July 25, 2025

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Warming Temperatures Drive Tick Range Expansion and Disease Threats

Midwest ticks are on the move. A new Environmental Law & Policy Center report shows that rising temperatures around the Great Lakes have pushed blacklegged ticks (primary carriers of Lyme disease) and lone star ticks (linked to meat allergies) into previously cooler zones. Public health agencies are already seeing the fallout: Wisconsin recently recorded one Powassan virus death and three hospitalizations.

Key concerns:

Northward shift of multiple tick species

Growing cases of Lyme, Powassan and alpha-gal syndrome

Urgent need for enhanced surveillance, public education and habitat management

FAO Launches Global Soil Biodiversity Observatory

Montreal, Canada — At COP15 last month, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) unveiled the Global Soil Biodiversity Observatory (GLOSOB) to serve as the first comprehensive reference for measuring, monitoring and protecting the vast array of life below ground. By aligning with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’s 2020–2030 action plan, GLOSOB aims to integrate soil biodiversity into national and global conservation policies.

Key goals include:

Defining improved soil biodiversity indicators across taxonomic and functional dimensions

Building a tiered monitoring system that accommodates varying national capacities

Strengthening laboratory facilities, training and protocols to close global knowledge gaps

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Lightning Kills 320 Million Trees Annually, Study Finds

A new study from Germany’s Technical University of Munich (TUM) reveals that lightning alone vaporizes roughly 320 million trees globally every year. By merging a global vegetation model with worldwide lightning data and field observations, researchers estimate these direct strikes account for 2.1–2.9% of annual plant biomass loss.

Key Facts:

Direct lightning strikes kill ~320 million trees yearly

Decaying tree matter releases 0.77–1.09 billion tons of CO₂

Climate models predict more frequent lightning as Earth warms

As lightning-driven tree mortality climbs, scientists warn it could create a “self-sustaining” carbon feedback loop unless factored into future climate projections.

Satellite Analysis Finds Most MPA Fishing Bans Respected

New global research shows that marine protected areas (MPAs) with full industrial fishing bans are largely keeping poachers at bay. A study published July 24, 2025 in Science combined automatic identification system (AIS) signals with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery to track vessels across nearly 1,400 MPAs spanning 3 million square miles.

Key findings:

MPAs banning industrial fishing saw only five vessels per 100,000 km² on average, versus 42 in unprotected coastal waters.

96% of no-fishing zones reported under one day of alleged illegal fishing per year.

These results underscore the value of strong regulations—and cutting-edge satellite tools—for enforcing ocean conservation commitments.

World’s First Manta Ray Sanctuary Established in Yap, Micronesia

Yap, Micronesia (August 2008) – In a landmark conservation move, the Government of Yap officially designated its coastal waters as the world’s first Manta Ray Sanctuary, safeguarding the native reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) population from overfishing and habitat degradation. Spearheaded by longtime dive operator Bill Acker and supported by research from Manta Trust, this protected zone extends around Yap’s four volcanic islands and barrier reef lagoon.

Eco-tourism is central to the sanctuary’s success. Acker’s Yap Divers and the adjacent Manta Ray Bay Resort offer snorkeling and diving packages—up to 15 dives and guided reef-cleaning-station visits—allowing guests to observe mantas at cleaning stations year-round. The initiative not only secures a haven for mantas with wingspans up to 15 feet but also provides sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

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Lightning Strikes Kill 320 Million Trees Annually, Fueling Carbon Feedback Loop