EcoAméricas

07/22/2025

As deforestation and human-driven land-use change continue to fragment natural habitats globally, scientists are increasingly warning of an impending sixth mass extinction. Among the most effective, yet underutilized, tools to address this crisis are biological corridors—landscapes that connect protected areas, enabling the movement of species, genes, and ecological processes.

From the jaguar populations of Mexico’s Gran Calakmul region, which traverse international boundaries, to the voluntary conservation areas in Jalisco, Mexico, that integrate sustainable land use and habitat preservation, biological corridors play a crucial role in maintaining genetic diversity, preserving ecosystem stability and supporting climate regulation and carbon cycles.

That being said, structural connectivity—such as forest corridors—is not sufficient without functional connectivity, which ensures viable populations of native species. Aquatic systems, including rivers and marine environments, must also be protected to facilitate ecological continuity.

Experts emphasize that legal recognition and robust public policy are urgently needed to mainstream connectivity into national and regional conservation strategies.

“Without the integration of connectivity into legal frameworks, meaningful conservation cannot be fully implemented,” says Juan Bezaury-Creel, previously Mexico representative for U.S.-based The Nature Conservancy.

This article was published in the most recent issue of EcoAméricas, available in print and online at: https://bit.ly/3TJsO1e

07/16/2025

As deforestation and human-driven land-use change continue to fragment natural habitats globally, scientists are increasingly warning of an impending sixth mass extinction. Among the most effective, yet underutilized, tools to address this crisis are biological corridors—landscapes that connect protected areas, enabling the movement of species, genes, and ecological processes.

From the jaguar populations of Mexico’s Gran Calakmul region, which traverse international boundaries, to the voluntary conservation areas in Jalisco, Mexico, that integrate sustainable land use and habitat preservation, biological corridors play a crucial role in maintaining genetic diversity, preserving ecosystem stability and supporting climate regulation and carbon cycles.

That being said, structural connectivity—such as forest corridors—is not sufficient without functional connectivity, which ensures viable populations of native species. Aquatic systems, including rivers and marine environments, must also be protected to facilitate ecological continuity.

Experts emphasize that legal recognition and robust public policy are urgently needed to mainstream connectivity into national and regional conservation strategies.

“Without the integration of connectivity into legal frameworks, meaningful conservation cannot be fully implemented,” says Juan Bezaury-Creel, previously Mexico representative for U.S.-based The Nature Conservancy.

This article was published in the most recent issue of EcoAméricas, available in print and online at: https://bit.ly/3TJsO1e

As deforestation and other human-driven land-use changes rapidly fragment natural habitat around the world, it’s no wonder scientists are warning of a sixth mass extinction. Nor is it surprising they are calling increasingly for biological corridors, a conservation strategy recognized for over a h...

06/26/2025

Evidence is mounting that Costa Rica’s fishing subsidies, meant to support local livelihoods and sustainable practices, are being misused to enable drug trafficking, illegal shark finning, and unregulated overfishing.

Conservationists and watchdogs warn these tax exemptions, totaling US$15M annually, are undermining marine biodiversity and empowering organized crime. A lack of fishing quotas and poor enforcement have created conditions where fuel subsidies distort profits and incentivize illicit activity at sea.

“We are against fishing subsidies that intensify fishing by increasing the number of days at sea, and therefore the catch,” says Magie Rodríguez, head of political advocacy at MarViva Costa Rica, citing subsidies for fuel and onboard refrigeration. Subsidy abuse also endangers small-scale, sustainable fishing, those in that industry say. “If the government doesn’t control this, those of us who fish sustainably will be left without a livelihood as there will be nothing left for us to fish,” says Osvaldo Medina, who has used sustainable methods to fish in Costa Rica’s Gulf of Nicoya for 35 years.

This article was published in the most recent issue of EcoAméricas, available in print and online at: http://bit.ly/4k8lB5m

06/26/2025

Evidence is mounting that Costa Rica’s fishing subsidies, meant to support local livelihoods and sustainable practices, are being misused to enable drug trafficking, illegal shark finning, and unregulated overfishing.

Conservationists and watchdogs warn these tax exemptions, totaling US$15M annually, are undermining marine biodiversity and empowering organized crime. A lack of fishing quotas and poor enforcement have created conditions where fuel subsidies distort profits and incentivize illicit activity at sea.

“We are against fishing subsidies that intensify fishing by increasing the number of days at sea, and therefore the catch,” says Magie Rodríguez, head of political advocacy at MarViva Costa Rica, citing subsidies for fuel and onboard refrigeration. Subsidy abuse also endangers small-scale, sustainable fishing, those in that industry say. “If the government doesn’t control this, those of us who fish sustainably will be left without a livelihood as there will be nothing left for us to fish,” says Osvaldo Medina, who has used sustainable methods to fish in Costa Rica’s Gulf of Nicoya for 35 years.

This article was published in the most recent issue of EcoAméricas, available in print and online at: http://bit.ly/4k8lB5m

Evidence that government fishing subsidies in Costa Rica are being used by organized crime to traffic drugs and conduct other illicit activities, such as catching sharks for their fins, has spurred calls for a review of the payments. In theory, fishing subsidies are designed to create jobs and stimu...

06/25/2025

An outbreak of the New World screwworm fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax), a parasitic insect that feeds on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, is spreading rapidly through Central America into southern Mexico.

Conservationists, veterinarians, and public health officials are raising alarms over the parasite’s potential to affect not only cattle and livestock but also wildlife and human health.

🪰 Once eradicated from North and Central America through a decades-long international sterilization program, the screwworm has reemerged—spurred by cattle smuggling, increased migration through the Darién Gap, and unregulated animal transport.

Outbreaks in Panama have surged from 25 annually to over 6,000 cases in 2023, with infections now reported as far north as Oaxaca and Chiapas, including documented human cases.

Experts emphasize that the current control measures—such as the aerial release of sterilized flies by the Panama–United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of Screwworm (Copeg)—will not be sufficient without coordinated regional action, public education campaigns, and increased law enforcement to disrupt illegal cattle movement.

“This is a public health and national security emergency,” says Jeremy Radachowsky of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). “Without immediate, high-level coordination across agencies and borders, decades of progress could be undone in just a few years.”

Continue reading online at http://bit.ly/44iJa5M

06/25/2025

An outbreak of the New World screwworm fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax), a parasitic insect that feeds on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, is spreading rapidly through Central America into southern Mexico.

Conservationists, veterinarians, and public health officials are raising alarms over the parasite’s potential to affect not only cattle and livestock but also wildlife and human health.

🪰 Once eradicated from North and Central America through a decades-long international sterilization program, the screwworm has reemerged—spurred by cattle smuggling, increased migration through the Darién Gap, and unregulated animal transport.
� Outbreaks in Panama have surged from 25 annually to over 6,000 cases in 2023, with infections now reported as far north as Oaxaca and Chiapas, including documented human cases.

Experts emphasize that the current control measures—such as the aerial release of sterilized flies by the Panama–United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of Screwworm (Copeg)—will not be sufficient without coordinated regional action, public education campaigns, and increased law enforcement to disrupt illegal cattle movement.

“This is a public health and national security emergency,” says Jeremy Radachowsky of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). “Without immediate, high-level coordination across agencies and borders, decades of progress could be undone in just a few years.”

Continue reading online at http://bit.ly/44iJa5M

The spread of a flesh-eating parasite that devastates cattle and can infect humans and other mammals has alarmed conservationists and cattle farmers. Fears it would reach the United States prompted officials in May to suspend Mexican cattle imports. The New World screwworm fly (Cochliomyia hominivor...

06/18/2025

Andean glaciers—essential to 90 million lives and half the Amazon’s water—are disappearing 35% faster than the global average. If warming continues, many could become unviable as water sources by 2070, warns glaciologist Jeremy Ely.

🗻 Known as the “water towers” of the world, these glaciers regulate water for drinking, farming, sanitation, hydropower, and ecosystems across South America. Yet Venezuela has already lost all its glaciers—becoming the first country in modern history to do so.

Scientists, policymakers, and UN leaders are calling this a “cryosphere crisis”—a tipping point that could reshape life across the region. From soot from Amazon fires to mining conflicts, threats are accelerating.

But hope lies in adaptation and cooperation and many researchers are looking to water basins for adaptive solutions. “We’re actually moving the project in a surprising way from the glaciers to the wetlands that exist in front of these glaciers to see how much water they can store, which is kind of sad to say, especially as a glaciologist,” said Ely. “We’re losing so much ice that we’re having to turn to the soil and the vegetation to see how much water they can store.”

Continue reading online at http://bit.ly/3Ty7Rpy

06/17/2025

Andean glaciers—essential to 90 million lives and half the Amazon’s water—are disappearing 35% faster than the global average. If warming continues, many could become unviable as water sources by 2070, warns glaciologist Jeremy Ely.

🗻 Known as the “water towers” of the world, these glaciers regulate water for drinking, farming, sanitation, hydropower, and ecosystems across South America. Yet Venezuela has already lost all its glaciers—becoming the first country in modern history to do so.

Scientists, policymakers, and UN leaders are calling this a “cryosphere crisis”—a tipping point that could reshape life across the region. From soot from Amazon fires to mining conflicts, threats are accelerating.

But hope lies in adaptation and cooperation and many researchers are looking to water basins for adaptive solutions. “We’re actually moving the project in a surprising way from the glaciers to the wetlands that exist in front of these glaciers to see how much water they can store, which is kind of sad to say, especially as a glaciologist,” said Ely. “We’re losing so much ice that we’re having to turn to the soil and the vegetation to see how much water they can store.”

Continue reading online at http://bit.ly/3Ty7Rpy

Andean glaciers largely sustain the livelihoods of 90 million people in South America and help provide half of the water for the Amazon River basin. Many of them, however, may “become unviable as water resources” by 2070 if global temperatures continue to rise at the current pace. So says Jeremy...

06/02/2025

One year ago, a historic legal victory in Peru recognized the Marañón River, a vital tributary of the Amazon, as a living entity with inherent rights. This achievement was the result of determined advocacy by the Federation of Kukama Women Huaynakana Kamatahuara Kana, led by Mari Luz Canaquiri.

On April 21, Canaquiri was awarded the prestigious 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize for her leadership in defending the environment and Indigenous rights.

“For the Kukama people, rivers are sacred. They are fundamental to life—not only for our communities, but for the entire world,” she said during her acceptance speech.

Despite the court’s ruling, the Marañón River remains under threat from industrial pollution, oil extraction, and a lack of political will. Canaquiri is now working to unite Indigenous leaders throughout the watershed to develop a coordinated strategy for implementation and protection of the river’s rights.

In her words: “Together we can weave a great net to ensure life for our generations and the entire world. We Kukama women exist and resist in defense of nature, rivers, and territory.”

Continue reading online at https://bit.ly/3SwMlRK

06/02/2025

One year ago, a historic legal victory in Peru recognized the Marañón River, a vital tributary of the Amazon, as a living entity with inherent rights. This achievement was the result of determined advocacy by the Federation of Kukama Women Huaynakana Kamatahuara Kana, led by Mari Luz Canaquiri.

On April 21, Canaquiri was awarded the prestigious 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize for her leadership in defending the environment and Indigenous rights.

“For the Kukama people, rivers are sacred. They are fundamental to life—not only for our communities, but for the entire world,” she said during her acceptance speech.

Despite the court’s ruling, the Marañón River remains under threat from industrial pollution, oil extraction, and a lack of political will. Canaquiri is now working to unite Indigenous leaders throughout the watershed to develop a coordinated strategy for implementation and protection of the river’s rights.

In her words: “Together we can weave a great net to ensure life for our generations and the entire world. We Kukama women exist and resist in defense of nature, rivers, and territory.”

Continue reading online at https://bit.ly/3SwMlRK

A year ago, an organization of Kukama women in Peru’s northeastern Loreto region celebrated a court ruling recognizing the Marañón River, a key tributary of the Amazon, as having rights. On April 21, the group’s leader, Mari Luz Canaquiri Murayari, received the prestigious Goldman Environmenta...

05/16/2025

Paraguay is racing to complete its 530-km segment of the Capricorn Bioceanic Corridor, a 2,200-km transcontinental highway linking the Atlantic port of Santos, Brazil, to four Pacific ports in Chile. Slated to open in August 2026, the corridor promises to transform South American trade, potentially reducing shipping times and lowering costs for exports to Asia.

While this infrastructure could position Paraguay as a trade crossroads on par with the Panama Canal, the highway cuts through the ecologically vital Gran Chaco region—home to 4,500 plant species, 500 bird species, endangered mammals like the jaguar and Chacoan peccary, and some of South America’s last Indigenous peoples living in voluntary isolation.

Scientists, Indigenous organizations and green activists warn that development of the Bioceanic corridor will do great harm to the Chaco region’s environment and native people, in part by accelerating land clearing and further fragmenting the Chaco woodland habitat.

The Indigenous-advocacy organization Survival International reported in 2021 that a group of Ayoreo had contacted some of their relatives who had stopped living in isolation and told them they feared that their surroundings were being destroyed. The group then returned to the wilderness.

“The isolation is precisely one of the reasons why this region’s natural attributes have been maintained,” says Miguel Lovera, coordinator of the nonprofit Iniciativa Amotocodie, an Asunción-based Indigenous-rights group. “But with the promise of making everything flow along a first-rate surface of asphalt, land prices are rising despite the objections and demands of Indigenous people and conservation groups.”

As construction progresses—Paraguay is now working on the final stage—calls are intensifying for stronger safeguards, recognition of Indigenous land rights, and transparent development planning.

This is a free-read article online at https://bit.ly/4kIyJPB

05/16/2025

Paraguay is racing to complete its 530-km segment of the Capricorn Bioceanic Corridor, a 2,200-km transcontinental highway linking the Atlantic port of Santos, Brazil, to four Pacific ports in Chile. Slated to open in August 2026, the corridor promises to transform South American trade, potentially reducing shipping times and lowering costs for exports to Asia.

While this infrastructure could position Paraguay as a trade crossroads on par with the Panama Canal, the highway cuts through the ecologically vital Gran Chaco region—home to 4,500 plant species, 500 bird species, endangered mammals like the jaguar and Chacoan peccary, and some of South America's last Indigenous peoples living in voluntary isolation.

Scientists, Indigenous organizations and green activists warn that development of the Bioceanic corridor will do great harm to the Chaco region’s environment and native people, in part by accelerating land clearing and further fragmenting the Chaco woodland habitat.

The Indigenous-advocacy organization Survival International reported in 2021 that a group of Ayoreo had contacted some of their relatives who had stopped living in isolation and told them they feared that their surroundings were being destroyed. The group then returned to the wilderness.

“The isolation is precisely one of the reasons why this region’s natural attributes have been maintained,” says Miguel Lovera, coordinator of the nonprofit Iniciativa Amotocodie, an Asunción-based Indigenous-rights group. “But with the promise of making everything flow along a first-rate surface of asphalt, land prices are rising despite the objections and demands of Indigenous people and conservation groups.”

As construction progresses—Paraguay is now working on the final stage—calls are intensifying for stronger safeguards, recognition of Indigenous land rights, and transparent development planning.

This is a free-read article online at https://bit.ly/4kIyJPB

Paraguay is scrambling to finish construction of its portion of the Capricorn Bioceanic Corridor, a highway that will stretch from the Atlantic port of Santos, Brazil, to four Pacific ports in northern Chile—among them Iquique and Antofagasta. Preparing the 2,200-kilometer (1,400-mile) route, expe...