Climate Outlook: Zimbabwe is bracing for a hotter, drier 2026/27 summer as SARCOF-33 forecasts below-normal rainfall across key cropping months, raising alarms for crops, water and livestock—an early warning that southern Africa’s dry spells are tightening. Invasive Species Watch: Conservation staff in Cambridge are asking the public to help track invasive hammerhead worms (Bipalium adventitium), non-native flatworms linked to warmer regions including Madagascar, because their spread could disrupt soil biodiversity. Madagascar Forest Protection: NIU researchers say the Malagasy government granted protected area status to Tsinjoarivo-Ambalaomby, helping safeguard rainforest after decades of fieldwork—highlighting how long-term science can translate into real protection. Biodiversity & Research Access: A new push to digitise African herbaria—especially in Madagascar and nearby islands—aims to make plant records searchable online before more biodiversity is lost. Wildlife News: Three ring-tailed lemurs native to Madagascar have been welcomed to a wildlife facility after being rejected by their original group, underscoring ongoing pressures from habitat loss and illegal trade. Mining & Bargaining Power: A commentary argues that Rio Tinto’s Madagascar dispute should not be treated in isolation, urging African governments to negotiate with global mining firms as one coordinated front.