Wondering what went right this week in the conservation world? We’ve got you covered with our Conservation Optimism Round-Up! Each week we are collating stories of optimism from around the globe so that you never miss your dose of Monday Motivation.

1. Technology helps tree planting champions in Tanzania

“To protect and stabilise the local environment, one thousand local people have raised 540,000 seedlings in just one season – and they’re monitoring them using an app “

2. Lululemon founder buys Canadian islands to conserve ecosystems

” The islands in question are Saturnina and West Ballenas, two tiny undeveloped specks in the Salish Sea off the eastern coast of Vancouver Island. All three islands contain rare, coastal Douglas fir ecosystems that can contain trees upwards of 400 years old, and are critical habitat for at-risk species that also rely on those ancient forests. “

3. 25 Years of Saving a Species: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Conservation Team Releases Wyoming Toads and Tadpoles into the Wild

“June is an exciting time in the Laramie Basin of Wyoming. Every year, our dedicated team of conservationists travels at the crack of dawn to this special place to release toads they’ve been raising for a year, and tadpoles recently hatched at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Earlier this month, they released 220 ‘headstart’ toads and this week released 5,638 tadpoles into the basin’s waters, celebrating 25 years of saving this species once thought to be extinct.”

4. Unique Study on Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2) Shows How Video Games Can Make Us Care About Animals

“Researchers surveyed 586 volunteers from 55 different countries, 444 of whom had played RDR2, and found that those with experience of the game were better at identifying real-life animals shown to them in photos.”

5. The Buenaventura Reserve in Ecuador has expanded to include areas at higher elevation

“In the long term, this will help birds and other wildlife to move freely over a larger range, ensuring the viability of species that seek refuge at higher lands, especially after temperature rises due to climate change.”

6. How A Ladakhi Village Came Together To Keep Leopards And Wolves Away From Livestock

“Livestock killings by wild predators such as Snow Leopards (Panthera uncia) and Tibetan Wolf (Canis lupus filchneri) cause unprecedented losses for local herders. The local community of Sumdoo TR joined hands with the Nature Conservation Foundation to prevent livestock depredation.”

7. Turning Kenya’s problematic invasive plants into useful bioenergy

“The shores of Lake Victoria are clogged with water hyacinth, a South American invasive plant that is hurting Kenya’s freshwater fishery, economy and people’s health. While manual removal is effective, it is labor intensive and can’t keep up with the spreading plant. Kenyans are innovating to find ways to reduce water hyacinth by finding practical uses for the invader. In 2018, a program was launched to turn the exotic species into biogas which is then offered to economically vulnerable households to use as a biofuel for cooking.”

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