DW's best environment stories of 2013

It's time to take a look back at our best feature stories of 2013, covering all things environment - from climate change to protecting animals and habitats, food security and water scarcity.

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Climate change

Climate change threatens Africa's Masai

Persistent droughts have forced Masai cattle herds to the brink of starvation. For these legendary warriors, the next battle means combatting climate change through education and adaptation. (09.08.2013)

Thailand needs to act as Bangkok sinks faster

Thailand's capital Bangkok has been sinking for years and time is running out to tackle the problem. As the ground continues to subside by 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) a year, scientists say action is urgent. (02.05.2013)

Farmers fight cow farts to protect the climate

Gas emissions from flatulent, belching cows contribute to global warming. In an effort to protect the climate, French farmers are giving their herds feed that will reduce how often the animals belch and break wind. (27.03.2013)

Preserving habitats

EU timber policy slows illegal logging in Vietnam

Exporting wooden furniture boosted Vietnam’s economy but weakened its natural resources through deforestation. Now EU regulations promoting sustainability are benefiting farmers as well as their land. (26.11.2013)

New efforts to protect Jordan's Wadi Rum desert

Humankind has left his mark on Jordan’s Wadi Rum since prehistoric times. The unique desert last year was granted UNESCO heritage status as a natural and cultural site - and is now paying the price. (02.04.2013)

Fighting to save Cambodia's Prey Lang forest

Developers and loggers are threatening to permanently destroy Cambodia's Prey Lang forest, one of Southeast Asia’s last remaining lowland evergreen woodlands. One rural woman is leading the fight to save the region. (21.03.2013)

Water and food security

India's polluted Ganges River threatens people's livelihoods

The Ganges is India's holiest river, considered a source of spiritual purification for devout Hindus. But today the river is among the world's most polluted, struggling under the pressures of modern India. (21.11.2013)

Are insects the food of the future?

Locusts and grasshoppers are healthy, environmentally-friendly alternatives to beef. As the world population booms, edible insects may be the best solution for fighting hunger. But can Europeans stomach the thought? (11.07.2013)

Women take over Kenya's farming sector

According to the World Bank, women make up 80 percent of Kenya's farmers. Despite their majority, they still have many challenges to overcome, like gaining ownership of the land they work. (09.04.2013)

Protest and politics

Pulp and paper battle tears at Uruguay-Argentina relations

Argentina says a pulp mill in Uruguay is fouling the air and water on its side of the border. The two nations are likely to wind up in front of the International Court in The Hague for a second time. (02.12.2013)

France forces dry cleaners to use safer chemicals

Dry-cleaning may get that wine stain out of your favorite top, but it will also leave cancer-causing fumes in the air. France has decided to ban the main chemical used in dry cleaning and push cleaners to go green. (18.06.2013)

Arctic Norwegian town looks north to Barents Sea oil and gas

As both Norway and Russia race to extract potentially vast amounts of energy from the Barents Sea, a small Norwegian town in the high Arctic could become the hub for a new era of oil and gas exploration. (06.06.2013)

Animals

Zoo animals recover after Ivory Coast civil war

During Ivory Coast's civil war in 2011, Abidjan's only zoo fell into disrepair and many animals died. Now, the facility is getting a makeover, and wants to become a center for conservation excellence in West Africa. (13.08.2013)

Dolphins gain unprecedented protection in India

India has officially recognized dolphins as non-human persons, whose rights to life and liberty must be respected. Dolphin parks that were being built across the country will instead be shut down. (24.05.2013)

Sloth sanctuary nurtures animals back to health

In Costa Rica, where mother sloths abandon their babies more often than in any other rainforest, a sanctuary takes care of wounded and abandoned sloths. About 130 animals have been released back into the wild. (17.04.2013)