EcoAméricas

Representatives from nearly 200 countries will convene in Cali, Colombia from October 21 to November 1 for COP16 of the U.N. Convention on Biodiversity. This crucial conference aims to advance the Global Biodiversity Framework, setting ambitious targets to halt the unprecedented decline of species worldwide. With over 1 million species at risk of extinction, action is more urgent than ever. The Framework aims to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030, restore degraded ecosystems, and ensure that conservation decisions are inclusive and just. Latin America, home to 40% of global biodiversity, faces significant threats, especially in the Amazon. It's vital that countries not only commit to these goals but also secure the necessary funding to support them. The call is clear: developing nations need robust financial backing to implement these vital conservation measures. This article was printed in this month’s issue of EcoAméricas, available here: https://bit.ly/4871MHo #COP16 #Biodiversity #Conservation #ActForNature #GlobalGoals

On August 1, wildfires engulfed Brazil's Hyacinth Macaw Institute, devastating two-thirds of its 54,000-hectare breeding center in the Pantanal. While all 700 macaws survived, the flames destroyed essential nests and palm species critical to their survival. The Institute’s president, Neiva Guedes, warns that these fires have made an endangered species even more threatened. She told EcoAméricas: “The fires impacted not only our hyacinth macaw breeding center, but also the habitats and food sources of this species elsewhere in the Pantanal.” This year, Brazil has seen an unprecedented rise in wildfires, with millions of vertebrates perishing across its diverse biomes. Smoke has even affected air quality as far away as Uruguay and Paraguay, highlighting the extensive reach of this environmental crisis. This story is available in print and online at: https://bit.ly/3YhimQ9 

With bottom-trawling for shrimp being labeled as destructive, shrimp farming often appears as a more sustainable option. However, it has its own challenges, from mangrove destruction to coastal pollution. At the recent Global Shrimp Forum in Utrecht, experts like Dane Klinger from Conservation International discussed innovative practices to address these issues. He said in a Q&A with EcoAméricas that recent technology has enabled farmers to better understand culture animals and the production environment, and to manage the farm for optimal production and growth. For example, he said, “there are auto feeders with hydrophones, or underwater microphones, that listen to the shrimp and from the sounds they can detect when they are hungry. So they dispense food at the right time, and then detect when they have stopped feeding, so they stop dispensing. This reduces waste; but because there is carbon in the feed, it also reduces the carbon footprint while lowering costs. This model is exciting because it makes the sector more productive and efficient, but the farms are still small.” This interview was published in full at: https://bit.ly/3Nxy0BU #SustainableSeafood #Aquaculture #MangroveRestoration #GlobalShrimpForum #ConservationInternational

In 2011, expectations soared for Argentina’s economy with the discovery of vast shale oil and gas reserves in Vaca Muerta. Fast forward to 2024, and the country is seeing the first energy trade surplus in 15 years. With oil exports booming, Vaca Muerta is now crucial to the country’s energy landscape. However, this growth isn’t without controversy. Plans for new infrastructure, including a massive pipeline and port on the pristine San Matías Gulf, are igniting fierce debates over environmental and social impacts. Local communities, like those represented by the San Matías Gulf Multisectoral, are fighting to protect their way of life and the unique marine ecosystem, raising concerns about tourism, fishing, and pollution. This article was printed in the most recent issue of EcoAméricas: https://bit.ly/4eLizSP #VacaMuerta #Argentina #EnergyTransition #EnvironmentalJustice #SustainableFuture

#CostaRica #EcosystemApproachToFisheries #EnvironmentalLaw 🐟 The sustainable use of marine resources should rest on constitutional principles of rationality, proportionality, progressiveness and consistency with scientific evidence. These principles, consequently, establish limits to the discretionality of administrative actions in relation to these resources. The execution of a scientific research conducted by the State, financed by the interested sector, which lacked a methodological and conceptual framework to properly address the questions of the research, as well as sound monitoring mechanisms, is a fact that puts back on the table the urgency of transforming marine governance towards the integration of an ecosystemic approach. Costa Rica and the region have the potential to establish and implement key standards to ensure, on the one hand, that scientific knowledge is adequately generated and, on the other hand, that it is effectively integrated into decision-making processes. This publication explores this issue, showcasing the most recent news in Costa Rica in relation to bottom trawling and an institutional scientific research, recently suspended by the Court, given multiple constitutional and legal inconsistencies.  EcoAméricas Fundacion MarViva https://lnkd.in/dyjx2vWU

Bottom-trawling for shrimp is like felling forests to catch squirrels—devastating for our oceans. In 2022, global shrimp sales hit a staggering $30-35 billion, but at what cost? Experts like Max Bello from Mission Blue highlight the destructive impact of this practice, which indiscriminately scours the seafloor, harming countless marine species. Despite accounting for just 5% of the commercial shrimp supply, bottom trawling wreaks havoc on ecosystems, killing non-target species and releasing massive amounts of CO2. Countries like Belize and Costa Rica have taken steps to ban bottom trawling, showing that change is possible. But challenges remain, especially as private interests often influence fishing policies. This article was published in this month’s issue of EcoAméricas, available in print and online here: https://bit.ly/4f0sXWn #SustainableFishing #ProtectOurOceans #MarineConservation #ShrimpIndustry #EcoAwareness #printmedia #newsletter

On a humid August morning, leaders from four Indigenous communities in Peru’s lower Marañón River Valley gathered in Nauta, seeking justice a decade after an oil pipeline disaster. The spill in Cuninico devastated their fishing livelihood, yet compensation remains unfulfilled. Despite Petroperú’s claims of a quick cleanup, evidence shows oil contamination in the Cuninico River persists. As legal battles continue, the financial toll on these communities is staggering—estimated losses of over $4.86 million by 2021, rising to $8.9 million by 2029. This situation reflects a broader issue of environmental neglect in Peru. Over 139 spills have been recorded along the pipeline since 1997, with many sites still polluted. The hydrocarbon industry has left a legacy of degradation and unaddressed community needs. This article was published in this month's issue of EcoAméricas, available now: https://bit.ly/4gVYWZL #EnvironmentalJustice #IndigenousRights #Peru #OilSpills #ClimateAction

In recent years, experts have raised serious concerns about the integrity of forest-carbon initiatives that claim to combat climate change. While these projects aim to generate credits by preventing deforestation, many have been found lacking in legitimacy and often infringe upon the rights of local communities. Colombia: The Constitutional Court annulled a major project after it was revealed that Indigenous communities were not properly consulted. The Indigenous Council argued that their autonomy was violated, prompting the court to require new guidelines for protecting community rights in carbon projects. Brazil: A shocking criminal investigation led to the arrest of key figures involved in fraudulent carbon credit sales, with “ghost credits” being sold based on stolen land. Experts warn that without stringent regulations, similar abuses will continue to plague the voluntary carbon market. This article was featured in the August 2024 issue of EcoAméricas, available now: https://bit.ly/3MYJY7E #ClimateAction #ForestConservation #CarbonCredits #IndigenousRights #TransparencyMatters

A coalition of passionate organizations—including Puelo Patagonia, Freyja Foundation and The Nature Conservancy—is uniting to protect the breathtaking beauty of the Cochamó district in southern Chile. 🇨🇱 Known for its ancient alerce trees and stunning Andean landscapes, this area is often referred to as the “Yosemite of South America.” Their primary goal? To raise $63 million to purchase and preserve the vital Puchegüín landholding, encompassing 133,000 hectares (329,000 acres) of pristine wilderness. “Cochamó’s beauty, its immensity, its vast ancient alerce forests with capacity to store carbon and mitigate climate change; its wide variety of endemic and endangered species; its community and traditional culture,” says Brady Robinson, philanthropy director of the Colorado-based Freyja Foundation. “We’re seizing a unique opportunity to protect an area of incomparable beauty and ecological value that has been threatened by hydroelectric and real estate projects, as well as by the arrival of unregulated tourism.” 🔗 Learn more about the program: https://bit.ly/3Zv2fkc #CochamoConservation #ProtectNature #PueloPatagonia #TheNatureConservancy #Patagonia #Biodiversity #ClimateAction

As technology advances at breakneck speed, it’s reshaping our world—sometimes with unexpected consequences. From the rise of AI to the expansion of data centers, the digital age promises many benefits, but it’s also raising serious environmental concerns. Energy & Water Drain: Data centers, crucial for storing our digital lives, are popping up worldwide, especially in Latin America. But with them comes a staggering demand for electricity and water. One data center can use as much water daily as a city of 50,000. The AI Dilemma: AI is transforming industries, but its data needs mean more servers and more energy. Some experts warn that AI’s hunger for resources could overwhelm power grids and water supplies. Data Colonialism: Developing regions, like parts of Latin America, are becoming hotbeds for these resource-draining centers. This trend raises concerns about a new form of exploitation where local needs are sidelined for global tech demands. Electric Vehicles & Lithium Mining: The push for greener vehicles increases the demand for lithium, a key battery component. But in the “Lithium Triangle” of Latin America, this boom is causing environmental harm and strife among local communities. This article was featured in the august 2024 issue of EcoAméricas, available now: https://bit.ly/47en9Gi #DigitalRevolution #Sustainability #DataCenters #AI #ElectricVehicles #LithiumMining #EnvironmentalImpact #TechAndEcology #LatinAmerica #ClimateAction