Ever wonder why a walk through the woods can be such a mood booster? Research from the University of New Hampshire shows that it can be as simple as the sounds people experience in nature, people's awareness of biodiversity—the many species living in the woods—and educational signage sharing information about the variety of animals, birds and trees.

Oil and natural gas still account for the vast majority of the world's energy and raw materials, with all the associated environmental and biodiversity consequences. The bioeconomy is an approach to overcoming this dependence: Instead of using fossil fuels, it uses renewable resources such as plants, microorganisms and organic waste. The goal is for economic growth to go hand in hand with protecting species, the climate and soils.

Kerala's paddy land protection is weakening through regulatory dilution and data gaps, risking biodiversity, water cycles, and food security.

The Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary, one of Haryana’s two Ramsar sites among India’s 103 designated wetlands of international importance and one of the country’s 554 Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs), has witnessed a sharp decline in colonial waterbird nesting and breeding in 2026, according to a survey conducted by Delhi-based ornithologist TK Roy.

Curtin University researchers have detected traces of hundreds of plants and animals by collecting DNA from the air as they drove more than 1,100km (684 miles) across Western Australia.

Exotic South American suckerfish invade Coimbatore’s Noyyal tanks, threatening biodiversity and challenging local fishermen.

Marine scientists have conducted the first re-survey of northern Patagonia's kelp forests in more than 50 years and discovered dramatic changes across one of the world's most remote marine ecosystems due to human activities.

Le gouvernement ukrainien a annoncé avoir déposé 773 échantillons de semences végétales dans la réserve réserve mondiale du Svalbard, dans l'Arctique norvégien, alors que ses infrastructures nationales de conservation ont été fortement endommagées depuis le début de l'invasion russe.

Launched at the UN Biodiversity Conference, the New Species Recovery Alliance has garnered a substantial pledge of $500 million. This collaborative initiative, involving nine organizations including the Bezos Earth Fund, is set to combat species extinctions and facilitate the recovery of endangered species globally. With over 31,000 species facing extinction, urgent conservation measures are more crucial than ever, as the alliance partners with local groups to develop effective recovery strategies.

Mindanao caecilian, a rare non-venomous amphibian, is documented through biodiversity monitoring in Mt. Apo Natural Park.

This year's COP summit focuses on protecting, restoring, and sustainably managing nature, as the world is off track to meet most 2030 targets under the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

When conservation affects local people, the question of who pays and who has a voice in decisions can make or break species recovery.

As governments prepare to gather in Yerevan, Armenia, this week for the U.N. Biodiversity Conference (COP17), new research identifies 13% of Earth's land area as hotspots for biodiversity conservation, highlighting where conservation efforts are most urgently needed.

The world aims to mobilise $200 billion a year for biodiversity by 2030, but current funding remains far below target. Here’s what COP17 must address on finance, subsidies and private investment.

From renewable electricity and the elimination of single-use plastics to water management, biodiversity protection and connections with local communities, the Sani/Ikos Group 2025 ESG Report shows how environmental and social performance is being integrated into one of the most dynamic investment programmes in Mediterranean hospitality

Rewatch the event Conversation on traditional medicine continued this year at the World Health Summit (WHS) 2026 in Berlin. This marked the third event at the WHS since 2025, in which a dedicated session explored the challenges and opportunities of traditional medicine in advancing global health goals. The panel, moderated by Dr Hiba Boujnah, Head of the WHO Collaborating Centre at the Charité Competence Center for Traditional and Integrative Medicine (CCCTIM), reflected on the question, what can traditional medicine contribute to building more resilient health systems? Dr Mustapha Ferjani, Minister of Health of Tunisia, opened the event, signaling a strong political commitment. He highlighted his country’s commitment to the integration of traditional medicine with wider health systems to achieve resilient, fit-for-purpose, and accessible-for-all health-care system. He underscored the need to combine respect for traditional knowledge with rigorous scientific evaluation, quality assurance and patient safety, linking to biodiversity protection, One Health approaches and digital health transformation and the responsible use of artificial intelligence. Dr Shyama Kuruvilla, Director a.i. of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine, further enlarged the discussion of resilience by building the capacity of people, communities, systems and the environment to attain, restore and sustain balance. She highlighted the need for country-led, evidence-informed approaches that place equity, trust and sustainability at the centre of health policy, and outlined WHO’s emerging Living Well initiative as a platform for connecting traditional knowledge, science, innovation and international cooperation in support of healthier and more resilient societies.  Vivian Camacho, an Indigenous health leader from Bolivia, added that health, as a human right, remains closely linked to cultural identity, community values and harmony with nature. Drawing on the Indigenous concept of Sumaq Kawsay (living well), she shared Bolivia's experience in recognizing traditional healers and integrating ancestral medicine into the national health system. For example, she highlighted Indigenous-led responses during the COVID-19 pandemic that combined public health messaging with traditional healing practices to support the health of the mind, body and spirit. Dr Sohel Saikat, WHO Senior Advisor on Primary Health Care, echoed Ms Camacho’s  perspective and argued that traditional medicine has the potential to strengthen essential public health functions, extending the reach of health services by strengthening trust, cultural legitimacy and community engagement.  For example, Dr Saikat highlighted the role of traditional practitioners in health promotion, prevention, risk communication, early detection and referral, and called for formal two-way referral and learning systems between traditional practitioners and primary health care providers to strengthen prevention, surveillance and health system resilience.  Researcher Amie Steel from Southern Cross University highlighted growing evidence that traditional medicine practitioners already play an important role in preventive health by supporting behaviour change, health literacy and healthy lifestyles. She described these practitioners as an under-recognized public health resource and called for stronger evidence, greater investment and more inclusive research ecosystems that bring together researchers, practitioners, traditional knowledge holders, Indigenous healers and communities as equal partners in generating evidence and informing policy.  Throughout the discussion, a common theme emerged: resilient health systems depend not only on services and technologies, but also on trust, culture, community participation and respect for diverse knowledge systems. Speakers stressed that traditional medicine can make meaningful contributions to prevention, primary health care, mental well-being and community resilience when supported by robust evidence, effective regulation and respectful collaboration across sectors.  The session concluded with a clear call to move from recognizing traditional medicine as valuable in and of itself, to integrating it fully within national health-care systems. Participants agreed this will depend on strengthening evidence, fostering innovation, protecting Indigenous knowledge, promoting equity and building effective partnerships between traditional, public health and biomedical systems. Together, these efforts can help countries develop more inclusive, adaptive and resilient health systems capable of addressing current and future health challenges.

/PRNewswire/ -- Published today ahead of COP17, new international research by children's rights organization KidsRights, has found that more than six in ten...

Global Leaders Gather in Armenia to Boost Biodiversity Conservation Efforts - Yerevan, Armenia: With the 2030 deadline for biodiversity targets fast approaching, global leaders, indigenous communities, and stakeholders have convened ... Get Latest News on International only on lokmattimes.com

According to two new UNSW studies, researchers often choose research topics based on personal preferences and cultural attitudes, including exposure to films, TV shows and even zoos, rather than attempting to fill the most pressing gaps in knowledge. The studies are published in the journal Ecology and Evolution.

COP17 is the first major review of progress under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, that aims to protect 30 per cent of land and sea by 2030