Burn the Land, Serve the Time

FINALLY!! Indonesian authorities have reportedly identified 97 companies suspected of involvement in forest and land fires across Sumatra and Kalimantan islands. According to their Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurachman on Monday. 

He added that the companies were identified based on reports received by regional and national police units, urging investigators to thoroughly investigate those responsible for the fires. 

As of October 13, police had named nine companies and 223 individuals as suspects in separate forest and land fire cases, said Pipit Subiyanto, a senior official with the National Police’s special crimes unit. 

The corporate cases were linked to 98 police reports, while the individual cases involved 273 reports, Pipit continued. 

He warned that offenders could face prison sentences of 10 to 12 years, stressing that burning land should not be used as a cheap and easy method of land clearing. 

The investigations follow President Prabowo Subianto’s order last month for police to intensify their crackdown on companies suspected of causing forest and land fires, which have spread haze across parts of Indonesia and neighboring countries. 

According to Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni on Wednesday, Indonesia has suspended the permits of six additional companies over forest and land fires in Central Kalimantan, bringing the total number of sanctioned agricultural estates to 32. 

Antoni noted that the ministry previously imposed administrative sanctions on 26 companies, including permit suspensions and ecosystem restoration orders. 

The six operators hold concessions covering a total of 201,391 hectares, with 7,531 hectares burned during recent forest fires. 

Furthermore, Antoni said that the firms could face separate criminal proceedings if investigations uncover evidence of criminal intent or wrongdoing.

BUT I really want to see punitive action taken against these errant plantation companies. 

For decades, corporate executives have treated prison sentences as an abstract threat and toxic haze as a mere cost of doing business. 

This paradigm must end now. The law allows for 10 to 12 years of prison time, and prosecutors must demand the maximum. The individuals orchestrating these fires from air-conditioned boardrooms must be held just as criminally liable as the laborers on the ground. We must see these executives behind bars, serving hard time for the ecocide they have financed. 

True deterrence is only achieved when the cost of burning land shifts from a cheap line-item expense to a mandatory decade in a prison cell.

The Anonymous TikTok That Pre-Dated The UM Storm

This builds on what I shared in my posts on Saturday and Sunday.

Nadi Daily reported on Saturday that, even before the Universiti Malaya student sparked controversy by describing the donations to Najib Razak as the "stupidest thing" she had ever watched, another Gen Z youth had already mocked the fundraising drive on TikTok. 

Although available news reports and social media posts did not explicitly identify this individual, the video received an overwhelming response – garnering over 228,600 likes, 62,600 shares, and more than 1,700 comments, according to screenshots obtained. (Note: The high number of likes on the TikTok video showed that the issue attracted the attention of many, although it did not prove that all viewers agreed). 

Fires in Indonesia that have sent toxic smoke and disrupted daily life across Southeast Asia have triggered the highest-level alert by the regional bloc’s meteorological monitor. 

The months-long pollution spell has closed schools, fuelled a surge in respiratory conditions and restricted outdoor activities in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Timor Leste. 

The eleven-country organisation’s Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) said in a notice on their website on Friday that they had activated “Alert Level 3 for the Southern Asean region” – the highest rung of a four-tiered alert system. The alert level is triggered when there is a “high risk of severe transboundary haze in the region” and is reserved for widespread moderate to dense smoke haze, observed over two or more consecutive days. 

The ASMC have already issued two Level 3 alerts this year, according to their website. Singapore ranked second on IQAir’s live ranking of the world’s most polluted major cities behind Baghdad on Saturday, with Kuala Lumpur third. All readings showed “very hazardous” levels”. 

Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA) on Friday said they are officially issuing legal "preventive measure notices" to seven specific Indonesian companies under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA) and will take further action where warranted. 

Three of these firms – Bumi Andalas Permai, Bumi Mekar Hijau and SBA Andalas Wood Industries – received similar notices during the 2015 haze crisis. Those cases remain open. 

The other four companies that were issued notices for the ongoing haze are Paramitra Mulia Langgeng, Sumatera Alam Anugerah, Hutan Lestari Raya and Bangkanesia.

Only warnings? Much good that it will do!!

A day earlier, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim declared that the government have done "everything we possibly can" through official channels. What a joke!! 

What exactly is "everything"? Politely asking our neighbor to stop suffocating us while we shut down hundreds of schools and breathe in toxic air? If "everything" means playing nice while our lungs pay the price, then the strategy is working perfectly!! 

As Bersama's Lee Chean Chung (right) says: "Doing everything we can" is not a policy. Malaysians deserve action, not excuses on the haze".

Indonesia’s Eco-Strategy: Package the Smoke, Invoice the Oxygen

An Indonesian official has been mocked online after claiming the country's forests supply oxygen to Malaysia and Singapore despite recurring haze from its own forest and land fires.

"We do not just send smoke, but when there is no smoke, we send oxygen", Indonesian Government Communications Agency chief Syahganda Nainggolan (right) said in a now-viral video.

"The oxygen in Singapore and Malaysia also comes from our forests", he maintained in the video published on Saturday. 

The remarks drew plenty of scorn from social media users, with one sarcastically asking whether Syahganda thought Malaysia was on Mars.

Another, Johari Johar, questioned whether he thought Malaysia was a desert. 

"Supply oxygen? Seriously? Ever since the haze started, I've constantly been hit by the flu, fever and cough. It's not just me — everyone in the house has fallen sick", said Sheeren Ren. 

Azhar Za Lacabusier added: "What does oxygen have to do with the haze? The real question is how to resolve the haze problem, which has never been solved". 

On Monday, Stulang assemblyman Andrew Chen said Syahganda's remarks trivialised the health concerns of Malaysians affected by the haze. He described the remarks as "a joke" and "unacceptable". 

Haze from forest and land fires in Indonesia has blanketed parts of Malaysia and Singapore, causing unhealthy air quality and school closures in several states.

True to form, Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan, who received a first-round bye as the second seeds, advanced to the Denmark Open women's doubles quarter-finals on Thursday. 

The Malaysians overcame Hong Kong's world No. 19 Yeung Nga Ting-Yeung Pui Lam 21-12, 21-19 in 44 minutes to reach the last eight of the Super 750 tournament for the first time since 2024.

Choking the Skies

Indonesia's government was accused of "gross negligence" in a court case that opened on Wednesday against the president and other officials over a toxic haze emitted by wildfires that blanketed parts of Borneo island. 

Four plaintiffs, including a local chapter of Indigenous NGO AMAN, filed the class action lawsuit last month at a court in Pontianak in West Kalimantan province. The region has been hit hard by fires and smoke that have shuttered schools and forced hundreds to seek medical help for respiratory ailments. 

President Prabowo Subianto and the governor of West Kalimantan are among 10 defendants. 

The plaintiffs' lawyer Glorio Sanen said after the first hearing that the case was "a step to address the problem" of annual wildfires blamed largely on forest destruction and fuelled this year by an exceptionally intense episode of the drought-causing El Nino weather phenomenon. 

Indonesia has for weeks battled to control fires that have burned through vast swathes of Sumatra, Papua and Borneo, spewing a choking smog as far as Malaysia and Singapore. 

None of the defendants were present, according to an AFP reporter in the courtroom on Wednesday. 

"We feel sad and regretful about their absence... But on the other hand, we also understand that perhaps this haze condition caused them to be unable to land in Pontianak", Glorio told reporters. Hundreds of flights have been disrupted by the putrid smoke. 

The plaintiffs have accused the government of "gross negligence" for failing to address what has been a recurring problem, according to a court filing seen by AFP. They want the government to declare a national disaster allowing for comprehensive recovery and rehabilitation measures that would include covering the healthcare costs of affected residents. 

A similar lawsuit filed last year at a court in South Sumatra was dismissed

Yayoi Kusama: The Queen of Dots

Yayoi Kusama (left), the legendary Japanese avant-garde artist globally revered as the "Polka Dot Queen", passed away in Tokyo, Japan, from multiple organ failure on August 14, 2026 at the age of 97. 

Over a pioneering seven-decade career, she transformed childhood hallucinations and psychological trauma into vibrant, globally celebrated art. 

After rising to prominence in the 1960s New York art scene alongside figures like Andy Warhol, she pushed the boundaries of Pop Art and Minimalism with her massive "Infinity Net" paintings, soft phallic sculptures, and radical anti-war performance art. 

Despite facing decades of marginalization and choosing to live voluntarily in a Tokyo psychiatric hospital since 1977, Kusama engineered one of the most spectacular late-career flowerings in cultural history. 

By her 80s and 90s, her signature Infinity Mirror Rooms and whimsical, dotted pumpkin sculptures had exploded into a massive global phenomenon, drawing millions of museum-goers and capturing the internet's imagination.

Instantly recognizable in her electric red wig and bold spotted garments, she seamlessly bridged the gap between fine art and pop culture through blockbuster exhibitions and luxury fashion collaborations with brands like Louis Vuitton. 

Kusama remained an unyielding force of creativity, painting daily at her studio until her final days and cementing her legacy as one of the most successful, influential, and best-selling female artists of all time.

The inherent irony of the digital saviour! 

It is an incredible paradox. The shift to digital was marketed as an environmental panacea, but it simply traded logging trucks for massive electrical grids and cooling towers.

China’s Green Great Wall Tames Desert Growth

For half a century, millions of workers have repeated a task across the deserts in northern China: inserting forearm-length sticks into shifting sand, first in a row, then in an intersecting line, gradually forming a grid. Then saplings are planted at the center of each small square. 

The technique, known as “straw checkerboards”, is a simple yet widely used method to stabilize sand dunes against the wind and help plants take root by using water supplied through an irrigation system. 

The widespread lattice it created across the sand has become the iconic image of China’s decades-long campaign against the spreading of desert conditions, known as the Three-North Protective Forest Program or the Green Great Wall. 

The generations of work have yielded measurable progress, but scientists caution that preserving the gains will require decades of continued effort. 

For a long time, drought, overgrazing and farming removed vegetation, harmed the soil and made areas vulnerable to wind and sandstorms. That kind of degradation of the land over time is known as desertification. The area of desertified land in northern China peaked in 2000, and it has been reduced by over 1,000 square kilometers (400 square miles) each year since then, according to data published by state media. 

The Chinese government said the initiative launched in 1978 has played a crucial role in transforming vast regions covering nearly half of China from “the desertification advancing and people retreating” to “greenery advancing and the desertification retreating”. Forests planted by the program now cover a cumulative 500,000 square kilometers (200,000 square miles). 

“The broad significance of the Three-North Program is not only the scale of restoration, but the long-term political commitment behind it”, said Barron Joseph Orr, chief scientist for the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. In a response to The Associated Press, he wrote that reversing desertification is possible when it becomes part of long-term development strategies. 

Elsewhere, efforts to combat desertification have included a project launched in Africa in 2007 to plant trees across a number of countries to hold back the Sahara Desert. 

The progress is the result of the efforts of frontline sand-control workers, along with top-level planning and substantial state investment, said Zhu Jiaojun, a scientist at the Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, who has long been dedicated to the construction and management of the program. He added that increased rainfall in recent years in some areas has made vegetation restoration easier. “The achievement of desertification combat is due to people’s hard work and a bit of luck with climate”, he said. 

According to long-term monitoring data by Zhu’s team, China’s desertified land has shrunk by around 10% overall since 2000, and areas of severely or extremely desertified land have decreased by more than 40%. Forest cover in the program area has risen from around 5% in 1978 to 14% in 2022. 

Zhu estimated that over 300 million rural laborers have been involved in the program, mostly on a paid, part-time basis.

Orr maintained that restored ecosystems in drylands can become increasingly self-sustaining over time, but they still require careful management and long-term monitoring, with success depending on factors such as water availability and soil health. 

The environmental advocacy group Green Camel Bell in Gansu province work to explain desertification and its risks to farmers and herders, plant trees with them in dryland areas, and help restore and sustain vegetation. 

“Efforts to combat desertification and restore forests should be linked to local livelihoods, so communities do not see economic development and ecological protection as an either-or choice”, said their founder Zhao Zhong. 

Orr agreed that restoration efforts have a much greater chance of succeeding if they’re structured to help communities benefit economically. 

Japan Presses Forward With 21st Nuclear Wastewater Release

Japan began a new round of discharge of nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea on July 06, 2026, marking the 21st such release since the controversial operation began in 2023. 

The discharge started on Monday, and according to the plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), the latest round, scheduled to continue through July 24, will release about 7,800 tonnes of wastewater into the ocean, containing approximately 1.3 trillion becquerels of radioactive tritium. 

Struck by a 9-magnitude earthquake and the ensuing tsunami on March 11, 2011, the Fukushima nuclear plant suffered core meltdowns that released radiation, resulting in a level-7 nuclear accident, the highest on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale. 

Despite concerns and opposition from the international community, Japan unilaterally launched the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi plant into the ocean in August 2023. So far, TEPCO has completed 20 rounds of discharges, and around 157,000 tonnes of wastewater have been released into the sea.

😡😡😡

Scotland Loses to Morocco @ World Cup

Scotland's World Cup knockout took a big knock when the Atlas Lions secured a narrow 1-0 win in the Group C clash yesterday.

The Scots had a really poor start, the worst possible and allowed the latter to score in just 71 seconds. The Moroccan midfielder from PSV Eindhoven got in behind the Scotland defence and sent an absolute rocket into the top corner of the net. 

Scotland were just so passive and to be honest, I'd rather we go out of the tournament with a bit of bravery and gallusness. 

In the second-half, there was more control from Scotland, much more possession and much more aggression higher up the pitch. But, sigh, they couldn't score. 

Despite the setback, Scotland's World Cup dreams are mathematically still alive. A point against Brazil on Wednesday will likely be enough to earn the first ever knockout stage place for the Scots.

But that's assuming we'll want to aim for a draw outcome. You can plan all you want but believe me, football is so random that you're never promised to get that outcome. 

I say we go for a win! And a win over Brazil would guarantee Scotland a place in the next round. No ambiguity, no doubt, no uncertainty. 

Scotland can win!

China's "Great Green Wall", officially known as the Three-North Shelter Forest Program, is an ongoing, decades-long project to plant nearly 100 billion trees, stretching over 3,000 miles (4,800 km) across northern China. 

Launched in 1978 and slated for completion in 2050, it is one of the largest ecological engineering projects in human history. The purpose is to combat soil erosion, stop the expansion of the Gobi Desert, and protect farmland and cities from severe dust and sandstorms. 

And sure enough, it has successfully stabilized shifting sand dunes, reduced the frequency and severity of dust storms, and significantly boosted China’s overall forest coverage from about 10% in the mid-20th century to over 25% today. The expanded vegetation has also absorbed massive amounts of CO₂, transforming sections of the belt into a vital carbon sink.

10 Giant Tortoises Reshape the Aride Ecosystem

The reintroduction of ten Aldabra giant tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) – a species recognized for playing the role of a large terrestrial herbivore – on the northernmost granitic island in the Seychelles, restored ecological functions absent for over 180 years in just six months. 

Translocated from nearby Frégate Island, the tortoises restored critical processes like seed dispersal and vegetation management.

Giant tortoises became extinct on Aride Island nearly two centuries ago, and with them, important processes that maintained the island’s habitat were lost. Their reintroduction confirms that they act as ecosystem engineers by performing three fundamental ecological functions: controlling the cover of exotic plants; accelerating decomposition and nutrient recycling in soils through the consumption of leaf litter; and dispersing native plant seeds through their droppings after ingesting fruits. 

Conducted by researchers from the Doñana Biological Station (EBD), the National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN), the Royal Botanical Garden (RJB) – all part of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) – and the University of Exeter, the study demonstrates that reintroducing a small number of giant tortoises is a cost-effective restoration strategy capable of reestablishing lost ecological interactions. 

The study "Individual variability shapes interaction rewiring and fosters ecosystem restoration by reintroduced giant tortoises in the Seychelles", which highlights how these 10 Aldabras dramatically reshaped the island's ecosystem, was published in the journal Restoration Ecology and released on April 16, 2026.

The dispersal of more than 11,000 seeds in two months helps to gauge the extent of the process recorded by scientists during the initial monitoring of the animals. As nearly nine out of ten seeds belonged to native species, the movement of the reptiles may favor the regeneration of original vegetation in areas where introduced plants have gained space. 

The consumption of 54 exotic species was also recorded as relevant data because invasive plants can compete with local flora for light, water, and nutrients. By feeding on these species, the tortoises reduce some of the pressure on native vegetation and alter the growth dynamics in the territory, according to the researchers’ assessment.

The research also pointed out behavioral differences among the reintroduced individuals, a fact considered relevant to assess how each animal contributed to the ecological restoration of Aride Island. 

In fact, only three of the ten tortoises accounted for more than 80% of the native seed dispersal in two months, while others had a greater role in the consumption of exotic plants or in nutrient recycling. For this reason, the team advocates that conservation projects evaluate which animals play broader ecological roles, as individuals of the same species can generate different effects in the ecosystem’s recomposition. 

The case of the tortoise identified as T08 was used by the scientists to exemplify this variation in behavior observed during monitoring conducted after reintroduction on the island. According to the study, this individual demonstrated greater efficiency in consuming exotic flora, strong native seed dispersal, and balanced ingestion of native and introduced plant matter compared to other monitored tortoises. 

The finding led the researchers to highlight behavioral diversity within the same species as an element to be considered in ecological restoration actions. 

The study does not claim that any release of animals will produce the same result, nor does it indicate that reintroduction can be done without planning in other island ecosystems. For this type of action, experts consider it necessary to evaluate species, environment, ecological history, health risks, and subsequent monitoring, especially on islands, where imbalances can spread quickly.

Researchers advocate that future restoration initiatives consider the so-called effective number of individuals capable of sustaining ecological functions, and not just the total number of animals reintroduced. This concept broadens the traditional analysis, which usually prioritizes the genetic viability of a reintroduced population, by also including the individuals’ ability to recover natural processes in the environment. 

The six-month interval does not represent complete restoration of the island, but indicates, according to the study, that functions previously absent were measurably resumed after the reintroduction of the tortoises. 

Oyster Shells to Rebuild Coastal Reefs

The oyster shells that used to go to waste in restaurants have become part of a marine restoration program led by marine scientist Kaysha Kenney (right). The work takes place in Southern California in the United States, with the involvement of Orange County Coastkeeper in Orange County and Long Beach. 

The case gained prominence on May 15, 2026, when the scale of the project drew attention: the program had already accumulated over 10 tons of used shells. The goal is to reuse this waste to help in the recovery of oyster reefs, strengthen coastal habitats, and show how ocean conservation can also start with something seemingly common. 

Initially, the operation fit into a few wooden boxes. The oyster shells were collected in local restaurants, stored, and prepared for an environmental reuse process. Over time, the volume grew so much that the initial space was no longer sufficient. 

What seemed like a small action turned into a weekly operation of logistics, science, and environmental education. Today, the collected shells form a large storage area and continue to arrive through partnerships with seafood restaurants and markets. 

The expansion shows how consumer waste can gain a new function when there is planning. Instead of ending up in landfills or common disposal, the shells are treated as raw material to restore degraded coastal environments. 

This growth also helped transform the project into a story with great public appeal. The image of tons of accumulated shells draws attention because it visually reveals the size of a problem and the potential of a solution. 

The Shells for Shorelines program by Orange County Coastkeeper collects oyster shells used in partner restaurants and markets. The team organizes collections to pass through several establishments on the same route, reducing travel and making the process more efficient. 

After collection, the shells are taken to a field where they undergo weighing, cataloging, and sun curing. This step is important because it helps prepare the material before reuse in restoration projects. 

The process also requires cleaning the containers used in collections. Buckets, boxes, and other materials need to be sanitized so they can return to the restaurants and participate in the next collection round. 

In practice, recycling involves more than just gathering shells. There is volume control, partner organization, transportation, curing time, and preparation to ensure the material can be safely used in reef recovery. 

Oyster shells have environmental value because they help rebuild the physical base of reefs. These reefs serve as habitats for various marine and coastal species, providing shelter, food, and breeding areas. 

Oyster reefs also contribute to water filtration and coastal protection. When well preserved, these environments can improve water quality and help reduce impacts in vulnerable coastal areas. 

Another important point is the resilience of ecosystems. In regions subject to erosion, climate change, and urban pressure, healthy coastal habitats can function as natural barriers and points of biodiversity recovery. 

Restoration, therefore, benefits not only oysters. It can strengthen an entire network of marine life, from small organisms to species that depend on these environments to survive. 

Kaysha Kenney’s work gained traction on social media because it shows stages that many people never see: bins full of shells, fields covered with the material, teams organizing collections, and the slow work behind environmental recovery. 

The virality helped turn a technical topic into something understandable for the public. Instead of just talking about marine restoration, the videos show the concrete path of oyster shells, from the restaurant to the coastal project. 

This type of dissemination helps bridge conservation and everyday life. Many people consume oysters without imagining that the shells can return to the environment as part of a strategy to recover reefs. 

The repercussion also broadens the debate about waste. What seemed like worthless waste is now presented as an environmental resource, provided there is an organized chain for collection, preparation, and reuse. 

The accumulation of more than 10 tons of oyster shells reveals the strength of the program but also points to the magnitude of the environmental problem. Reef restoration requires volume, time, technical knowledge, and continuous participation from partners. 

According to the material released about the project, oyster reefs have suffered significant losses worldwide. This scenario makes restoration initiatives even more important, especially in coastal areas pressured by urbanization, pollution, and environmental changes. 

The pile of shells serves as a symbol of reconstruction. Each collected batch represents waste that is no longer discarded and becomes part of a larger effort to recover the oceans. 

At the same time, the project shows that conservation does not depend solely on large works or actions distant from the population. Restaurants, consumers, scientists, environmental organizations, and content creators can participate in a chain with real impact. 

The story of oyster shells shows that ocean conservation does not start only within the water. It also involves decisions made in restaurants, collection programs, environmental education, and public communication. 

When a restaurant separates shells for recycling, it participates in a chain that can help reefs and coastal habitats. When the public understands this process, the likelihood of supporting similar initiatives in other regions increases. 

The case also reinforces the importance of local organizations. Orange County Coastkeeper acts as a bridge between commercial establishments, technical teams, and restoration projects, transforming dispersed waste into environmentally useful material.

This model can inspire other coastal cities, provided it respects local conditions, sanitary requirements, and technical criteria for restoration. It is not enough to throw shells into the sea; planning, monitoring, and a clear ecological purpose are needed. 

The case draws attention because it combines science, logistics, and communication in an easy-to-visualize agenda: what is left on the plate can return to the ocean as a conservation tool.

Forest Sounds Confirm Biodiversity is Returning in Costa Rica

Can listening to forests help us understand if the life inside them is thriving? Apparently, yes. 

Giacomo Delgado likens it to a doctor examining heart health. 

“A doctor has listened to many people’s hearts, and knows what healthy hearts sound like”, Delgado (right), a doctoral researcher in the Department of Environmental Systems Science at ETH Zürich, told Mongabay in a video interview. “She then starts to compare your heart to other heart sounds to see if you have a healthy heart”. 

A team of researchers, led by Delgado, has used the same logic to assess the success of a forest protection and restoration mechanism in Costa Rica. Using more than 16,000 hours of audio recordings of the forest, they found that biodiversity was restored in naturally regenerated forests. These forests were also found to sound similar to forests that have been protected for years. 

In 1950, half of Costa Rica was forested; by 1995, forest cover had been reduced to 25%, driven in part by cattle ranching and agriculture expansion in the 1970s and 1980s. Since then, however, Costa Rica became something of a pioneer in the payment for ecosystem services (PES) system, a mechanism where landowners and local communities are financially compensated for protecting and preserving forests. The country’s PES initiative, launched in 1997, is one of the first national-level programs of its kind in the world, and to date has covered more than 1.3 million hectares (3.2 million acres). 

“Costa Rica’s PES program is notable not only for its longevity and scale, but also for the institutional framework built around it”, Laura Villalobos, assistant professor of economics and environmental studies at Salisbury University in the US, told Mongabay in an email interview. “The program has progressively incorporated scientific evidence to prioritize areas facing higher risks of deforestation”, said Villalobos, who wasn’t involved in Delgado’s study.

While satellite data have shown an increase in forest cover, it’s been more challenging to assess whether the recovered forests have life thriving within them. More often than not, forest cover regeneration is considered the key metric of success in PES programs. Biodiversity assessments, however, are more difficult and expensive to implement over large areas. As a result, “biodiversity restoration is still measured predominantly through changes in forest cover, often used as a proxy for biodiversity outcomes”, Villalobos said. “This doesn’t capture the quality of biodiversity, species diversity and ecosystem functioning”. 

Enter bioacoustics. For years, scientists have used this noninvasive technology – essentially placing microphones throughout the forest to record animal sounds – to conduct large-scale biodiversity assessments over wide swaths of forests. It’s also used to understand the behavior and communication patterns of animals. 

To determine if regenerated forests are functioning as viable habitats, Delgado sought answers to a wide range of questions. When are the big bursts of sounds happening? What species are making these choruses of sounds, and at what times? Is there a high diversity of sounds? Is the sound distributed through all sorts of pitches? 

“We have listened to healthy forests and made designations on sound profiles of healthy forests”, Delgado said. “We used those to see how close recovering forests sound to the healthy baseline”. 

Delgado and his team captured close to 16,658 hours of audio data from 119 sites across the Nicoya Peninsula in northwestern Costa Rica. They placed their audio recorders (left) in protected areas, forests recovering under the PES program, monoculture plantations, and pastures, and retrieved them a week later. The sites that were sampled include 50 forests that were allowed to regrow naturally without any human intervention. These forests have been recovering after being abandoned for cattle ranching and farming for anywhere between 25 and 42 years. 

After analyzing the data, they found that the sound profile of naturally regenerated forests under the PES program was very similar to that of protected forests. These patches were found to be “1.4 times more acoustically similar” to protected forests than they were to pastures. “Healthy forests have strong peaks of acoustic activity right when the sun is coming up and going down”, Delgado said. “Whereas in pastures, these are much less pronounced and the biggest peak is in the middle of the day when humans are active there”. 

Biodiversity in monoculture timber plantations was also found to be recovering, but not as strongly as in naturally regenerated forests. “You hear and feel a lot less in monoculture plantations where things are sometimes very quiet, almost eerily so”, Delgado said.

Villalobos said using sound to measure the success of PES programs goes beyond determining whether the forest is still standing. It also allows researchers to determine whether the recovered forests are functioning as healthy habitats. However, she said, since the study compares areas with PES against reference protected forests without PES, some questions remain unresolved: What would have happened to the PES areas had they not received the incentive? Would PES areas sound different in the absence of the payments? 

“Even so, the methodology is valuable because it moves beyond forest cover as a proxy and begins to measure ecological quality more directly”, she said. 

Delgado and his team are planning to continue their work. They’re now expanding their research across the entire country, having already collected 16 years’ worth of audio data from 600 forests. This time, in addition to assessing whether the forests are recovering, they’re also planning to identify what other factors correlate to forest recovery. 

“We want to find out which variables, whether it’s climate or forest cover or socioeconomic factors, are the biggest drivers of this recovery and what’s causing the biodiversity to return”, he said. “That’s really the point of doing ecosystem restoration: bringing back these natural communities of living beings that can thrive together”.

Denmark Switches to Red Streetlights

A quiet transformation is underway in Gladsaxe, Denmark, where urban lighting is evolving to protect local wildlife without compromising public safety. 

In this municipality near Copenhagen, red LED streetlights have been installed along key roadways, offering a potential model for cities worldwide grappling with the environmental impact of artificial lighting. The initiative targets light pollution and seeks to reduce disruptions to nocturnal species, particularly bats, which are sensitive to urban light. 

This innovative shift is rooted in scientific research and aligns with global sustainability efforts. In doing so, it represents more than just a change in lighting color. It is a rethinking of how cities can evolve their infrastructure to meet pressing environmental goals, preserve local ecosystems, and manage the growing challenges of urban development. 

In most urban areas, artificial light serves primarily to ensure safety and improve visibility for pedestrians and drivers. However, growing evidence suggests that traditional lighting systems disrupt natural ecosystems. Species such as bats, which rely on echolocation for navigation and feeding, are particularly vulnerable to artificial light. Research shows that short-wavelength lights – like those in white, blue, and green spectrums – disrupt their behavior, leading to altered migration patterns and disrupted feeding cycles. 

In contrast, red-spectrum lighting has been found to have minimal impact on bat activity. In Gladsaxe, the decision to replace standard white lights with red LEDs along Frederiksborgvej, a road near a local bat colony, is designed to protect species such as the common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) and the brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus). This shift is based on evidence that red light interferes less with nocturnal species, offering a sustainable compromise between ecological protection and the need for public illumination. 

The implementation of red lights is a targeted effort to reduce the impact of street lighting on local bat populations, ensuring their ability to forage and navigate while maintaining road safety. This innovation follows findings from the Danish Road Directorate, which highlighted how artificial light affects bat behavior in close proximity to their feeding corridors and roosting areas. Gladsaxe’s project has become a key part of Denmark’s broader sustainability strategy, linking urban development with environmental responsibility. 

The introduction of red lighting in Gladsaxe is part of the EU-funded Lighting Metropolis – Green Mobility program, which also involves cities across Denmark and Sweden. The program aims to reduce the environmental footprint of urban lighting while maintaining energy efficiency and road safety. 

The move to red LEDs aligns with sustainable city goals and offers multiple benefits. These energy-efficient lights reduce power consumption compared to older systems like sodium vapor lamps. Additionally, they require less maintenance and integrate smart lighting technologies that adjust brightness based on real-time data, further improving energy efficiency.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is Home to Aquatic Species

Plastic drifts across the Pacific in no particular hurry. Some pieces have been moving for years, thinning and softening as the sun and salt work on them. 

Far from land, where the sea usually offers little to cling to, those fragments have started to matter differently. Small animals have found them. They stay. They grow. Some even reproduce. This was not what scientists expected to see when they began pulling plastic from the middle of the ocean. 

The open sea was meant to be too exposed, too empty. But the plastic remains. It floats. It lasts. And slowly, almost quietly, it is being used. The garbage patch is still polluted. It is also now inhabited. 

The study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, volume 7, pages 687–697 (2023), came from a close look at 105 large pieces of plastic collected from the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. This is the slow-moving system of currents where floating debris tends to gather. Nearly all of the items carried life. Barnacles were common. So were crabs, amphipods, sea anemones and other small invertebrates. 

In total, researchers counted 46 different kinds of animals. Many of them were not supposed to be there at all. They normally live near coasts, attached to walls or harbour walls. Yet here they were, thousands of kilometres from shore. 

For a long time, scientists assumed the open ocean was off limits to coastal species. There is no seabed to anchor to and little shelter from waves or predators. Food is less predictable. Conditions change fast. The idea was that coastal animals lacked the ability to cope with this. 

What the plastic shows is something simpler. The problem may never have been the water. It may have been the lack of a surface. once that surface appeared, in the form of floating waste, the rules shifted. 

Not all debris is equal. Nets and ropes turned out to host the most life. Their twisted shapes created pockets and shade. They offer grip. Some pieces had clearly been at sea for many years, worn down to a thin and brittle state. Still, they held on. These objects act like small rafts. Over time, they collect layers of organisms, some feeding, some sheltering, some just staying put. It is not a reef. It is not land. But it is enough. 

They are not only clinging on. Many are breeding. Scientists found females carrying eggs and signs of different growth stages on the same object. The young and adult shared the space. Sea anemones showed several size classes living together. This suggests more than chance arrival. It points to persistence. Some species reproduce without needing a mate or release young that settle quickly. Those traits may help them survive long journeys on drifting plastic.

Most of the animals identified trace back to the western Pacific. Several are known from the coast of Japan. A few pieces of debris even carried markings from East Asia, though most plastic had lost any clear sign of origin. Tsunami-related debris from past events may have played a role, but the broader picture is movement. Plastic travels easily. Life goes with it. Over time, species from one coastline can end up established far beyond their usual range. 

This new floating community is sometimes called neopelagic. It exists before the plastic exists. It does not replace natural ecosystems. It alters them. Coastal species now mix with open ocean ones on the same debris. How that affects food webs, or competition, is still unclear. There is no neat ending here. The plastic problem remains. 

What has changed is the understanding. The high seas are not as empty as they once seemed. They are being reshaped, slowly, by what we leave behind.

Project Firefly in Sabak Bernam, Selangor

Etiqa, Malaysia's comprehensive insurance and takaful provider have started Project Firefly, a practical project to preserve the habitats of fireflies (Kelip-Kelip in Malay) along the banks of Sungai Panjang in Sabak Bernam, Selangor. 

This is a ground-breaking effort to preserve the environment and promote sustainable tourism. The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), and the Sabak Bernam District Council are among the notable organizations working on this important project. Together, they seek to maintain and restore the river’s ecosystem’s delicate balance, which is essential to local livelihoods and biodiversity. 

Fireflies (Family: Lampyridae; insect order: Coleoptera) are not merely captivating creatures that light up the night; they are vital indicators of a healthy ecosystem. Their presence is closely linked to the condition of mangrove forests and riverbank vegetation, which are critical for the survival of a myriad of species. 

The decline of fireflies in Malaysia, largely due to pollution, deforestation, and artificial light intrusion, poses a significant threat to biodiversity, ecotourism, and the livelihoods of local communities dependent on the river’s resources. 

Project Firefly is designed to address these challenges by focusing on the restoration of mangrove ecosystems along the riverbank. Over a stretch of 10 kilometres of river, the project has seen the planting of 130 Berembang (Sonneratia caseolaris) saplings and the sowing of 200 seeds, aiming to rejuvenate the area and provide a sustainable environment for fireflies to thrive. The initiative’s scale and reach underscore the significance of its environmental mission and its potential to impact local conservation efforts. 

A key aspect of Project Firefly is its commitment to involving the local community, with a strong emphasis on ecotourism. Etiqa volunteers have been actively engaged in the restoration process, with 50 volunteers contributing to the planting efforts. This collaborative approach not only aids in habitat conservation but also educates locals about the environmental importance of fireflies and mangrove ecosystems. 

As eco-tourism gains momentum in Malaysia, projects like Project Firefly offer a model for how businesses can collaborate with local communities to restore natural habitats. Firefly conservation directly supports ecotourism by ensuring that areas remain biodiverse, attractive, and economically viable for those who rely on tourism for income. The initiative’s focus on river-based livelihoods further underscores the importance of harmonising tourism activities with conservation efforts.

Prized Japanese Oysters Are Dying

In August 2023, Japan began dumping over a million tonnes of radioactive wastewater from Fukushima into the Pacific Ocean. The IAEA said it was safe. The world agreed. 

China banned Japanese seafood immediately, citing radiation concerns. Everyone called it politics. 

Fast forward to November 2025: Japan's prized oysters are dying at rates up to 90%. Scallops too. 

The official explanation? "High water temperatures". But is that really the whole story? 

Remember, China warned us! Isn't it strange that Japan's not testing for radiation in these dead oysters. Why?

The graphic speaks for itself!