Researchers at Chile’s Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB) identified 87 bird species and 27 sites of biocultural significance in the Río Cruces Wetland by combining scientific research with local and traditional knowledge. Published in Ecology & Society, the study explores how community memories, relationships with birds, and connections to territory can contribute to wetland conservation. Conducted in collaboration with local communities, the research found that residents identified 73% of the bird species recorded in the wetland sanctuary and that 93% of the sites of biocultural significance lay outside its boundaries. The findings highlight the importance of recognizing local knowledge and biocultural memory to strengthen community-based conservation.

Nikki Thiele, a staff scientist in the Chemical Sciences Division of the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has received a 2026 NIH Director’s New Innovator Award. The five-year National Institutes of Health grant supports innovative research with the potential for broad impact on biomedical and behavioral science. Thiele will develop innovative chelator designs to improve targeted radiopharmaceuticals.

A new LMU study shows: Three-quarters of the estimated global potential for new forests to capture CO₂ is threatened by significant social and institutional challenges.

Kyushu University researchers have developed an AI-based method to measure how closely corporate disclosures match the ESG issues that matter financially to each industry. Applied to Japan’s food and beverage sector, it showed that companies place greater emphasis on social-related topics, while environmental disclosure remains relatively limited. Priorities also shifted as reporting requirements changed. The study offers insights for investors, firms, and standard setters seeking to evaluate and design effective sustainability reporting regimes.