylvania High Court to Consider Plan to Make Power Plants Pay for Greenhouse Gas Emissions (AP)
4. Restoring Seabird Populations Can Help Repair the Climate (Inside Climate News)
5. By Fighting the Ozone Hole, We Accidentally Saved Ourselves (Hakai Magazine)
Share your stories:
Do you live in or near a threatened habitat or community, or have you worked to study or protect endangered wildlife? You’re invited to share your stories in our ongoing features Protect This Place and Species Spotlight.
What should we cover next?
Our stories rely on insight from experts, frontline activists and readers around the world — especially these days, when so much seems to be happening so fast. We want to hear from you, so please drop us a line anytime.
Coming up:
We’ll have the word on four new books that aren’t exactly environmental books but still provide clues toward saving the planet.
As always, thank you for reading. Stay safe and connected.
