Mountain ranges suffering severe degradation: “The Alps in Europe and the Himalaya-Karakorum-Hindu Kush mountain range, which spans northern India, Pakistan, Nepal and Afghanistan, are among ten ranges worldwide suffering severe ecosystem degradation, according to a major new report.

Climate change, tourism, deforestation, population growth and migration are causing floods, landslides and famine for people living on their slopes, says the report, which was commissioned by the United Nations University in Japan and written by Jack Ives, of Carleton University in Canada. These disasters are set to become more frequent – and many unique animals and plants will disappear, Ives says.” New Scientist

Scientists surprised at current effects of 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill: “We did indeed find quite a lot more oil than we expected to see. Most of the subsurface oil was in the fresh oil category, and by fresh oil I mean chemically, compositionally; it hasn’t really changed very much since late in the summer of 1989.” Animal species are still being affected in Prince William Sound, suffering organ damage, declining birth rates and birth defects. Nando Times