Climate Change Solutions Update

Author: News.mongabay

  • How Mongabay’s journalism made an impact in 2025

    In 2025, Mongabay's journalism focused on empowering Indigenous and local communities by exposing illegal activities in the Amazon, highlighting conservation efforts in Colombia and Mexico, and collaborating with GI-TOC to combat illegal wildlife trade. Their reporting led to indictments and recommendations for bans on illegal practices in Brazil, as well as actions by organizations like WWF. With over 870 impacts logged throughout the year, Mongabay's work aims to hold powerful interests accountable and empower communities to defend their rights and ecosystems.

    https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/12/how-mongabays-journalism-made-an-impact-in-2025/

  • 15 forces that could reshape conservation in the next 10 years

    The recent horizon scan led by William J. Sutherland highlights emerging developments that could shape biodiversity outcomes over the next decade, focusing on issues spanning technology, climate, biology, and finance. The scan aims to improve preparedness before change becomes costly, addressing the imbalance of focusing on visible damage in conservation debates. It discusses various emerging threats and shifts related to climate change, such as the environmental impacts of fiber-optic drones and climate-driven changes in global soils and ocean productivity. By drawing attention to potential shifts and issues before they become visible and costly, conservation can move away from reactive responses, ultimately saving time and resources in the field of conservation.

    https://news.mongabay.com/2025/12/15-forces-that-could-reshape-conservation-in-the-next-10-years/

  • Clark Lungren and the case for compromise in conservation

    Clark Lungren, a conservationist in Burkina Faso, and a field biologist, bird specialist, and advisor in West and Central African countries, both emphasized the importance of aligning conservation efforts with local governance and incentives to ensure long-lasting impact. Lungren's strategy of granting communities controlled hunting rights in exchange for protection, initially dismissed by experts, proved durable and led to the rebound of wildlife populations in the Nazinga area. The field biologist's work focused on training local monitors, managing wildlife, and advocating for community involvement, leading to the establishment of community-managed hunting zones and the protection of wildlife corridors in the region. Both cases demonstrate that practical compromises and community involvement are key to successful conservation efforts that align with local needs and ensure sustainable practices.

    https://news.mongabay.com/2025/12/clark-lungren-and-the-case-for-compromise-in-conservation/

  • Africa mulls gap in climate adaptation finance for agriculture

    African stakeholders are advocating for increased adaptation funding for smallholder farmers in the agricultural sector who are highly vulnerable to climate shocks. Despite international funding pledges, there is a significant gap of approximately $365 billion through 2035, with skepticism that other countries will fill the shortfall. Climate finance is concentrated in a few countries, leaving farmers with limited access to funds for climate-smart practices. Stakeholders are calling for public financing, better early-warning systems, loss-and-damage support, and the implementation of climate-smart agriculture to address the underfunding of agricultural adaptation in Africa. Efforts to redirect harmful subsidies, reform finance institutions, and create a fairer global tax system are suggested to fill the gap in finance flows to small-scale agriculture in Africa. Additionally, concerns about the lack of progress in implementing the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) at the climate conference and the need for quadrupling Africa's climate finance flows annually until 2030 to meet investment needs for emissions reduction pledges under the Paris Agreement are highlighted.

    https://news.mongabay.com/2025/12/africa-mulls-gap-in-climate-adaptation-finance-for-agriculture/

  • Kristina Gjerde, mother of the high seas, has died, aged 68

    Kristina Maria Gjerde, a dedicated advocate for ocean protection, played a crucial role in the negotiation and adoption of the 2023 UN Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (the High Seas Treaty). Over the course of two decades, she worked tirelessly to build coalitions and alliances to address the protection of biodiversity on the high seas. Gjerde's focus sharpened as industrial activities threatened deep-sea ecosystems, emphasizing the need for monitoring and evaluation to avoid significant harm. Her fluency across different domains and enduring commitment to ocean conservation made her a respected figure in the field, reflecting a long-term commitment to climate solutions and governance improvements in the international marine law arena.

    https://news.mongabay.com/2025/12/kristina-maria-gjerde/

  • Huge ‘blue carbon’ offsetting project takes root in the mangroves of Sierra Leone

    West Africa Blue has chosen Verra for their carbon offset project in Sierra Leone, with plans to sell carbon credits by the end of 2026. The project involves 124 communities and includes a 50-year agreement with revenue sharing and transparency. NGO Namati has helped guide community discussions and will monitor the project to ensure compliance with agreements. Critics raise concerns about the potential negative impacts of offset projects on local communities and the reputation of polluting corporations. Residents of Sherbro in Sierra Leone are cautiously optimistic about the Sherbro River Estuary Project, hopeful for the success and benefits of this new project despite past disappointments with foreign-led interventions.

    https://news.mongabay.com/2025/12/huge-blue-carbon-offsetting-project-takes-root-in-the-mangroves-of-sierra-leone/

  • Ethiopian youth groups restore Rift valley lake & livelihoods

    Local youth groups in Ethiopia's Abijata-Shalla National Park, supported by Wetlands International, are actively engaged in restoring the ecosystem through sustainable land management practices. The degradation of the park, exacerbated by climate change, is being addressed through initiatives focused on restoring degraded areas, implementing bylaws, and creating sustainable livelihoods for the local community. The project, funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, has shown visible improvements in tree cover, reduced erosion, and increased water levels in the lake. By integrating local bylaws and traditional governance systems, the project aims to ensure lasting ownership within the community and prevent erosion of conservation results. Women play a significant role in the restoration efforts, contributing to the recovery of the landscape and ensuring long-term protection of the land.

    https://news.mongabay.com/2025/12/ethiopian-youth-groups-restore-rift-valley-lake-livelihoods/

  • Project sees long-term success restoring forests in the high Andes: Study

    Successful restoration projects in the high-altitude Polylepis forests of Peru, such as those led by Instituto de Montaña, ECOAN, and Accion Andina, have shown the importance of stakeholder participation, conservation agreements, and community engagement. These projects focus on protecting existing forests, improving water security, and restoring degraded pastures and forests through sustainable management practices. By working closely with local communities, including Indigenous Quechua people, these initiatives have not only benefited ecosystems and biodiversity but also enhanced community livelihoods and pride in the restored forests. The long-term goal is to restore 1 million hectares of native Andean forests by 2045, requiring ongoing commitment from donors and a community-led approach rooted in Inca customs of communal work and pride.

    https://news.mongabay.com/2025/12/project-sees-long-term-success-restoring-forests-in-the-high-andes-study/

  • Congo’s communities are creating a 1-million-hectare biodiversity corridor

    Strong Roots Congo is working to create a 1-million-hectare corridor between Kahuzi-Biega National Park and Itombwe Nature Reserve in the DRC by securing community forest concessions. The project aims to rectify past displacements caused by the creation of the national park and engage communities in conservation. Despite challenges, the initiative has secured 23 community forest concessions covering nearly 600,000 hectares. The corridor will allow species to move safely between protected areas and promote biodiversity while supporting the livelihoods of local communities. The initiative also aims to bridge the gap between modern and customary laws regarding forest land ownership, reduce the impacts of armed conflict on forests and wildlife, and protect Indigenous peoples from land grabbing.

    https://news.mongabay.com/2025/12/congos-communities-are-creating-a-1-million-hectare-biodiversity-corridor/

  • How Southern African farmers & elephants can both adapt to coexist

    Conservation groups in Southern Africa, including the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) in Zimbabwe, the Ecoexist Trust in Botswana, and Elephant-Human Relations Aid (EHRA) in Namibia, are implementing various strategies to promote coexistence between farmers and elephants. These strategies include using technology such as satellite collars, virtual fencing, and geofences to monitor elephant movements and prevent conflicts. By adapting farming practices, establishing fenced gardens, and implementing nonlethal repellents, these organizations are working towards fostering peaceful coexistence and reducing human-elephant conflict. Through these efforts, there is potential to create an "elephant-aware economy" in the region, incentivizing coexistence behavior and protecting Africa's remaining savanna elephants.

    https://news.mongabay.com/2025/12/how-southern-african-farmers-elephants-can-both-adapt-to-coexist/