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Sawmillers say industry in ‘wind-down mode’ as state government discusses logging agreements extension

Victoria’s national parks and water catchments should be opened up for sustainable logging, according to a group of six Victorian sawmillers.

The sawmillers – who call themselves the G6 – say the Victorian timber industry is in crisis. They want access to either more timber or exit packages.

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We may be only a few years from hearing the purring of the last turtle dove in the UK, writes Jonathan Wallace

Thank you Jonathan Franzen (Why do birds matter? Where shall I begin? 24 March) for your wonderful paean to birds. They enrich our lives yet we continue to push birds towards oblivion. We may be only a few years from hearing the purring of the last turtle dove in this country, for example. There are many ways in which we harm bird populations, some easier to address than others. The outrageous persecution of birds of prey on some shooting estates could be stopped tomorrow with sufficient goodwill and government commitment. Slowing the general bleaching of wildlife from our countryside is less straightforward and will require creative thinking in order to balance the legitimate need for farmers to make a living and produce food with the need to protect wildlife, water supplies and soils. We must not shirk the challenge or Mr Franzen’s grandchildren will be denied the opportunity of experiencing anything but a fraction of the wonders he has enjoyed.
Jonathan Wallace
Newcastle upon Tyne

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New data shows global emissions are at a historic high. Political leaders must now consider imposing serious penalties

For optimists, it was tempting to view three years of flatlining global carbon emissions, from 2014-16, as the new normal. We now know celebrations should be put on hold. Figures for 2017 published last week show global emissions from energy have jumped back up again, to a historic high.

The data from the International Energy Agency shows we still have much to do when it comes to stopping global warming. Three years ago experts cautioned that 2015’s near standstill in emissions might be only a temporary pause before resuming the upward march as India and China developed. Those warnings were prophetic.

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Understanding the human condition has been the province of many disciplines, but you wouldn’t necessarily expect microbiology to be among them. Think again!

Understanding the human condition has been the province of many disciplines, but you wouldn’t necessarily expect microbiology to be among them. Think again!

Meena was raised a ‘good Indian girl' who was expected to get married, but she's off to Antarctica.

Scientists believe they can bring the species back from the brink after the death of the last male last week

The story of humanity’s interaction with the northern white rhino is one of the conservation movement’s grimmest tales of recent years. “In the 60s there were 2,500 northern whites left in central Africa,” said Paul De Ornellas of the Zoological Society of London. “Poaching brought that down to 30 by the end of the 20th century, and now to the last two.”

Last week the species’ last male, Sudan, had to be put down because of ill health, leaving only two ageing females on the planet as representatives of a creature that once roamed in its tens of thousands across Africa. It is a sad history which, most of the world assumes, is nearing its end.

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Mayor Sadiq Khan confirms that four of 20 outdoor fountains will be in the West End, Liverpool Street station and Southwark

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has revealed the locations of the first four drinking fountains to be installed in the capital under a new pilot scheme in an effort to combat single-use plastic.

The first fountain was installed last week in Carnaby Street in the West End, while in the coming weeks two will be set up in Liverpool Street station and another in Flat Iron Square in Southwark.

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With seven coalmines and a gas company surrounding their cattle property, a Queensland family is battling to stay put

It’s a hot summer’s afternoon at Riverside station, 50km north of the purpose-built mining town Moranbah in the central Queensland highlands. Jeanette and Allan Williams are drinking tea and eating Christmas cake around the kitchen table with three of their six children. Holly and twins Claire and Charles have returned to live and work on the family’s 80,000-hectare cattle enterprise. Running more than 16,000 Brahman cattle, the family breeds and fattens their stock on prime cattle country that grows brigalow trees and buffel grass.

The homestead, which sits on top of the world’s highest-quality coal deposits, has been under threat for more than 15 years. A proposed underground mine at the family’s adjoining property, Red Hill, is likely to cut through to Riverside and under the house.

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This week the last male northern white rhino died in Kenya. With his passing, the prospects of survival for the sub-species are almost non-existent as there are only two remaining females.

Measurements show the entire bulk of Europe's most active volcano is edging eastwards, Scientists say.

A new study investigates how early a warning can be issued for major earthquakes.

Rescuers manage to return just six surviving pilot whales to deeper waters in Western Australia.

Australians throw away a lot of plastic, often after only one use. Here’s how to give it up

It’s almost everywhere you look – and it’s undeniably destroying our planet.

Over the past half a century, plastic has infiltrated modern life to such an extent that our oceans may have more of the stuff than fish by 2050.

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Historian Grace Karskens on reconnecting the early history of the Hawkesbury-Nepean River with the landscape.

Some say the Coalition’s marine management plans are too compromised; others say some protection is better than none. But how did it come to this?

• Jessica Meeuwig: The government’s marine park plans are diabolical for ocean protection

For those in Australia’s marine science and conservation community, a dream of having a network of marine parks around the continent has been 20 years in the making.

The story is one of heartbreak, near misses and painful compromise and, in the view of some, a false dichotomy of sacrifice between science and economic and political interests.

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More than 130 whales have died after being washed up on a beach in Western Australia. Veterinarians and volunteers are racing to save more than a dozen other short-finned pilot whales. Authorities have warned people to stay away from the beach in Hamelin Bay as the dead and dying animals could attract sharks 

• More than 130 whales die in mass stranding in Western Australia

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Women’s movement demand an end to unrestricted oil drilling and mining on indigenous lands and action on violence against land defenders in first meeting with president Lenin Moreno

Amazon indigenous women leaders have told Ecuador’s president Lenin Moreno to limit oil drilling and mining in their territories and combat the sexual violence and death threats they claim accompany the industries.

The delegation of women dressed in traditional tunics and with intricately painted faces were granted a meeting with Moreno after nearly 100 of them camped in Quito’s central plaza in front of the Carondelet government palace for five days, earlier this month.

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The week’s top environment news stories and green events. If you are not already receiving this roundup, sign up here to get the briefing delivered to your inbox

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A thirsty wolf, an albatross chick and a family of capybaras are among this week’s pick of images from the natural world

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