ENVIRONMENT
Environment coverage
Today's coverage is mostly centrist. 6 stories in the last 48 hours across 6 outlet reports.
Lake Chad faces 90% shrinkage; governments pledge $50 billion water diversion plan
Lake Chad has lost about 90% of its surface since the 1960s, prompting basin nations to launch a $50 billion Trans Aqua scheme to channel water from the Congo Basin.
Invasive mussels threaten Great Lakes whitefish, risking disappearance within five years
Researchers warn that zebra and quagga mussels have upended the food web of the Great Lakes, pushing native lake whitefish toward possible local extinction in the next half-decade.
Scientists clone rare Queen of Sheba orchid, first lab-grown flower blooms
Researchers at Kings Park have used somatic embryogenesis to clone the critically endangered Queen of Sheba orchid, producing the first flowering plant in the lab.
Rising Mediterranean temperatures fuel surge of invasive marine species
Scientists warn that warming Mediterranean waters are attracting hundreds of non-native fish, threatening local ecosystems and fisheries.
Conservation group urges NSW to abandon invasive native species clearing code
The Nature Conservation Council of NSW has demanded the repeal of the state's invasive native species land-clearing code, citing a report that over 3.2 million hectares of native vegetation have been approved for removal under the scheme.
Queensland farmers grapple with mounting farm-plastic waste as recycling options lag
Growers in north Queensland are facing a growing pile of used plastic mulch and irrigation tape, with limited collection services and no dedicated recycling plan.