Afghanistan’s forests a casualty of timber smuggling. “The United Nations Environmental Program estimates that over the past three decades, Afghanistan’s forest cover has decreased by about 50 percent. Wali Modaqiq, deputy director of Afghanistan’s environmental protection agency, says that today forests cover only about 2 percent of Afghanistan. He says years of war and drought have felled more trees than wood stoves, which generally burn scrap wood. The big killer of trees, though, is economics.”

Britain opposes EU pesticide ban. “Extraordinary steps were taken by the British Government last night to head off a proposed EU ban on neonicotinoid pesticides, which have been widely blamed for bee deaths around the world.”

Swallows are evolving to avoid cars and trucks. “Collisions with road vehicles are driving a population of swallows to evolve into faster, more agile fliers with shortened wings. Natural selection has favoured birds that are better able to get out of the way of oncoming cars and trucks, scientists in the US have discovered.”

Guinness’ fish bladder problem. “A Guinness representative confirmed to The Huffington Post that isinglass is used to make Guinness during the brewing process, but declined to comment on the company’s reaction to vegetarians and vegans who don’t know about the details of the process. Regulators in some nations, including Canada and the U.K., have pushed to make it a requirement for alcohol companies to list things like isinglass on their products’ bottles. It’s part of a broader effort in these countries to provide accurate information to people who have allergies, severe food intolerances and diet preferences.”

Hugh Hefner: Easter’s bunny rescuer. “The Barbi Twins ardently oppose buying rabbits as toys for children for Easter, which perhaps millions of people do a year. Hence, the Twins have chosen to stand behind Last Chance for Animal’s Easter Campaign—adopt don’t shop for rabbits as life-long family pets.  They also suggest buying vegan chocolate bunnies instead of the live and fragile bunnies sold during the Easter holiday for kids. And they recommend visiting the website—Los Angeles Rabbit Foundation—for tips on caring for rabbits.”

Photo credit: lori05871 via Flickr