Wondering what went right this week in the conservation world? We’ve got you covered with our Conservation Optimism Round-Up! We are collating stories of optimism from around the globe so that you never miss your dose of weekly motivation. (Image of Yellow and Green Macaw from Canva)

1. Against the Odds: Zoo celebrates birth of new Endangered froglets, after deadly fungus rescue mission

” The birth of the young Darwin’s frogs at London Zoo is being heralded as a huge milestone by conservationists leading the international project to save the species from being wiped out – a threat they face thanks to the introduction of the deadly chytrid fungus to their native habitat. “

2. Ponds, wet grasslands and hairstreak butterflies: £500k plan for pioneering London nature reserve

” The scheme will see a series of ponds and wet grassland areas created in this part of the nature reserve to restore the wetland system and encourage other species to return to the site. A 25-metre wheelchair-friendly boardwalk will be installed over the wetland to maintain access to the nature reserve. The restored wetland aims to reduce flood risk locally by improving the site’s resilience to climate change and increasingly unstable weather events.”

3. Sea ranger service expands across Europe

” This year has been a year of transition for the Sea Ranger Service, marked by new beginnings, significant recognitions, and growing impact across all areas of the mission. 2024 highlights includes the first ever youth ranger bootcamp in the UK, seagrass restoration in six countries and many others.  “

4. In São Paulo, free-flight lessons help teach macaws to survive in the wild

” In an unprecedented project in the municipality of São Simão, blue-and-yellow macaws born in captivity were trained in free-flight techniques before being introduced into the wild. Traditionally, in psittacine reintroduction projects, captive chicks are only released into the wild at 2 or 3 years of age; with no experience in finding food or defending themselves against predators, many end up dying. According to the project’s coordinators, the initiative could signal a new method to be used in parrot and macaw reintroduction programs, offering lower costs and higher chances of success.  “

5. 2rd February was World Wetlands Day

” World Wetlands Day is celebrated each year on 2 February to raise awareness about wetlands. This day also marks the anniversary of the Convention on Wetlands, which was adopted as an international treaty in 1971. https://www.worldwetlandsday.org/about “

6. Reviving forgotten wild edibles from paddy fields

” Studies have highlighted the abundance of wild edible greens along organic paddy fields which have long supported the nutritional and medicinal needs of indigenous communities. Social media initiatives are raising awareness about the disappearance of wild edibles and heritage paddy varieties, while also shedding light on the hidden impacts of modern agricultural practices. “

7. Fish Are Thriving in the River Seine

” In fact, in the 1970s there were only three fish species left in the 777-kilometer (482-mile) river, which spans northern France and cuts through the capital city. But after decades of urban water policies alongside community efforts, there are now nearly 40 that have been officially registered, with new species turning up all the time.”

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