Operation Wallacea

We're advertising for a new permanent role on our website! Head over to https://lnkd.in/dQVx-jTi for more information about the new Fundraising and International Recruitment Coordinator role we have available. Please note this is 2 days office based in Lincolnshire, and 3 days work from home, so candidates will need to be based within the UK. There is also the opportunity to travel internationally during our summer expeditions.

The Opwall Team is expanding! We are currently looking for a Research and Education Officer to join our research department, and an Intern to come and join the UK-Office Team! For more information please head to our HQ Jobs page (jobs.opwall.com) or to Environment Jobs (https://lnkd.in/eny3Y7Ty) to apply.

A new study we have collaborated on has found that protecting reef sharks requires a combination of marine protected areas and national fisheries management. When MPAs are established in nations that also limit shark fishing, conservation benefits are doubled! This study, led by @GlobalFinPrint, highlights the importance of using both approaches to rebuild reef shark populations, which have declined globally by 63%. We're proud to have contributed to this project with data from our Indonesia site. This study shows that by working together, we can make a real difference in protecting these incredible creatures. Let's keep working together to protect our oceans and the amazing species that call them home! You can find the paper in the research library on our website ⛓️ #globalfinprint #sharks #sharkresearch #conservation

Happy world turtle day! 🪸 Did you know there are seven species of sea turtle? And that, other than one species which is data deficient, all are considered vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered? Across the globe people are working to monitor and save these species at all their different life stages. The methods include egg/nest counting and defending, rearing and releasing hatchlings in safe locations, gps tracking, boosting food sources, providing care to sick individuals and working to find out what causes their illnesses... the list goes on. All this work is having a positive impact with some species showing signs of recovery. However, as the sex of turtles is determined by temperature, global warming poses a massive threat to turtle reproduction. So, while we can't all be lucky enough to work first hand with these amazing animals, doing what you can to reduce your carbon footprint and impact on global warming will help save these turtle-y awesome creatures! 📸- Pádraig O'Grady #WorldTurtleDay #SaveTheTurtles #TurtleConservation

May 20th marks World Bee day! 🐝 Today, we're celebrating the buzz-worthy importance of our tiny friends! Whether you're a bee enthusiast or just a fan of the sweet treats they bring to our tables, let's take a moment to appreciate these incredible creatures. Find out why they are so interesting by scrolling along on the post! #worldbeeday #pollinators #savethebees

It is "Endangered Species Day" today and so we wanted to highlight a few species that we see and research at our marine sites, and add some context to the word "endangered". When you first think of the word endangered, most people will think about species that are threatened globally. For example the Green turtle (Chelonia mydas), which we have a large population of at our site in Akumal, Mexico, or even Staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis), These species are listed respectively as endangered and critically endangered on the @IUCN red list. However, there are also species such as the Long-spined sea urchin (Diadema antillarum). This urchin is incredibly important to reef health in the Caribbean, grazing continuously on algae to allow coral to grow. However, it has suffered from local extinctions in many areas across the Caribbean, yet is not classified as endangered. When thinking about how vulnerable a species is, it is important to reflect on both the small scale issues and impacts, as well as their global conservation status.

Scientific research is right at the heart of what Operation Wallacea does, and our research outputs are vitally important for supporting conservation efforts around the globe. Since our first paper was published using OpWall data in 1996, we have been involved in over 650 publications, and have facilitated the description of 73 species new to science. Our most recent species discovery was a new species of Begonia in the cloud forests of Honduras! You can read about the new species described by Moonlight and Kelly on our blogs page, or in the publications section of our website! By joining us on expedition our volunteers get to take part in exciting research like this as well as learning a whole range of survey techniques, networking and gaining independence. Why not try it yourself? https://lnkd.in/dxutCWnn 📸 Dan Newman

We still have some job positions available for the summer expeditions! All the information is currently in our story but for more information just email one of our countries below! Knepp Estate, UK: - Lead Ringer - Wildlife Photographer Email: knepp@opwall.com Cusuco National Park: - Bat Scientist - Mammal Scientist Email: honduras@opwall.com Hoga Island, Indonesia: - PADI Dive instructor - Divemaster Email: indonesia@opwall.com

Today we're celebrating another new publication! Quinn Park et al. (@quinnp6) examined the long-term governance impacts on crab fisheries in the Ankobohobo wetlands in Madagascar. Their results show that government support has been insufficient to achieve sustainable management practices here. Looking forward they conclude that a combination of bottom-up and town-down approaches are needed. Their paper, published in Marine Policy, can be found in our Research Library! We are very proud to announce Operation Wallacea has now been involved in the publication of 659 papers!! 📸 Roger Poland https://ow.ly/1hu150RqBeb

Rewilding is becoming more and more popular and well-known as an approach to conservation. But what does rewilding actually mean, who supports it and how can you get involved? Find out everything you could ever need to know about it in our new blog called A Guide to Rewilding! Here you can read about the different definitions, why it is important and how it differs from conventional conservation methods. If you want to find out more, as well as see the benefits for yourself, why not join us at Knepp Rewilding Estate this summer for a field course? Join our upcoming talk on Monday 29th April to learn more about the courses and why you should be interested in rewilding! You can find the blog on our website at https://lnkd.in/ehKZfDCW 📸 Charlie Burrell @kneppwilding @kneppwildlandfdn