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.

1. Forest near Loch Ness gets special European status

“A 10,000-acre estate in the Highlands has been awarded special European status recognising its genetic diversity of tree species. Parts of the juniper and silver birch woodland at Trees for Life’s Dundreggan rewilding centre in Glenmoriston have been classed as Gene Conservation Units. The estate uses a “dynamic conservation” technique to protect the trees’ genetic diversity. The land is encouraged to regenerate naturally within its specific environment and weather conditions.”

2. Indigenous alliance unveils Brazil’s first Native-led emissions strategy

“Brazil’s largest Indigenous organization has launched the country’s first Native-led strategy to cut greenhouse gas emissions, ahead of International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on Aug. 9. The idea is for the plan to be incorporated into the Brazilian government’s own emissions reduction plan, the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The Indigenous NDC was drawn up by the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB), representing Indigenous peoples and organizations from across the country. APIB’s NDC contains 36 demands for inclusion into the Brazilian NDC and National Climate Plan, which set out targets and pathways for cutting emissions and adapting to climate change impacts.”

3. Community group raises money to buy woodland in Stroud, UK

“People in Stroud have successfully raised £66,000 to purchase a local woodland, with the hope of protecting it for future generations. Members of the public who bought shares to fund the purchase will get no financial return. Co-director of Stroud Woodland, Ben Spencer, said “It’s for people taking some time out. People locally have grown up and visited it over the years, as kids and teenagers, as well as parents of young children,” he said. Once they have taken ownership of Slade Wood, the group plans to keep it open to the public, as it was under the previous owner.”

4. Study finds biochar from human waste could solve global fertiliser shortages

“Charcoal made from human waste could help solve fertiliser shortages as well as reduce pollution and energy use, a study has found. Biochar is a form of charcoal made from organic matter treated at high heat, which is often used on farming soil as a fertiliser. The process also removes carbon from the atmosphere, making it a useful carbon sink. Dr Johannes Lehmann, a professor of soil biogeochemistry at Cornell University and lead author of the study published in the journal PNAS, said: “Talking about sewage is not as glamorous as renewable energy, but preventing resource wastage by creating a circular economy is also key to the green transition”.”

Charcoal made from human waste could help solve fertiliser shortages as well as reduce pollution & energy use, a study has found. Treated sewage contains microplastics, forever chemicals, etc. Biochar separates the waste & pollutants at source. 🧪💩🚜🌾www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

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— Dan Jagger (@auditorynerves.bsky.social) August 12, 2025 at 7:18 AM

5. Court bans fishing in Pacific protected area, overriding Trump officials’ rollback

“A federal judge in Hawaii has ruled that commercial fishing is illegal in the Pacific Islands Heritage marine national monument, a federally protected area in the central Pacific Ocean. The decision from Judge Micah WJ Smith overturns an April letter released by the National Marine Fisheries Service that allowed fishing in parts of the monument. The Pacific Remote Islands marine national monument is about 370,000 sq nautical miles (1,270,000 sq km), or nearly twice the size of the state of Texas. The monument is home to one of the largest collections of deep ocean coral reef, seabird and shorebird protected areas on the planet. It provides refuge for species threatened by the climate crisis and other stressors caused by humans.”

A federal court just blocked the Trump admin’s rollback on fishing bans in the vast Pacific Islands Heritage marine monument, protecting hundreds of thousands of sq miles of coral reefs, seabirds & cultural heritage. A win, for now, for oceans & Indigenous voices. #OceanConservation #MarineMonument

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— Ocean Hoptimism (@oceanhoptimism.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 6:05 PM

6. Team breeds rare beetle in captivity for the first time

“Conservationists have celebrated breeding one of England’s rarest insects in captivity for the first time. The Species Recovery Trust led the project to successfully breed the endangered heath tiger beetle at a special artificial habitat at Sparsholt College, near Winchester. The trust and college hope to eventually reintroduce the insects back into their heathland homes. “We are so excited to see healthy adults emerge this year,” Species Recovery Trust project officer Charlotte Carne said. “These beetles are now incredibly rare and it would be fantastic to be able to return them to areas of heathland where they have sadly been lost.”“

7. Lotus blooms again in Kashmiri Lake

“Wular Lake lies in the Kashmir valley, and was renowned for its high-quality lotus plants, sustaining the livelihoods of more than 5,000 people who harvested and sold nadru – the edible lotus stem cherished as a delicacy in Kashmiri households. In 1992, devastating floods hit the region, choking the lake bed with silt, wiping out the lotus plants and plunging families into poverty. In 2020, the Wular Conservation and Management Authority began a de-silting programme to restore the lake’s depth and remove waste carried down by the Jhelum River and its tributaries. Officials say more than 7.9m cubic metres of silt have been removed from the lake so far. More than 2 million willows have been uprooted. Five years on, the lotus flowers are blooming again. Delhi-based environmentalist Meera Sharma said “Seeing these flowers bloom again after decades is like watching history breathe”.”

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