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. Deep in Florida, an ‘ecological disaster’ has been reversed—and wildlife is thriving
” Much of Florida’s Kissimmee River has been restored to its natural state, a milestone worth celebrating—and learning from.”
#ConservationOptimism it's amazing what can be accomplished when we focus on solutions and taking actions. https://t.co/0G4BfSwNFW
— Timothee (@timsallin) April 23, 2023
2. Could biodiversity be a key to better forest carbon storage in Europe?
” A middle ground could see more natural management of some forests where timber is harvested, while other woodland areas are left undisturbed, with a mixture of tree species, deadwood allowed to rot where it falls, and native animals reintroduced to help restore a natural balance and healthy ecosystems. “
A new project is reintroducing key species into Europe’s forests to help restore natural balance and boost the ability of woodlands to store carbon. https://t.co/m0PWOtL2yg #conservationoptimism #rewildling
— InternetOfElephants (@ioelephants) April 20, 2023
3. ‘A once-in-a-lifetime’ conservation effort has preserved 14,000 acres of land along the ridge line bordering Monterey and Tyringham in Massachusetts, USA
“More than 836 acres along the ridgeline bordering Monterey and Tyringham are now preserved after a complex series of land transactions and the imposition of conservation restrictions.”
Thanks to #conservation efforts, a total of 14,000 acres have been conserved in western #Massachusetts, providing important habitat for numerous species!#conservationoptimism #LetNatureThrive https://t.co/sxcC7K9gxF
— Global Conservation Solutions (@_GCS_) April 20, 2023
4. Chucanti, a nature preserve in Panama’s Darien with great biodiversity
” There’s no place in the world where you can so easily see … such a large number (of the monkeys) as you can see here … (which) are in the top 25 more endangered primates in the world. So, it’s a species of interest for conservation. That’s impressive,” said Panamanian researcher Josue Ortega during a visit by EFE to the preserve.”
Thanks to #conservation efforts, species are thriving in t'800 ha private reserve in #Panama, providing critical habitat for t'#endemic Black Spider Monkey and t'newly discovered Greta Thunberg #Frog!#conservationoptimism #LetNatureThrive https://t.co/iTGx577aG0 #oh
— The Original G from West Malling (@followyouswap) April 23, 2023
5. Scientists and fishers team up to protect Bolivian river dolphin
” It didn’t take long for the researchers to identify unsustainable commercial fishing as one of the threats facing the dolphins. However, far from viewing the fishers as a threat, Van Damme saw that as the friendship he had forged with Vargas Mejía had shown, the scientists teaming up with the fishers was the best strategy for the conservation of the animal. Van Damme was convinced that by participating in the scientific investigations, the fishers would come to understand the importance of protecting the river dolphin, and would therefore look after it — and that’s exactly what happened.”
Actively involving them in the study has allowed fishermen to be more conscious of the role that the Bolivian river dolphin plays in maintaining an ecological balance in the Ichilo river.https://t.co/2EKCBNBd8v #conservationoptimism #communityconservation #IndigenousPeoples
— InternetOfElephants (@ioelephants) April 20, 2023
6. A potential new tool to combat coral reef disease
” Led by Smithsonian Marine Station researchers and funded in part by NOAA, the study published Thursday in the journal Communications Biology found that a bacterial probiotic treatment effectively stopped or slowed SCTLD in nearly two thirds of tested infected coral fragments.”
Here's some #GoodNews for #CoralReefs:
— Living Oceans (@LivingOceansFdn) April 10, 2023
Scientists have found a bacterial probiotic treatment effectively stopped or slowed the progression of stony coral tissue loss disease in infected coral fragments. #OceanOptimism #OceanHealth
Learn more in @axios:https://t.co/MTj8ChDVle
7. What’s inside Canada’s largest ever protected area?
” It was protected just about a month ago, and it’s located about 100 kilometres off the coast of Vancouver Island. And as for what’s in there … well, almost everything. That’s what happens when you take 133,000 square kilometres of some of the most diverse oceanic ecosystems in the world and stop it from being exploited. Far too often we report on parts of Canada’s natural beauty that are vanishing. Today, we’ll do the opposite. ”
🚨#PodCastAlert🚨
— SeaBlue Canada (@SeaBlueCanada) April 12, 2023
If you are curious about what is inside Canada's largest - and newest - #MarineProtectedArea, have a listen to this podcast on the Tang.ɢwan-ḥačxʷiqak-Tsig̱is protected area.#133000km2OfHope #OceanOptimism
https://t.co/Tlv0MnR7IT
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