As the dust settles from the COP26 climate talks - and the world faces yet another twist to the COVID-19 tale with the emergence of the Omicron variant - attention is slowly turning to another important gathering for the planet.

Pandemic permitting, the final part of the U.N. biodiversity summit, COP15, is due to be held in the Chinese city of Kunming next April and May, and is tasked with sewing up a global pact to stop the rapid depletion of the Earth's flora and fauna.

But the central pledge of the planned new global nature accord - to protect 30% of the planet's land and ocean by 2030 - is in doubt, officials warn, with some biodiversity-rich nations refusing to commit because of jitters over funding and implementation.

Southeast Asia, for example, has three of the world's 17 "mega-diverse" countries - Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines - yet the region has yet to get behind the 30x30 goal, with only Cambodia signing up so far, reports Michael Taylor.

South Africa, meanwhile, has called for a much lower protection goal of 20%, while others like Argentina have questioned the science behind the target.

On the ground, protecting natural ecosystems that yield diverse benefits - from flood protection to cleaner air and water - is a daily battle.

Uganda has lost about 40% of its wetlands over the last two decades, many filled in as an expanding population seeks new farmland or to create space for industrial growth, according to the environment ministry.

In response, the new head of the National Environment Management Authority in September indefinitely suspended all consideration of fresh projects in wetlands, in a push to safeguard the areas seen as key to curbing worsening flooding as the planet warms.

The authorities are also moving to prosecute truck drivers who have poured fill into wetlands near Kampala, to illegally create new land for building or agriculture, and are aiming to evict rural farmers living on former wetlands and encroachers such as brickmakers in urban locations.

In Brazil, meanwhile, a hotter climate is bringing more severe drought and drying up vital water supplies - a trend that is set to sharpen economic pain.

The Latin American country has lost nearly 16% of its surface water in the past 30 years - and scientists warn rising rates of deforestation will worsen shortages, hurting power providers and farmers.

Brazil's farmers are already caught in what think-tank Planet Tracker calls a "negative feedback loop" - changing rainfall patterns lower yields, leading farmers to clear forest to plant more crops, which further impacts precipitation.

Some - in a bid to supply international soy traders like Cargill and Archer-Daniels-Midland - are trying to evict a traditional community from the Cerrado savanna so they can commandeer the land to meet legal requirements on conservation, according to watchdog group Global Witness.

Read our explainer on the surging phenomenon of what's known as "green land grabbing" in Brazil.

See you next week!

Megan

As floods worsen, Uganda moves to protect its vanishing wetlands
Environmental officials are cracking down on wetland filling - but removing jobs-providing industries from wetland areas will prove a significant challenge, analysts say

Brazil faces economic pain as Amazon forest destruction dries up water supplies
Brazil has lost nearly 16% of its surface water in the past 30 years - and scientists warn rising deforestation is set to worsen shortages, hurting power providers and farmers

U.S. soy giants linked to 'green land grabbing' case in Brazil
Global Witness found that large agricultural commodities firms Cargill and Archer-Daniels-Midland bought soybeans from farmers trying to evict a traditional community

EXPLAINER: What is 'green land grabbing' - and why is it surging in Brazil?
To get around requirements for farms to set aside a portion as a natural reserve, owners are illegally acquiring public land or indigenous territory and trying to chase off residents

EXPLAINER: What is 'net zero' and why does it matter?
A growing number of countries, cities and companies are aiming for 'net zero' emissions to meet climate goals - but that will require huge changes in how we live, work and play

OPINION: Carbon markets are booming. Here’s how to ensure they work
As companies and governments move toward net-zero emissions goals, demand for offsets will soar - but they need integrity to work

OPINION: Black Friday is an opportunity for retailers to rethink how profit hurts the planet
Instead of promoting profligate consumption, some brands are using the shopping day to raise charitable funds and awareness of greener buying habits