waterloop’s Post

Today we’ve shared the fantastic news that one of our nature reserves at Wallasea Island in Essex will be expanding thanks to generous new funding from the Ida Davis Family Foundation.   For those that are unaware, Wallasea Island falls within England’s East Coast Wetlands, and is already part of a globally important place for nature, stretching from the River Thames to the Humber estuary. This new expansion by 100 hectares (an area the size of 140 football pitches!) will result in: - A new coastal lagoon, which will provide the reserve’s first body of freshwater and further habitat to rare and threatened wildlife such as Lapwings, Redshanks and Avocets.  - Vast areas of natural grassland which will be grazed by roaming livestock using ‘fenceless grazing’ technology, and will help to realise the overarching vision for Wallasea Island as a wilder landscape and European Rewilding site.  - Further opportunity to restore and protect this coastal landscape using nature-based solutions - natural processes to improve the environment and provide long-term benefits for wildlife and people. This includes creating more habitat for wildlife, and these methods have already had a big impact at this site, such as by allowing the sea walls to breach in a managed way, allowing seawater to flood the land and creating new tidal habitats like lagoons, saltmarshes and mudflats, which also helps protect against coastal flooding.    Sites and methods like this are crucial for tackling the nature and climate crisis simultaneously which is what we need in this critical window of time as we move towards 2030. It really is a win win.   The site’s initial story was a fascinating one involving business partnership and collaboration - the habitat creation was part of the Wallasea Island Wild Coast Project that saw three million tonnes of soil, from the Crossrail scheme in London (the excavation of a railway tunnel from East to West London for the Elizabeth Line), being used to raise land levels before the sea wall was breached in July 2015. Work to expand the reserve is set to begin later this year – just over 10 years after the first habitat transformation was completed. Since then, this vast wetland site has become an important area of the Crouch and Roach estuary, attracting a record 38,000 water birds last December. I’m so excited to see what the site can deliver next.   We are incredibly grateful to the Ida Davis Family Foundation for gifting us the money to buy the new land. A huge thank you to everyone who has been involved in making this happen! https://lnkd.in/eskc7j3n   #GoodNews #Habitat #Conservation #NatureBasedSolutions

New economic data released today by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) shows that fishing and boating is the # 1 contributor to the outdoor recreation economy. “This BEA data proves what the fishing industry has always known – outdoor recreation is an economic force in the United States and is only getting bigger. Lawmakers have the opportunity to put this data to use by crafting policy that supports and promotes access, habitat improvement, and clean water to benefit our outdoor recreation economy.” -Glenn Hughes, President - ASA Thank you to Outdoor Recreation Roundtable for hosting this event.

Will you miss the boat? Get on the boat and ride the wave, or be left behind. The time is NOW! Dont wait until it's too late or you'll miss your opportunity. Here's data proof Diehard Anglers is entering the marketplace at the perfect time and what it has to do with you. Your support for great causes can go a lot further just by showing up at the right time to get onboard. Diehard Anglers's sustainability efforts will leave a lasting impact on the world. Diehard Anglers will redefine the future use of social media entirely, and we are starting with the outdoors community. When people comprehend our whole concept they are astonished! That's how we know we are on the right path. Diehard Anglers is more than just a social media app, it's an evolution. "Together, we will make a difference! Join us in transforming the future." Jared Kemper, Founder - Diehard Anglers

Wilderness Safaris to develop high-end lodge in Kunene Region : Wilderness Safaris Namibia plans to construct and operate a high-end lodge in the Hobatere Roadside Concession in Kunene Region, according to documents seen by The Brief. The project is designed to enhance conservation efforts and create jobs within the Ehi-Rovipuka Conservancy, and the development will include a 10-room lodge, a staff village and a wildlife hide. […] The post Wilderness Safaris to develop high-end lodge in Kunene Region  first appeared on The Brief | Namibia's Leading Business & Financial News.

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗙𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 Mount Rainier National Park has updated its Wilderness Permit Fee Structure to better reflect equity and support critical backcountry operations. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄: Fees are now $10 per person per night (youth 15 and under remain free). The $6 Recreation.gov reservation fee is unchanged. Walk-up permits will follow the same fee structure as advance reservations. This change ensures fairness by addressing disparities in the previous flat fee system. Smaller groups, which have less impact on resources, no longer pay disproportionately higher individual costs compared to larger groups. The revenue from these fees directly supports essential backcountry services, including: • Ranger patrols across 270+ miles of maintained trails. • Waste management from backcountry toilets. • Transporting food caches and maintaining wilderness areas. Superintendent Greg Dudgeon highlights the importance of these updates: "These fees directly support the experience of wilderness permit holders and help protect park resources." For more details about the new fee structure and how to plan your wilderness adventure, visit the Mount Rainier National Park website: nps.gov/mora.

This post is for our friends and followers from farther afield. Locals know that Oslofjord is home to a variety of fish species, each playing a crucial role in its ecosystem: Cod: Once abundant, cod is a key species but has declined due to overfishing and environmental changes. Mackerel: Summer brings schools of these fast swimmers, a favorite among local fishermen. Herring: Essential to the ecosystem, herring has supported the region’s fishing industry for centuries. Flatfish: Plaice and flounder thrive on the fjord’s sandy seabeds, feeding on invertebrates. At Marea, we’re working to restore balance to the Oslofjord so that species like cod and herring can thrive once again. By promoting kelp reforestation and encouraging tunicates and mussels and advocating for awareness about our oceans we’re some of the many people helping to secure a healthy future for marine life in the fjord. 👉 Which fish have you spotted in the Oslofjord lately? Share your thoughts and stories below! 💙 #Oslofjord #MarineLife #FjordEcosystem #MarineRestoration

As we near the end of #NationalForestWeek 2024, we know that the many contributions of private managed forest landowners to neighbouring communities continue year-round. Private managed forest landowners invest in wildfire prevention that has positive impacts on nearby communities. The recreational opportunities offered by many managed forest owners on their private forest lands include hiking, biking and fishing. Managed forest owners protect key environmental values like soil, water quality, fish, and wildlife habitat. And tree planting (a legal requirement on managed forest lands) of course benefits us all. Learn more about managed forest land owners and why they make good neighbours: www.pfla.bc.ca #sustainability

Many years ago, Persina Island, briefly parting the Danube River in two only to reunite its waters shortly after, has grown quiet. Silence in nature can be haunting as it speaks back to us that something has gone wrong. The wetland on the island, once a symphony of life, was now long lost. And with them the home of countless wildlife species. 💧Persina Nature Park Directorate set out to restore this wilderness area by recreating the natural flooding of the wetland. This became possible through a series of ambitious projects implemented over several years. However, even after the critical restoration the water supply from the river to the wetland was often not enough. As part of The #LivingDanubePartnership, efforts were made to further improve the water supply, ultimately bringing back life to the area. And finally this happened. As the water returned, so did the fish, birds, amphibians, and, eventually, one very important species... 👏 Today, we celebrate the return of the magnificent Dalmatian pelican to Persina Island. This bird is an indicator species, signaling that this once-neglected ecosystem is now thriving again. 🌍This win for nature is one of many achievements made possible by the Living Danube Partnership thanks to the joint efforts of WWF-CEE, The Coca-Cola Foundation and the ICPDR in the course of 7 years. The partnership involved a wide network of collaborators, from water, nature, and forest managers to municipalities, county governments, landowners, anglers, hunters, and entrepreneurs. All of them have come and worked together to restore rivers and wetlands for the benefit of people and nature. Enjoy some of the success stories of the Living Danube Partnership by watching the short film here🎬https://lnkd.in/eC8pqduE Photo credit: © Persina Nature Park Directorate #RipplesOfChange #WWF #GreenHeartOfEurope #LivingDanube

This article has been circulating now for several weeks. It has taken me a while to think through it. Do recreationists have too much "clout" to the detriment of wildlife or the land. It seems to be a battle that is starting to grow, enjoying the land versus the land. The case discussed concerns bighorn sheep. Backcountry skiers were able to keep open an area during winter that the sheep need to survive. Recreationist disturb the sheep using up energy which decreases their survival rate. I am a big recreationist & supporter of recreation. I believe the protection afforded our lands and wildlife comes from recreationists. However, have we gone to far in some cases? Read the article and determine your position. I'm on the side of the sheep. https://lnkd.in/g7dpdSJh #ExtinctionIsForever #EndangeredSpecies #ProtectWildlife #ClimateChange @RecreationLaw #RecLaw #RecreationLaw

The two waterfalls that you should be sure to visit are Yost Run Falls and Kyler Fork Falls. These falls are located in northern Centre County’s Sprout State Forest, and the trail is roughly a mile from the road. Yost Run Falls is slightly bigger than Kyler Fork, but they are both worth visiting. Kyler Fork Falls is located around 100 yards from Yost Run Falls, so you will not need to walk too far to see them.  -- Visit https://lnkd.in/ds7QzffR . . . . #waterfalls #naturelovers #yostrunfalls #kylerforkfalls #sproutstateforest #hikingtrails #explorenature #centrecountypa #adventureawaits #naturewalks #travelpa #scenicviews #outdooradventure #naturephotography #waterfallhikes #explorepennsylvania #hikepa #hiddengems #natureescape #foresttrails #wanderlust #trailadventures #getoutdoors #travelgoals #weekendgetaway #naturelover