Romanians protest lift of sturgeon fishing ban
A government decision to overturn a ten-year ban on the fishing of wild sturgeon in the Danube River basin drew protests in the capital this week, led by WWF and a contingent of local NGOs.
Water evaporates from the climate change negotiating text
The Stockholm International Water Institute joined governments, NGOs and United Nations agencies this week in calling on negotiators working to develop a climate change deal in Copenhagen later this year to recognize the critical role of water in climate change adaptation.
Red List update shows up global failure to slow biodiversity loss
The latest update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species should cause alarm over the continuing unprecedented loss of species and the failure so far of mechanisms to arrest biodiversity loss, WWF said today. More than one third of the species assessed for this year's Red List update were classified as threatened with extinction.
Bulgarian natural icon turns 75 under threat of dubious construction activities
A massive expansion of skiing infrastructure is threatening the essence of Vitosha Natural Park, one of Bulgaria’s most famous and popular protected areas, on the eve of it’s 75th anniversary.
Some Canadian rivers at risk of drying up
Some Canadian rivers are at risk of drying up as impacts of climate change intersect with growing water demand from the country's cities, industries and agriculture, a new WWF report has found.
NGOs join forces to save a living Danube threatened by inland navigation plans
Ruse – The most prominent environmental NGOs active in the Danube basin stand united in their opposition to plans that aim at improving inland navigation at the expense of nature and local economies. On the occasion of an international workshop taking place on the banks of the Danube River in Ruse, Bulgaria, sponsored by WWF, the global conservation organisation, and IAD, the International Association for Danube Research, NGOs adopted their common position “Save the Danube as a lifeline! Steps towards sustainable navigation” and discussed with local and park authorities as well as scientists recent findings and how to cooperate further on the issue.
Spain takes international water treaty past half way mark
Spain has boosted efforts to bring into effect an international treaty to share and protect rivers and lakes crossing or forming international borders, telling the United Nations General Assembly it was committed to jointly addressing issues of security, development and protection of the environment.
Time for stalling past as climate predictions dramatically worsen
Climate negotiators received a new hurry up call today as scientists released new predictions that climate change was happening significantly faster than previous estimates. The new scenario sees warming of double the unacceptable risk levels for runaway catastrophic climate change as "not implausible" if effective action is not taken on emissions and deforestation.
Flamingo paradise becomes largest Andean Ramsar wetland
Celebrations here yesterday marked the recognition of an area of southern Bolivia as a Wetland of international Importance (or Ramsar Site), the largest of its kind yet declared in South America’s 7000 Km long Andes Mountains chain.
Bulldozers bring life to the Danube Delta
A WWF project puts earth moving equipment to work removing a section of dike on Ermakov Island in the Danube Delta of Ukraine, promising new life to the island.