7 stories of optimism this week (13.05.24 – 20.05.24)

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 Credit: eg6da6 via Pixabay)

1. Rewilded park’s birdsong inspires artists

” Music inspired by the birdsong from a rewilded 3,500-acre park in West Sussex has been created by two artists. The Knepp Estate in Horsham, West Sussex – just 20 miles from Gatwick – has been hailed by David Attenborough as a pioneering rewilding project where wildlife now thrives. “

2. Supporting Papua New Guinea: new laws to protect biodiversity

” Papua New Guinea (PNG) recently passed a Protected Areas Bill, signalling a new era for biodiversity conservation. 14 years in the making and with support from the Australian Government, the bill paves the way for traditional owners to have greater control and benefits from conservation. “

3. ‘An amazing discovery’: Scientists hit upon first nursery for hammerhead sharks in the Galápagos

” The scientists were also able to tag one of the elusive species for the first time, and hope their findings will lead to greater protection.

Scientists have discovered what could be the first known smooth hammerhead shark nursery in the Galápagos.

The vulnerable shark species – so-called for its elongated head which forms a straighter curve than the scalloped hammerhead – is rarely spotted in the marine reserve.

But after observing several young pups in a small bay at Isabela Island, the Greenpeace expedition team believe they have found a breeding ground in the archipelago – and they’re rightly excited. “

4. Directed conservation of the world’s reef sharks and rays

” We show that conservation benefits from fully protected areas are close to doubled when embedded within areas of effective fisheries management, highlighting the importance of a mixed management approach of both effective fisheries management and well-designed fully protected areas to conserve tropical elasmobranch assemblages globally. “

5. Bearded vultures continue comeback in southeast France

” Rewilding Europe is supporting the release of bearded vultures by the French NGO Vautours en Baronnies, which is working to restore populations of all four European vulture species in the Dauphiné Alps in southeast France. “

6. Bringing back Sri Lanka’s mangroves with science and community spirit

” The abandoned shrimp farms and salt pans that litter Sri Lanka’s coastline are a testament to the pitfalls of unsustainable development.

Industry and infrastructure have erased swaths of the biodiversity-rich mangrove forests that used to sustain fishing communities and protect them from extreme weather.

Now, a national programme to replant and regenerate mangroves is restoring the balance – and breathing new life into some coastal villages. “

7. New study says conservation works, providing hope for biodiversity efforts

” A new study published in Science reveals that conservation works, with conservation actions improving or slowing the decline of biodiversity in two-thirds of the cases analyzed.

The study highlights the effectiveness of various conservation strategies, such as controlling invasive species, restoring habitats and establishing protected areas, across different geographic locations, ecosystems and political systems. “

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