Finish efforts to protect endangered seal pups proving successful
A record number of Saimaa ringed seal pups were born this year, as tighter restrictions on fishing nets in the region led to fewer deaths.
Civil society
Wild mammals are making a comeback in Europe thanks to conservation efforts
By the first half of the 20th century, many of Europe’s mammals had been reduced to just a fraction of historical levels. But many mammal populations have seen a dramatic increase over the last 50 years.
Adopt-a-Forest climate project in Kenya pays locals to keep trees alive until they mature
The program was started to address the lack of after-care, a major flaw in many forest-planting projects in Kenya and beyond.
The Ocean Cleanup removes first 100,000kg of plastic from Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Since deployment in August 2021, System 002 (or “Jenny”) has now collected 101,353 kg of plastic over 45 extractions, sweeping an area of over 3000km2 – comparable to the size of Rhode Island.
Cheetah reintroduction in Malawi brings vultures back to the skies
Four species of critically endangered vulture have returned to a park in southern Malawi from which they disappeared more than 20 years ago, due to the reintroduction of cheetahs, lions, and the carcasses they left behind.
New fund helps Black farmers in Detroit purchase land
Created in 2020, the Detroit Black Farmer Land Fund aims to address the historical racial land ownership disparity that has affected Black farmers across the country.
Kenya’s Kuruwitu corals make remarkable recovery, thanks to local conservation drive
In 2005, residents of the area took the unprecedented step of setting aside a 30-hectare Marine Protected Area (MPA). Seventeen years on, the area has made a remarkable recovery.
Rwanda’s mountain gorillas make strong comeback in conservation win
When American naturalist Dian Fossey moved to Rwanda half a century ago to study mountain gorillas, their numbers were dwindling, down to just 254 individuals, but today they’re up to over 600.
Rhino population gets a new sanctuary in Mozambique
This project, which was started by the Peace Parks Foundation more than six years ago, aims to create a sanctuary in the Zinave National Park of Mozambique, which experienced a drop in wildlife in part due to the 1977 civil war which lasted 15 years.
After long decline, eastern monarch butterflies show signs of recovery in Mexico
Eastern monarch butterflies covered 35% more ground in the mountain forests of central Mexico this past winter than they did the year before, according to a World Wildlife Fund survey.