The Woodland Trust’s Post

Manatees are dying at an alarming rate: Declining seagrass has led to an ongoing mortality event — almost 20% of the entire Florida population perished in just two years. These gentle giants are starving to death. But there's hopeful news: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently proposed to protect nearly 2 million acres of critical habitat for manatees under the #EndangeredSpeciesAct. If the proposal is finalized, the Act's safeguards will ensure that #manatees will have warm, safe places to swim and eat seagrass for generations to come. But the proposal leaves important waterways unprotected. Join us in urging the Service to protect all the critical areas manatees need to recover — as soon as possible.➡️ https://bit.ly/4eADzuH

Manatees, often referred to as “gentle giants,” are more than just iconic symbols of aquatic life—they are essential to the health of our coastal ecosystems. Manatees, are also often called “ecosystem engineers,” as they play vital roles in maintaining the health and balance of local ecosystems. However, their populations are declining due to habitat loss, water pollution, and collisions with boats. This decline threatens not only the species but also the ecosystems they help sustain. Here are some of the vital roles manatees play in maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity: 1. Grazing on Seagrass: 🌱 Manatees consume large amounts of seagrass, preventing overgrowth and promoting the health of seagrass beds. This grazing helps maintain biodiversity by allowing sunlight to reach the seabed, benefiting various marine species. 2. Nutrient Cycling: 🔄 By feeding on aquatic vegetation and excreting waste, manatees contribute to nutrient cycling. Their waste acts as a natural fertilizer, supporting the growth of seagrass and other plants. 3. Sediment Redistribution: 🪨 As manatees move through shallow waters, their movements stir up sediment, which can help prevent the buildup of organic matter that might otherwise smother seagrass beds. 4. Habitat Creation for Other Species: 🐟 The maintenance of healthy seagrass beds by manatees provides habitat and feeding grounds for fish, crustaceans, and other marine organisms. 5. Indicator Species: 🌎 Manatees serve as indicators of ecosystem health. A thriving manatee population often signals clean, healthy water and balanced aquatic ecosystems. 6. Preventing Algal Blooms: 🦠 By keeping aquatic vegetation in check, manatees help reduce the risk of algal blooms, which can deplete oxygen in the water and harm marine life. 7. Promoting Biodiversity: ☮️ Their role in maintaining seagrass beds indirectly supports a wide range of marine life, fostering biodiversity within the ecosystem. By protecting manatees, we’re also safeguarding the ecosystems that countless other species—and we—depend on. Let’s work together to ensure these incredible animals thrive for generations to come. #manatees #biodiversity #ecosystems #protect #support

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has proposed to protect Monarch butterflies as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. This is a great first step to secure populations of this one of a kind insect. However, this government regulation is only one piece of a complex story. From an inclusive conservation approach, we need to secure collaboration with and among all relevant a decision-makers on the ground (landowners, farmers, conservationists, and everyday citizens) to safeguard critical habitats along their unique 4,000+ kilometer migratory route. By securing protected and conserved areas throughout the migratory route and restoring landscapes and milkweed populations we can collectively secure Monarch butterflies!

Big news for the ducks! Please consider giving the ducks a follow!

Exciting news for conservation efforts in the northeastern U.S.! NFWF today announced $2 million in grants to restore and sustain New England forests and rivers that provide habitat for eastern brook trout, river herring, Atlantic salmon, New England cottontail, black-throated blue warbler and American woodcock. https://loom.ly/lNPJx94 The grants were awarded through the Northeast Forests and Rivers Fund, a partnership between NFWF and USDA’s NRCS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), USDA Forest Service and Sylvamo. 📷: American woodcock

There is NO evidence that supports hunting #grizzlyBears as an effective tool in reducing human-bear conflict. 🐻 ℹ️ The Government of Alberta recently made changed to the Wildlife Act, without consultation with conservation groups or the public, to permit the hunting of "problem" grizzly bears. 🐾 We and Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society - Southern Alberta have key concerns, which are highlighted in the statement below. Ultimately, the most important step that SHOULD be taken to achieve grizzly bear recovery and manage human-bear conflict is prioritizing the conservation, restoration, and management of grizzly bear habitat – a step that has been sorely overlooked.

TRCP is even more relevant and important today.

Good news 🎉: Thanks to a lawsuit by the Center, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and Friends of Minnesota Scientific and Natural Areas, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed to protect 1.6 million acres of critical habitat for rusty patched bumblebees. 🐝 Although the species once thrived across the upper Midwest and Northeast, these fuzzy flyers have declined dramatically since the 1990s due to habitat loss, pesticides, and more. The final critical habitat decision will rest with the Trump administration, so we’ll keep fighting to ensure that rusty patched bumblebees get the protections they need to dodge extinction. For now, you can help defend these bees and other wildlife against pesticides in some of their last homes: wildlife refuges. ➡️ https://bit.ly/4g6eo4D

$16.8 Million Federal Grant to Fund Wildlife Crossings on U.S. Highway 93 in Nevada, Aims to Protect Mojave Desert Tortoise! https://lnkd.in/ePdZUpRA

Wetlands are important features in the landscape that provide numerous beneficial services for people, fish, and wildlife. Some of these services, or functions, include protecting and improving water quality, providing fish and wildlife habitats, storing floodwaters, and maintaining surface water flow during dry periods. These valuable functions are the result of the unique natural characteristics of wetlands. Here are 7 benefits of restoring wetlands #imagovtt #wetlands #trinidadandtobago