biodiversity > newsfile
Governments pledge to save Heart of Borneo
The governments of Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia have signed an official declaration to conserve and sustainably manage 'The heart of Borneo'. This is one of the most important areas of biological diversity in the world, covering approximately 220,000 square kilometres of equatorial rainforests - almost a third of the island. ... more
Coffee companies destroying Sumatra's biodiversity
Coffee lovers the world over are unknowingly drinking coffee that was illegally grown inside one of the world's most important national parks for highly endangered tigers, elephants and rhinos, says an investigative report by the conservation organisation WWF. ... more
EU bans import of wild birds
The EU has decided unanimously to prohibit the import of wild birds in order to prevent the introduction of infectious diseases including avian influenza. As a result, as many as four million birds a year will remain in the wild, spared from the international pet trade. ... more
Killings raise new fears for mountain gorillas
Two solitary silverback gorillas have been killed by Congo rebels allied to a local warlord in the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over the last ten days, raising fresh fears for their future. ... more
Scientists aim to save rare animals
Some of the planet's rarest and most unusual animals will be the focus of an ambitious conservation project launched by British scientists. The plan will focus on animals traditionally overlooked by conservationists, and will allow the public to track and donate to individual projects via a new website. This report is by Alok Jha, science correspondent of The Guardian. ... more
Bees and wildflowers decline together
The diversity of bees and the wildflowers that depend on them for pollination are declining simultaneously according to new research in Britain and the Netherlands. ... more
UK wildlife sites improving, says government
The UK government says that it is on track to achieve 95 per cent of nationally important wildlife sites in a favourable or recovering condition by 2010. ... more
Many endangered species stranded outside protected areas, study finds
by James Randerson
The most comprehensive map of endangered species and where they live has shown that 11 per cent of birds, 24 per cent of mammals and 33 per cent of amphibians are at risk. ... more
UK launches plan to save South Atlantic albatrosses
A newly published report calls for urgent action to prevent further declines in the fast dwindling populations of albatrosses and petrels in the South Atlantic - for which the UK has a leading responsibility. ... more
Botanists sound plant extinction alert
With fears that one in four of the world�s plant species could already be on the brink of extinction from the effects of global climate change � and as many as half of the planet�s estimated 400,000 plant species facing a similarly bleak future � a group of leading plant scientists have called for a global action plan to tackle the impending crisis. ... more
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