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Canada May Move to Protect Declining Monarch Butterfly as Endangered Species

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Centre for Food Safety PinP photo.  The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada released a report today recommending that the monarch butterfly be protected as an endangered species due to population decline and ongoing threats to the butterfly’s epic migration. Previously, in Canada, the monarch was classified as a species of special concern; now the minister of the Environment and the Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council have nine months to decide whether to add the butterfly to the endangered species list. Story here.

In historic move, China announces ban on ivory trade by end of 2017

Nation of Change More than 20,000 elephants were killed for their ivory last year, leaving only about 415,000 remaining. Story here.

Global Cheetah Population 'Crashing,' Raising Risk of Species Extinction

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CommonDreams Just 7,100 cheetahs remain around the world. Story here. U.S. Fish & Wildlife photo.

Growing mega-cities will displace vast tracts of farmland by 2030, study says

the guardian Cropland losses will have consequences especially for Asia and Africa, which will experience growing food insecurity as cities expand. Story here.

Scientists are trying to save the climate from toxic cow burps

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The Washington Post Earth has a cow problem. Story here. USDA photo

El NiƱo on a warming planet may have sparked the Zika epidemic, scientists report

The Washington Post In a world characterized by rising temperatures, deforestation and other human influences on the environment, the spread of infectious disease is a hot topic. Many recent studies suggest that environmental changes can affect the transmission of everything from malaria to the Zika virus — and it’s increasingly important to understand these links, scientists say. Story here.

Nearly 3,000 US Communities Have Lead Levels Higher Than Flint: Reuters

CommonDreams Advocates hope new investigation will spur action from community leaders, as aid and attention have been slim. Story here.