No. 146, Aug. 20, 2020
Hello Revelator readers, Good news: Mangrove forests are helping to protect communities against climate-charged storms. Bad news: They could be wiped out by rising seas. Here's a look at what's at stake and what it will take to save these critical forests. Sea-level rise is a problem for cities, too. On the southeast coast of the United States communities are already getting swamped. We talk to local experts about wetlands, sea walls, managed retreat and the difficulties of planning for a wetter future. Want to solve a biodiversity mystery? So do scientists in Papua New Guinea, who are trying to find one of the most threatened species on Earth to help give it a fighting chance. The only thing hotter than Death Valley these days is our latest review of the best new climate books of the summer. Dive deeper: Plastic pollution is a huge problem now, but scientists back in the 1970s knew the threats. So how come we didn't hear about it then? Subscriber bonus: The Wild 5 Here are five more stories we're watching this week. 1. "Trump Finalizes Drilling Plan for Arctic National Wildlife Refuge" (The Washington Post) 2. "'They Deserve to Be Heard': Sick and Dying Coal Ash Cleanup Workers Fight for Their Lives" (The Guardian) 3. "What Have We Done to the Whale?" (The New Yorker) 4. "Trump to Withdraw Polarizing Nominee to Lead Bureau of Land Management" (NPR) 5. "Elephant Shrew Rediscovered in Africa After 50 years" (BBC) 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 damage is being done behind the scenes, out of the public eye. We want to hear from you, so please drop us a line anytime. Coming up: "Forever chemicals" are seeping into the ocean, traveling around the globe and persisting in the sea for decades. What are the risks to marine animals and humans? We've got the scoop. Look for our latest links in next Thursday's newsletter — or follow us on Twitter and Facebook for headlines as they go live. As always, thank you for reading — and stay safe. | 
