7 stories of optimism this week (31.07.24-06.08.24)

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: Angela N. / Flickr)

1. Celebrating #InternationalCloudedLeopardDay!

On August 4, Panthera shared some good news from their 10-year study on the wild cats of Malaysian Borneo: the clouded leopard population on the island looks to have stabilized! To learn more about what Panthera is doing to protect the clouded leopards and other wild cats around the world, take a look at their 2023 annual report.

2. CHINA: Endangered black storks recovering thanks to conservation efforts

Thanks to informed conservation measures, “the Heihe Wetland National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Gansu Province, is experiencing a remarkable boom in migratory bird populations, particularly the endangered black stork. […] “The black stork is incredibly selective when it comes to its habitat, especially its foraging waters,” said Shan Guofeng, a dedicated official from the nature reserve’s management bureau. “Their stable breeding in the Heihe wetland is a testament to the positive impact of our environmental efforts. It’s rewarding to see our hard work bearing fruit.”

3. US: Representatives introduce new legislation for renewable marine energy

Urging Congress to pass the legislation, the Ocean Conservancy stated the following: “Native American Tribes, Indigenous Peoples, U.S. territories, and communities located along remote coastal areas have a close relationship with the ocean, and are on the front lines of the impacts of climate change. […] These communities want to improve their energy independence, reduce costs, and lower carbon emissions, while keeping their way of life intact. Wave and tidal energy can help solve this challenge.”

4. UK: Crowdfunding to protect rewilding haven, Strawberry Hill

“Long before “rewilding” was invented, [Farmer Hugh White’s] wheatfields became rough grassland and a haven for barn owls. […] Strawberry Hill blossomed into a wilderness of scrubby hawthorn, blackthorn and wildflower glades – a haven for endangered nightingales, turtle doves, dragonflies, orchids and other rare wildlife in the heart of intensively farmed Bedfordshire.

“Now conservationists are campaigning to raise £1.5m to save the farm once more for wildlife. […] Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire (BCN) wildlife trust has bought half the former farm thanks to funds from Biffa and has launched a crowdfunding to buy the other half, which is unprotected by conservation designations.

5. BOLIVIA: National park may be the protected area with the highest amphibian species diversity in the world

“A recent study in Madidi National Park showed that the diversity of amphibians found in this protected area exceeds the diversity reported for other megadiverse protected areas in the tropical Andes.” Based on other findings, this means Madidi may have the highest amphibian diversity among all other national protected areas in the world!

Apart from habitat loss, amphibians as small relatively sedentary vertebrates are also particularly vulnerable to climate change, as well as fungal pathogens and illegal wildlife trade, so documenting their diversity and developing specific conservation actions is especially important now.

6. CAMBODIA: New hope for critically endangered Siamese crocodiles

In what has been called the ‘find of the century’, “sixty Siamese crocodiles, from five separate nests, have successfully hatched in Cambodia’s Cardamom National Park.” This represents over 20 years of conservation efforts to protect this species in peril, and provides a new spark of hope for the rare crocodile’s recovery!

Pablo Sinovas, Country Director, Fauna & Flora Cambodia Programme, comments: “For over a decade, Fauna & Flora, alongside our dedicated partners, has been steadfast in our mission to bolster Siamese crocodile populations in Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountains. This involves not only breeding them in captivity but also ensuring they have a suitable habitat to be released into. Strengthening protection of key sites within Cardamom National Park is crucial, shielding these habitats from threats such as deforestation and poaching.

7. US: The New York convention center that became a seabird nesting site

After New York City’s Javits Center was retrofitted with bird-friendly windows, “NYC Bird Alliance’s Project Safe Flight monitoring revealed a striking 90 percent reduction in collisions at the Center. This research finding was used to support the 2020 passage of New York City’s Local Law 15, which requires bird-friendly glass on all new construction.” Additionally, the green roof provides shelter for hundreds of species of wildlife, including “65 bird species, 5 bat species, and hundreds of arthropod species” as well as a large herring gull colony!

For more information about Javits Center’s successful green roof, check out the NYC Bird Alliance blog post here. To read more about creating rooftop nesting sites for seabirds in the US, see the Audubon Society’s story here.

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