Mongabay

A one-year enforcement deferral plus narrowed due-diligence obligations reduces mandatory compliance checks for operators and traders and contracts regulatory oversight of forest-risk supply chains.

A recent study by WaterAid and Tree Aid highlights the alarming impact of deforestation on West Africa's water crisis, particularly in Ghana, Niger, and Nigeria. Analyzing 12 years of satellite data, the report finds a direct link between forest loss and declining freshwater quality and quantity. With 45% of the population in these countries living in high water risk areas, urgent action is needed to address the intertwined issues of deforestation and climate change, which are worsening water scarcity and food insecurity.

Sweden, a major exporter of forest products, has proposed a forestry policy aimed at increasing tree growth through nitrogen fertilization. While this may provide short-term benefits, it risks long-term soil health and biodiversity, potentially undermining EU climate objectives and sending a negative signal to other forest nations.

Indonesia has announced a commitment to recognize 1.4 million hectares of Indigenous and customary forests by 2029, aiming to reduce deforestation and enhance Indigenous rights. However, activists express skepticism, citing a history of unfulfilled promises and ongoing land conflicts driven by state-backed development projects that threaten Indigenous territories.

In Brazil, Bolivia, and Venezuela, constitutional provisions designed to protect elected officials from frivolous prosecutions have instead created a system of impunity. Trials for politicians are often delayed or dismissed due to technicalities, allowing them to escape accountability for corruption and illegal actions. This two-tiered justice system undermines public trust and highlights the challenges of combating political corruption in the region.

A new study defines the 'circular seabird economy,' highlighting how seabirds transfer vital nutrients from the ocean to land, significantly impacting terrestrial and marine ecosystems. This nutrient flow supports diverse plant and animal life, enhances marine resilience, and underscores the need for seabird conservation as many species face extinction threats.

In southern Honduras, communities are expressing dissatisfaction with large-scale renewable energy projects, citing issues such as deforestation, water scarcity, and high electricity prices. Despite the country's push for renewable energy, many locals remain without access to electricity and feel excluded from the benefits of these projects. Activists are calling for a more equitable energy transition that prioritizes community needs and environmental protection.

In a landmark case, Brazil's Federal Police have indicted 31 suspects involved in a large-scale carbon credit fraud scheme tied to illegal timber operations in the Amazon. Dubbed Operation Greenwashing, the investigation revealed that two REDD+ projects were misused for laundering timber while generating carbon credits. The case exposes deep-rooted corruption within public agencies and raises concerns about the integrity of carbon credit systems.

Interpol, in collaboration with various partners, has launched a global initiative aimed at dismantling criminal networks involved in illegal logging and mining. This effort, announced ahead of the U.N. COP30 climate summit, focuses on tropical forests in several countries and seeks to enhance international cooperation in law enforcement to combat environmental crimes.

The Samburu Special Five, consisting of the reticulated giraffe, Grévy’s zebra, beisa oryx, gerenuk, and Somali ostrich, are increasingly threatened by climate change in East Africa. Droughts have doubled in frequency, leading to resource competition between wildlife and pastoralist herders, further endangering these unique species.

A report by Stand.earth reveals that banks have financed $15 billion in oil and gas extraction in the Amazon since 2016, with $2 billion occurring between January 2024 and June 2025. Despite some banks adopting exclusion policies, none have fully ceased financing, contributing to environmental destruction and Indigenous rights violations.

Indonesia's recently submitted second nationally determined contribution (SNDC) under the Paris Agreement reveals emission-reduction targets that are deemed inadequate for limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Despite President Prabowo Subianto's ambitious goals for renewable energy and coal phase-out, the SNDC suggests a continued reliance on fossil fuels, indicating a potential conflict between economic growth and climate action.