Egger, 72, says he and his wife frequently suffer from headaches and often wake up congested, coughing up mucus. Their house is equipped with a hospital-grade air filtration system that circulates indoor air every 15 minutes.

Even with those precautions, “most nights we’re breathing in a terrible smell,” he said. “It’s unbearable.”

Since 2018, more than 100 billion gallons (378 billion liters) of untreated sewage mixed with industrial chemicals and trash have surged through the Tijuana River, according to the International Boundary and Water Commission. The river crosses land where three generations of Egger’s family once operated a dairy farm. Last year, the United States and Mexico reached an agreement to address the chronic pollution by modernizing wastewater treatment plants to handle Tijuana’s growing population and factory waste, much of it generated by U.S.-owned companies.

Steve Egger stands near what scientists refer to as the “Saturn hot spot,” a stretch of the Tijuana River where polluted water gushes from pipes and forms foamy pools near his home Friday, March 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

In the meantime, tens of thousands of residents continue to be exposed. During a February visit to San Diego, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin said resolving what has become one of the nation’s longest-running environmental crises could take about two years. The burden has fallen largely on a low-income, Latino community.

Raw sewage is more than a foul nuisance. It releases hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas that can damage olfactory nerves and provoke asthma attacks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, exposure can cause headaches, nausea, confusion, tremors, coughing, shortness of breath, irritation of the eyes and skin, and in extreme cases, death. Scientists are still studying the long-term consequences of repeated exposure.

There is no broad federal air safety limit for hydrogen sulfide beyond strict workplace standards for high-risk sites like wastewater plants and manure pits. A handful of states adopted limits decades ago, but those thresholds are outdated. In California, proposed legislation would update the state’s 56-year-old standard to reflect current scientific knowledge about the gas’s health effects. Lawmakers in Texas are also weighing revisions.

“When the standard was first created, it focused mainly on odor — on nuisance,” said Democratic Sen. Steve Padilla of California, whose district includes the Tijuana River Valley. “We didn’t fully understand the health implications then. Now we do.”

Even if the measure is approved, officials say a revised standard would likely not be finalized until 2030.

Toxic gas from the river’s sewage infuses the air

A sign warns of sewage- and chemical-contaminated water along a beach Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Coronado, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

A “Stop the Stink” sign hangs on Egger’s fence, part of a campaign by Citizens for Coastal Conservancy urging authorities to halt the cross-border contamination.

The 120-mile (195-kilometer) river flows through the city of Tijuana, crosses into California and empties into the Pacific. Nearby San Diego County beaches have been closed for extended periods, and Navy SEALs training offshore have reported illnesses.

Since January alone, roughly 10 billion gallons (38 billion liters) of mostly untreated sewage and industrial waste have crossed into the United States via the river, according to commission data. For comparison, a ruptured pipe in January released 244 million gallons (924 million liters) of sewage into the Potomac River, affecting affluent communities and prompting swift federal action.

Trent Fry and Leila El Masri collect a water sample from the Tijuana River as part of a University of California, San Diego research team, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Justin Hamlin and Maddie Tibayan walk along the Imperial Beach pier after gathering seawater samples for research, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Imperial Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

A 2024 survey conducted by San Diego County and the CDC of about 40,000 households near the river found that 71% reported smelling sewage inside their homes, and 69% said at least one household member became ill after exposure.

“Even at lower concentrations, you feel it in your sinuses. The smell lingers and becomes a constant irritant,” said Ryan Sinclair, an associate professor of environmental microbiology at Loma Linda University School of Public Health.

The EPA says it is collaborating with local and state agencies to reduce odor impacts.

This year, San Diego County distributed more than 10,000 air purifiers to affected households. Still, the contamination persists, and the river’s foamy plumes are now visible from space.

Hydrogen sulfide levels stun researchers

Surfers watch as researchers gather seawater samples from the Imperial Beach pier, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Imperial Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

In September 2024, Kimberly Prather, a chemistry professor at the University of California, San Diego, and her team installed air monitors in Egger’s neighborhood.

The results shocked them. Hydrogen sulfide readings were 4,500 times higher than typical urban background levels and 150 times above California’s air quality standard when nighttime river flows peaked.

Residents like Egger said the findings confirmed what they had long experienced.

“People were basically told it was just an odor issue — unpleasant but harmless,” Prather said. “That wasn’t the full picture.”

Her team has also identified thousands of additional airborne chemicals from the river, many odorless and potentially even more hazardous.

Doctors recommend people move

Trent Fry collects a seawater sample in Imperial Beach, Calif., Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Egger said physicians have advised him to consider relocating, though none have provided a formal diagnosis linking his symptoms directly to hydrogen sulfide exposure.

Leaving, however, would mean abandoning deep family roots. His wife was raised in Tijuana. His brother and his late brother’s family live next door on the former Egger Dairy property, where an aging milk barn and rusting equipment still stand.

“I’ve spent my entire life here — with my parents, my grandparents,” Egger said. “This is home.”

As a child, he swam in the river when it flowed only during rainy seasons. Today it runs year-round, filled largely with wastewater and industrial runoff. He argues the river should be redirected to its historic channel closer to the border and farther from neighborhoods and schools, preventing stagnant pools that create concentrated pockets of hydrogen sulfide.

Less than half a mile from his house, the odor intensifies where the river bursts from underground pipes near Saturn Boulevard.

Scientists have dubbed the area the “Saturn hot spot.” The smell seeps into passing cars, even with windows closed, and can linger inside for days.

When river flows go up, so do the number of patients

Oscar Romo walks among debris trapped by a trash barrier installed in the Tijuana River near the U.S.-Mexico border, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Dr. Matthew Dickson and his wife, Dr. Kimberly Dickson, operate a clinic about a mile from the hot spot. Many patients report migraines, nausea, wheezing, eye irritation and mental fog. Those with asthma say they rely more heavily on inhalers when the odor intensifies.

“Patients tell us they feel better on days when the smell isn’t as strong,” Kimberly Dickson said.

In August 2023, a tropical storm caused the river to overflow into nearby streets. Within days, the clinic’s caseload tripled.

Electronic health records later confirmed their observations. When river flows increased, respiratory-related visits rose by 130%, they said.

“Every day this problem continues,” Matthew Dickson said, “more people are getting sick.”

A man walks along the aqueduct carrying the Tijuana River as it crosses from Mexico into the United States, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

___

This story has been updated to clarify that the Tijuana River flows through the city of Tijuana; it does not originate there.

Sinlaku developed on April 9 and has become the most intense storm recorded so far in 2026. On Monday, it produced sustained winds reaching 278 km/hour (173 mph), according to reports from The Associated Press.

Storm Position and Strength

By midday Tuesday local time (02:00 GMT), the storm’s center was located about 68 nautical miles (126 km) southeast of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands. The US Joint Typhoon Warning System reported that Sinlaku was moving slowly, advancing at approximately 14 km/hour (9 mph).

Although the typhoon has shown signs of slight weakening and may pass near the Northern Mariana Islands as a Category 4 or even Category 5 system, officials caution that it remains highly dangerous. Guam’s Office of Civil Defence warned of widespread rainfall, potential flooding, and destructive winds capable of causing significant power outages.

Current forecasts suggest Guam is unlikely to experience a direct hit. However, the island is still expected to face sustained winds between 64 and 80 km/hour (40 to 50 mph), with gusts reaching up to 105 km/hour (65 mph).

“Guam remains under both a tropical storm warning and a typhoon watch. While the threat of typhoon-force winds has significantly decreased, this remains a serious weather situation,” the Civil Defence Office stated, adding that storm conditions are likely to persist through Wednesday.

Authorities also advised Guam’s approximately 170,000 residents to avoid coastal waters, as hazardous sea conditions are forecast to continue until Thursday.

Before shifting course toward Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, Sinlaku caused considerable damage across the outer islands and atolls of Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia. Meteorologists in Guam reported that these areas experienced severe impacts as the storm passed.

Elsewhere in the Pacific region, Australia has pledged $1.75 million in aid to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands following the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Maila earlier this week.

Cyclone Maila swept through the region over the weekend as a Category 5 storm, triggering floods and landslides that claimed at least 11 lives. Authorities continue to evaluate the full scale of destruction.

Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape said that damage assessments are ongoing and that emergency teams are working to reach affected communities.

“Information is still arriving from various areas, but we are committed to reaching every island and every community impacted by this disaster,” he said.

A super typhoon is the designation used for the most powerful tropical cyclones that form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, a region known for producing some of the strongest storms on the planet.

Camera traps have captured images of a jaguar deep within Honduras’ Sierra del Merendón mountain range — the first confirmed sighting of the species in the area in ten years.

In photographs shared exclusively with CNN, the solitary male — referred to as a “cloud jaguar” — was recorded on February 6 at roughly 2,200 meters above sea level in high-altitude forest. The discovery offers renewed hope for a country working to reverse environmental decline.

Across the Americas, jaguars have disappeared from 49% of their historic territory, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). While the largest remaining population is concentrated in the Amazon, all other groups are considered endangered or critically endangered.

In Honduras, jaguars are legally protected, but significant threats remain.

“Deforestation and poaching are the primary dangers, and we have been actively addressing both,” said Franklin Castañeda, Honduras country director for the wild cat conservation group Panthera, which obtained the images.

Data from Global Forest Watch shows that between 2001 and 2024, Honduras lost 1.5 million hectares (3.7 million acres) of tree cover — about 19% of its forests. Most of the loss was driven by permanent agriculture, including plantations and cattle grazing.

The government has pledged to halt deforestation by the end of the decade and to restore 1.3 million hectares (3.2 million acres) of forest. Under its Zero Deforestation Plan 2029, an environmental emergency was declared to safeguard forests and wildlife. An 8,000-strong military patrol has been deployed to deter illegal farming and logging.

At the same time, the poaching of animals that jaguars depend on — such as brocket deer, peccaries and iguanas — is believed to reduce the availability of prey for the big cats.

Yet within the Merendón mountains, there are encouraging signs of recovery.

The forested highlands, along with other cloud forests in Honduras, have been under protection since 1987, when lawmakers recognized their importance as crucial water sources for nearby communities.

“At the time, they were thinking about water security,” Castañeda said. “Today we understand they were also preserving vital jaguar habitat.”

Illegal activities and biodiversity loss did not disappear entirely. In recent years, Panthera and its partners have expanded monitoring efforts, including ranger patrols, camera traps, and concealed acoustic devices. They have also worked to reintroduce key prey species. According to Panthera, poaching has declined, and improved forest conditions have made the area more suitable for large cats.

“We appear to be witnessing a broader recovery of big cat species,” Castañeda added.

After 17 years of surveys, pumas were documented in the range for the first time in 2021, with additional sightings since then. Ocelots, jaguarundis and margays have also been recorded, meaning all five wild cat species found in Honduras now inhabit the area.

Most jaguars typically reside below 1,000 meters (3,281 feet), making high-altitude “cloud jaguars” exceptionally uncommon. Only a few similar sightings have been reported elsewhere in Central America. It remains uncertain whether this reflects new behavior or simply previous gaps in monitoring remote highland regions, explained Dr. Allison Devlin, Panthera’s jaguar program director.

Only three high-elevation jaguar recordings have been documented in Honduras, the last occurring in 2016. That earlier sighting prompted Panthera and its partners to establish a protected wildlife corridor in the Merendón mountains linking Honduras and Guatemala.

Castañeda described the latest sighting as “incredible,” noting that the specific mountain where the jaguar appeared has been monitored for 15 years — and continuously for the last decade.

Jaguars are highly mobile animals. In Honduras, records show they can travel 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) in a single night. In other regions, individuals have been documented covering distances up to 400 kilometers (249 miles), Castañeda said.

The Merendón range does not host a permanent jaguar population. Castañeda believes the young male was likely moving along the wildlife corridor between eastern Honduras and Guatemala, possibly in search of a mate.

Nearby source populations exist in Guatemala’s Izabal region and in Honduras’ Pico Bonito and Jeannette Kawas national parks. These Honduran populations are believed to be relatively small — between 10 and 18 jaguars in Jeannette Kawas, and 20 to 50 in Pico Bonito. Connectivity between these groups is crucial to preserving genetic diversity.

Devlin said the sighting underscores the importance of safeguarding habitat at all elevations, even areas not traditionally viewed as essential for big cat movement. “Wide-ranging and adaptable species like jaguars and pumas require continuous landscapes for survival,” she said.

The Merendón corridor forms part of the broader Jaguar Corridor Initiative, introduced in 2018 under the Jaguar 2030 Conservation Roadmap for the Americas. This vast network stretches from Mexico to Argentina and includes 30 conservation landscapes. Panthera is actively involved in projects across 11 of the 18 countries where jaguars remain.

The Honduran discovery comes amid other positive developments for the species. A recent nationwide survey in Mexico found a 10% increase in its wild jaguar population, rising from 4,800 in 2018 to 5,326.

Additionally, at the UN Convention on Migratory Species Conference of the Parties (CMS COP15) in Brazil, nations adopted a new international framework dedicated to jaguar conservation — a move Devlin described as a significant milestone.

Under the agreement, governments across the jaguar’s range have committed to stronger coordination to protect habitats, support coexistence with Indigenous peoples and local communities, improve monitoring systems, and combat illegal killing.

Nongovernmental organizations will continue to play a key role. In Honduras, Panthera is working with Rainforest Trust to create a new protected area known as Wildlife Refuge Guanales. The proposed refuge will include high-altitude research stations and biodiversity zones, linking Cusuco National Park in Honduras with Guatemala’s Sierra Caral Reserve. This effort will further reinforce a continuous corridor for wild cats.

“Connectivity is essential for the jaguar’s long-term survival,” Devlin said.

The journey, which concluded on Friday in Churchill, Manitoba, marked the largest northern deployment ever undertaken by the Canadian Rangers, the branch of the Armed Forces tasked with safeguarding remote regions. Covering 5,200km (3,200 miles), the team traced a path across the Arctic that had not been attempted in eight decades.

Travelling by snowmobile over frozen ground, they pressed on through blizzards and fierce winds, sometimes riding for hours between isolated northern settlements. On several nights, they pitched tents directly on the ice as temperatures plunged to -60C (-76F).

On their final evening, camp was set along the frozen shores of Hudson Bay beside an abandoned trading post. Beneath shimmering northern lights, the ice shifted and cracked below them.

Danger was constant, from roaming polar bears to frostbite and dehydration brought on by extreme cold.

The patrol formed part of the Canadian Armed Forces’ yearly northern operation, designed to demonstrate the country’s military presence in the Arctic.

This year, 1,300 personnel participated. Their objectives included surveying terrain, studying the effects of climate change, identifying potential new travel routes and sharpening Arctic survival and combat skills in a region that represents 40% of Canada’s landmass and 70% of its coastline.

The mission carries added weight amid intensifying global competition for Arctic resources as warming temperatures reshape the region. It also follows comments made in January by US President Donald Trump about annexing Greenland, a Danish territory near Canada, which heightened tensions among Nato allies.

Those remarks alarmed political leaders in Europe and Canada and prompted renewed efforts by Nato members to underscore their commitment to Arctic defence.

Prime Minister Mark Carney, born in the Northwest Territories and the first Canadian leader from the north, has announced a multi-billion dollar defence strategy that includes modernising northern military installations.

Despite political friction, Brig Gen Daniel Rivière, commander of the task force overseeing Operation Nanook-Nunalivut, said the comments have had “zero effect” on co-operation between Canadian forces and their allies.

The operation, which ran from mid-February to early April, included representatives from Greenland who requested to observe the Rangers’ work, Rivière noted.

Military personnel from the United States and the United Kingdom monitored activities from a command centre in Edmonton, while French and Belgian troops carried out ice-diving drills alongside Canadian forces.

Rivière explained that the mission aims to prepare Canada for the most challenging contingencies. He pointed out that Russia continues to be a significant Arctic power despite its war in Ukraine.

Russia is reported to maintain dozens of permanent Arctic bases, whereas Canada has none.

“They continue to operate and test the region,” Rivière said, adding that joint naval exercises between Russia and China in international Arctic waters have grown more frequent.

“Is it an immediate threat? No. But are they becoming more capable in Arctic waters? Without question.”

Climate change presents another serious challenge, making Arctic navigation increasingly unpredictable.

Lt Col Travis Hanes, who spent 52 days on patrol, has witnessed these changes firsthand.

“Rivers that were once reliably frozen have overflowed in places where they never used to,” he said, describing unstable layers of ice that create new winter hazards.

At the same time, this winter brought unusually severe cold, opening ice routes across waters that had not frozen in recent years.

Indigenous Inuit members are central to the Canadian Rangers. Their deep understanding of the land proved vital in charting safe routes and ensuring survival during the patrol and other Arctic missions.

“We would not have succeeded without them,” Hanes said.

Often referred to as the indispensable presence in Canada’s north, the Rangers possess unmatched skill in navigating snowmobiles between remote communities, surviving harsh weather and detecting subtle environmental changes.

Throughout the patrol, they shared dried Arctic char and caribou—traditional “country food”—with teammates who needed more than standard rations. They also provided gloves and boots made from coyote and caribou fur to those struggling against the cold despite modern winter gear.

Julia Elanik, an Inuk Ranger from Aklavik in the Northwest Territories, travelled the full distance with a rifle slung over her back in case a polar bear approached.

The patrol, typically consisting of around 20 snowmobiles, depended on more than a dozen Inuit communities for lodging along the route. Local Rangers guided the team from one hamlet to the next.

Barnie Aggark of Chesterfield Inlet in Nunavut, who joined for the final 500km stretch, said he felt a duty to both his homeland and his country.

“It’s about our land and our sea, how we manage them and who has access,” said Aggark, a Ranger since 1999.

“We must show the world that we live here. This is our home, and we will defend it with everything we have.”

The patrol also received assistance from the Royal Canadian Air Force. Twin Otter aircraft flew overhead to assess terrain conditions, while satellite intelligence and new ice-monitoring systems supported the ground team.

Looking back on the mission, Chief Warrant Officer Sonia Lizotte said: “We’ve pushed our boundaries, and now we understand what lies ahead.”

In 2024, Canada identified Arctic sovereignty as its top national security priority.

Carney has criticised previous governments for underinvesting in the north.

“After years of limited commitment, our government is acting with ambition that matches the scale of this region and its people,” he said in March.

Funding will also enhance airports and highways serving both civilians and the military. Transportation in the north remains difficult, with sparse infrastructure and costly air travel between communities.

The Conservative opposition argues that past neglect has left Canada exposed in the Arctic.

They have urged the government to establish permanent military bases in the region.

“We need tangible progress, not just promises,” said Conservative defence critic James Bezan last month.

Nevertheless, additional funding has been welcomed by residents and military leaders alike. “It shows we’re committed to building for the future,” Rivière said.

He added that plans include expanding military capabilities in the Northwest Territories and increasing combat training in the Arctic, “because we must always be prepared for the worst.”

Not every element of this year’s mission unfolded as intended.

A scheduled howitzer firing exercise in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, was cancelled due to a severe blizzard. Several Rangers experienced food poisoning, likely from field rations. One member fractured a rib when his snowmobile overturned but continued the patrol, Hanes said.

Another Ranger suffered frostbite and was evacuated before the injury worsened.

Despite these setbacks, Hanes described the operation as a clear success, highlighting Canada’s growing proficiency in extreme Arctic conditions.

“One major injury among 250 personnel? That’s an exceptional record by any standard.”

Nitrates originate from fertilizers and pesticides that seep into the soil and eventually flow into waterways such as the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers. Typically, winter does not pose major issues. Yet this year, the city was forced to activate its filtration system in January and February — only the second time in over three decades that winter treatment was required. The added costs are likely to translate into higher water bills for residents in a state whose waterways are already among the most vulnerable to nitrate contamination.

Specialists point to shifting weather patterns, including milder winters, as a key factor behind the growing and expensive problem — one they warn is likely to spread across agricultural regions.

“Winter nitrate events are expected to become more common,” said Iowa State Climatologist Justin Glisan. “They may not happen every year, but the conditions that produce them are appearing more frequently.”

Why warmer winters lead to more water pollution

A field used for corn silage on Blue Spruce Farm is pictured on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Bridport, Vt. (AP Photo/Amanda Swinhart)

The fertilizers and pesticides applied to farm fields leave behind nitrogen and phosphorus. When rain falls or snow melts, these nutrients are washed into streams and rivers, threatening drinking water supplies. High nitrate levels have been linked to serious health risks, including certain cancers and “blue baby syndrome,” a condition that reduces oxygen levels in infants.

As the planet warms due to human-driven climate change, frozen ground is becoming less consistent in many regions. Snow increasingly melts quickly or falls as rain onto unfrozen soil. This shift creates more winter days when nitrates can move freely into waterways and reach unsafe concentrations.

Researchers also note that a warming atmosphere contributes to more extreme weather, including prolonged droughts and intense downpours. Because warmer air holds more moisture, storms can release heavy bursts of rain.

When dry periods are followed by heavy rainfall, large volumes of water surge through the soil, carrying nitrogen and other farm chemicals along with it, Glisan explained.

Dairy cows feed at Blue Spruce Farm on Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Bridport, Vt. (AP Photo/Amanda Swinhart)

In addition, warming temperatures in polar regions are contributing to erratic winter patterns that swing between bitter cold and milder, less snowy conditions.

Although some winter storms still bring substantial snowfall, the snow often does not remain long. In some areas, snow cover insulates the soil, preventing it from freezing deeply. When rapid thaws occur, melting snow — followed by heavy rain — can percolate through the ground and carry nutrients into nearby streams.

When soil does not stay frozen, nutrients are no longer effectively “locked” in place.

“In central and southern Illinois, we’ve long experienced freeze-thaw cycles,” said Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford. “What’s changing is that these patterns are now extending farther north.”

Stakes are high for low-income and rural communities

University of Vermont graduate student Delaney Bullock gathers runoff samples from two agricultural fields to be analyzed for nutrient concentrations on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Bridport, Vt. (AP Photo/Amanda Swinhart)

Nitrate contamination presents serious challenges for low-income and rural communities nationwide, said Samuel Sandoval Solis, a water resources management specialist at the University of California, Davis.

While some municipalities have advanced treatment systems to remove nitrates, many smaller communities lack such infrastructure. About 15% of Americans rely on private wells for drinking water, according to federal data, and these wells are vulnerable to nitrate seepage.

Routine testing and installing proper filtration systems can cost households hundreds of dollars annually. For small towns whose treatment facilities are not equipped to handle nitrate removal, upgrading systems may require significant financial investment, Sandoval said.

More research is connecting climate change, runoff and nutrient loss

University of Vermont graduate student Delaney Bullock gathers runoff samples from two agricultural fields to be analyzed for nutrient concentrations on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Bridport, Vt. (AP Photo/Amanda Swinhart)

States have long grappled with nitrate pollution, but officials are increasingly recognizing how warmer winters complicate mitigation efforts. In Illinois, for example, annual reports now more clearly acknowledge climate change as a contributing factor, said Joan Cox, who manages the state’s Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy.

Scientists have observed that more nitrogen is flowing downstream during winter months, though research continues to determine whether this results in greater total pollution, said Carol Adair, a University of Vermont professor who studies how rain-on-snow events influence nutrient runoff.

The broader ecological consequences remain uncertain. With fewer plants actively growing in winter to absorb nitrogen, more of the nutrient may travel downstream. That could worsen problems such as the Gulf of Mexico’s “dead zone,” an oxygen-depleted area fueled in part by fertilizer runoff that harms fish and marine ecosystems.

Dani Replogle, a staff attorney with the nonprofit Food and Water Watch, said large-scale livestock operators often attempt to time manure and fertilizer applications to avoid rainfall. However, increasingly unpredictable weather patterns make that strategy less reliable.

Regulating nutrient pollution has proven difficult

Joshua Faulkner, left, research associate professor and director of the Agricultural and Environmental Testing Lab at the University of Vermont, and graduate student Delaney Bullock check on flumes used to collect runoff from two agriculture fields for analysis on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Bridport, Vt. (AP Photo/Amanda Swinhart)

Efforts to require farmers to reduce nutrient runoff have faced resistance, particularly in states like Iowa where agricultural interests oppose mandatory regulations.

In a recent move, the Environmental Protection Agency removed seven Iowa waterways from the federal Impaired Waters List. Previously, their inclusion would have required the state to establish limits on pollution entering those rivers under the Clean Water Act. Advocacy groups have indicated plans to challenge the decision.

Meanwhile, Iowa’s water utilities are developing resilience strategies to cope with increasing winter nutrient spikes, said Amy Kahler, CEO and general manager of Des Moines Water Works. Still, she believes upstream polluters should bear more responsibility.

“There are two options,” Kahler said. “We can invest in conservation and responsible watershed management — or we can spend hundreds of millions of dollars on advanced treatment systems.”

Canada Geese wade in the waters and ice of Lake Champlain on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Addison, Vt. (AP Photo/Amanda Swinhart)

Kahler favors preventive conservation measures, noting they also enhance overall environmental quality and community well-being.

In 2015, Des Moines Water Works filed a lawsuit seeking compensation for the high costs of removing unsafe nitrate levels from river water. The case was ultimately dismissed by a judge.

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This article was produced as part of ongoing coverage of climate and environmental issues.

The announcement comes after weeks of debate in Mexico regarding the response to the spill, which was first detected in early March off the coasts of Veracruz and Tabasco.

While authorities stated that there is no evidence of “serious environmental damage,” the marine conservation group Oceana said that local residents have reported dead sea turtles, a manatee, and multiple fish species linked to the contamination. The organisation also indicated that around 17 coral reefs have suffered damage.

According to Navy Secretary Admiral Raymundo Morales, satellite images and on-site inspections have identified three separate sources of the oil. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, he noted that the spill remains active.

The sources include a vessel anchored near the port city of Coatzacoalcos in Veracruz, a geological formation known locally as a “chapopotera” located about 8km (5 miles) from the same port, and another natural seep in the Bay of Campeche.

‘Increased discharge of pollutants’

Morales explained that the ship believed to be involved has not yet been identified, as 13 vessels operating in the area had not undergone inspection by early March.

He added that the natural oil seeps in the Bay of Campeche are considered a significant contributor to the contamination.

“These seeps release oil continuously as part of a natural process; however, over the past month we have observed a higher volume of pollutants,” Morales stated.

In a separate event on March 17, residents of Puerto Ceiba reported an explosion near the Olmeca refinery, operated by the state-owned company Pemex, after oily water spilled onto a nearby roadway. A passing vehicle ignited, resulting in five fatalities, according to a company statement issued last week. There are growing concerns that oyster populations in the adjacent Mecoacan lagoon — and the fishing communities that depend on them — could face contamination.

Environmental groups have criticized what they describe as insufficient action by authorities in addressing the spill affecting Veracruz and Tabasco.

Greenpeace Mexico stated that the Gulf of Mexico is being treated as a “sacrifice zone for the oil industry” and urged the government to improve transparency and accelerate efforts to limit environmental harm.

The organisation emphasized that federal agencies are responsible for promptly informing the public, overseeing industrial activities, repairing environmental damage, and establishing effective measures to prevent and mitigate social and ecological risks tied to oil operations.

Mexican environmental officials have confirmed that at least six species — including sea turtles, birds, and fish — have been affected by the contamination to date.

The Battle of Hastings in 1066 brought an end to Harold’s brief reign as the last Anglo-Saxon king and marked the beginning of William, Duke of Normandy’s rule over England. This turning point is often portrayed as a decisive moment that reshaped the nation’s future, a version repeated in documentaries, classrooms, and popular history. However, a new examination of medieval manuscripts offers a different perspective on the circumstances surrounding Harold’s defeat.

According to Tom Licence, professor of medieval history and literature at the University of East Anglia, the widely accepted account of Harold’s forces marching roughly 200 miles (322 kilometers) before confronting William may be mistaken. The traditional story claims that this exhausting journey left the English army weakened and unprepared. Licence argues instead that the troops traveled south by ship, not on foot.

“1066 remains one of the rare dates that almost everyone recognizes,” said Rory Naismith, professor of early medieval English history at the University of Cambridge, who was not involved in the study. “It marks a decisive shift in English history, when one ruling order fell and was swiftly replaced by another, bringing profound changes to the kingdom’s cultural and institutional identity. Understanding 1066 is essential to understanding what followed.”

Reexamining the record

The notion that Harold’s men marched nearly 200 miles in just 10 days—after already fighting a fierce battle at Stamford Bridge near York against the Viking contender Harald Hardrada—has long seemed unlikely to Licence and other scholars. The logistical demands of such a journey raise serious doubts.

Licence explained that the dramatic overland march largely stems from a Victorian-era interpretation of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a record of key events written in Old English by clerics. In that account, a reference to Harold’s fleet being “sent home” was interpreted to mean that the ships were dismissed and returned to their original ports. On closer reading, however, Licence found that “home” consistently referred to London, Harold’s base of power.

“It became clear to me that when the chronicle says, ‘The fleet came home,’ it doesn’t mean the ships dispersed to different harbors. It means they returned to their home port, which was London,” Licence explained.

In this revised reconstruction, Harold first sailed north with his fleet to confront Harald Hardrada and the Norwegian forces, defeating them on September 26, 1066. He then returned by sea to London. Rather than draining his troops with a punishing march south, this route would have allowed them time to recover before the next confrontation.

After regrouping, Harold and part of his army traveled overland toward Hastings to meet William’s advancing forces. At the same time, Licence suggests, Harold dispatched ships to the south coast in an attempt to outmaneuver the Normans and launch a coordinated attack. The fleet, however, arrived too late to influence the outcome of the decisive battle on October 14.

Naismith finds this interpretation persuasive. “England possessed a substantial seafaring fleet, and there is ample evidence of ships operating along the east coast around the time of the Norman Conquest,” he said. “Recognizing a greater naval role in 1066 highlights Harold’s ability to deploy the resources at his disposal effectively.”

The image of the weary army marching south has long shaped Harold’s legacy, noted Duncan Wright, senior lecturer in medieval archaeology at Newcastle University. Harold is often remembered as the final Anglo-Saxon king who bravely resisted invasion but ultimately failed. The legendary march has even inspired modern reenactments, including a large-scale event in 2016 marking the 950th anniversary of the battle.

“The English have always had a certain admiration for the courageous loser,” Wright observed.

He added that this reinterpretation demonstrates how deeply Victorian-era assumptions have influenced modern historical understanding. When such inherited narratives are reassessed, new and more nuanced insights can emerge.

Licence believes the revised account presents Harold as a capable and strategic commander rather than a reckless one. “In many ways, the outcome could have gone either way,” he said. “It was not inevitable. William might have fallen instead of Harold.”

Other long-held beliefs about the Battle of Hastings have also been questioned. The famous image from the Bayeux Tapestry showing Harold struck in the eye by an arrow may not be accurate. Earlier written sources instead describe him being killed in close combat by Norman knights.

The Bayeux Tapestry is scheduled to be displayed in Britain later this year at the British Museum in London.

Licence will present his findings at a conference at the University of Oxford on March 24, and the research will also appear in his forthcoming biography of King Harold.

The shallow pit, accessed by a simple wooden ladder, is the area’s only water source. Hundreds of residents from nearby villages – along with their animals – depend on it. Many wait for hours to fill small plastic containers with limited amounts of murky water.

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“When we arrive, we dig into the well and wait for water to seep in,” Akalapatan explains. “We take turns because it is so little. There are many of us, and sometimes arguments break out.”

Turkana’s terrain is harsh and expansive. Roads fade into sand, and settlements lie scattered across great distances in a county of just over one million residents.

Although it is technically the rainy season, forecasters caution that Turkana and other dry regions may see little improvement.

Officials report that drought conditions have returned, affecting nearly half of Kenya’s counties. Around 3.4 million people are struggling to access enough food, at least 800,000 children are malnourished, and livestock – central to pastoral livelihoods – continue to perish.

In Turkana alone, some 350,000 households are at risk of extreme hunger.

“We are enduring hunger,” says Turkana elder Peter Longiron Aemun.

“There is no water. Our animals have died. We have lost everything. We once relied on burning charcoal, but even the acacia trees are gone.”

Kenya is still emerging from a devastating drought that lasted from 2020 to 2023, one of the harshest in four decades. The renewed dry spell threatens to deepen the crisis.

Yet specialists point to a troubling contradiction: want amid plenty.

Food loss and food waste

While communities endure severe water shortages and hunger – with broken boreholes and dried-up rivers – Lake Turkana’s water levels have risen in recent years, forcing some shoreline residents to relocate.

Elsewhere, intense downpours unleash flash floods along usually dry riverbeds, known locally as luggas. However, the sudden surges drain away quickly, leaving the land unable to support sustained farming.

Meanwhile, even as drought shrinks harvests and reductions in donor funding limit food assistance, experts note that significant quantities of food never reach those in need.

Research indicates that although a quarter of Kenyans face acute food insecurity, as much as 40 percent of food produced annually is lost or wasted.

Losses occur during harvesting, storage and transportation, while waste happens in homes, restaurants and retail outlets.

In parts of the North Rift region, considered one of Kenya’s agricultural hubs, farmers have achieved solid harvests. Yet soaring prices and widespread poverty prevent pastoral families in Turkana from purchasing food brought in from these surplus areas.

Security concerns further complicate matters. Competition over scarce water and grazing land fuels disputes, cattle raids persist, and armed groups operate in remote zones, stretching security forces thin.

“Security is the greatest challenge in drought-affected regions,” says Joseph Kamande, a food trader in central Kenya.

Even so, he believes Kenya could meet its own food needs with improved coordination and resource management.

“The country has vast land, and some of it is fertile,” he says, adding that access to water is key.

Untapped aquifers

Despite the ongoing drought, Turkana possesses underground water reserves that remain largely unused.

Deep beneath the surface lie aquifers – layers of rock and sediment that store water. Authorities hope to develop these resources.

In 2013, two major aquifers were identified: Napuu and Lotikipi. The larger spans roughly 5,000 kilometres and is estimated to contain about 250 trillion litres of water.

It could potentially supply the country for decades.

However, much of the water is saline, and treating it is costly, slowing progress.

“Salinity is the main obstacle,” explains Turkana County Water Director Paul Lotum.

“The national government and partners are identifying areas where the water is safe. We are gradually working to make it usable for communities.”

Until sustainable solutions are realised, food aid remains critical for many households.

Government disaster teams and humanitarian organisations continue to distribute supplies, but resources are limited. Reaching remote settlements is often extremely difficult.

“Many programmes are operating at reduced capacity,” says Jacob Ekaran of the National Drought Management Authority in Turkana.

“Funding has decreased, yet efforts continue to stretch the available resources.”

‘I can’t find food’

When provisions dwindle, families turn to wild fruits and berries.

In Lopur village, Akal Loyeit Etangana gathers berries and cooks them over an open fire.

She says she has gone two weeks without a proper meal, relying on the fruit mixture to ease hunger pangs, though it offers little nourishment.

“When the rains fail, trees wither. Without water, everything dries up,” she says, noting that medical facilities are far away and require long journeys on foot.

In Napeillim village, Christine Kiepa shares similar fears.

“I search for food, but sometimes there is none,” she says. “If I cannot find food, how will I survive?”

Many settlements are gradually emptying as male herders migrate to neighbouring areas in search of pasture and water for their remaining livestock.

The elderly, women, children and the frail animals are left behind.

There have, however, been signs of progress.

Since Kenya introduced devolved governance in 2013, Turkana has seen the construction of schools and health facilities, new irrigation initiatives, drilled boreholes and improved road infrastructure. Officials argue that investments in preparedness have strengthened community resilience.

“In the past, drought often turned into catastrophe, with deaths reported,” Ekaran says. “After one of the worst droughts in decades, we did not record fatalities. That reflects improved resilience.”

Painful cycle

For generations, pastoralism has defined life in northern Kenya. But shifting climate patterns are challenging that way of life. Calls to diversify livelihoods – through irrigation, drought-resistant crops and tree planting, and large-scale water storage – are growing stronger.

“We can rethink our approach,” says Rukia Abubakar of the Red Cross in Turkana.

“We can grow drought-tolerant trees and expand irrigation. The soil can support farming.”

Such proposals resurface after every drought, echoed in policy discussions and official statements.

Yet for many residents, the hardship feels cyclical, and survival remains uncertain.

Back in Kainama, Akalapatan and her neighbours make the long walk home across the barren landscape, balancing yellow containers filled with water.

They return to their cluster of thatched homes.

Akalapatan has secured 20 litres for her family’s daily needs.

Her son eagerly drinks from a cup.

But she knows the supply will not last long, and before long she will have to undertake the exhausting journey once again.

The agency is now targeting April 1 for liftoff of Artemis II, with launch scheduled for 6:24 p.m. ET at the earliest. Should that opportunity slip, backup windows are available on April 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 30.

The review — formally called a Flight Readiness Review (FRR) — spanned two days and represents a major milestone before launch. During the process, mission leaders gather to decide whether the rocket, spacecraft and supporting ground systems are fully prepared for flight.

John Honeycutt, who leads the Artemis II Mission Management Team, declined to provide a precise numerical estimate of the overall risk tied to this specific rocket and spacecraft.

In past programs, NASA publicly released probabilities for “Loss of Mission” or “Loss of Crew.” Similar figures have accompanied many previous flights. Ahead of the uncrewed Artemis I test in 2022, for example, NASA calculated a 1 in 125 chance that the Orion capsule — the same model that will carry Artemis II astronauts — could be lost.

“We’ve looked at Loss of Mission and Loss of Crew metrics before, but I’m not sure those numbers fully capture reality,” Honeycutt said, noting that such projections often rely on assumptions.

He emphasized that Artemis II will only be the second flight of the Space Launch System (SLS), leaving limited historical data to support firm statistical conclusions.

“We’re likely not at 1 in 50 for everything going perfectly, but we’re also not at 1 in 2 like on the first flight,” Honeycutt said of the SLS rocket, which will send Orion toward the moon. “We’re choosing not to anchor this mission to a specific probability.”

“I wouldn’t assign a number to it either,” added Lori Glaze, NASA’s acting associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate.

Glaze stressed that thousands of engineers, technicians and specialists have contributed to preparing the mission for flight.

“The conversations were extremely detailed and transparent,” she said. “We carefully examined our risk posture and the steps we’ve taken to reduce those risks.”

She added that Artemis II astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen participated in the review remotely from Houston.

“Their involvement underscored how important open and candid dialogue is during this process,” Glaze said.

No dissenting concerns

According to Glaze, the astronauts were especially interested in discussions about Orion’s heat shield — the protective layer that will safeguard the crew when the capsule reenters Earth’s atmosphere at the end of their 10-day journey around the moon.

After Artemis I returned in 2022, engineers found unexpected charring, cracks and surface damage on the heat shield. NASA has since spent more than a year investigating the issue. Artemis II will use a comparable shield, though the agency plans to lower risk by adjusting the capsule’s reentry trajectory — a strategy that has drawn some outside skepticism.

Despite earlier concerns, Glaze said NASA leadership agrees that the heat shield is ready.

“We’re confident in the heat shield,” she said. The astronauts listened closely to confirm that all aspects were addressed, including communication procedures with mission control during the intense reentry phase.

Historically, flight readiness reviews have sometimes involved intense debate. During the Space Shuttle era, these meetings could stretch over several days and include pointed exchanges before a final decision was made.

This week’s FRR began Wednesday morning and wrapped up Thursday afternoon ahead of a 3 p.m. ET press conference, a NASA spokesperson confirmed.

“We intentionally allowed time for anyone to voice concerns,” Honeycutt said. “No dissenting opinions were raised.”

Technical questions

Even so, Artemis II managers worked through a range of technical matters.

In the weeks leading up to the review, the SLS rocket encountered multiple challenges. Engineers detected hydrogen — an ultra-cold fuel known for its tendency to leak — escaping at levels beyond acceptable limits during an early fueling test. Because hydrogen ignites easily, excessive buildup could pose a serious hazard.

As teams addressed that issue, another complication emerged in late February: helium was not flowing correctly to the rocket’s upper stage. Helium plays a critical role in clearing propellant lines and maintaining tank pressure.

The helium problem eliminated potential March launch dates and led NASA to roll the rocket back from the launchpad for additional work. The vehicle currently remains inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, about four miles from the pad.

NASA plans to move the SLS back to the launch site on March 19, a careful transport that typically requires 10 to 12 hours.

Officials have previously indicated that the rocket’s earlier trip to the pad may have contributed to some of the hydrogen leaks.

It remains uncertain whether hydrogen seepage could recur once the rocket returns to launch position.

However, NASA confirmed that the helium flow issue has been resolved by repairing a blocked seal within a cable linking the rocket to ground support equipment.

The agency also decided against conducting another wet dress rehearsal — a full fueling practice run that simulates launch preparations.

The most recent rehearsal in late February went smoothly but concluded shortly before the helium issue was discovered.

Glaze explained that avoiding another fueling test helps preserve the rocket’s propellant tanks, since repeated fueling cycles gradually reduce their lifespan.

“We also want to protect every available day in our April launch window,” she said.

Artemis II is part of NASA’s broader effort to send astronauts beyond low Earth orbit for the first time in more than 50 years, marking a significant step toward sustained human exploration of deep space.

Julia Catalina Chumbi, a 76-year-old leader of the Shuar people from the southern Amazon province of Pastaza, had journeyed hundreds of miles to witness the environmental toll left by decades of oil and gas extraction in the northeastern province of Sucumbios.

“Everything is polluted, even the air we breathe,” she said softly.

Julia Catalina Chumbi, a Shuar leader from Ecuador’s Amazon province of Pastaza, traveled to see firsthand the environmental damage tied to oil extraction in Sucumbios, Ecuador, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

Julia Catalina Chumbi, a Shuar leader from Ecuador’s Amazon province of Pastaza, traveled to see firsthand the environmental damage tied to oil extraction in Sucumbios, Ecuador, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

A group of Indigenous women from across Ecuador’s Amazon walk past a support structure for an oil pipeline as they move through the region on what activists describe as a “toxitour” of oil fields in Sucumbios, Ecuador, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

A group of Indigenous women from across Ecuador’s Amazon walk past a support structure for an oil pipeline as they move through the region on what activists describe as a “toxitour” of oil fields in Sucumbios, Ecuador, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

Moments earlier, Chumbi had learned something that stunned her. In villages near the oil operations in Sucumbios, families can no longer drink from local rivers and instead must purchase water because of contamination and fears about their health.

“Seeing this makes me want to cry,” she said, noting that rivers in her own territory remain safe to drink from.

Chumbi was among roughly 30 Indigenous women from across the Amazon who traveled to Sucumbios on the so-called toxitour, visiting oil wells, pipelines and gas flaring sites to observe the environmental and health consequences of extraction. Organizers said the goal was to connect women from areas now facing proposed oil projects with communities that have lived alongside the industry for decades. Since many oil concessions overlap Indigenous lands, these communities are often the first to experience polluted rivers, degraded forests and contaminated food sources.

The women — representing seven Indigenous nations — gathered for several days in Nueva Loja for workshops to exchange stories and discuss the growing risk of oil expansion in their homelands.

Nueva Loja is better known as Lago Agrio, a name given in the 1960s by workers from the U.S. oil company Texaco, inspired by a Texas oil town. The city later became the hub of Ecuador’s early Amazon oil boom.

A warning from the oil fields

Salomé Aranda walks with a gas flare burning behind her in Sucumbios, Ecuador, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

Salomé Aranda walks with a gas flare burning behind her in Sucumbios, Ecuador, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

The women traveled by bus, passing a maze of pipelines stretching along the roadside. Their destination was the Libertador oil field, operated by the state-run company Petroecuador. There, they painted banners to carry during their walk, including one that read, “Amazon free from oil and mining.” Reporters accompanied them as they quietly entered sections of the oil-producing zone to observe the impacts. Contaminated streams flowed near well sites and pipelines, vegetation showed signs of exposure, and wildlife was scarce.

Standing near a roaring gas flare, 43-year-old Salomé Aranda from the Kichwa community of Morete Cocha in Pastaza wore traditional face paint across her cheeks and forehead.

Aranda said the visit allowed her to witness damage she is rarely permitted to see around oil facilities in her own territory.

“Where we live, we are not allowed to enter those areas,” she said.

Seeing the pollution up close reinforced the fears she already held about oil activity near her community.

“Animals are disappearing, and our crops no longer grow as they used to,” she said.

After the tour, the women returned to Nueva Loja, where they spent hours in group discussions reflecting on what they had observed and sharing accounts from their own regions. By the end of the workshops, they had begun outlining strategies to strengthen resistance to potential new oil concessions.

A looming expansion

Waorani leader Dayuma Nango lifts a palm frond after stepping into a stream stained dark by oil waste during a tour in Sucumbios, Ecuador, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

Waorani leader Dayuma Nango lifts a palm frond after stepping into a stream stained dark by oil waste during a tour in Sucumbios, Ecuador, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

“Women in the north have endured more than 50 years of oil exploitation,” said Natalia Yepes, a legal adviser for Amazon Watch in Ecuador, during one of the workshops. “The idea is to share those lessons with women in the center and south who are now confronting similar threats.”

Last year, Ecuador’s government introduced a sweeping hydrocarbon development plan outlining roughly $47 billion in investments and new licensing rounds for exploration blocks in the Amazon and other areas. Many of the proposed blocks lie in Pastaza and Napo, provinces where Indigenous communities live.

Authorities say the initiative aims to modernize the sector, draw foreign investment and increase production.

A group of Indigenous women from across Ecuador’s Amazon examine a map showing proposed oil drilling sites during a meeting in Nueva Loja, Ecuador, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

A group of Indigenous women from across Ecuador’s Amazon examine a map showing proposed oil drilling sites during a meeting in Nueva Loja, Ecuador, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

A group of Indigenous women from across Ecuador’s Amazon speak after completing what they call a toxitour of oil fields in Nueva Loja, Ecuador, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

A group of Indigenous women from across Ecuador’s Amazon speak after completing what they call a toxitour of oil fields in Nueva Loja, Ecuador, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

Environmental advocates and Indigenous leaders, however, warn that the projects could open vast stretches of rainforest to drilling, pipelines and flaring. They argue that many affected communities have not provided the free, prior and informed consent required under Ecuador’s constitution and international agreements.

The Energy and Mines Ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

The future of fossil fuel development in the Amazon is also expected to be debated at an international conference in Santa Marta, Colombia, in April. Governments, Indigenous representatives and civil society groups are set to discuss pathways for transitioning away from oil, gas and coal following last year’s U.N. climate summit in Brazil.

Indigenous resistance

For several women on the tour, the visit strengthened struggles already underway in their communities.

Dayuma Nango, 39, vice president of the Association of Waorani Women of Ecuador, said the contamination she witnessed deepened her resolve to prevent oil companies from entering Waorani land.

“The forest is our mother,” said Nango, who has faced death threats because of her activism. “That is why we defend it.”

The Waorani have previously challenged major oil projects in the Amazon. In 2019, Indigenous leaders secured a landmark court ruling that halted drilling in Block 22 in Pastaza after judges determined the government had failed to properly consult communities. In 2023, Ecuadorian voters approved a referendum to stop oil drilling in Block 43 within Yasuní National Park, an area overlapping Waorani ancestral territory.

After seeing the pollution in Sucumbios, Nango said she fears her people could face similar consequences if new developments proceed.

“We do not want to repeat the story our brothers and sisters are living here,” she said.

Toa Alvarado, a Kichwa leader, listens as activists describe environmental damage caused by oil extraction while visiting contaminated sites in Sucumbios, Ecuador, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

Toa Alvarado, a Kichwa leader, listens as activists describe environmental damage caused by oil extraction while visiting contaminated sites in Sucumbios, Ecuador, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

Toa Alvarado, 30, a Kichwa leader from Pastaza, said the trip also strengthened her commitment to safeguard her homeland. She recalled how her late father, a longtime community leader, once stood in the road with a spear to block gold miners from entering their territory.

“He told me our generation might be the last with a chance to protect our land from contamination,” she said.

The following day, many of the women who took part in the toxitour gathered in the Amazon city of Puyo to mark International Women’s Day with demonstrations.

“Today we speak out about the violations Indigenous women endure — especially violations against the rights of nature,” said Ruth Peñafiel, 59, from a Kichwa community in northern Ecuador.

“We want to live in a healthy environment, in harmony with the forest,” she said.

For Chumbi, the journey to Sucumbios strengthened the message she intends to bring back to her Shuar community deep in the rainforest.

“We will fight,” she said, referring to the prospect of oil drilling in her territory. “Even if it costs us our lives.”

Indigenous women march to mark International Women’s Day in Puyo, Ecuador, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

Indigenous women march to mark International Women’s Day in Puyo, Ecuador, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

The Associated Press receives support from various private foundations for its climate and environmental reporting. AP maintains full editorial control over its coverage.