PrintReleaf’s Post

Community leaders: Nature guidebooks for kids, river valley conservation, forest and marsh restoration. Plus books: Sharing water between two nations, the West’s most remarkable tree, the politics of conservation, lichens, and octopus secrets https://lnkd.in/eqetzPD3

Wetlands around the world are disappearing at 3X the rate of forests. From stream to shore and wetland to tap, our wetlands are worth fighting for! A promising move from the White House to protect our wetlands and streams! Read more: https://ow.ly/CWYs50RmqKp Together, we can make a lasting impact on wetlands conservation. #cleanwater4all #protectourwaters

Conserving, sustainably managing, and restoring forest ecosystems is critical in the fight against #biodiversity loss and #climatechange. But how to do that? This #ForestDay, hear from Prof. Thomas W. Crowther which five insights from our latest #research are key for global forest conservation and restoration:

Today, February 2nd is Wetlands Day. So what are Wetlands and why are they important? Up to us to educate ourselves. Here a 2 min brief. On 30 August 2021 the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 75/317 that established 2 February as World Wetlands Day. According to the World Wetlands Day website: "Wetlands are land areas that are saturated or flooded with water either permanently or seasonally. Inland wetlands: Marshes, lakes, rivers, floodplains, peatlands and swamps  Coastal wetlands: Saltwater marshes, estuaries, mangroves, lagoons and coral reefs Human-made wetlands: Fish ponds, rice paddies and salt pans" They are very important for biodiversity, flood and erosion control, to name a few benefits, part of this ecosystem we all share. https://lnkd.in/gMUUvzza

#DYK forested land provides the drinking water for nearly half of the population of the continental United States? Forests act as natural filters, purifying water as it flows through roots. Water purification is one of many reasons why protecting our forests is critical - learn more about the benefits of forest conservation: https://bit.ly/45tHZR6

In this BCarbon white paper, Lalise Mason and I have proposed multiple living shoreline projects to protect the coastal marshes on the mid Texas coast that are the wintering grounds of the last wild flock of the endangered whooping cranes. These marshes are threatened by sea level rise which will drown and erode these marshes if we don’t act, and we need creative solutions to protect this land and ensure the future of whooping cranes. We believe that the construction of living shorelines is the key to protecting these marshes from erosion and by capturing sediment more efficiently. The proposal is to issue carbon credits for protecting the carbon stored in these marsh sediments and for the continued annual drawdown of carbon dioxide into the marsh. To this end, BCarbon has developed a carbon credit protocol for issuing credits for protecting coastal wetlands. What we need now is for buyers to step up and say they are interested in purchasing these carbon credits. The project developers are ready when the buyers are ready. And the long-term fate of the whoopers is a stake.  

Inspired by the potential of wetlands for organic aquaculture! Let's support organizations working on wetland restoration and sustainable farming practices. Share your favorite initiatives in the comments below! #takeaction #collectiveimpact

The unique landscape of peatlands serve as sponges, absorbing and storing vast amounts of carbon, purifying water, and providing habitat for countless species. Formed over thousands of years, peatlands are highly flammable and despite being listed as a threatened ecological community, the landscape is continuing to be burnt. https://lnkd.in/gkaEWx7n

How do we prioritize habitat to protect in and around Denver? 🏙 How might we balance the needs of people and nature? 🌻 If these questions keep you up at night, we have a tool just for you. Introducing the Regional Conservation Assessment (RCA)! Developed by the Metro Denver Nature Alliance (Metro DNA), The Nature Conservancy in Colorado, and Biohabitats, this analysis identifies high-priority places in the seven-country metro Denver region to protect, connect, restore, and enhance for people and nature. The RCA is designed for anyone interested in exploring the lands and waters of our region. Explore the free and accessible RCA tool here: https://lnkd.in/gVscfysW #urbanconservation #conservation #citiesforpeople #peopleandplanet #habitatrestoration #denver #denvercolorado #denvermetro #sustainablecities

The Whooping crane is one of Texas’s most beloved birds – but also among the most endangered of our state’s species. After coordinated efforts brought them back from the brink of extinction, these majestic birds are once again threatened, this time by sea level rise. Texas’s coastal salt marshes provide critical habitat to Whoopers, but these marshes will be largely wiped out by accelerating sea level rise. BCarbon’s recent white paper on the bundling of Whooping crane conservation and carbon credits proposes a solution: constructing living shorelines, financed by carbon credit revenue, to protect and preserve the crane’s habitat. You can read the paper here: https://lnkd.in/edQveR7q