Wildlife Conservation Society’s Post

Today is the International #ForestDay! 🌴🌳🏜️Without #plantbreeding in the EU in the last 20 years, global #biodiversity equivalent to the species richness found in 8.3m ha of rainforest & savannahs in Brazil or in 11.8m ha of natural habitats in Indonesia would have been lost by 2020. ℹ️ https://lnkd.in/eMhMfvEK #GrowingTheFuture #seedinginnovation

Among our primate cousins, orangutans are some of the smartest species, but they cannot outsmart the destruction of their habitat. Palm oil impact, habitat destruction and the Illegal Wildlife Trade are only some of the reasons why orangutans are critically endangered primates. In Indonesian, "orangutan" means "forest person"—a nod to their striking human-like traits and their deep connection to the dense jungles of Southeast Asia. On this World Orangutan Day, we reflect on the causes behind why orangutans are endangered, and what we can do to help them. All is not lost yet and over 1500 orangutans have been rescued and rehabilitated in the past decade. Community-led conservation programs in particular are turning the tide for orangutans, that is why at Pelorus Foundation we support the local, community-based project Gula Gula food forest in Indonesia, which is promoting sustainable agroforestry and protecting habitats while fightitng poverty. Click on the link in our below to find out how we support enviromental conservation in South East Asia. https://lnkd.in/dpwBRmFP #orangutan #orangutans #monkey #wildlife #WorldOrangutanDay Media Credit: Phat Whelen

South Africa’s draft Biodiversity Management Plan for black and white rhinos is riddled with contradictions. How can the country envision a future where “thriving national herds” of rhinos are no longer threatened by poaching and trafficking, while simultaneously unleashing domestic trade in rhino horn products and working to overturn the international ban on rhino horn trade? The biggest threats to South Africa’s rhino populations are fueled by the same demand for rhino horn that the plan aims to intensify: https://lnkd.in/dJ_xwc7Z

🌿🔥 Understanding the Risks of Lantana camara: A Call to Action for South Africa 🇿🇦 Lantana camara, a seemingly innocuous plant, poses a significant threat to biodiversity and ecosystems across South Africa. While its vibrant blooms may catch the eye, its invasive nature harbors dangers that cannot be overlooked. As we delve deeper into its impact, it becomes evident why controlling this species is paramount for the preservation of our natural environment. 🔍 Unveiling the Risks: Lantana camara, often referred to as "Lantana," is a highly invasive species known for its ability to outcompete native vegetation. Its rapid spread disrupts local ecosystems, displacing indigenous plants and altering soil composition. This not only threatens biodiversity but also compromises the habitats of native wildlife, leading to a cascade of ecological imbalances. 🛑 The Urgency of Control: In South Africa, the urgency to control Lantana camara cannot be overstated. Its adaptability to diverse environments, coupled with favorable climate conditions, enables it to thrive across various landscapes, from forests to grasslands. Left unchecked, Lantana poses a significant risk to agriculture, forestry, and conservation efforts, jeopardizing both livelihoods and ecosystems. 🌱 A Call to Action: It's imperative that we take decisive action to control the spread of Lantana camara. Collaboration between government agencies, conservation organizations, and local communities is essential to implement effective management strategies. This includes targeted eradication programs, public awareness campaigns, and research initiatives to better understand and combat its proliferation. 🌍 Preserving Our Natural Heritage: As custodians of South Africa's rich biodiversity, we have a responsibility to safeguard our natural heritage for future generations. By addressing the threat posed by Lantana camara today, we not only protect our ecosystems but also ensure the resilience and sustainability of our environment for years to come. Let's join forces in the fight against invasive species like Lantana camara. Together, we can make a difference and secure a brighter, greener future for South Africa. #Conservation #Biodiversity #SouthAfrica #InvasiveSpecies #LantanaCamara 🌿🌍

The Trans Fly savanna and grasslands ecoregion in the southern lowlands of New Guinea has been recognized as Globally Outstanding for its biodiversity values and conservation importance. It's an important wetland supporting hundreds of thousands of migratory birds that use the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. But now plans to convert over two million hectares of grasslands and wetlands by the Indonesian government, led by the military, could severely threaten the biodiversity of this ecoregion, cause social unrest because most of the lands have customary ownership, and potentially release large amounts of GHGs when draining and burning peatlands and marshes. See article by Stephen Wright highlighting the issues: https://lnkd.in/gazccHnu

🤠 🇧🇷 Small-scale ranchers in Pará, Brazil, are changing their approach to pasture opting for low-carbon practices that improve soil health, boost productivity & reduce pressure to expand.    "With rotational grazing, we can preserve the areas we have, and produce more in the areas that are already open," says Alaion Souza, a rancher from the Tuerê settlement, in the Transamazônica region of Pará, who is taking part in the #AmazoniaConnect initiative. Technical assistance tailored to farmers’ needs via Fundação Solidaridad is helping increase adoption of low-carbon practices that contribute to climate action. We’re currently working with 700 small-scale cattle ranching families in the municipalities of Novo Repartimento, Anapu and Pacajá with more than 23,000 hectares covered by good agricultural practices. Check out this short film with results from the initiative's first year:  https://lnkd.in/gyuifR7q Amazonia Connect is a partnership between USAID, Solidaridad Network, Earth Innovation Institute, National Wildlife Federation and University of Wisconsin-Madison. Together with USAID’s Amazon Regional Environment Program, producers, companies, local governments and financial institutions, the initiative promotes and scales low-carbon agricultural production to improve biodiversity conservation and climate resilience in Brazil, Colombia and Peru. *** #AREP #AmazoniaConnect #SustainableLivestock #SmallScaleRanching

Check out the video in the post below to learn about another successful project with Amazonia Connect, a partnership between USAID, Solidaridad Network, Earth Innovation Institute, National Wildlife Federation and University of Wisconsin-Madison. Together with USAID’s Amazon Regional Environment Program, producers, companies, local governments and financial institutions, the initiative promotes and scales low-carbon agricultural production to improve biodiversity conservation and climate resilience in Brazil, Colombia and Peru.

Good retort article emphasising the importance of benefit sharing from Africa's biodiversity for nature and people. Africa's wildlife belongs in the hands of Africans, who conserve it and should benefit. Nice point of how South Africa can use #OECMs to recognise and strengthen the diversity of governance and management types conserving Africa's biodiversity

⚒️ New Announcement ⚒️ New IFACC signatory, Belterra Agroforestry, received a R$ 20 million investment from Impact Earth’s biodiversity fund Fundo de Biodiversidade da Amazônia. The funding will support small and medium-sized farmers in Brazil in implementing agroforestry systems to recover degraded lands. To read more about what IFACC does, press the link in the comments ⬇️ #IFACC #InnovativeFinance

Protect bird species unique to a remote Indonesian island and restricted to pockets of their original habitat in the crater of an extinct volcano, Mt. Sahendaruman! Sangihe Island in Indonesia is a biodiversity hotspot of the highest order, holding the last-remaining populations of some of Earth’s most threatened birds. The most threatened among them include the Critically Endangered Cerulean Flycatcher. Primary forests are rapidly being converted to coconut, pepper, nutmeg and clove plantations — with most of the original forest already gone. Rainforest Trust and partner, Burung Indonesia, are supporting the declaration of 7,756 acres of primary forest habitat on Mt. Sahendaruman as an Area of High Biodiversity Value recognised by the Government of Indonesia. Rainforest Trust is also advocating for designation of 494 acres as Village Forests, creating a buffer against further encroachment and forest clearing on the mountaintop. Their goal is to immediately protect the birds’ known habitats, regularly monitor their status, and increase local awareness of the importance and uniqueness of these exceptional birds. Donate today to protect species being pushed to the verge of extinction by habitat destruction: https://bit.ly/3RuQsg5 📸: Cerulean flycatcher by Agami Photo Agency #Wildlife #Conservation #Biodiversity #Indonesia #BirdsOfInstagram #Birds