Mexico announces 13 new protected areas, with more to come
Mexico introduced six new national parks and seven “flora and fauna protection areas” covering 44,276 acres to be overseen by the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas.
Marine conservation
U.N. agencies head up new $115 million push for healthier oceans
The Clean and Healthy Oceans strategy from the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization aims to curb land-based pollution of our oceans through policy and regulatory innovation, infrastructure investments, and nature-based solutions.
Indonesia to cut tuna harvest in bid for more sustainable fishery
Indonesia will reduce its overall tuna catch by 10% over the course of three years, citing unsustainable current levels of fishing.
Blue whales return to California at levels not seen since before the whaling industry
The current estimates suggest that as many as 2,000 blue whales travel up from Mexico to Southern California waters every year, a large chunk of a global population that may be topping 25,000.
New program to restore 120 miles of coral reefs off Big Island of Hawai’i
Arizona State University (ASU) will lead the Ākoʻakoʻa initiative, drawing on a funding pool of $25 million to research, conserve and restore degraded corals.
Ecuador to boost protection of Galápagos in biggest debt-for-nature deal ever
Ecuador launched a plan that would effectively wipe out roughly $1 billion of interest on part of its debt in exchange for its protection of the Galápagos Islands.
Chile declares some 247,100 acres of whale habitat in Northern Patagonia a marine protected area
The area is frequented not only by blue whales, but also by humpback whales, sei whales, at least two species of dolphin, the South American sea lion, and colonies of penguins.
500 baby sharks to be released in Indonesia in unprecedented marine rewilding
An international consortium of 44 aquariums in 15 countries is banding together to create a huge captive-breeding-and-release program that aims to reintroduce 500 zebra sharks to their native waters in Indonesia’s Raja Ampat.
Our Ocean Conference in Panama generates $20 billion in commitments for marine protection
Participants made 341 commitments worth nearly $20 billion, including funding for expanding and improving marine protected areas and biodiversity corridors.
UN member states agree to landmark deal to protect life in international waters
More than 190 countries have approved the UN High Seas Treaty, establishing a framework for creating new protected areas and includes provisions on transferring technology, sharing scientific findings, and coordinating the study of environmental threats.