Positive Wildlife News 2023

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Habitat Conserved, Opened to Public Access in Pennsylvania’s Elk Range

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation collaborated with the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) and private landowners to conserve what were 649 acres of private land in the heart of Pennsylvania’s elk range and place it in the public’s hands.

Habitat Conserved, Opened to Public Access in Pennsylvania’s Elk Range
 
‘Historic Conservation Milestone’ Achieved in Appalachian Elk Country

Hunters, anglers, hikers and those who enjoy the outdoors now have perpetual access to 54,636 acres of private land in eastern Kentucky thanks to a landscape-scale voluntary conservation agreement by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF).

“This is an historic conservation milestone for Kentucky’s elk range and incredible expansion of hunter access in the state. The Cumberland Forest Wildlife Management Area project marks a significant step in ensuring the future of Appalachian elk herds, other wildlife, their habitat and hunting,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “This achievement would not be possible without our partners at KDFWR, TNC and NFWF.”

‘Historic Conservation Milestone’ Achieved in Appalachian Elk Country
 
House of Representatives of the Philippines OKs bill declaring Panaon Island a protected area

In a landmark move echoing a commitment to marine conservation, lawmakers approved the bill — on its third and final reading — declaring 60,000 hectares of waters surrounding Panaon Island in Southern Leyte as a protected seascape.

House Bill (HB) No. 9396, or the proposed “Panaon Island Protected Seascape Act,” was approved on Nov. 29 with 257 members of the House of Representatives voting in the affirmative. No legislator abstained or voted against the bill.

House OKs bill declaring Panaon Island a protected area
 
Boundaries set for new Guria National Park in west - Environment Ministry

Final boundaries have been marked for the creation of a new national park in western Georgia's Guria region for safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystems of local forests and promoting tourism in the area.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection said studies had been carried out since 2019 by the Tbilisi office of the World Wide Fund for Nature with the financial support of the Embassy of Sweden in order to define boundaries for the National Park.


Boundaries set for new Guria National Park in west - Environment Ministry
 
Pacific island enacts bold new ocean protections

New Caledonia recently took a big step for ocean conservation by banning all industrial activities — such as fishing, mining and oil drilling — in 10 percent of its waters. The strong new protections will safeguard the habitats of whales, sharks and seabirds, as well as some of the healthiest coral reefs on Earth.

“This is the result of years of hard work and collaboration across communities and industries,” said Thomas Auger, a Conservation International marine expert based in New Caledonia. “It’s a new day for ocean conservation in New Caledonia.”

A decade ago, New Caledonia, a French territory in the South Pacific, created the Natural Park of the Coral Sea — a 1.3 million square kilometer (502,000 square mile) marine park, which includes one-third of the world’s remaining pristine reefs. However, industrial activities were allowed in nearly 98 percent of the park. The new protections, which became law in October, significantly expand New Caledonia’s strictly protected waters.

Pacific island enacts bold new ocean protections
 
Salmon have returned to the East Bay’s water source in record numbers. What does it mean?

The Mokelumne River, a 95-mile waterway that supplies a majority of drinking water to the East Bay, earned its name because of the abundance of salmon in its waters. Local legend has it that, many years ago, the rivers were so packed with salmon you could walk from shore to shore along their backs.

Today, after 100 years of industrialization, the Mokelumne (pronounced muh-kaa-luh-mee), which flows from the Sierra Nevada to the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, is a much different river. Salmon now exist there primarily because of human intervention — hatcheries raise many of the salmon that return to its waters.

Salmon return to East Bay's water source in record numbers
 
Groups Applaud Forest Service Proposal to Conserve Old Growth Forests

A group of conservation, sporting, and forest stewardship organizations lauded the U.S. Forest Service for announcing a historic proposal to conserve old-growth forests through proactive, science-based management approaches to address climate change and other threats to these forests. The agency’s proposal seeks to chart a new direction for the National Forest System to meet the many challenges facing our forests. We look forward to working with the Forest Service, Tribes, and other stakeholders to strengthen and refine the proposal through the public process.

Groups Applaud Forest Service Proposal to Conserve Old Growth Forests
 
40,000 Hectares of Indigenous Territory Near Port McNeil is Now a Protected Area

40,000 hectares of Kwikwasuti’nuxw Haxwa’mis ancestral land have been declared an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA). Hereditary chiefs of the Kwikwasuti’nuxw Haxwa’mis First Nation (KHFN) gathered in Sooke for the historic move to safeguard the region’s rich natural resources, cultural sites, and economic sustainability.

While the British Columbia government was not involved in the IPCA process, British Columbia Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Nathan Cullen has since expressed his support for the IPCA.

40,000 Hectares of Indigenous Territory Near Port McNeil is Now a Protected Area - Strong Coast
 
Quail numbers significantly increase this year

A favorable spring with mild temperatures and timely rains has pushed Texas quail populations to their strongest position since 2018.

An increase in quail numbers means better hunting opportunities for several areas of the state when quail hunting season opens Oct. 28.

“Counts are up across the state,” John McLaughlin, upland game bird program leader for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), said. “Generally, that’s a very good sign that we made some significant gains this year.”

Population numbers are up thanks to spring rains that improved habitat conditions.

Quail numbers significantly increase this year - Texas Farm Bureau
 
Celebrating Three Conservation Champions

We look back with gratitude and pride at the accomplishments of three of our staff members who plan to retire at the end of 2023 and wish them the best in their next chapter.

Together, Joe Hankins, Bill Holman and Ralph Knoll have protected more 162,000 acres (valued at $360 million) in their combined tenure at The Conservation Fund. While those numbers are certainly impressive, a successful career in conservation can’t be measured by statistics alone. It is also about the partnerships formed and the mentoring that happens along the way, which all three of our retiring staff members have excelled at.

JOE HANKINS

Joe Hankins is known for bringing a biologist’s eye and an entrepreneur’s passion to the modern issues in conservation. Joe joined The Conservation Fund in 1992 to develop aquaculture, sustainable rural economic development and technology outreach in Appalachia. For two decades he led the Fund’s Freshwater Institute, during which time the program’s research into Recirculating Aquaculture Systems gained international recognition and respect.

Joe shifted his focus to become our West Virginia State Director, and working with colleagues and partners in 2016, he helped to protect over 32,000 acres in southern West Virginia for elk reintroduction, wildlife habitat and public outdoor access. The project is the largest single conservation acquisition and conveyance in West Virginia state agency history. Overall, Joe’s work across West Virginia has protected 76,400 acres in 17 projects valued at $62 million.

“As a result of the collaboration between West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and The Conservation Fund during Joe’s tenure, West Virginians will benefit from the conservation of public lands in high priority areas, as well as the growth of our agency's elk restoration program. Furthermore, Joe provided valuable guidance in developing a mitigation approach to pipeline projects, bringing in millions of dollars to West Virginia for wildlife conservation. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Joe over the past decade and I wish him the best in his retirement. West Virginians will enjoy the fruits of his labor for generations to come.”

- Gary Foster, retired Assistant Chief of Game Management, West Virginia Department of Natural Resources

Celebrating Three Conservation Champions - The Conservation Fund
 
The Conservation Fund, Washington State Partner For Climate Solutions, Sustainable Economies With Coastal Forest Purchase

Deep River Woods acquisition with Washington State Department of Natural Resources promotes climate-smart forestry, habitat protection and community revenue across 20,000 acres.

The two organizations submitted a joint bid for the property at auction, with DNR acquiring 9,115 acres for $55 million, and TCF acquiring the remaining 11,390 acres for $66 million. The Washington State Board of Natural Resources approved DNR’s purchase in November, which was part of the combined bid. TCF and DNR have entered into an option agreement for the 11,390 acres, with TCF managing those lands until DNR can take full ownership.

The Conservation Fund, Washington State Partner For Climate Solutions, Sustainable Economies With Coastal Forest Purchase - The Conservation Fund
 
Momentous Clean Water Safeguards Secured for Bristol Bay

Today, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership celebrated a decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue final Clean Water Act safeguards for the headwaters of Bristol Bay. This decision restricts and prohibits the discharge of mine waste in Bristol Bay, adding another layer of durable protection against the formerly proposed Pebble Mine.

Momentous Clean Water Safeguards Secured for Bristol Bay | Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
 
Beavers released into California wild for the first time in 75 years

The little buck-toothed critter warily peered out of his kennel perched at the edge of a pond in Northern California, his beady eyes following five of his family members that were already paddling out toward the pine trees dotting the horizon.

The water glimmered in the October sun as the willows rustled in the breeze. A group of wildlife officials and conservationists watched from the shore as the colony of beavers began to explore their new home in Tásmam Koyóm, a 2,325-acre valley in Plumas County and the ancestral lands of the Mountain Maidu people. Unbeknownst to the 2-month-old kit, a historic moment was underway for his keystone species — the first time they had been returned to their native state habitat in nearly 75 years, as part of a major project spearheaded by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Maidu Summit Consortium.

Native Calif. species released in the wild for first time in 75 years
 
Evidence of forest buffalo presence raises hopes for recovering wildlife populations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Camera traps capture images of buffalo in the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve after five years of monitoring.

Scientists have captured camera trap footage indicating the possible recovery of forest buffalo populations in the northern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo after a five-year search for the near locally extinct species without success.

At 5:35 a.m. on 24 May 2023, a heavily built forest buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus) with long, curved horns walked into the close frame of a camera trap set up by scientists from the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) in the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve.

Evidence of forest buffalo presence raises hopes for recovering wildlife populations in DRC - CIFOR Forests News
 
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