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Species survival plans crucial at CITES

Two barges transporting over 200 logs of illegal wood were impounded by IBAMA (Brazilian Environmental Agency) after a three days blockade by 40 small river boats in the Jaraucu river. Enlarge Image

Illegal logs seized in the Amazon

After only three days, the river blockade mounted by local communities in the Amazon has stopped two illegal logging barges carrying over 200 logs. The barges have been impounded and the owner fined almost 200,000 Brazilian Reals - nearly US$ 60,000.

The Nisshin Maru, one of the Japanese catcher vessels, transferring a Minke whale to the factory ship in the Southern ocean. Enlarge Image

Whaling fleets return with biggest catch in 15 years

The Japanese and Norwegian whaling fleets have returned from their summer hunt in the north bringing their total catch this year to 1268 whales, more than any year since the commercial whaling ban was widely taken up. But there is also good news. The endangered status of three whale species has been officially recognised.

Worm's eye view of a mahogany tree in the Amazon forest, Brazil Enlarge Image

Illegal export of mahogany continues

One year ago we uncovered a stash of illegal mahogany in the Brazilian Amazon worth over US$7 million. The seizure of these logs and continued investigations by the government led to a ban on the logging, transport and export of mahogany. But today the trade continues, and if not stopped, it is only a matter of time before the species becomes extinct.

Greenpeace climbers scale the Totem Pole in Tasmania, Australia to highlight attention to the pirate fishing trade during this week's CITES meeting. Enlarge Image

Totem Pole protest

It's one of the most difficult vertical climbs in Australia - the country leading the drive to list the toothfish under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). It overlooks the ocean to the south of Australia where massive amounts of pirate fishing is driving the long-lived toothfish towards commercial extinction.

Greenpeace campaigner Paulo Adario contemplating destruction in the Pará State, Amazon, Brazil. Enlarge Image

CITES: Brazil and Lula must save mahogany

"Brazil and Lula: Save Mahogany". This is Greenpeace activists' message today for Brazil's new president Luiz Inacio da Silva, affectionately known by the public as "Lula". Without decisive support at the UN meeting now underway, the illegal trade in mahogany will continue to fuel Amazon destruction, crime and corruption in Brazil.

Some of the six hundred children from Santiago joining in a Walk for Endangered Species held in the city today. Enlarge Image

600 children tell CITES to save species

Spectacular animals like whales, elephants and jaguars may become little more than mythical creatures to children of the future. But this is an unhappy ending that children of today took action to prevent. More than six hundred of them marched through Santiago, Chile today to tell decision makers at a UN CITES meeting to save Earth's precious biodiversity for future generations.

The Nisshin Maru, one of the Japanese catcher vessels, transferring a Minke whale to the factory ship in the Southern ocean. Enlarge Image

Japanese fleet leaves to kill 400 whales

Exploiting a loophole big enough to sail five whaling vessels through, a Japanese fleet has once again set off to defy international law and hunt protected whales. And once again the world will witness the unnecessary and destructive pretence of "scientific whaling" so the Japanese government can prop up a declining industry.

Greenpeace activitists with toothfish heads picket the entract of the building CITES delegates are meeting. Enlarge Image

CITES: Survival hangs from thread

Two dramatic Greenpeace actions today and yesterday stressed the plight of endangered species to delegates who will vote to decide their fate. Decisions being made this week on toothfish, sharks, and elephants and other threatened species at the UN CITES meeting will determine the role international trade plays in their uncertain futures.

Victory at the CITES meeting means mahogany will have a fighting chance and the Amazon and its people will benefit. Enlarge Image

Victory for the Amazon, its people and a big leaf tree

Ten years of work to protect Amazon mahogany has paid off. This high-priced hard wood was driving the destruction of the Amazon rainforest, corruption and even murder. But a decision to regulate international trade of mahogany will give the species and the forest a fighting chance.

Elephant from the Okavango delta in North Western Botswana. Enlarge Image

Elephants walk one step closer to twilight

They were dangerous times for earth's largest land mammals. From the 60s through the 80s, soaring ivory demand led to dramatic declines in elephant populations throughout most of Africa. Fully eighty percent of the ivory traded was from illegally killed elephants. Much needed salvation finally came with the 1990 "ivory ban". But recently, easing of the trade ban is leading more of these gregarious, sociable animals to early graves.

Common dolphin, Mediterranean. Enlarge Image

Mahogany, sharks, dolphins and whales get protection

Creating free trade zones has become a hot topic in South America, but this week trade of another kind was on the minds of many in Santiago as world governments met to discuss the international trade in threatened and endangered species.

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November 11: Mahogany Update In Brasilia, Brazil, Greenpeace activists today told Brazil's foreign ministry, which is responsible for their CITES delegation's position, to change their tune and support mahogany. With a vote scheduled to happen at any time now, the Brazilian delegation's position contrasts sharply with that of current Brazilian President Cardoso and President-elect "Lula" da Silva, both of whom promised to protect mahogany. Outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, activists demonstrated their point with an April radio broadcast of Cardoso's promises to protect mahogany, mock log rafts to dramatise illegal Amazon mahogany trade, and a huge banner petition signed by hundreds of Brazilians. And in Santiago, Chile, Greenpeace activists labelled more than 50 trees around the CITES Conference Centre with the words "Thank God I'm not a mahogany tree" translated into five languages.