Malayan Sun bear: bile trade threatens the Worlds smallest bear

The Malayan Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) is listed as Vulnerable to Extinction by the IUCN, and is threatened by habitat loss and hunting for traditional medicine.

 Its range once extended across mainland Southeast Asia, to Sumatra and Borneo, but the animal now occurs only patchily throughout.

Sun bears are a keystone species, vitally important to seed dispersal, pest control and nutrient cycling, so their extinction would likely bring major, though largely unstudied, impacts to tropical forests.

Killing Sun bears is prohibited under international and national wildlife protection laws, but these laws are often poorly enforced, while international trade in bear bile to serve the traditional medicine industry continues to boom.

Conservationists in Indonesia and elsewhere are studying Sun bear behavior to improve rescue and restoration efforts.

Others want to eliminate commercial bear farms where bear bile is extracted, and end trafficking by creating strong national legislation, improving enforcement, and raising public awareness.

Tapajós dams may cause death of fish , species loss, mercury contamination

Brazil plans to construct seven hydroelectric dams on the Tapajós River and its tributaries at a part of the Amazon known for its exceptional aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity. 

The São Luiz do Tapajós hydropower plant is the largest and first proposed dam.

An Environmental Impact Study (EIS) commissioned by the federal energy agency Eletrobrás in conjunction with the companies hoping to build the São Luiz do Tapajós dam says the project will cause a quick disappearance of habitat, loss of animals and reduction of their populations.

Still, the EIS concludes the dam will cause little environmental impact.

 In an independent analysis of the EIS commissioned by Greenpeace, scientists criticized the methodology and results of the document, noting that it failed to identify or misidentified

Because so little is known about Tapajós aquatic ecology, there is an urgent need for more studies before building begins, say experts.

The hydroelectric project could jeopardize commercial fish species, the pink river dolphin, giant otter and black caiman.

One fear is that the reservoir will concentrate dangerous levels of toxic mercury, poisoning fish and people.

REDD+ funded project seeks to distribute efficient burning cookstoves in Virunga

 Eco-Makala, a project funded through REDD+, is seeking to reduce the impact of charcoal on Virunga park by establishing tree plantations around it and distributing cookstoves that burn charcoal more efficiently.

In what could be called a charcoal reform, the project seeks to reduce the felling of trees for firewood and conversion into charcoal for cooking ,thereby easing deforestation-driven CO2 emissions.

 The felling of trees for charcoal has become a big problem for Virunga National Park.

 Illegal production in the park has been high in recent years as producers try to meet the demand from the millions of impoverished people who depend on charcoal as their only source of fuel.

This demand has led to the destruction of vast swaths of Virunga's forest as well as the deaths of gorillas and other wildlife that depend on it.

India floods kill more than 200 animals, including rare rhinos

Severe floods have ravaged the state of Assam in northeastern India.

More than 200 animals including rhinos that are on the verge of becoming extinct were reportedly killed in the floods.

 The flood that began during the last week of July submerged around 80 percent of Kaziranga National Park (KNP), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Rescue teams have managed to save more than 100 animals from the flooded forests.

Environmental licence for São Luiz do Tapajós hydroelectric dam denied

Ibama, Brazils environmental agency has denied an environmental license, for the proposed 8,000-megawatt São Luiz do Tapajós dam on the Tapajós River in the Amazon, a decision seen as a victory by the Munduruku Indians and environmentalists.

The Amazon mega-dam would have required the flooding of Munduruku territory known as the Sawré Muybu, a land claim first recognized by Funai, the federal indigenous affairs agency, in April of this year.

The Brazilian constitution forbids such uses of indigenous lands.

The decision will not likely end controversy in the region.

 The Brazilian government has major development plans for the Tapajós river basin, including 43 dams on the Tapajós River and its tributaries, ten of which are considered priority, to be completed by 2022.