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*Trusted research, data & insights* ** for a better world for people, nature & climate

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WRI DIGEST *↓*
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*In this issue:*

* New Analysis: Mining’s Growing Threat to Forests ( #blurb1 )
* Protecting Biodiversity Hinges on Securing Indigenous Land Rights ( #blurb2 )
* How to Build More Resilient Food Systems ( #blurb3 )
* Electric School Buses Can Transform Disability Access ( #blurb4 )

Hydraulic gold mining in the Brazilian Amazon ( [link removed] )

Photo by Ricardo Funari/BrazilPhotos via Alamy

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Mining Is Increasingly Pushing into Critical Rainforests and Protected Areas ( [link removed] )
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New WRI analysis finds that mining is a small but growing threat to forests — particularly tropical primary rainforests and protected areas. According to our analysis, the world lost nearly 1.4 million hectares of trees from 2001-2020 due to mining and related activities, an area of forest the size of Montenegro.

Most of this tree cover loss is concentrated in just a few countries, where coal and gold mines are chipping away at some of Earth’s last remaining undisturbed rainforests. And a disproportionate share of mining takes place on Indigenous and community-managed lands that are vital to storing carbon and protecting biodiversity — often without these communities’ consent.

Despite the extensive risks mining poses, demand is only growing, especially as countries seek more minerals for clean energy and other technologies. WRI experts weigh in on how to meet this rising demand while safeguarding people, nature and the climate.

Read more
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A man in red tribal dress looking at a giraffe ( [link removed] )

Photo by ton koene/Alamy Stock Photo

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Protecting Biodiversity Hinges on Securing Indigenous and Community Land Rights ( [link removed] )
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A growing body of research shows that lands managed by Indigenous Peoples and local communities are some of the world’s most important biodiversity strongholds. As countries work to halt biodiversity loss this decade, enshrining traditional land rights into law will be central to their success.

Read more
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Three people unload pineapple from a truck on a busy street in Vietnam ( [link removed] )

Photo by Creative-Family/iStock

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Agriculture’s 'Missing Middle' Is Key to Making Food Systems Climate Resilient ( [link removed] )
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With droughts, heatwaves and other weather events threatening farm yields around the globe, countries and companies are increasingly focused on adapting agriculture to a changing climate. But building truly resilient food systems will require action beyond the farm gate, too.

Read more
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A girl in a wheelchair on a lift of a school bus ( [link removed] )

Photo by WRI's Electric School Bus Initiative

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For Students with Disabilities, Electric School Buses Could Transform the School Commute ( [link removed] )
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As school districts in the U.S. transition ( [link removed] ) to electric buses, they will rebuild their fleets from the ground up. This offers an opportunity to reimagine the age-old yellow bus so that it truly accommodates all students — including those with disabilities.

Read more
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*FEATURED NEWS RELEASE*
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**UN Biodiversity Summit COP16 Kicks Off in Colombia* ( [link removed] )*

Crystal Davis ( [link removed] )

“This COP is a test of how serious countries are about upholding their international commitments to stop the rapid loss of biodiversity. The world has no shot at doing so without richer countries providing more financial support to developing countries — which contain most of the world’s biodiversity.”

*Crystal Davis*

Global Director of Food, Land and Water, WRI

*Read more*
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Vital Visualizations
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A graph showing top countries globally for tree cover loss linked to mining and associated emissions from 2001 to 2020 ( [link removed] )

New WRI analysis shows over the last two decades, 87% of tree-cover loss related to mining was concentrated in just 11 countries.

Read more
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FEATURED RESOURCE

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*Follow This Week’s UN Biodiversity Conference* ( [link removed] )

WRI experts are on the ground tracking how countries are turning their Global Biodiversity Framework commitments into action. Explore our events, news and research to learn more about the issues at stake.

*Visit the COP16 Hub
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WRI COP16 Hub ( [link removed] )

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WRI on Social
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INSTAGRAM ( [link removed] ) / OCTOBER 18, 2024
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Instagram pic stating 1 million species are under threat ( [link removed] )

🌽💧To be able to provide enough land, food and water for all, countries must come together to address #biodiversity ( [link removed] ) issues. ⁣

Taking place between Oct 21-Nov 1, #COP16 ( [link removed] ) in Cali, Colombia presents an opportunity to tackle the nature crisis.

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