Positive Wildlife News 2022

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New Bosques del Futuro Conservation Concession is Peru’s First to be Administered by a Local Government

The new Bosques del Futuro (Forests of the Future) Conservation Concession in Peru protects 2,338 acres of a unique and fragile ecosystem in the San Martin region. It was declared on November 5, 2021.

The area has registered unique flora and fauna that includes the balata tree (Manilkara bidentata), a unique species of staghorn fern (Platycerium andinum), the critically-endangered Rio Mayo titi (Plecturocebus oenanthe), and a poison frog (Ameerega bassleri), to name a few.

New Bosques del Futuro Conservation Concession is Peru's First to be Administered by a Local Government - Andes Amazon Fund
 
12 Ways Tigers Made a Comeback in 12 Years

2010 was a pivotal year in the history of tiger conservation. The iconic big cat was threatened with extinction and only an estimated 3,200 were left in the wild. In the same year tiger range countries came together and committed to double wild tiger populations, a goal known as TX2, by 2022 - the next Year of the Tiger.

2016 marked the first time in over 100 years when the global wild tiger population finally began to increase. But each country’s journey towards TX2 has been different and while tiger populations in some countries are on the rise, tiger populations are still declining across Southeast Asia, reminding us that the progress is fragile.

Bhutan, China, India, Nepal and Russia are proving how strong political will, community support and tiger conservation comes together as a recipe for success, as tiger numbers in each country are increasing. But how have they achieved this?

Here are 12 ways tiger range countries have been working to return Asia’s roar over the last 12 years since the Global Tiger Summit in 2010.

1. CONNECTING TIGERS ACROSS BORDERS
Countries that have seen an increase in tiger numbers are also countries that have worked hard to connect their tiger habitat and allow tigers to move freely and safely across landscapes. In the Russian Far East lies the Land of the Leopard National Park, a protected area and wildlife corridor that secures the main route for tigers moving across the border to China’s Northeast China Amur Tiger and Leopard National Park. Not only have tiger numbers tripled in this national park after a decade of conservation efforts, but the connectivity is enabling tigers to move between both countries - a great achievement.

12 WAYS TIGERS MADE A COMEBACK IN 12 YEARS
 
Access Improved to Key Montana Elk Winter Range

A swath of vital western Montana elk winter range is now conserved and opened to public access thanks to a collaborative effort by a conservation-minded family, the Bureau of Land Management and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

“No matter the size, every piece of elk habitat counts. And protecting this small parcel keeps the landscape intact,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “We appreciate the Webster family for recognizing and valuing public access while working with us to get this deal done.”

The 40-acre tract in the Big Hole Valley was previously a private inholding surrounded on three sides by BLM-managed lands. Now falling under BLM management, it ensures winter range for elk, mule deer and moose remains connected.

Access Improved to Key Montana Elk Winter Range | Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
 
Tucson Audubon Society removes invasive trees in the Santa Cruz River

Pima County Regional Flood Control District and Northwest Fire District are partnering with Tucson Audubon Society to prevent fires and restore native Sonoran Desert habitat.

The Tucson Audubon Society will remove salt cedar trees and other invasive species from the Santa Cruz River channel west of the river’s confluence with the Cañada del Oro Wash.

Removing the fire-prone invasive plant species and introducing firebreaks is the first stage of the initiative to restore the native riparian ecosystem with enhanced floodplain function. Native trees will support a great variety of wildlife.

Tucson Audubon Society workers will remove invasive species from El Corazón -- the heart of Tucson’s rivers -- at the confluence of the Santa Cruz River, the Rillito and the Cañada del Oro Wash. While greatly reducing fire danger to surrounding commercial and residential development, the project will also launch the process of restoring degraded land to prime waterway habitat for birds and other wildlife.

Tucson Audubon Society removes invasive trees in the Santa Cruz River

 
Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Applauds Huge French Marine Protection Expansion in Southern Indian Ocean

Safeguards will cover about a million square kilometers

The Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project today applauded France’s announcement that it will expand marine protections by about 1 million square kilometers (386,102 square miles) in the southern Indian Ocean.

French President Emmanuel Macron declared the new conservation measures at the One Ocean Summit in Brest, France, today. The move adds protections around Saint Paul and Amsterdam Islands, the Kerguelen Islands, and the Crozet Islands—which are all part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, an overseas territory that is home to a richly diverse wildlife community. The expansion makes the waters around the three archipelagos the largest marine protected area in French waters by far, representing about 15% of the country’s global exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Most importantly, the Southern Lands marine reserve will include a new highly protected area surrounding Saint Paul and Amsterdam Islands and covering about 255,000 square kilometers (98,500 miles), where all extractive activities, such as industrial fishing, will be prohibited. The added area will more than double the percentage of French waters that are highly protected, from 1.6% to 4%, but still leaves the country with a challenge of reaching its goal of highly protecting at least 10% of its waters by the end of this year. Science shows that highly protected areas provide the most significant ecological benefits.

Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Applauds Huge French Marine Protection Expansion in Southern Indian Ocean | The Pew Charitable Trusts
 
The Fairy of the Prairie

Fender’s Blue Butterfly is Fluttering Back from the Brink of Extinction

What does it take to save an endangered species? Faith, trust, and a little bit of pixie dust? Pardon the pun, but you don’t just “wing” it. There is a lot of time, planning, blood, sweat, tears, lessons learned, and teamwork involved in species recovery. And, okay, there might be a little “magic” in it too.

Fender’s blue butterfly (Icaricia icarioides fenderi) has experienced this magic firsthand. A member of the Lycadenidae (gossamer-wings) family, this butterfly was first described in 1931, based on a specimen collected west of Salem, Oregon.

The Fairy of the Prairie
 
Solving an Ecological Mystery

The Golden Paintbrush Recovery Story

A few decades ago, this small but vibrant flowering plant was a rare sight within Washington and Oregon’s dwindling prairie habitats. Thanks to the collective efforts of many partners, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is now proposing to delist the golden paintbrush (Castilleja levisecta) due to recovery. This step is a win for conservation and is one of many success stories linked to prairie restoration in the Pacific Northwest.

Pacific Northwest prairies were created at the end of the last ice age when glaciers receded and left large swaths of cleared land in their wake. These fertile landscapes, supplemented by glacial till, became a hot bed of ecological activity as dozens of species of insects, plants, mammals, and reptiles migrated to open grasslands. Prairies were also an important habitat for Native Americans who lived in the region and used these areas for hunting and agriculture. In fact, intentional burning helped maintain the prairies and preserved the ecosystem for thousands of years. Without fire, the Pacific Northwest’s grasslands would have slowly reverted to forests and been lost forever.

Solving an Ecological Mystery
 
Lifeline for birds and elephant shrews as Kenyan reserve more than doubles with Action Fund’s support

In 2019, supporters of World Land Trust (WLT) came together to save habitat in the highly threatened Dakatcha Woodland, not far from the Kenyan coastline. The trees and thickets here, part of a critical biodiversity hotspot, harbour endangered wildlife like the Sokoke Scops Owl and Clarke’s Weaver. These fascinating birds have now been offered another reprieve: a reserve managed by WLT partner A Rocha Kenya (ARK) has increased in size – by two and a half times!

The new land placed under protection has brought the A Rocha Kenya Dakatcha Reserve from 1,517 acres (613 ha) in September 2020 to 3,797 acres (1,536 ha) by November 2021. Funded in part by the WLT Action Fund and a host of other organisations (see bottom of this story for the full list), this significant achievement represents a continuation of the work we began elsewhere in Dakatcha in 2019, when Buy an Acre supporters raised funds
to expand Nature Kenya (NK)’s Kamale Kilifi Weaver Reserve by 810 acres (327 ha).

https://www-worldlandtrust-org.cdn....irds-elephant-shrew-dakatcha-action-fund/amp/
 
The Conservation Fund Acquires Former Vistoso Golf Course Property in Arizona

Over 600 individuals donated to see this special place protected instead of developed

The Conservation Fund announced its purchase of the 202-acre former Vistoso Golf Course property in Oro Valley, Arizona.

Roughly two years ago, The Conservation Fund and its partners, including the
Town of Oro Valley, residents and community leaders, and members of the organization
Preserve Vistoso, set out to acquire and protect the property so it could be preserved as a wildlife sanctuary and public recreation destination. Thanks to the generous contributions of over 600 individuals in the community, over $1.8 million dollars was raised, and a challenging negotiation and successful acquisition are now complete.

The Conservation Fund Acquires Former Arizona Golf Course | The Conservation Fund
 
New National Park in Ukraine

At the beginning of 2022 the President of Ukraine signed a decree officially creating the new Pushcha Radzivila National Park in Polesia.

The Amazon of Europe

Polesia is Europe’s largest remaining inland wetland wilderness and greatest floodplain region. It has been called the Amazon of Europe for its extraordinary biodiversity. Some of the continent’s last ‘wild’ rivers meander across the landscape, through a vast patchwork of carbon-storing peatlands and forests, islands, lakes, bogs and wet meadows. Stretching across Belarus and Ukraine, spreading into Russia in the East and Poland in the West, Polesia covers more than 18 million hectares. This is crucial habitat for struggling wildlife. The area harbours 60% of the world’s remaining aquatic warbler population and is the most important breeding ground for the globally threatened Greater Spotted Eagle. Hundreds of thousands of migratory birds stopover in Polesia each year to rest, feed and breed while large mammals, like wolf, lynx and European bison, occur in significant numbers.

New National Park in Ukraine
 
Dancing on the edge: Hooded Grebe’s recovery journey

Only decades after its discovery in the high-altitude lakes of Patagonia, Argentina, Hooded Grebe was teetering on the brink of extinction. Since then, the bird with the spectacular courtship dance has become a symbol for Patagonian conservation, and is taking cautious steps towards recovery.

The known history of the Hooded Grebe starts in 1974 when, almost by accident, renowned Argentinian naturalist Mauricio Rumboll discovered it at Los Escarchados Lake in the south-west corner of Santa Cruz Province, Patagonia. Rumboll found the new species to be one of the most colourful and striking grebes in the world, with a spectacular courtship display to rival that of its more famous cousin, Great Crested Grebe. Today, Hooded Grebe has become a symbol for conservation in Patagonia thanks to the hard work of dozens of researchers and conservationists, along with several institutions.

Dancing on the edge: Hooded Grebe’s recovery journey
 
Quebec announces its intention to create 10 new protected areas in southern Quebec

The Québec government is announcing its intention to set aside 10 new territories with a view to making them protected areas. This setting aside is a step prior to their designation as biodiversity reserves under the Natural Heritage Conservation Act (LCPN). Representing a gain of over 300 km 2 in protected areas, these territories are located in the Côte-Nord, Laurentides, Lanaudière and Outaouais regions. They were chosen following regional and indigenous consultation work carried out by the Ministry of the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change (MELCC).

The Minister of the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change, Minister responsible for the Fight against Racism and Minister responsible for the Laval region, Mr. Benoit Charette, made the announcement this Wednesday, together with the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Côte-Nord region and the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region, Mr. Jonatan Julien, as well as with the Minister of Forests, of Wildlife and Parks and Minister responsible for the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region and the Nord-du-Québec region, Mr. Pierre Dufour.

Remember that in 2020, Quebec was the first in Canada to achieve the target of protecting 17% of its territory. This objective was achieved in particular through the designation of 34 territorial reserves for protected area purposes, including part of the Chic-Chocs, and through the intention to protect Anticosti Island.

https://www.environnement.gouv.qc.c...no=4705&utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social
 
New Private Conservation Area in Peru Protects Buffer Zone of Historic Machu Picchu

With just a few days left before 2022, Peru announced the creation of the Misquiyaco Private Conservation Area in Cusco on December 29, 2021. It lies in the buffer zone of historic Machu Picchu and protects 4,443 acres of rich flora and fauna.

The area has registered up to 74 bird species, 10 of which can only be found in the central Andes.

You can read more about Misquiyaco through the link below and right-clicking to translate to English if using Google Chrome.

New Private Conservation Area in Peru Protects Buffer Zone of Historic Machu Picchu - Andes Amazon Fund

 
Nature Conservancy of Canada protects an additional 157 hectares on Nova Scotia’s South Shore

Today, the Nature Conservancy (NCC) announced the protection of two new sites along the southwestern shores of Nova Scotia. The Nature Conservancy of Canada has finalized the purchase of 110 hectares here and has also received a partial land donation of over 47 hectares along the Port Joli Peninsula.

The newly conserved habitats are comprised of salt marshes, tidal flats, white sandy beaches and stretches of intact Wabanaki (Acadian) forest. Two important species being protected are the provincially endangered Nova Scotia mainland moose and piping plover, listed as endangered under the federal Species at Risk Act. Nearby are four federally established Migratory Bird Sanctuaries that support thousands of breeding and overwintering waterfowl.

Nature Conservancy of Canada protects an additional 157 hectares on Nova Scotia’s South Shore
 
New Year Brings Renewed Hope for America’s Red Wolf

Endangered red wolves to be released in compliance with court order

Partners, stakeholders, and members from the local eastern North Carolina community joined the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for an informational meeting and listening session focused on plans regarding a recent transfer and upcoming court-ordered release of nine red wolves into the wild. The recently held virtual meeting marks the Service’s renewed effort to recover the red wolf, the only species of wolf endemic only to the U.S., and the most endangered wolf in the world. The Service’s renewed red wolf recovery effort will include an emphasis on community and partner engagement.

New Year Brings Renewed Hope for America’s Red Wolf | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
 
Wildland park near Fort Chipewyan now world's largest protected boreal forest after expansion

The Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo region is now home to the world’s largest protected area of boreal forest following the expansion of the Kitaskino Nuwenëné Wildland Park near Fort Chipewyan. Chief Peter Powder of the Mikisew Cree First Nation says the park is vital to protecting an environmentally sensitive area.

Wildland park near Fort Chipewyan now world's largest protected boreal forest after expansion | Fort McMurray Today
 
WWF report highlights tiger population gains for the Year of the Tiger

The global tiger population is finally increasing after more than a century of gradual decline, a new study from WWF reveals.

Since the last Tiger Summit of 2010, several restoration efforts have contributed to the animal's recovery.

However, the WWF warns that they still face serious threats, with tigers likely extinct in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

Reported concurrent with the Lunar New Year and Year of the Tiger on February 1, 2022, a study from World Wildlife Fund (WWF) shows that tiger populations are finally showing an increase after more than a century of steady decline.

The study notes that since 2010, or the last Year of the Tiger, tiger populations have increased, in part due to several restoration efforts. During that time, the first Tiger Summit gathered experts to determine ways to conserve tiger populations across 13 countries. The first record of recovering tiger populations happened in 2016, the first uptick in over a century.

WWF report highlights tiger population gains for the Year of the Tiger
 
Virginia's First Elk Hunt - A Conservation Milestone

Ten years after the successful restoration of elk to their historic Virginia range, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is accepting applications for its first elk hunting season through March 30, 2022.

“Instituting the first-ever managed elk hunt a mere decade after restoration is an indicator that the state’s elk herd is growing, sustainable and healthy. In short, it marks a conservation milestone for Virginia,” said Mark Baker, RMEF board of directors chair. “We salute and congratulate DWR on successfully executing its elk management plan, and for establishing a hunt that will generate significant funding to ensure the future of elk in Virginia.”

In addition to providing both funding and volunteer support that led to Virginia’s initial elk restoration in 2012, RMEF also made key contributions to successful restorations in Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Virginia’s First Elk Hunt – A “Conservation Milestone” | Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
 
Humpback whales no longer listed as endangered after major recovery

Humpback whales will be removed from Australia's threatened-species list, after the government's independent scientific panel on threatened species deemed the mammals had made a major recovery.

Key points:
  • Humpback whales will no longer be considered an endangered or vulnerable species
  • Climate change and fishing still pose threats to their long-term health
  • Some conservationists warn the delisting has come too soon
Whaling drove the species to near extinction. However since the 1980s, when the practice largely ended, the population has substantially grown.

https://amp-abc-net-au.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.abc.net.au/article/100862644
 
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