Topic description and stories

Savanna hawk is a widespread species that invades formerly forested areas after clearance

Clearing rainforest for cattle farming is far worse for nature than previously thought, finds landmark bird survey

22 Jul 2025

In the largest ever survey of rainforest birdlife, scientists have discovered that deforestation to create pastureland in Colombia is causing around...

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Forest canopy

Cambridge on World Environment Day 2024

05 Jun 2024

This year's World Environment Day focus is on land restoration. So we spoke with three Cambridge researchers working on reviving landscapes, boosting...

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An area of the Amazon rainforest cleared for soya production

Companies’ ‘deforestation-free’ supply chain pledges have barely impacted forest clearance in the Amazon

28 Oct 2022

More companies must make and implement zero-deforestation supply chain commitments in order to significantly reduce deforestation and protect diverse...

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Deforestation

New report assesses global anti-deforestation measures

04 May 2022

Comprehensive scientific report shows progress and effects on climate, nature and people.

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View of forest

Cambridge-built carbon credit marketplace will support reforestation

10 Nov 2021

A new Cambridge centre will bring together computer scientists and conservation scientists to build a trusted marketplace for carbon credits and...

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Mangrove ready to be planted

Cambridge researchers lead policy briefing on Nature-based Solutions for the climate and biodiversity crises

30 Apr 2021

As societies face the triple challenge of avoiding the worst effects of climate change, protecting remaining biodiversity and improving human...

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In Peruvian Amazon Rainforest

‘Keep it local’ approach to protecting the rainforest can be more effective than government schemes

12 Sep 2017

Conservation initiatives led by local and indigenous groups can be just as effective as schemes led by government, according to new research. In some...

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A highway cuts across the Yunnan Province of Southwest China, part of the Greater Mekong.

Road planning 'trade off' could boost food production while helping protect tropical forests

15 Dec 2016

Scientists hope a new approach to planning road infrastructure that could increase crop yield in the Greater Mekong region while limiting...

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Rougier Gabon

‘Traditional authority’ linked to rates of deforestation in Africa

24 Nov 2015

New analysis reveals a strong correlation between precolonial institutions in Africa and current levels of deforestation. Researchers suggest that...

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Corn plantation nearby remaining forest in the Amazon region

Amazon deforestation ‘threshold’ causes species loss to accelerate

04 Mar 2015

One of the largest area studies of forest loss impacting biodiversity shows that a third of the Amazon is headed toward or has just past a threshold...

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Forest

Trade-offs highlighted at UN conference on biodiversity

24 Oct 2012

Prioritising social and economic objectives alongside environmental concerns is crucial in forest management, says Cambridge researcher at the United...

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rainforest canopy

Assessing protected area effectiveness

30 Mar 2012

A new study published in Conservation Letters aims to measure whether parks and reserves in the tropics succeed in protecting forests.

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