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Environmentalists are fiercely opposed to controversial pipeline that would carry tar sands oil from Canada to Gulf refineries

What is Keystone XL?

The Keystone XL project would expand an existing pipeline from the vast tar sands of Alberta to refineries in the US Midwest, nearly doubling the initial capacity and transporting crude oil deeper into America to refineries on the Gulf coast of Texas. Its proposed route would stretch about 1,660 miles, connecting Hardisty, Alberta to Port Arthur, Texas. It was first proposed in 2008.

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Photographer Richard Bailey has created an unusual set of portraits of 50 pigeons in honour of Charles Darwin's regard for Columbia livia

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Following a review of the 2013 extension to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the Australian Government is seeking a minor boundary modification.

Applications close 5.00 pm AEST 20 June 2014.

Documents leaked by Edward Snowden show NSA kept US negotiators abreast of their rivals' positions at 2009 summit

Developing countries have reacted angrily to revelations that the United States spied on other governments at the Copenhagen climate summit in 2009.

Documents leaked by Edward Snowden show how the US National Security Agency (NSA) monitored communication between key countries before and during the conference to give their negotiators advance information about other positions at the high-profile meeting where world leaders including Barack Obama, Gordon Brown and Angela Merkel failed to agree to a strong deal on climate change.

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Biologist says most recent attempt to net creature in the Xochimilco network of lakes resulted in none being found

Mexico's salamander-like axolotl may have disappeared from its only known natural habitat in Mexico City's few remaining lakes.

It is disturbing news for the amphibian which has a slimy tail, plume-like gills and mouth that curls into an apparent smile.

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Agency 2014 application on ecological sustainability - comments close 28 February 2014

The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder has accepted 16 offers to buy a combined total of 10 gigalitres of Commonwealth environmental water for a return of $3.217 million for the Murray Darling environment.

The Minister has recently approved the listing and transfer of 12 species under the EPBC Act.

The Minister has extended the listing assessment timeframes for the following ecological communities: Hinterland sand flats forest and woodland; Posidonia seagrass meadows; and Eucalypt woodlands of the Western Australian Wheatbelt.

The Department is seeking public comment on the Green Army Draft Statement of Requirements, which sets out important features of the programme and outlines the proposed services required by the Australian Government to deliver the programme.

The international theme for World Wetlands Day 2014 is Wetlands and Agriculture: Partners for Growth. This year is also the 40th anniversary of the designation of the world’s first Ramsar site – Cobourg Peninsula, Northern Territory, 8 May 1974.

The Australian Government is seeking public comment on its draft survey guidelines for Australia’s Threatened Orchids: guidelines for detecting orchids. The public comment period closes at 5pm on 28 March 2014.

The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder today released the Trading Framework that outlines the requirements and standards for Commonwealth activity in the water market.

The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder today announced up to 10 gigalitres of water allocation will be available for sale in the Gwydir valley. This is the first time the Water Holder has traded environmental water since its inception in 2008.

We’re looking for your best beautiful and striking weather-related photos. From cloudy skies to glorious sunshine, share your pictures of this week’s weather and we’ll choose a selection to be printed in the paper

From heatwaves in Australia, to snow in the US and Middle East, to storms and flooding in the UK, you’ve shared some dramatic images with the Guardian. But the weather doesn’t have to be extreme to make a great picture. Wherever you are in the world, we’d love to see your most striking photos of this week’s weather.

In your description, please tell us where you took the photo (it can be anywhere in the world) and the date you took it (it should be in the last week).

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Extermination of large predators such as wolves and bears has a cascading effect on delicate ecological balance

A plea to restore populations of some of the world's most dangerous animals has been made by scientists who claim the loss of large carnivores is damaging ecosystems.

More than three-quarters of the 31 species of large land predators, such as lions and wolves, are in decline, according to a new study. Of these, 17 species are now restricted to less than half the territory they once occupied.

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The twins were found alive by fishermen on the Baja California peninsula but lived only a few hours

Fishermen in Mexico have found rare conjoined grey whale calves that died shortly after being born.

Benito Bermudez, a marine biologist, says the whales were found alive in the Ojo de Liebre lagoon in the Baja California peninsula but lived only a few hours.

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Four Christmas Island species have been included on the Threatened Species list and one has been transferred to a higher category. Cyrtodactylus sadleiri - listed as endangered Lepidodactylus listeri - transferred from vulnerable to...