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Indigenous peoples patrolling the Peruvian Amazon equipped with smartphones and satellite data were able to drastically reduce illegal deforestation, according to the results of an experiment published Monday.

The study, which appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), showed that recognising indigenous people’s rights to their territory can be a powerful force against the climate crisis, the authors said.

The trial assessed the impact of indigenous forest community monitoring patrols in reducing deforestation when equipped with satellite-based alerts.  

It found a 52 percent drop in deforestation in 2018 and 21 percent reduction in 2019, in villages that were randomly assigned equipment and training compared to those that were not.

The reductions in forest loss were especially concentrated in communities facing the most immediate threats from illegal gold mining, logging, and the planting of illicit crops like coca plants used to make cocaine.

Though national governments have invested heavily in satellite-based monitoring, empowering indigenous peoples is a departure from the orthodox reliance on local law enforcement. 

What’s more, deforestation alerts rarely filter down to rainforest communities, which lack reliable access to the Internet – leaving villagers unaware of invaders clearing their land.

In local hands
The new study was led by Researchers from New York University and Johns Hopkins University in collaboration with Rainforest Foundation US (RFUS) and the Indigenous People’s Organization of the Eastern Amazon (ORPIO).

It was carried out in the indigenous Shipibo communities of Patria Nueva and Nueva Saposoa in the Peruvian Amazon, with photos supplied by Peru SAT-1, a satellite launched in 2016 that flies over the country 14 times daily.

Thirty-six villages were randomly assigned to the intervention, each identifying three representatives to conduct monthly patrols to verify reports of deforestation. They were paid $8 per patrol.

Thirty-seven villages were assigned as a control to maintain their existing forest management practices.

Once a month, couriers navigated the Amazon river and its tributaries to deliver USB drives containing satellite photos and GPS information to remote villages. 

The assigned monitors downloaded this information onto special such as when drug traffickers were involved.

“The whole point is to put the deforestation information into the hands of those most affected by its consequences and who can take action to stop it,” said Tom Bewick,  Peru country director for RFUS.

Over the course of the two-year study, the communities that carried out patrols using satellite data prevented the destruction of an estimated 456 hectares (1,127 acres) of rainforest, avoiding the release of more than 234,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions.

One-third of the Amazon rainforest falls within around 3,344 formally recognised indigenous territories.

“The findings make a strong case to increase investment to scale the model,” said Bewick. “It would be good for the future: not only for Peru, but for our planet.”

Preserving the Amazon’s five million square kilometers (two million square miles) of rainforest is seen as vital in the fight against global climate catastrophe.

Around 60 percent of the rainforest is located in Brazil, where rates of deforestation last year surged to a 12-year-high under President Jair Bolsonaro.

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Can Ageing Be Reversed in Human Eggs? New Mouse Study Offers Hope

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September 11, 2024

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Can Ageing Be Reversed in Human Eggs? New Mouse Study Offers Hope

A groundbreaking study from the National University of Singapore has revealed that it is possible to reverse the ageing process in mouse egg cells, offering new hope for fertility treatments. Researchers, led by Dr Rong Li, Director of the Mechanobiology Institute, have discovered a method to rejuvenate ageing mouse oocytes by placing them into younger follicles. This advancement could pave the way for similar approaches in human fertility, although more research is needed before applying these findings to people.

The Rejuvenation Technique

The process involves removing aged oocytes from older mice and transplanting them into young mouse follicles. As oocytes age, they face challenges with cell division, often resulting in chromosomal errors that increase miscarriage rates. By reintroducing these older oocytes into a young follicle, scientists claim they have managed to restore crucial connections and enhance cell function. This method has shown that oocytes can recover their youthful characteristics, leading to improved cell maturation and lower rates of chromosomal abnormalities.

Significance for Fertility

Rejuvenated oocytes exhibited better maturation rates and fewer chromosomal issues. When these eggs were fertilised and reimplanted into mice, there was a notable increase in successful pregnancies. Dr Rong Li and her team suggest that this method could potentially be adapted to human cells, offering a new avenue for treating age-related fertility problems.

Looking Ahead

The implications of this research are promising, claim scientists. If similar techniques can be developed for human use, they could transform the way age-related fertility issues are addressed. The study highlights the crucial role of the follicular environment in egg quality and points to future possibilities for enhancing reproductive health.

As scientists continue to explore these findings, there is optimism about the potential for new fertility treatments that could help many individuals struggling with age-related reproductive challenges.

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Isolated Mpox Case Confirmed in India, Says Health Ministry

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September 11, 2024

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Isolated Mpox Case Confirmed in India, Says Health Ministry

The Health Ministry has confirmed the presence of the Mpox virus, specifically the West African clade 2, in a recent patient. The case, verified on September 9, 2024, is travel-related and not part of the ongoing global public health emergency involving clade 1 of the virus. This case is an isolated incident, similar to the previous 30 cases reported in India since July 2022. The patient, a young male with recent travel history to a country experiencing Mpox transmission, is currently in isolation at a designated healthcare facility and remains stable.

Health Ministry Guidelines

Apurva Chandra, Health Secretary, stated that public health measures, including contact tracing and monitoring, are actively underway to contain the situation. The Ministry has written to all States and Union Territories, emphasising the need to train healthcare workers, particularly those in skin, STD, and NACO clinics, in identifying symptoms, following protocol for case management, and reporting cases promptly.

According to the World Health Organisation, the primary mode of transmission for Mpox in the current outbreak is through sexual contact, followed by non-sexual person-to-person contact. Common symptoms include rashes and fever. The median age of affected individuals is 34, and over half of the cases involve individuals living with HIV.

Precautions and Public Awareness

Chandra has also highlighted the need for better community awareness and timely reporting of suspect cases, with State AIDS control societies being alerted. While the current outbreak is classified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the risk of it spreading beyond Africa remains moderate. Health screening at airports and hospital-based surveillance have been ramped up to detect suspect cases.

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Boeing Starliner Lands Safely After ISS Mission Delay

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September 11, 2024

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Boeing Starliner Lands Safely After ISS Mission Delay

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft has completed its Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission, landing safely at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, on September 7, 2024. After more than three months in space, the uncrewed capsule returned with a successful parachute-assisted landing at 12:01 a.m. EDT (0401 GMT). This marked the end of a mission initially planned for just ten days, but delays arose due to thruster issues experienced as the capsule neared the International Space Station (ISS). Although no astronauts were on board, NASA confirmed that they would have been unharmed if they had been.

Safe Landing Despite Challenges

NASA’s Steve Stich, manager of the Commercial Crew Program, explained during a press conference that Starliner’s descent followed the planned procedure. The spacecraft performed its deorbit burn, re-entry, and landing as designed. According to Stich, even with crew aboard, the landing would have been equally safe, despite the unexpected problems during the mission. Boeing and NASA have spent the past three months at White Sands performing tests to understand the thruster malfunction, which delayed Starliner’s return.

Astronaut Reassignment and Starliner’s Future

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, initially part of the mission, had to be reassigned. They were originally scheduled to return after ten days but will now stay on the ISS for ten months. Wilmore and Williams will return to Earth on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon in February 2025, after Crew-9’s rotation.

The future of Starliner’s operations remains uncertain, with plans for its crew transport missions to the ISS now delayed until at least August 2025. Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program vice president, Mark Nappi, confirmed that the data from this mission will be reviewed to decide the next steps for the spacecraft.

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