Ecology

Almost 600 plant species have disappeared from the wild over the past 250 years. This shows a new study quoted by the BBC. The number of lost plants is based on genuinely extinct species, not assumptions, and is twice as large as all bird species, mammals and fish taken together.

Scientists say the plants are dying up to 500 times faster than what would be expected naturally.

Turkey has a lot to do if it wants to preserve its wide-range of biodiversity, according to an expert.

The Tuzla Wetland in the western town of Milas, one of the most important wetlands for migratory birds, flamingos and different bird species, is creating a feast for the eyes. Located alongside the Milas-Bodrum motorway, the Tuzla Wetland is flocked by various migratory birds every year. This year scores of flamingos, herons and wild ducks are among the guests of the wetland.

Turkey's Agriculture and Forestry Ministry banned the use of three dangerous chemicals utilized in the agriculture sector with a decree coded "urgent" on Dec. 22 after daily Hürriyet reported that the pesticides were killing hundreds of thousands of bees. 

Locals living the Black Sea village of Meşeköy, once named Petran, have again this year taken to riding on primitive boards they made from planks of wood.

Well over half the world's population of vertebrates, from fish to birds to mammals, have been wiped out in the past four decades, says a new report from the World Wildlife Fund, reports CBC News. 

According to Bulgaria's Agriculture Ministry, sunflower seed had been harvested from 731.9 Th ha as of October 18, i.e. from 99.6% of its forecast area of 735 Th ha. The crop amounted to 1880.85 KMT with a yield of 2.57 MT/ha. The harvest is 9.1% behind last year, though with a 12.7% higher yield than in 2017, reports UkrAgroConsult.

Prior to the fire of July 23, because of the enormous efforts over the past year of Vangeli and Sisi, who help me in the garden, there is still some semblance of a garden. Sadly this is not the case for most of my neighbors.

This past year, I "illegally" took out two enormous pine trees - last year one - and we topped and pruned three others.

The government Thursday pledged to reforest the areas scorched by the devastating wildfire east of Athens early this week.

Alternate Environment Minister Sokratis Famelos told Sto Kokkino radio station that authorities were collecting aerial photos of the burned areas and all available legal data regarding buildings and planning in order to designate the areas for tree-planting.

Vandals have cut off 29 of the 240 newly planted trees in Sofia's Ring Road, Nova TV reported. The acacia seedlings were planted last month. The trees were cut low to the ground.