A third of world’s aquifers are being sucked dry: NASA data

By Chris Arsenault ROME (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Human water use is sucking dry around a third of the world’s largest underground water basins at an alarming rate, with potentially risky consequences for farmers and other consumers, researchers said. Eight of the planet’s 37 biggest aquifers are classified as “overstressed” because they have almost no new water flowing in to offset usage, according to two studies from the University of California based on NASA satellite data

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New online platform tracks corporate actions in tropical forests

By Chris Arsenault ROME (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – A group of large companies, mainly in the food sector, have promised to reduce their role in the destruction of the world’s forests, and a new online portal launched on Wednesday aims to hold them to their word. Some of the biggest names in global food production, processing and retailing, including Cargill, McDonalds, Marks & Spencer, Tesco and Walmart are among the companies, with a combined market capitalization of nearly $4 trillion, pledging to tackle deforestation in their supply chains.

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