This article published by Hakai Magazine tells a tragic tale of the courageous work being done by fisheries observers around the world and how extreme the risk is as exemplified by the disappearance of an American Observer Keith Davis (the focus of this article), the murder of Simione Cagilaba, and a death threat leveled against Liz Mitchell (yes, there are brave women conservationists working in the male-dominated Wild West-like world of commercial fishing in international waters). I classify it as a must-read and consider it one of the best instances of journalism I've encountered recently... It's definitely the best I've seen in 2017 so far! https://www.hakaimagazine.com/article-long/mysterious-disappearance-keith-davis?utm_source=digg&utm_medium=email

Alan Rowsome of The Wilderness Society says a recent change in a budgetary rule could see federal land handed off for logging and drilling.

The Chinese government has developed a plan to make all ivory trading in the country illegal by the end of 2017, closing a loophole in the current international ban on the practice. With elephant species across the world in grave danger of extinction, this decision by China is "a game changer" that will hopefully encourage other countries to enact their own bans.

A study led by the Zoological Society of London has concluded that the species' classification should move from "vulnerable" to the more dire "endangered" state. The study proves that current conservation efforts are not enough to help sustain, let alone bolster cheetah populations. More efforts must be made to save this fascinating animal.

Bristlecone pine, the world's oldest species of tree, may go extinct due to changing temperatures caused by climate change in the frigid mountains where they used to thrive. Some of these trees are almost 5,000 years old, so their loss would be another devastating blow to the environment brought on by manmade climate change.

The next few years could be pivotal for sustainable food in the realms of organic farming, sustainable fishing and plant based meat alternatives