The RAE 2024 Coastal & Estuarine Summit is just 6 DAYS AWAY! This year's Summit and all of its incredible content, would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors. Across all levels, their support ensures that the coastal community has a place to convene and tackle future challenges while celebrating past successes.
We especially would like to thank our Lead Sponsor, NOAA, our Principal Sponsor, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and our Executive Sponsors, EPA, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, The Curtis & Edith Munson Foundation, and Stantec, for their support.
Excellent news though I do take issue with the idea that these beautiful lizards are 'common' they are anything but a true wonder of nature. Even in 1912 these lizards were not common throughout England - the majority of which has no lizards.
They are widespread and can be locally abundant but are still cannot be considered as common in the status sense. Nor are they dull - a host of colours and patterns exist throughout their range with many colour morphs across their range.
They have essentially anti freeze in their blood to prevent succumbing to ice and frost, they live in the coldest place in the Northern Hemisphere and to me are an ideal candidate as a bio indicator species for nature recovery in England.
From rewilding to Biodiversity Net Gain this species will feature as they spread out from their countryside refuges - as the anthills, grass tussocks, bramble edges, woodland edges arise from nature recovery so will the numbers of lizards - recording them on the ground will provide the evidence as to whether the action is working over the next 30 to 40years.
Report sightings via the Record Pool www.recordpool.org.uk
Congratulations to our friends at Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust. It's always wonderful to find conservation successes after some time, and is a great example of how difficult it can be to survey for our native reptile species - even the "common" ones. Just goes to show there's always hope. 🦎
https://lnkd.in/eWC-qW_x
In the 19th and 20th centuries, Oyster Bay thrived as a key contributor to local economic growth, fueled by its historic shellfish industry. Now, a crucial restoration initiative aims to revive and sustain this legacy. The Harbor served as a primary producer of hard clams and oysters in New York State, contributing a remarkable 90% to the state’s commercial oyster crop, as highlighted in NYSDEC Shellfish Landing Reports.
However, the vitality of shellfish populations, particularly oysters, has seen a drastic decline over the past 50 years, resulting in the near complete loss of crucial reef structures. In 2020, the commercial oyster harvest plummeted to less than 1% of the prior 10-year average, and clam harvests declined by 45% compared to the 2010-2019 average. This decline, observed across many Long Island embayments, results from various human-induced factors like stormwater discharges, coastal development, habitat loss, harvest practices, and widespread shellfish predators.
To combat this loss, The Town seeds millions of shellfish into Oyster Bay Harbor and the Great South Bay each year. Continuous generations are crucial to re-develop reef systems and to
improve water quality. This year, 12 million shellfish (8 million oysters and 4 million clams) were seeded into protected underwater lands for restoration purposes.
These efforts have garnered an array of interest from leading institutions and national organizations, fostering partnerships with Stony Brook University, Adelphi University, and the Nature Conservancy. These institutions, along with the Town, recognize the restoration potential of Oyster Bay Harbor, highlighting specific areas where natural spawning is already occurring and room for enhanced habitat.
To further support habitat enhancement, the Town initiated a shell recycling program in 2022, collaborating with 15 local restaurants. Over 20,000 pounds of oyster and clam shells have been collected, diverting waste from landfills to create new habitat in targeted areas for shellfish planting. As part of this grant project with Stony Brook University, the Town has allocated a substantial portion of the collected recycled shells for substrate enhancement and the creation of pilot oyster reefs.
I'm thrilled, both professionally and personally, to be involved in this exciting opportunity over the next few years. Engaging in this restoration effort is not just a commitment but a chance to make a meaningful difference in the place I call home
We’re partnering with SUNY Stony Brook to revitalize Oyster Bay-Cold Spring Harbor's oyster populations. Our efforts won an award of $477,200 from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to put Oysters back in Oyster Bay. Oyster reefs in Oyster Bay-Cold Spring Harbor have faced challenges due to overharvest, habitat loss, and water quality degradation. By working together, we’re rebuilding oyster populations and fostering a more resilient and interconnected ecosystem.
Couldn't fail to be moved by the speeches at the #RestoreNatureNow march today. 73 million fewer birds in the sky than 50 years ago, industrial fishing and bottom trawling in marine protected areas, 60% wildlife decline in my lifetime. But such energy to push forward the solutions that we know can work. Thank you
Katie-Jo Luxton, Craig Bennett, Sara Wynne-PariWWF, RSPB, The Woodland Trust, The Wildlife Trusts,Amphibian and Reptile Conservation and so many more - this is why we do what we do.
Director at Lancashire Wildlife Trust, Co-Founder Greater Manchester Environment Fund, chair EDI Advisory Group, chair Funding Forum, chair Engagement and Empowerment Committee
You may have seen our recent updates from the Fylde Coast, where we spent a wonderful few days carrying out our annual Christmas tree planting event this month 🌲🌊
Around 80% of the Fylde sand dunes have been lost over the last 150 years due to urban expansion, and rebuilding the dunes in this way helps restore and strengthen our coastal defences, protecting against the rising tides, as well as creating a wonderful habitat for wildlife.
We were joined by some of our partners Victrex , Environment Agency and Eric Wright Group on the beach and got to hear what they thought of the day itself.
Thanks for your help team!
🐺 Wolf Awareness Week, celebrated from 22 to 28 October, offers a valuable opportunity to reflect on the vital role these magnificent predators play in our ecosystem.
The time to make our voices heard in favour of this extraordinary animal is now.
📣 Together with the European Environmental Bureau and 300 other organisations, we are calling on EU Member States to strengthen, rather than weaken, the protection of wolves.
This coalition opposes the European Commission's proposal, already approved by the EU Council to reduce the level of protection of wolves under the Bern Convention.
👉 Instead, greater efforts are required to promote coexistence with large carnivores through preventive measures that would allow us to protect the results achieved in wolf conservation, the result of several decades of work.
Fondazione Capellino has always been at the forefront of wolf protection. Through the support of everyone who chooses Almo Nature for their animal companions, the Fondazione Capellino has become one of the main financiers of the international project "Life WolfAlps EU" and of the "Guard Dogs in the Casentinesi Forest Park" project, both aimed at the peaceful coexistence between humans and wolves.
✍🏻 Sign the petition here https://lnkd.in/gVNqGxPh
🐺 Test your knowledge of this magnificent animal by taking the quiz in today’s stories!
#almonature#fondazionecapellino#biodiversity#climatechange#profitstotheplanet#reintegrationeconomy#wolves#lifewolfalps#habitat#alps#wolfawarenessweek#wolfprotection#coexistence
Today, between 8:30pm -9:30pm EST, we observe Earth Hour- a global initiative organized by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) which encourages individuals and businesses to switch off non-essential electric lights for one hour.
#earthhour#climatechange
Preserving our expansive beautiful land is what makes our state great. It’s a fine balance of development and ecological control and preservation that will enable true prosperity for all.
✨One of Texas' most beloved state parks is expanding – Enchanted Rock State Natural Area will soon grow by 630 acres! Did you know that The Nature Conservancy in Texas safeguarded this gem back in the '70s before transferring it to our partners at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department? We’re excited to witness the continued growth and preservation of this natural wonder.
Hear from TNC Texas Director of Land Protection Jeff Francell in this KUT & KUTX Public Media article by Maya Fawaz about the expansion: https://nature.ly/3zzUQpc
📸: Kenny Braun
As Washington treaty tribes mark the 50th anniversary next week of the Boldt Decision, challenges to a sustainable salmon population remain.
Habitat restoration is challenged by time and other forces, even while Treaty Tribes of Washington invest millions of dollars each year in restoration and — working in cooperation with state and federal fish and wildlife agencies, conservation and habitat enhancement groups and public utilities — annually release about 32 million chinook, coho, chum, sockeye and steelhead from hatcheries.
How to keep salmon recovery and habitat restoration moving forward will be part of a discussion Feb. 6 and 7.
Richard Arlin Walker reports:
https://ow.ly/UXS050Qxzce
From small, community-focused initiatives to large, collaborative efforts, Rivers are Life Projects positively impact our world’s river ecosystems.
Projects can focus on conservation, research, innovation, wildlife protection, activist campaign efforts, cleanups, among many other initiatives. They are often made up of both public and private sector collaboration.
Learn more about our projects: https://bit.ly/3ItsjT4
