UNESCO members approve US bid to rejoin

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United Nations’ scientific, educational and cultural organization has agreed to readmit the United States as a member.

UNESCO’s governing board voted 132-10 on Friday to accept the U.S. proposal to rejoin the Paris-based agency. America’s membership will become official once Secretary of State Antony Blinken or a designee formally accepts the invitation, according to Biden administration officials.

https://apnews.com/article/us-rejoins-unesco-biden-china-ai-tech-d2a3d44ffe596e78168cd0933decbcbd

Bucking trends in tropics, Indonesia & Malaysia have reduced deforestation in recent years: report

Indonesia and Malaysia have cut deforestation by more than half in recent years, a new report shows.

“Indonesia and Malaysia have managed to keep rates of primary forest loss near record-low levels,” according to an analysis from the World Resources Institute. Across both countries, average yearly forest loss fell dramatically between the years 2015-2017 and 2020-2022, with Indonesia seeing a 64 percent decline and Malaysia a 57 percent decline.

https://e360.yale.edu/digest/indonesia-malaysia-deforestation

Brazil | Nearly 29 tons of shark fins seized in record-setting bust

Brazilian authorities announced the seizure of almost 29 tons of shark fins this month, exposing the extent of what they described as illegal fishing in the country. It was apparently the world’s largest confiscation in history: The largest previous seizure reportedly took place in Hong Kong in 2020, when authorities confiscated 28 tons of fins.

The seized fins were reportedly destined for illegal export to Asia, where they are used to make shark fin soup, a delicacy. They came from an estimated 10,000 blue (Prionace glauca) and anequim or shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) sharks, Brazil’s federal environmental agency IBAMA said in a news release. Shortfin mako sharks joined the country’s list of endangered species in May, whereas blue sharks are under consideration for inclusion. Internationally, shortfin makos are listed as endangered and blue sharks as near threatened by the IUCN.

https://news.mongabay.com/2023/06/brazil-claims-record-shark-fin-bust-nearly-29-tons-from-10000-sharks-seized/