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. ‘Historic moment’ for nature as Europe’s first wild river national park announced in Albania

” But on Wednesday, after an almost decade-long campaign by environmental NGOs, Vjosa was declared the first wild river national park in Europe. Environmentalists described it as a historic decision that has placed the tiny Balkan nation at the forefront of river protection.”

2. New Highly Protected Marine Areas to be designated in English waters

” The British government recently announced that three Highly Protected Marine Areas will be designated by July 2023. Conservationist groups welcome the move but argue that the areas need to stretch further. “

3. Beavers to return to London as part of urban rewilding

” Beavers will return to west London for the first time in 400 years after receiving funding from the capital’s mayor, Sadiq Khan. A breeding pair of Eurasian beavers could arrive at their new home in Paradise Fields, Ealing, as soon as this autumn. ”

4. Introducing FathomNet: New open-source image database unlocks the power of AI for ocean exploration

” FathomNet is an open-source image database that uses state-of-the-art data processing algorithms to help process the backlog of visual data. Using artificial intelligence and machine learning will alleviate the bottleneck for analyzing underwater imagery and accelerate important research around ocean health.”

5. China nature reserve helps red-crowned cranes breed, return to nature

” About 380 captive-bred red-crowned cranes have been released into the wild by the Zhalong National Nature Reserve, known as the “home of red-crowned cranes” in China.”

6. Mexico dismantles illegal fishing cartels killing off rare vaquita porpoise

” Mexico’s navy confirmed in a press conference that members of cartels dedicated to the trafficking of totoaba have been arrested and put in prison, effectively dismantling some of the main organized crime groups contributing to declining fish populations in the Gulf of California. “

7. Scottish wildcats to be released in Cairngorms

” A licence has been approved for the release of captive-bred Scottish wildcats in the UK’s largest national park. The first in a series of trial releases at undisclosed locations in the Cairngorms National Park is planned for June. The Saving Wildcats project said it would be the first conservation translocation of wildcats in Britain.”

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