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Some of the most biodiverse ecosystems are not being protected and the management of many protected areas is deficient, a progress report warns

The world is edging towards a major conservation target for protected land and oceans, but there are concerns over how safeguarded areas are managed and whether they are effectively protecting endangered species, according to a new report.

Nearly 15% of the Earth’s land, covering around 20m sq km, is contained in national parks or other protected areas. This figure has flatlined over the past year, largely because of improved data collection, but is close to an internationally-agreed goal to protect 17% of the land surface by 2020.

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Fishguard I am of the opinion that you can have as satisfying and varied a conversation with these dark and gleaming bright birds as you can with the majority of humankind

The first hatch of small heath butterflies dipped and darted along the path to Garn Fawr’s rocky summit, their open wings a delicate Indian orange, eye-markings prominent, their undersides muted umber and silver. Here and there, wings folded, they settled on flowers of potentilla and heather in crevices among basaltic columns.

I scrambled to the top, the view suddenly taking in Strumble lighthouse and the Rosslare ferry thrumming past behind. As soon as I was at rest, sandwiches to hand and my back to the Ordnance Survey pillar, the first raven appeared, closely followed by her mate once he’d chased away some upstart from this year’s brood.

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China's top legislative body ratifies the Paris global climate agreement, ahead of an expected joint announcement with the US.

Tom Morton continues his report of struggles against coal on three continents as local people fight to protect, homes, farmlands and forests.

Microbeads used in bathroom products are expected to be banned by the government by the end of next year.

Cheap supermarket orchids may act as a 'gateway drug' to the exotic and challenging world of orchidelirium.

Like the emperor with no clothes, Josh Frydenberg is continuing the grand parade, insisting that Australia is making a successful transition

Almost every group with a financial, intellectual or ethical interest in salvaging a workable climate policy is now deep in an urgent debate about how Australia can break a decade of policy paralysis. Everyone except the Turnbull government, that is.

The debate, involving big business, small business, investors, the government’s own independent climate advisers, academics, environmentalists, the welfare lobby and the unions, is predicated on the obvious conclusion that our policy – as it stands – cannot deliver the cuts to greenhouse emissions that are domestically necessary and which Australia has promised internationally.

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NASA has released spectacular images of Jupiter that have never been seen before.

A poor wet season sees a drop in northern quoll numbers in the Pilbara; the scallop season begins in Tasmania; home delivery scheme good for farmers and consumers; and the Brook Hunt Club chases an elusive fox.

A poll from Greenpeace found that almost two thirds of people in the UK think microbeads should be banned. The beads are already banned in the US, but are still common in Britain. They’re a threat to marine life and potentially to humans, but the poll also found that most people don’t actually know what they are

• UK government to ban microbeads from cosmetics by end of 2017

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Found in beauty products, tiny pieces of plastic which can harm marine life will be banned from sale in the UK from the end of 2017, government will announce

Tiny pieces of plastic in personal beauty products, that end up in the oceans and are swallowed by marine life, will be banned from sale in the UK by the end of 2017, the government is to announce on Saturday.

The move comes just days after MPs called for a ban on so-called microbeads, and sees the UK following in the footsteps of the US, which has banned them beginning in mid-2017. More than 357,000 people signed a petition calling for a UK ban, and environment groups welcomed the news of the ban.

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The US space agency releases pictures and other data from the Juno probe, which has just made its first close approach to Jupiter since going into orbit in July.

The Papahānaumokuākea marine park created by Barack Obama could end up as just a ‘paper park’, argue US and UK marine experts

British and US marine scientists say that the race to designate ever-bigger marine national parks in remote parts of the world could work against conservation.

In an commentary timed to coincide with President Obama’s announcement of the huge extension of a marine park off Hawaii, the authors argue that the creation of very large marine protection areas (Vlmpas) may give the illusion of conservation, when in fact they may be little more than “paper parks”.

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On Thursday Barack Obama made a trip to Midway Atoll, an unincorporated territory of the US and the site of the second world war’s Battle of Midway against the Japanese navy. Obama also focused on conservation of Midway Atoll against climate change. ‘I look forward to knowing that ... 100 years from now, this is a place where people can still come to and see’

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Samsung has halted sales of the Galaxy Note 7 because of battery fire reports.

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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An unidentified sea creature and a shoal of disappearing fish are among this week’s pick of images from the natural world

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Countries from around the Pacific Ocean met to discuss ways of protecting the shrinking supplies but were unable to come to any agreement, officials say

Pacific island states and countries failed on Friday to strike a deal to protect shrinking supplies of tuna and adopt cutbacks following a regional conference, officials said, sparking condemnation from conservationists.

The Pacific Ocean is the world’s largest tuna fishing ground, accounting for almost 60% of the global catch.

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Honduras has become a no-go zone for environmental activists after eight people were murdered in 2015 alone, reports IPS

Chills ran down Tomás Gómez Membreño’s spine when he first heard about the brutal murder of his renowned friend and ally, the Honduran Indigenous leader Berta Cáceres, six months ago this week.

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