International Update Volume 47, Issue 21
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<p>On July 28, 2017, EU's top court ordered Poland to halt large-scale logging of Bialowieza Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The forest is one of Europe's last primeval forests and home to its largest herd of European bison as well as unique birds and insects. The European Court of Justice ruled that logging should stop immediately as it could cause "serious and irreversible damage" to the forest. Poland's environment ministry says the logging is needed to protect the forest from an invasion of beetles.

<p>The British government committed to ban the sale of diesel and gas vehicles from 2040 to curb rising levels of nitrogen oxide. The government said the move, which will include hybrid vehicles, was needed because of the impact that poor air quality has on human health. The government was urged to introduce taxes for vehicles to enter clean air zones but the government sees the option as a last resort.

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<p>The island of Java has seen massive flooding as a result of deforestation. A mangrove forest that once surrounded the village Mangunharjo was clear-cut to facilitate shrimp and fish farms. The mangroves’ decline exposed Mangunharjo to massive erosion. In less than a decade, it wiped away the fishponds and almost sank the village. Locals have taken to replanting mangroves to curb the effects of erosion, and have seen improvement. The efforts have reclaimed 200 meters of land. Mangroves are crucial in the fight against climate change.

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