Leaves and Twigs: A Weekly Roundup of the Best Sustainability Stories on the Web

What happened in the conservation community last week? The Urban Times called Rainforest Alliance founder Daniel Katz the “king of the eco-warriors”; Scientific American examined the impact of cheap palm oil on rainforests and climate change; and an inspiring conservation group hatched 1,064 adorable baby sea turtles!

• “UN climate talks in Doha have closed with a historic shift in principle but few genuine cuts in greenhouse gases.” [BBC]
• Rainforest Alliance founder Daniel Katz is named “king of the eco-warriors” in a new article. [Urban Times]
• “The world’s growing appetite for cheap palm oil is destroying rainforests and amplifying climate change.” [Scientific American]
• How is Harmony Hotel making a difference for people, wildlife and the environment? [Sustainable Trip]
• Climate deniers have no scientific credibility. [Desmogblog]
• Do we need to reduce meat and dairy consumption to minimize water use? [Mongabay]
• Our friends at Widecast have successfully hatched 1,064 baby sea turtles at a nursery in Costa Rica! [Facebook]
• Are we losing biodiversity in Colombia’s cloud forest before it is even documented? [Scientific American]
• From 2000 to 2010, an area the size of the UK was lost to deforestation in the Amazon. [ABC News]
• This week’s cutest and wildest animal photos. [Huffington Post Green]
• According to researchers, carbon dioxide emissions hit a record high in 2011. [New York Times]
• Scientists have created an incredible “tree of life,” mapping all known bird species. [Mongabay]
• Is carbon offsetting an effective tool for sustainable tourism? [The International Ecotourism Society]