Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s Post

The area burned each year by wildfire in Hawai'i has increased significantly over the past several decades, most recently with devastating impact on Maui. This presentation uses fire science to look at the how and why we are experiencing this increase. It will also look at the consequences it has for our watersheds and nearshore ecosystems, and how to move forward with proper land care for the future. Presented by Clay Trauernicht, PhD, Extension Specialist in Ecosystems and Fire, Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, UH Mānoa. https://lnkd.in/gVtG8nZ8

I am honored to be able to contribute a chapter on Asiatic Elephants in Bhutan in this distinguished book.

One of the most important aspects of preserving our past is capturing the vanishing footprints of history. That's why the "Sites of Memory" initiative was launched in 2013, as one of the very first interdisciplinary projects dedicated to the memory of Kaunas. This initiative is playing a critical role in ensuring that the rich history of this region is not lost forever. By documenting the important sites of memory in Kaunas, the project is helping to preserve our cultural heritage for future generations. If you're interested in learning more about this project, check out the link below: https://lnkd.in/gTy4qGZZ Together, we can help to ensure that the memories of our past are never forgotten.

June is National Indigenous History Month. To celebrate this month, all are encouraged to learn about and honour the diversity, beauty, and history of Indigenous peoples. This year, each week of June has been assigned a theme, to spotlight various aspects of the history. This week's theme is: Environment, traditional knowledge and territory. Look through the learning resources in the link below to understand Treaties, the Seven Sacred Laws, nature conservation, land acknowledgements and more. To read more about this month, and to learn more about each theme's related aspects: https://buff.ly/3IOZP70

In this episode inspired by the book Braiding Sweetgrass, I explore the often ignored intersection of indigenous wisdom, conservation, and the forgotten spiritual connection that we, as scientists, have with nature. The conservation story has evolved and improved, but there's still work to be done. We must recognize and respect indigenous knowledge, learn from it, and integrate it into conservation not only because it’s the right thing to do and nature benefits from it, but also because doing so teaches us lessons about ourselves, ultimately making the world a better place for everyone and everything. https://lnkd.in/g-MU8hWu

Read our first blog post up on our website and learn about 𝘗𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢: The Unsung Hero of Our Oceans ⬇ https://lnkd.in/dG64qzgn

“Water is life and there will always be life as long as you care for it. But once it’s gone, it’s gone, and it can never be the same as it was.” - Lawona Fay Icho Jasso For centuries, Tulare Lake in California's Central Valley sustained life for the Yokuts, Lawona Fay Icho Jasso's tribe. Tulare was the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River and its ecosystem provided food and materials to thousands of people - one of the largest regional density Native populations north of the political boundary separating the U.S. and Mexico. However, the first wave of settler-colonizers to California in 1542 brought diseases and violence that diminished Yokut populations. The Goldrush of the 1840s further brought gold hungry settlers turned developers who renamed Native villages as their own towns and established foreign industries. By 1850, they began draining Lake Tulare in order to set up large-scale dairy production in the region. As the lake's surface area waned, so did the remaining Yokut population. Today, Tulare County and Kings County, still home to the lake and Yokuts, are the number one and number three dairy producing counties in the nation. Together, the two counties hold more than half a million cows. The combined population of the Yokuts is estimated at around 6,000 (from the original 50,000+). During periods of heavy rainfall — like this year — the lake reemerges. By May 2023, it had reclaimed 103,000 acres of land. Cecilia Moreno, Lawona's granddaughter, is a culture keeper that is ensuring Yokut culture, language and ecological practices continue. “It is imperative for the culture to not end with the elders that had experienced such hardships, and for the new generations to quickly learn and preserve these traditions. This will help ensure that the legacy of their tribe may continue into the future," she writes in a recent blog for "Milk, From Ground to Glass," a series by Dr. Anna Sulan Masing, an FFCF collaborator. https://lnkd.in/euguzFxE

🌿 A Gentle Encounter in Cameroon's Rainforest: A Lesson in Humanity 🐾 On the 20th of July, amid the lush expanse of Cameroon's rainforest, an extraordinary moment unfolded between a chimpanzee and the compassionate lens of French photographer JC Pierie. In a poignant gesture, the chimpanzee extended its trust, seeking Pierie's hands to aid in a simple act — drinking water.What transpired next was not just a display of survival but an exquisite expression of gratitude as the chimpanzee, in quiet reverence, delicately washed Pierie's hands thereafter. This tender exchange prompts profound reflection: Do our assumptions of being an advanced species hold true? 🤔 In the subtlety of this interaction, we glimpse a depth of understanding, empathy, and appreciation that defies the presumed boundaries between humans and the natural world. The chimpanzee, without uttering a single sound, communicated a lesson in humility, compassion, and the profound interconnectedness of all life. As we navigate the complexities of our lives, let's linger in contemplation of the lessons nature graciously imparts. This poignant moment in the rainforest serves as a gentle whisper, inviting us to recognize the beauty in our shared existence. May we, with softened hearts, recognize the poetry in every living being. In embracing this empathy, we may discover that our true evolution lies not just in technological strides but in the tenderness of our connection to the intricate web of life. #TenderMoments #NatureTeaches #Interconnectedness #ChimpanzeeWisdom #Reflections 🌍✨

"This work is an attempt to look rationally at the landscape and to find out where and under what circumstances coexistence between humans and large carnivores is possible and where it is not," says Paula Mayer of her master's work. 🐻🧑🦱 In brief: ⚫ An ETH researcher is creating the first model to plot on a 𝗺𝗮𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 in a national park in Italy. ⚫ Designed as a 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲, the model identifies measures and areas that are priorities for promoting human-bear coexistence. ⚫ The model is being applied to the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise national parks, but can also be used for other regions and large carnivores. Learn more: 👇 https://lnkd.in/e3s6AxGF

Urban Raptors covers the interesting world of urban birds of prey. This book explores how these majestic species adapt to urban areas and offers ideas about coexistence and preservation. Download This PDF Now - https://lnkd.in/e3NCkfHW