Study finds restoring seabirds and native plants could help low-lying atolls keep pace with rising seas
A study of 28 Indian and Pacific Ocean atoll islands, led by Lancaster University with support from the Bertarelli Foundation, found that rat-free islands with abundant seabird colonies had reef accretion potential roughly twice that of rat-infested islands, because seabird guano fuels the reef growth that lets islands build up sediment as seas rise. The researchers also found that areas with dense native vegetation had fine root networks estimated at 4.6 times greater than areas with little native plant cover, helping bind sediment and hold island soil in place. Lead author Nick Graham cautioned the findings are not a miracle fix for global warming's impact on low-lying islands and apply mainly to uninhabited or sparsely populated atolls, where restoration can meaningfully boost resilience even though it won't replace engineering solutions on more developed islands.
Read more →Study finds restoring seabirds and native plants could help low-lying atolls keep pace with rising seas
A study of 28 Indian and Pacific Ocean atoll islands, led by Lancaster University with support from the Bertarelli Foundation, found that rat-free islands with abundant seabird colonies had reef accretion potential roughly twice that of rat-infested islands, because seabird guano fuels the reef growth that lets islands build up sediment as seas rise. The researchers also found that areas with dense native vegetation had fine root networks estimated at 4.6 times greater than areas with little native plant cover, helping bind sediment and hold island soil in place. Lead author Nick Graham cautioned the findings are not a miracle fix for global warming's impact on low-lying islands and apply mainly to uninhabited or sparsely populated atolls, where restoration can meaningfully boost resilience even though it won't replace engineering solutions on more developed islands.
Bangladeshi factory built around its workers' wellbeing wins the 2026 RIBA International Prize
The Green Field Factory in Rangpur, Bangladesh, designed by Dhaka-based Nakshabid Architects for Karupannya Rangpur Limited, won the Royal Institute of British Architects' 2026 International Prize, one of architecture's most prestigious global honors. The seven-storey rug and textile plant employs about 5,000 workers, most of them women, and was designed around their wellbeing, with courtyards, verandas, greenery and water features built into the workspace rather than treated as an afterthought. The jury, led by Studio Mumbai founder Bijoy Jain, called the choice unanimous, and RIBA president Chris Williamson said the project redefines manufacturing architecture in South Asia and beyond. It is only the second Bangladeshi project to win the prize, after Dhaka's Friendship Hospital took the honor in 2016.
Read more →Bangladeshi factory built around its workers' wellbeing wins the 2026 RIBA International Prize
The Green Field Factory in Rangpur, Bangladesh, designed by Dhaka-based Nakshabid Architects for Karupannya Rangpur Limited, won the Royal Institute of British Architects' 2026 International Prize, one of architecture's most prestigious global honors. The seven-storey rug and textile plant employs about 5,000 workers, most of them women, and was designed around their wellbeing, with courtyards, verandas, greenery and water features built into the workspace rather than treated as an afterthought. The jury, led by Studio Mumbai founder Bijoy Jain, called the choice unanimous, and RIBA president Chris Williamson said the project redefines manufacturing architecture in South Asia and beyond. It is only the second Bangladeshi project to win the prize, after Dhaka's Friendship Hospital took the honor in 2016.
Global wildlife report finds tiger numbers up more than 70% and green sea turtles no longer endangered
WWF and the Zoological Society of London's Living Planet Report 2026 found that monitored wildlife populations have fallen by an average of 73% since 1970, but the report's authors pointed to a growing list of recoveries as proof that sustained conservation works. Wild tiger numbers have risen by more than 70% over the past 15 years, driven by habitat protection and anti-poaching efforts across Asia, while the green sea turtle became the first marine turtle species ever downlisted from Endangered to Least Concern on the IUCN Red List after nest protection, beach-lighting rules and turtle-excluder devices on fishing gear helped lift nesting at monitored sites from about 419,000 clutches in 2011 to roughly 526,000 in 2024. The report also cited recovering Atlantic bluefin tuna populations and stable or growing African elephant numbers in many regions as further evidence that targeted protection can reverse species-level declines even as the broader trend remains negative.
Read more →Global wildlife report finds tiger numbers up more than 70% and green sea turtles no longer endangered
WWF and the Zoological Society of London's Living Planet Report 2026 found that monitored wildlife populations have fallen by an average of 73% since 1970, but the report's authors pointed to a growing list of recoveries as proof that sustained conservation works. Wild tiger numbers have risen by more than 70% over the past 15 years, driven by habitat protection and anti-poaching efforts across Asia, while the green sea turtle became the first marine turtle species ever downlisted from Endangered to Least Concern on the IUCN Red List after nest protection, beach-lighting rules and turtle-excluder devices on fishing gear helped lift nesting at monitored sites from about 419,000 clutches in 2011 to roughly 526,000 in 2024. The report also cited recovering Atlantic bluefin tuna populations and stable or growing African elephant numbers in many regions as further evidence that targeted protection can reverse species-level declines even as the broader trend remains negative.
California creates its first new marine protected areas in a decade, nominated by Chumash tribes
Governor Gavin Newsom's office announced on October 20 the state's first new marine protected areas in more than ten years, expanding safeguards around Point Dume off Malibu as part of California's broader marine-protection network. The new areas were proposed by Chumash tribal nations, making them the first tribally nominated marine protected areas added to California's system, which already restricts fishing and development across roughly 16% of state waters. The announcement came even as the Trump administration pushes to open California's coast to offshore oil drilling, with state officials framing the expansion as a move to lock in long-term protection for kelp forests, rocky reefs and nearshore marine life regardless of federal energy policy shifts.
Read more →California creates its first new marine protected areas in a decade, nominated by Chumash tribes
Governor Gavin Newsom's office announced on October 20 the state's first new marine protected areas in more than ten years, expanding safeguards around Point Dume off Malibu as part of California's broader marine-protection network. The new areas were proposed by Chumash tribal nations, making them the first tribally nominated marine protected areas added to California's system, which already restricts fishing and development across roughly 16% of state waters. The announcement came even as the Trump administration pushes to open California's coast to offshore oil drilling, with state officials framing the expansion as a move to lock in long-term protection for kelp forests, rocky reefs and nearshore marine life regardless of federal energy policy shifts.