The failure of political systems is the main cause of conflict and displacement but climate change can exacerbate this.
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Analysis and Comment
At Kīlauea in Hawai'i, a recent volcanic eruption has created some of the most spectacular sights in nature. But also danger for those around it.
Improving livelihoods by exploring alternatives to wildlife trade would help to curb the poaching of threatened species like elephants.
Small solutions done properly can play a huge role in dealing with water scarcity.
Kenya's death penalty proposal is not the quick fix solution to curb wildlife poaching.
The world's national parks cover an area bigger than South America. But a new survey finds that one-third of this area is subject to pressure from human developments, potentially putting wildlife at risk.
Shade trees buffer cocoa plants from heat and water stresses, and create conditions that benefit their growth.
There are some big misconceptions about the charcoal sector and its role in environmental damage
We found that even when women own land, their husbands are still perceived as household heads.
Many poachers continue to poach to improve their incomes, rather than just make ends meet.
The Fall armyworm will remain in Africa for a long time unless concerted action is taken.
Locations like border towns as well as people acting as middlemen provide key insights into Uganda's ivory trade.
Scientists often use animals and plants as indicators to assess whether ecosystems are polluted. Tracking bats, which cover wide areas and need clean water, could become a way to find potable water.
It is misguided to blame armed conflict and violence on climate change alone.
Should trade in ivory be banned or not? There may be a solution.
Civil conflict, displacement, rising food prices, and climate change all cause food insecurity in Nigeria.
Invasive alien species that costs South Africa's economy billions can be eliminated.
There are millions of energy poor people in sub-Saharan Africa who live in cities.
Abalone poaching in Cape Town succeeds because there is a motivated offender, a suitable target and a lack of security.
Tropical deforestation can release a huge amount of carbon into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.
If the allegations are true Zimbabwe intends to prosecute Grace Mugabe for ivory and rhino horn smuggling.
Kenya's wildlife task force promises stakeholder participation needed for sustainable conservation.
There have been a variety of approaches to tackle malnutrition. The continent needs to learn from past mistakes across the world.
Madagascar gets hit by an average of four cyclones each year but their full impact is still being tracked.
Camera traps in the Batéké Plateau National Park in Gabon are showing some interesting finds.
The drought in Cape Town has taught the city some valuable lessons.
We can't save all endangered species, but we could save some. Zoo populations will be the last hope for many threatened species.
Across countries, we find that FDI inflows driven by new projects in new industries increased by 58% in the two years following a giant discovery
South Africa's power utility would do well to consider swapping out expensive new coal-powered capability for renewables.
East Africa Rift is undergoing a process that will see the Horn of Africa split from the rest of the continent.
If sharks habitats aren't known, it's harder to conserve either the animals or those habitats.
A new international report makes for bleak reading on the state of the world's soils. It predicts that land degradation will displace up to 700 million people worldwide by mid-century.
Africa's famous animal migrations are increasingly blocked by fences, erected by farmers to keep their livestock safe from disease. But a new approach aims to deliver healthy beef and healthy wildlife.
The EU and UK are fuelling the illegal trade through their continuing sale of legal ivory items.
The climate crisis is a complex scientific problem. New systems have to be developed through democratic systemic reforms.
Farmers needs a way to manage harmful insects without destroying the ecological balance.
Nairobi's new governor should learn from the mistakes of the past
A new threat to vultures is emerging: lead poisoning from ammunition used by game hunters.
Nature based approaches to solving water problems originated in Europe and don't take into account Africa's huge infrastructure deficit.
Sea snakes spend their lives in the water, giving birth to live young at sea, so why are they only found in some of the world's oceans? The answer lies in a combination of climate and geography.
Instead of causing problems for farmers, carnivores could actually be beneficial by controlling rodent pests.
A new study found that community-based wildlife conservation can quickly result in clear ecological success.
The beetle and the fungus have devastated trees in California in the US as well as in Israel. Now they're in South Africa.
One of the major scenes of a potential water crisis and conflict is the Nile River.
Poaching is changing focus by moving from the Kruger National Park to other provinces and reserves.
South Africa has good water laws. So why does the minister want to change them?
Information about the threats facing Lake Victoria and how they're perceived are crucial to reverse the damage that's been done.
The experiences of other countries can provide valuable lessons for Cape Town on how to better cope with its water crisis.
Famine weed spreads rapidly and is devastatingly destructive. Biocontrol is one way of dealing with the problem.
A new report will supply some information needed for science based conservation measures in the Red Sea.
For South Africa decommissioning its nuclear plant Koeberg is a reality that cannot be ignored much longer.
In richer countries, the socio-economic impact of invasive species can be tackled through technology or adaptive behaviour. But this isn't the case in poor countries.
Many countries in eastern and southern Africa rely on hydropower for electricity generation and there are plans for several more dams.
Wildlife conservation is often part of the peacebuilding process, but there is a risk it can make conflicts even worse.
To achieve universal energy access by 2030, the UN says Senegal must double its electrification rate.
Migratory animals are often blamed for the global spread of disease. However, recent research indicates they may not be the primary culprit.
There were some African food security initiatives from 2017 that deserve a special mention for the precedent they set.
Interactions between sharks and humans happen in a variety of places. That means reducing conflict needs different interventions.
While India struggles for answers to its urban air pollution crisis, Beijing is moving forward with strong resolve and effective policy.
It is extremely important to monitor local seismic activity before fracking starts to avoid causing harm.
Kenya's government, while promising cheaper power to consumers may actually be undercutting this promise in its pursuit of nuclear power plants and other costly projects.
Findings from several scientific studies show the real impact of Rwanda's agricultural policies and the challenges it faces.
Policymakers need to proceed with caution when it comes to legalising rhino horn as it could be a high risk strategy.
Cape Town drought
South Africa is a water-scarce country where inequity and a lack of fairness and justice pervades water distribution.
Cape Town is testing new strategies to nudge domestic users into reducing their water use.
Fracking
It is extremely important to monitor local seismic activity before fracking starts to avoid causing harm.
Shale gas holds considerable advantages. But there are still a number of uncertainties around whether South Africa is ready for such a bold step.
South Africa has been considering shale gas development in the Karoo region. The gas, will be expensive to explore and extract, will be used as part of the country's energy mix.
Rhino horn
The rhino horn auction in South Africa is a serious setback in the fight against poaching and the survival of wild rhinos. The chances of the horns remaining in the country are next to zero.
Policymakers need to proceed with caution when it comes to legalising rhino horn as it could be a high risk strategy.
The first online rhino auction in South Africa wasn't a success. This has done very little to help rhinos. It may, in fact, encourage more poaching as demand has not slowed down.
Research and Expert Database
Editors’ Picks
A synthesis centre in Africa would massively improve the ability of researchers to understand complex scientific problems.
The unpredictability of hurricanes makes it hard to say for sure whether climate change is making them worse. But we do know that sea-level rise and increased evaporation will worsen the impacts.
The symptoms of 'schizophrenia' are very real, but experts are looking for a better way to define them.
An expert report shows that the G20 countries are using their energy more efficiently. But there is still a long way to go.
Cholera kills thousands every year but is treatable if it is caught early. Understanding how El Niño shifts cholera risks in Africa can help countries prepare for outbreaks and save lives.
Indian-made antivenoms, common throughout Africa because they are affordable, showed little-to-no neutralisation of the African Echis venoms.
To stimulate innovation in the agriculture sector education and training is in dire need of substantial reform for greater integration, cooperation and accountability.
We focus on large, charismatic animals at the expense of these crucial 'lowly creatures'.
Policy choices made by Senegal, Ghana, Rwanda, Angola, Cameroon, Ethiopia and Togo over the past 15 years have led to significant reductions in child undernourishment.
Research in Kenya’s capital found average levels of hazardous solid and liquid particles in the air within households were three times more than the WHO recommended maximum level.
The Galapagos Islands' giant tortoises are one of the world's best examples of evolution. Scientists are pioneering new conservation strategies to save them from extinction and restore their habitat.
Massive state capture activity is taking place in the South African water sector under the guise of radical economic transformation, threatening financial sustainability and water supply.
Used tyres pose a serious environmental challenge. So far, traditional recycling methods have proved insufficient to solve the problem. New, eco-friendy alternatives are now being explored.
Two new studies have linked controversial pesticides neonicotinoides to wild bee and butterfly declines.
Migratory birds play key ecological roles. and connect us with nature. The 1916 Migratory Bird Treaty curbed overhunting, but birds face other threats today that require international solutions.
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