University of Wisconsin–Madison

Tag: Science

Fish species, rural livelihoods threatened by new dams on world’s largest rivers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Advocates of huge hydroelectric dam projects on the Amazon, Congo, and Mekong rivers often overestimate economic benefits and underestimate far-reaching effects on biodiversity, according to an article in the Jan. 8 issue of Science by a cadre of scientists representing 30 academic, government, and conservation organizations in eight countries. “These three river …

Humanity Crosses 4 of 9 ‘Planetary Boundaries,’ Q&A with Steve Carpenter

The journal Science published an article online today that says civilization has crossed four of nine “planetary boundaries” due to human activity.  According to an international team of 18 researchers, climate change, the loss of biosphere integrity, land-system change, and altered biogeochemical cycles (like phosphorus and nitrogen runoff) have all passed beyond levels that put humanity in a “safe …