🚙 Less Bug Splatter on U.K. Vehicles

🦅 Three-fourths of Bird Species in Decline in N.A.

75% of bird species in North America are in decline, according to a new study released on Thursday. This is another sign of a slow-moving extinction crisis that could threaten entire ecosystems. The locations where the majority of the 495 bird species studied between 2007 and 2021 were once thriving and where the environment and habitat were really suitable for them are now places where they are struggling the most. This change is due to a number of factors such as climate change, farming practices, and construction. The researchers used data from more than 100 million bird sightings each year and used a machine learning model to account for changes in how people observe birds over time. This study builds on previous research published in 2019 that used radar data to find that North America had lost more than 3 billion birds between 1970 and 2017.

Dino Grandoni, The Washington Post

🇮🇩 Indonesian Clove Farms At Risk Due to Climate Change

Farmers on the Indonesian island of Ternate are struggling with climate change. Unpredictable rainfall and extreme weather are impacting their clove yield, causing financial strain and forcing farmers to seek alternative incomes. The cloves produce fragrant flower buds that form a spice which can only deliver its prized smell and taste in specific temperature and humidity ranges. The spice can be used for medicine, perfumes, cigarettes, and food flavoring, and Indonesia accounts for more than 2/3 of global clove production. However, climate change and extreme weather becoming more frequent is causing uncertainty that makes prices fluctuate, spices less potent, and smaller yields. Production is estimated to have declined 30-40% in recent years.

The Times of India

🚙 Less Bug Splatter on U.K. Vehicles

An annual survey of license plates from more than 25,000 journeys across Britain revealed that the number of insects found splattered on cars has plummeted by 63% since 2021. These numbers indicate that there is a huge decrease in the number of flying insects in a very short time frame. The researchers suggest the decline of insects could be linked to the extreme climate in the U.K. in recent years, as well as the compounding effects of a background rate of decline and short-term cycle of decline, and human activities such as habitat loss, pesticide use, and pollution. The decline in flying insects is not only impacting the health of the natural world, but also affecting many essential services that nature provides for humans. Similar surveys of other well-studied insects in Britain, such as butterflies and moths, have also seen stark declines in recent years.

Patrick Barkham, The Guardian