El Niño and food security: The UN FAO and WFP have launched an appeal for over $200 million to protect 8.8 million people across 22 high-risk countries, including Madagascar, as El Niño conditions are forecast to intensify extreme weather—drought in some places, flooding in others—pushing demand for climate-resilient seeds, livestock protection and flood control. Madagascar wildlife science: Singapore-based researchers have fitted Madagascar hissing cockroaches with 3D-printed “diving suits” that generate oxygen chemically, letting the remote-controlled insects walk underwater for up to three hours—aimed at future search-and-rescue in flooded disaster zones. Forest and fire pressure: New global data shows tropical primary rainforest loss fell 36% in 2025, but climate-driven fires remain a major threat, with El Niño expected to raise fire risk again in 2026. Rare Madagascar behavior on camera: A BBC Earth video documents a southern Madagascar spider using silk to lift an empty snail shell into vegetation as a protective barrier—an unusual behavior described as filmed for the first time in the wild. Blue economy diplomacy: Tanzania has been selected to host COP12 to the Nairobi Convention in October, with a focus on sustainable ocean management and investment opportunities tied to the Blue Economy. Water stress backdrop: A new global map highlights extreme water stress in many countries, underscoring how climate shocks can compound pressure on freshwater systems.