All Environment
First LookBattle of the sage grouse returns: states could dictate protection effortsWhile farmers and state officials applaud revisions announced by interior secretary Ryan Zinke, conservation groups fear derailment of 'years of hard work.'
Salvage archaeology: When rising seas threaten to wash away historyAs storm surge and gradual erosion eat away at the Louisiana coastline, one archaeologist is doing all he can to document archaeological treasures before they are lost to the sea forever.
First LookGulf of Mexico sets new record for largest 'dead zone'A national action plan calls for change in order to protect the nation's coastal resources and habitats from the ever-growing dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico.
First Look鈥業vory Crush鈥� demonstrates New York鈥檚 resolve to smash illegal tradeState environment officials plan to destroy nearly 2 tons of ivory trinkets and small artifacts on Thursday, joining an international movement to crack down on illegal trade and 鈥榯ell the world that ivory shouldn鈥檛 be coveted.鈥�
FocusIn race against rising seas, Louisiana scrambles to save dwindling coastIn the absence of broad federal support, state managers in Louisiana have had to go it alone in the quest to save the state's eroding coastline.
First LookExperts cast doubt on Keystone XL construction despite political green lightDespite Trump's approval of the pipeline, which has faced extensive environmental and political resistance, some experts say that the duration of the project, costs, and lack of promised profit might kill plans for it after all.
Tactical retreat? As seas rise, Louisiana faces hard choices.As rising seas encroach on the Louisiana coast with increasing regularity, state managers face difficult choices about whom to relocate 鈥� and how.
First LookCourt gives back endangered status to Great Lakes wolvesGray wolves in the western Great Lakes region were dropped from the endangered species list five years ago. Now, they're getting put back on the protected list.
First Look Poland continues logging venerable state forest, defying EU reformsEnvironmentalists and EU officials have voiced opposition to Poland's intent to continue logging a UNESCO Heritage Site forest. Polish officials claim the action is necessary to stem a dangerous population of beetles.聽
Cover StoryCan famine be checked as Africa faces its worst crisis since the 1980s?Here's what Africa has learned about building 鈥榗ommunity resilience鈥櫬燼s聽millions in Africa鈥檚 arid zones gird themselves to cope better with drought and the threat of famine.
[special project]How a 20-million-person crisis goes unseenShining a spotlight on far-away problems is always a challenge for aid groups 鈥撀爀ven amid drought and famine in Africa, which is being called the worst humanitarian crisis in decades. But when they succeed, public awareness often translates into action.聽Part 5 of our series on famine resilience.
First LookEurope still wants American coal, boosting exports to new highsEuropean and Asian demand for coal has spiked,聽causing US coal exports from January to May聽to increase by 60 percent compared to the same time period in 2016.
In drought-stricken Somaliland, age-old challenges meet WhatsAppSix months ago, a handful of people in this self-declared republic had a novel idea: create a WhatsApp group to quickly connect donors with relatives' communities enduring drought. Now other sub-clans are using it as a model.
[special project]Madagascar fights the subtler side of hunger: chronic malnutritionDroughts and famines tend to afflict countries in cyclical fashion. But where chronic malnutrition is endemic, such as in Madagascar, they strike harder. Health education is a start, aid groups say 鈥撀燽ut adjusting priorities is important, too.聽Part 3 of our series on famine resilience.
Urban farming 2.0: From plow beams to Leafy Green MachinesA new generation of urban farmers is leaving dirt behind and turning shipping containers into tech-driven vertical farms.
[special project]Madagascar skirted famine 鈥� barely. Now, it's boosting resilience before drought returns.Where persistent drought is the new normal, communities will have to adapt 鈥撀燼 challenge across eastern Africa. But Madagascar鈥檚 success, and the lessons that it learned from its brush with disaster, point to how crises might be averted elsewhere.聽Part 2 of our series on famine resilience.
[special project]In Ethiopia, model drought defenses are put to the testThe country's booming capital, Addis Ababa, sits in stark contrast to rural areas struggling against two severe droughts in three years. But innovative aid has helped farming communities manage the crisis.聽Part 1 of our series on famine resilience.
Cities turn to trees to beat the heatFrom California to Singapore, urban communities are embarking on tree planting efforts with the hope of to keeping rising temperatures in check.
Should we pay people not to cut down trees?A two-year study in Uganda helps ease some of the biggest concerns about programs that pay landowners to leave natural resources untouched.
Battle over the Clean Water Rule: What's at stake?The issue, which involves certain wetlands and temporary waterways, is likely to end up in court (again).