City engineer Cara Boyles told the committee the city has multiple living seawall projects in design and a pilot on 60th Street; members asked staff to model expedited permitting and fee‑waiver options and return with a formal proposal.

TEHRAN - Iran has proposed establishing a joint peace and friendship park with Armenia to strengthen cross-border cooperation on biodiversity conservation and wildlife protection in the Caucasus region. Hamid Zohrabi, deputy head of Iran’s Department of Environment (DOE), met with his Armenian counterpart, Aram Meymaryan, on the sidelines of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17), held in Armenia from October 19 to 30, IRNA reported. The proposed transboundary park would promote joint efforts to conserve biodiversity in northwestern Iran and the Caucasus region, while safeguarding critical wildlife corridors, including those used by the Persian leopard. The two officials also discussed ways to expand environmental cooperation and address shared challenges, including the protection of the Aras River. Meymaryan welcomed the proposal and praised the active participation of the Iranian delegation in COP17. The officials agreed to establish a working group to follow up on the agreements reached after the conclusion of the summit. COP17 was held in two stages: technical-level discussions followed by the ministerial segment. The leaders’ summit took place on October 16, featuring an address by President Masoud Pezeshkian. It marked the first time a president of the Islamic Republic of Iran had attended a Conference of the...

Chairwoman Hughes Smith opened the Monroe County Environment and Public Works Committee by connecting local policy to global ecosystem risks, warning of an 'Amazon tipping point' and citing that '15% of the original forest is already gone.'

TEHRAN - Iran has proposed establishing a joint peace and friendship park with Armenia to strengthen cross-border cooperation on biodiversity conservation and wildlife protection in the Caucasus region. Hamid Zohrabi, deputy head of Iran’s Department of Environment (DOE), met with his Armenian counterpart, Aram Meymaryan, on the sidelines of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17), held in Armenia from October 19 to 30, IRNA reported. The proposed transboundary park would promote joint efforts to conserve biodiversity in northwestern Iran and the Caucasus region, while safeguarding critical wildlife corridors, including those used by the Persian leopard. The two officials also discussed ways to expand environmental cooperation and address shared challenges, including the protection of the Aras River. Meymaryan welcomed the proposal and praised the active participation of the Iranian delegation in COP17. The officials agreed to establish a working group to follow up on the agreements reached after the conclusion of the summit. COP17 was held in two stages: technical-level discussions followed by the ministerial segment. The leaders’ summit took place on October 16, featuring an address by President Masoud Pezeshkian. It marked the first time a president of the Islamic Republic of Iran had attended a Conference of the...

The Senate bill would cut some ESA consultation windows from 90 to 60 days, exempt routine rights-of-way work, and permit states to assume consultations from federal wildlife agencies — changes supporters say speed work, critics say risk species protections.

Environmental advocates are calling for stronger biodiversity protection in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, including a national law to safeguard the Verde Island Passage (VIP), as countries prepare for the first global review of progress under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17). During a media briefing on Oct. 16, advocates urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to accelerate efforts to protect 30% of the region’s land, inland waters and seas by 2030, while recognizing the rights and livelihoods of fisherfolk, Indigenous peoples and other communities that depend on natural resources. The framework’s first global review indicates that existing national commitments would protect only around 23% of land and marine ecosystems by 2030, falling short of the 30% target, according to the briefing. Adopted under the Convention on Biological Diversity, the framework sets 23 global targets to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. These include expanding protected areas and minimizing the effects of climate change on biodiversity. Center for Energy and Development (CEED) Lead Campaigner for Southeast Asia Anj Dacanay said countries have made progress in addressing biodiversity loss, but implementation remains inadequate. “The...

Public commenters and several commissioners pressed DEP foresters on herbicide choice and rates, amphibian effects, vernal pool monitoring, and why certain botanical inventories were not shared with the commission before voting.

Governor Gavin Newsom said California has set aside roughly 3.5 million acres toward its 30 by 30 conservation goal and officials added about 1 million more acres over the past year; participants noted SB 337 has codified the target into state law.

WDFW and partners reported that fiscal‑year 2026 removals topped roughly 2,000,000 European green crabs, with long‑term effort exceeding 4,000,000 since the emergency response began. Officials urged continuing state and federal support to sustain trapping and partner grants.

Countries are unlikely to meet the main international biodiversity pledge – to protect at least 30% of land and marine areas by 2030. This is according to the findings of a new study. According to Reuters The “30 by 30” target is part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which was endorsed by nearly 200 countries in late 2022. They also pledged to mobilize at least $200 billion annually to halt the long-term decline in biodiversity. Since the agreement entered into force, an additional 1.3 million square kilometers of land and 6 million square kilometers of marine areas have been placed under formal protection. However, the overall share of protected areas is only around 20% on land and 10% in marine areas. Why countries are falling behind on their targets If governments fulfill all their current commitments, approximately 26% of terrestrial areas and inland waters could be protected by 2030. For marine ecosystems, the figure would be only around 13%. The annual funding shortfall for conservation efforts is estimated at $75–150 billion. Only around $1.8 billion is currently directed toward protecting marine areas each year, although approximately $16 billion is needed to meet the targets. An official report on progress...

Cardinal (Department of Land Conservancy) requested Hamilton County resolutions of support so it can apply for Clean Ohio green-space conservation funds to protect a 4.3‑acre community hub in CUF and a 59‑acre forested property near Fernald that hosts breeding bobcats and endangered bats; applicants said they do not seek county funds, only formal support to submit applications by Thursday.

Consultants identified up to six federally sensitive species, projected snowpack declines (Bureau of Reclamation: up to 70% by 2070), increasing extreme‑heat days, and that a majority of the city falls in very high wildfire hazard zones. Council asked for confirmation of maps and data sources.

China has made solid progress in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and will continue to strengthen biodiversity protection at home and abroad, Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu said on Monday. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Kunming Dialogue on Collective Progress in the Implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in Support of the Global Review, Huang said China has made significant progress on 21 of the framework's 27 national targets. Adopted at COP15 — or the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity — in late 2022 under China's presidency, the framework sets four long-term goals for 2050 and 23 action-oriented targets for 2030. Since COP15, China has issued guidelines on further strengthening biodiversity conservation, advanced a national park-based protected area system and drawn red lines for ecological conservation, Huang said. More than 30 percent of China's land area now falls within those red lines, covering 95 percent of the country's rare and endangered species and their habitats, he said. China has also continued to implement major biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration projects. Nearly 500 wild plant and animal species in the country have seen their threat status...

The board approved several grants to support invasive-species control: a Great Lakes Commission grant (~$11,565) for phragmites adaptive management, a U.S. Fish & Wildlife grant (~$35,000) for Plum/Detroit Islands, and a Wisconsin DNR grant ($19,000) with a $5,000 county match for weed and private-forest management.

Commenters objected to the scope of the EIR for the Hillside Meadows project, urging expanded biological and hydrology assessments and inclusion of linked developments to address cumulative traffic and flood/runoff impacts under CEQA.

Natural resources officials, researchers and conservation practitioners gathered at the National Botanical Garden in Beijing recently, exploring new models for coordinated biodiversity protection across sectors. Themed "Conserving biodiversity for harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature," the salon was guided by the department of international cooperation of the Ministry of Natural Resources and co-hosted by the ministry's publicity and education center, the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the IUCN China Members Network. "Safeguarding biodiversity and building a solid foundation for life on Earth are both an inherent mission for advancing ecological progress and a core task for participating in global ecological governance," said Wu Jun, deputy director-general of the department of international cooperation. She noted that China's deepening cooperation with the IUCN has strengthened its role in global ecological governance, citing the election of Academician Ma Keping as chair of the top governing body of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme, the promotion of global standards for nature-based solutions, and the release of case studies showcasing Chinese conservation practices to the international community. Wang Xiaoquan, director of the Institute of Botany, highlighted the institute's contributions to botanical science, including its role in compiling the Flora of...

Board members discussed a national philanthropic effort (the Phoenix Species Project) described as roughly $200 million globally with about $100 million for the U.S.; staff said approximately $5 million of those funds are being targeted to federally endangered species in western North Carolina and local land trusts are weighing lead‑partner roles.

FWC shorebird staff told the Fort Myers Beach advisory committee the 2025 nesting season was “extremely successful,” reporting snowy plovers hatched nine chicks (eight fledged) and Wilson's plovers fledged 10 chicks; staff proposed expanding pretreated areas to the colony’s historical footprint to reduce invasive vegetation and sand spurs.

Participants assess conservation potential and management responsibilities for Florida property easements.

City officials discuss tree loss and preservation strategies amid development plans.

Volusia Forever engages private landowners to expand conservation efforts in the Lake Ashby region.

Sierra Club advocates for spring restoration clean energy and land conservation funding

Community member warns about the impact of herbicides on monarch populations and ecosystems.