Positive Wildlife News 2021

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Feds Propose Protection For Hefty Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle

A rare prehistoric looking turtle only found in south Georgia and north Florida might soon gain federal protection after struggling to rebound.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced this week that it has proposed listing the Suwannee alligator snapping turtle as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The announcement kicks off a public comment period that will wrap up this June.

Feds Propose Protection For Hefty Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle
 
Counting Sheep: Research pioneers promising new wildlife survey method

Researchers from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the New Mexico Game and Fish Department pioneered an innovative new way to estimate animal population sizes simply, safely, and affordably, with remarkable accuracy. This will help biologists around the world to confidently apply distance sampling techniques with camera trapping to estimate the population size of any wild, unmarked animal.

Counting Sheep: Research pioneers promising new wildlife survey method - Conservation Frontlines
 
Defenders Applauds Biden Administration’s Move to Protect the Tongass National Forest

“Defenders applauds this welcome shift in priorities for the Forest Service on the Tongass, from destructive liquidation of irreplaceable old-growth forests to restoration and recreation investments developed with local input and participation. Protecting roadless and old-growth forests on the Tongass will conserve biodiversity and help address climate change while aligning Tongass management with the economic realities in Southeast Alaska and with overwhelming public opinion. Protecting the Tongass is an important and historic step in recognizing the role of our forests in fighting today’s biodiversity and climate crises. We look forward to working with the Biden administration to similarly protect older forests and wildlands across the nation," said Patrick Lavin, Alaska policy advisor for Defenders of Wildlife.

Defenders Applauds Biden Administration’s Move to Protect the Tongass National Forest
 
Stingray Species Range Expands in Eastern Pacific

A particular stingray species (Styracura pacifica) had been reported in Central America, but a recent study by Fundación MarViva, Fundación Squalus and WCS shows it is present in a coastal MPA in Colombia — a good sign that continued protection of this healthy ecosystem will safeguard this and other wildlife.

A species of stingray previously thought to be found only in Eastern Tropical Pacific coastal waters ranging from Mexico to Panama, has been observed south of its known range in a marine protected area (MPA) in coastal Colombia. The discovery was made in collaboration with fishers, a team of researchers that includes WCS Colombia marine lead Paola Mejia, and community members of the Conseio Comunitario de la Costa Pacifica (CONCOSTA) Bajo Baudó in Chocó.

Stingray Species Range Expands in Eastern Pacific
 
North Macedonia national park offers lifeline for endangered lynx

North Macedonia’s parliament has voted to form a national park in the Shar mountains, the UN Environment Programme said on Thursday, in a move conservationists hope will lure the critically endangered Balkan Lynx (Lynx lynx balcanicus) back to its historic hunting grounds.

North Macedonia national park offers lifeline for endangered lynx | Cyprus Mail
 
First endangered ʻuaʻu observed on Maunakea in more than 60 years

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo researchers located an endangered native seabird called the ʻuaʻu and a nesting site on Maunakea in May 2021. Active ʻuaʻu (also known as the Hawaiian petrel or Pterodroma sandwichensis) have not been recorded on the mauna since 1954.

“When we saw them for the first time it was almost a moment of disbelief,” said conservationist Bret Nainoa Mossman, a UH Hilo alumnus who along with UH Hilo researcher Patrick Hart spent years enduring frigid conditions after sundown on Maunakea searching for the seabirds. “We had been looking for them for so long that they were kind of like this ghost that we were just chasing on the mauna. To actually see them, just like really connected the dots and really cemented how important what we were doing really is because no one else was looking for these birds for quite a long time.”

https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2021/07/08/uau-observed-on-maunakea/
 
Measure declaring portion of PH Rise ‘protected area’ passed

The unnumbered substitute bill seeks to protect Benham Rise and its surrounding waters as a marine reserve instead of a natural park.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday has approved a measure seeking to declare a portion of the Philippine Rise as a protected area.

The House Committee on Natural Resources chaired by Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., approved the unnumbered substitute bill to House Bill 36 or the Philippine Rise Marine Resource Reserve (PRMRR) Act authored by Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon.

The bill seeks to protect Benham Bank and its surrounding waters as a marine reserve instead of a natural park.

Measure declaring portion of PH Rise ‘protected area’ passed
 
Beavers to be re-introduced into Nottinghamshire countryside for first time in 400 years

It will be the largest enclosure in England

It has been 400 years since beavers graced the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust's Idle Valley Nature Reserve but now the conservation charity wants to reintroduce the species - and it's got the backing of a long established business.

The ambitious plan is to create one of the largest beaver enclosures in England.

https://www-nottinghampost-com.cdn....duced-nottinghamshire-countryside-5539770.amp
 
Biden Administration Proposes Withdrawing Trump Rule on Spotted Owl Critical Habitat

“To use the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s own words, Trump’s rule, which slashed critical habitat for northern spotted owls, was insufficiently justified, insufficiently rational, defective, filled with short-comings, and factually inaccurate,” said Kathleen Gobush, Northwest director for Defenders of Wildlife. “We are very pleased to see President Biden and FWS taking such quick action to withdraw the rule and reinforce the conservation needs of northern spotted owls.”

In a victory for northern spotted owls, the Biden administration is proposing a massive overhaul of a Trump administration rule that eliminated 3.4 million acres of potential critical habitat for the species.

Biden Administration Proposes Withdrawing Trump Rule on Spotted Owl Critical Habitat
 
Gabon becomes first African country to get paid for protecting its forests

  • Gabon recently received the first $17 million of a pledged $150 million from Norway for results-based emission reduction payments as part of the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI).
  • Gabon has 88% forest cover and has limited annual deforestation to less than 0.1% over the last 30 years, in large part possible due to oil revenues supporting the economy.
  • With oil reserves running low, Gabon is looking to diversify and develop its economy without sacrificing its forests by building a sustainable forest economy supported by schemes such as CAFI.
In 2019, Norway committed to pay $150 million to Gabon to protect its forests under the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI). After independent verification of the country’s deforestation rates in 2016 and 2017, Gabon recently received its first $17 million payment, making it the first African country to receive a results-based payment for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+).

https://news-mongabay-com.cdn.amppr...y-to-get-paid-for-protecting-its-forests/amp/
 
National Audubon Society Announces Creation of Audubon Delta, New Executive Director Dawn O’Neal

The National Audubon Society announced the merger of three state offices – Audubon Louisiana, Audubon Arkansas, and Audubon Mississippi - to create Audubon Delta, a unified regional headquarter that will continue to protect birds and the places they need. Dawn O’Neal has been named Vice President and Executive Director of the newly formed Audubon Delta.

Prior to joining Audubon, O’Neal served as director of strategic Initiatives at The Nature Conservancy, where she developed and stewarded several long-term strategies to help Conservancy scientists build emotional intelligence, enhance technical capacity, and develop skills to enrich collaborations with stakeholders and increase the impact of conservation outcomes. She has experience directing projects and leading research efforts at national and international levels with research experience in climate change biology, life history evolution, disease ecology, and eco-physiology.

National Audubon Society Announces Creation of Audubon Delta, New Executive Director Dawn O’Neal
 
British Columbia set to expand 7 parks across the province

Seven parks and one protected area are set to grow across the province in a move that will safeguard new slices of land near a popular ski resort, the largest freshwater marsh in the Lower Mainland and an Okanagan grassland ecosystem home to endangered species.

7 parks set to expand across British Columbia - Vancouver Is Awesome
 
UngulateNerd92 said:
Counting Sheep: Research pioneers promising new wildlife survey method

Researchers from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the New Mexico Game and Fish Department pioneered an innovative new way to estimate animal population sizes simply, safely, and affordably, with remarkable accuracy. This will help biologists around the world to confidently apply distance sampling techniques with camera trapping to estimate the population size of any wild, unmarked animal.

Counting Sheep: Research pioneers promising new wildlife survey method - Conservation Frontlines
Click to expand...
A major break through.
 
UngulateNerd92 said:
Gabon becomes first African country to get paid for protecting its forests




    • Gabon recently received the first $17 million of a pledged $150 million from Norway for results-based emission reduction payments as part of the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI).
    • Gabon has 88% forest cover and has limited annual deforestation to less than 0.1% over the last 30 years, in large part possible due to oil revenues supporting the economy.
    • With oil reserves running low, Gabon is looking to diversify and develop its economy without sacrificing its forests by building a sustainable forest economy supported by schemes such as CAFI.
In 2019, Norway committed to pay $150 million to Gabon to protect its forests under the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI). After independent verification of the country’s deforestation rates in 2016 and 2017, Gabon recently received its first $17 million payment, making it the first African country to receive a results-based payment for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+).

https://news-mongabay-com.cdn.amppr...y-to-get-paid-for-protecting-its-forests/amp/
Click to expand...
We need more of these, a great carbon offset too and finally giving biodiversity conservation some financial clout.
 
UngulateNerd92 said:
Protected zone established for endangered primates in Quang Binh

The central province of Quang Binh has approved the establishment of a strict protection zone on 710ha of special-use forest area to protect 22 Hatinh langur herds in Dong Hoa commune of Tuyen Hoa district.

The central province of Quang Binh has approved the establishment of a strict protection zone on 710ha of special-use forest area to protect 22 Hatinh langur herds in Dong Hoa commune of Tuyen Hoa district.

The province said all rock mining and mineral exploitation activities will be banned in the area and surrounding communes to ensure a safe habitat for the endangered primates.

https://en-vietnamplus-vn.cdn.amppr...-endangered-primates-in-quang-binh/203653.amp
Click to expand...
The total population here stands at 156 individuals!
An average of 7 per group.
 
Native rats reclaim Sydney territory from black rats

In the battle of the rats, our humble Aussie bush rat has successfully pushed out and held off the much larger black rat at North Head Sanctuary in Sydney.

“Imagine a war and whichever one gets to the fort first can then win,” explains Australian Wildlife Conservancy ecologist Dr Viyanna Leo. “It doesn’t come down to one being bigger or stronger … It’s more that they are able to defend their territory and hold them out, rather than killing them.”

As of 2021, just nine black rats have been surveyed within the 250 hectares of the sanctuary, down from 112 in 2019. According to ecologists, this decrease is directly related to the introduction of 170 native bush rats in 2014 and 2016 by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, with the help of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, who manage North Head Sanctuary.

Native rats reclaim Sydney territory from black rats
 
Griffon Vultures return to a historic colony in Greece after 30 years!

Optimistic news — a historic Griffon Vulture colony in Greece that has been abandoned for 30 years is once again active, with several nests recorded!

An extremely promising event transpires in the area of Empesos, Aitoloakarnania (Mountains of Valtos) in Greece as a historical colony of Griffon Vultures that has been abandoned since the late ’80s made a comeback! Not only is this colony active, but it’s also quite dynamic since 8-9 nests were recorded in the area according to the systematic monitoring efforts carried out by the Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS) within the framework of LIFE IP-4 Natura. In fact, one of the birds that mated this year in Empesos is “Giannis”, one of the two only surviving Griffon Vultures from last year’s catastrophic poisoning incident in Klisoura. Conservationists can identify Giannis since the bird was equipped with identification rings and a GPS transmitter before its release by the Management Body of Messolonghi lagoon – Akarnanian Mountains with the support of the Balkan Anti-Poisoning Project (BAPP) – Small Grants Programme. This news shows us that historical colonies can be recolonised and must be considered potentially active to allow for proper management of relevant conservation actions. This event also signifies the wider pattern of Griffon Vulture recovery in the Balkans, no doubt a result of several targeted conservation efforts, especially mitigating the threat of poisoning.

Griffon Vultures return to a historic colony in Greece after 30 years!
 
First successful peregrine falcon fledging at Harpers Ferry in almost 70 years

For the first time in almost 70 years, a peregrine falcon chick has hatched and is learning to fly at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. The fledgling has been spotted flying around the cliffs of Maryland Heights alongside watchful parents. It was one of three hatchlings, but the only chick to make it through the vulnerable newborn phase and successfully fledge (develop feathers that enable it to fly).

“The National Park Service is thrilled to see a fledging at Harpers Ferry and are grateful to the many partners and volunteers who have helped us study, monitor and protect peregrine falcons,” Chief of Resources Management Mia Parsons said. “We hope that this is the first of many successful breeding seasons for these peregrines.”

https://www.nps.gov/hafe/learn/news...dging-at-harpers-ferry-in-almost-70-years.htm
 
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