Biodiversity

"Polar bears, whales, sharks, rays and gazelles were among 31 new species granted new protection status by a UN conservation body, following six days of intense talks by leading conservationists in Quito, Ecuador."

"Appalachia may be one of the poorest regions of the U.S., but when it comes to heirloom crops, it's got the riches."

"A coalition of U.S. farmer and environmental groups filed a lawsuit on Wednesday seeking to overturn regulatory approval granted last week for an herbicide developed by Dow AgroSciences."

"One of the last northern white rhinos in the world has died, striking a heavy blow to a species already on the brink of extinction, reports the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. 34-year-old Suni was found dead in his enclosure on October 17, 2014. Rangers are unsure of the cause of his death, but said that he was not killed by poachers."

"Government regulators have approved a new generation of genetically engineered corn and soybeans. They're the latest weapon in an arms race between farmers and weeds, and the government's green light is provoking angry opposition from environmentalists."

"OSLO --  Governments are failing to meet goals to protect animals and plants set out in a biodiversity plan for 2020 that also aims to increase food supplies and slow climate change, a U.N. report showed on Monday."

"Farmers from the biggest U.S. corn-growing states have sued Syngenta AG over sales of genetically modified corn seed not approved by China, joining global exporters in pursuing damages from the Swiss-based company."

"The Agriculture Department has approved the commercial planting of corn and soybeans genetically engineered to survive being sprayed by the herbicide known as 2,4-D, according to documents it posted on a federal regulatory website on Wednesday."