"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead, American anthropologist, 1901-1978
SOS (Sumatran Orangutan Society) has a new project partner – Nature for Change (NFC).
They work to save the forests of the Leuser Ecosystem by addressing the survival of people living near the ecosystem’s buffer zone.
Back in 2019, they enabled farmers to plant 5,000 fruit trees. They are growing another 5,000 in their community tree nursery – and these will be planted in 2020.
The team has started to work with farmers on bee-keeping as another way to make a living. An expert visited them in January 2020 to train the farmers who were taking part in how to set up beehive and the hives will have bees in them very soon!
NFC also has implemented its border patrol team. They have been trained by national part officers and they are working on a number of things:
They maintain the trails along the national park border
They fix and replace signs
They record observations about wildlife tracks and signs along the border
They meet with farmers to build trust and gain their understanding so that they can appreciate how the farmers feel about wildlife.
The team has also installed camera traps along animal trails. These will give them a good understanding of the kind of wildlife in the area – wild pigs, Thomas leaf monkeys and porcupines have been spotted already. This is invaluable information because it helps the team plan their work with farmers and their crops.
This is all very exciting, because locals are essential in any battle to preserve habitat for wildlife and yet give those living there an income.
On 16 January 2020, the Governement of Belize signed the declaration of North-eastern Biological Corridor of Belize. It covers an area of nearly 70,000 acres and links the northernmost nature reserve in Belize with more central natural habitats.
It’s really important, because it’s the first step towards achieving a total North-South corridor crossing the whole country as the map shows!
It’s a tremendous example of public-private partnership: the government of Belize, local NGOs, private landowners and many international donors – including the World Land Trust – have been involved.
UNITED FOR CONSERVATION, WE CAN DO GREAT THINGS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE BETTER
The corridor connects a system of three protected areas in one system. Deforestation has caused the loss of over 25,000 acres of forest in tihe last 10 years.
This will now allow big animals such as jaguar and Baird’s Tapirs enough space to move freely between protected areas and so ensure their long term survival! It will also help build climate resilience into Belize’s network of protected areas.
Why was this acquisition necessary?
In Belize, about 50% of the country is under natural vegetation cover. About 35% of the country is under some form of protection.
So it is still possible to create biological corridors between protected areas.
It’s vital that these acquisitions take place, and speedily, because agricultural development are increasingly encroaching on forest.
How did supporters of the World Land Trust – people like you & me – help in this achievement?
The World Land Trust mobilised its supporters and inspired new ones to raise funds to support this land acquisition. It included 2018’s Big Match Fortnight Jungle for Jaguars campaign, and another Buy an Acre opportunity a few months after that. (The Big Match Fortnight normally comes in October when donations are matched for a specific appeal – it is incredible how much and how speedily this builds up.)
Donate in memory of someone special I donated to this campaign during the Big Match Fortnight (actually in memory of my wonderful Dad as his birthday is in November and I plant a tree or do a buy an acre on his birthday and at Christmas for him, as Dad loved trees).
Ask someone to donate as a gift for you I asked my husband to also donate as my early Christmas present and it was by far the best present I had. It really meant something to me. We had made a difference.
I cannot tell you the glow and warm feeling I have in my heart when I think of my jaguar roaming the biological corridor. I call him “my jaguar” – he obviously isn’t, and I’m never going to meet him – but it’s lovely to think that because I donated and my husband has too, we’ve helped him and lots of other animals.
Please do donate to the World Land Trust if you can, and keep an eye on their website. I often post news of their new appeals here, so you can watch this space as well. They are a wonderful charity and it’s good to give a meaningful gift which will last, so if you’re looking for a gift for a wildlife lover, making a donation could be a great way to do something to really make a difference – a win, win, win all round!
This was the You Tube Video for Jungle for Jaguars – it raised £532,000 in the Big Match Fortnight (normally early October) alone and hit the £600,000 target by Christmas, helping to save 8,154 vital acres. A further 1,818 acres were saved a few months later.
There’s a programme on Channel 4 tonight (Monday 3 February 2020) at 8pm that I’m not sure I really want to watch, but I can’t help feeling I should.
I am watching it and there are graphic images and footage, just to warn you.
Australia on Fire: Climate Emergency is the story of the battle to save Australia form the bushfires. It includes first-hand accounts from firefighters on the front line, and looks at the long-term impact of the fires on the animal population and ecology.
Drone footage show the extent of the devastation.
There’s also coverage of those who just escaped their burning properties – and we hear from those who have gone back to properties that are burnt out.
Thank you to all those everywhere who fought the fires and worked so hard and continue to work hard to help the animals in Australia.
Lewis the koala, who was rescued by a very brave lady and taken to Port Macquerie Koala Hopsital, was sadly put to sleep.
When there was hope for Lewis.... Sadly he had to be put to sleep From The National
He'd been put under general anaesthetic to assess his burns and change his bandages and unfortunately, the burns were getting worse - as can happen - so the decision was made to put Ellenborough Lewis to sleep.
Rest in peace, Lewis, and all the other koalas who have perished in the wildfires.
Thinking of everyone at the koala hospital who worked so hard to help Lewis and are working to help koalas who have suffered in the bushfires. And of the lady who rescued Lewis.
Please make a donation if you can to the hospital - why not do it in memory of Lewis?
I have just read the most terrible news. Koala populations and their habitat have decreased to such an extent that they are now “functionally extinct”.
Forbes.com reports that Chairman of the Australian Koala Foundation estimates that over 1,000 koalas have been killed from the fires. 80% of their habitat has been destroyed, thanksk to bush fires, prolonged drought and deforestation.
Functionally extinct occurs where a population has become so limited that their population is no longer viable. The small number of the surviving animals means that they are unlikely to survive long term.
Koalas eat up to 2 pounds of eucalyptus leaves a day. And bushfires and deforestation has destroyed this main food source. The recovery of such plants after fires will take months – so there will be no food for the koalas.
HELP KOALAS
The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital has a Go Fund Me page. The hope was is that they would reach $25,000.
So far, they have raised $1.35 million from 35,000 donors.
One of the things they want to do is to install drinking stations for koalas in areas devastated by the fires. And they want to have a Koala Ark so that burned koalas can live in a healthy habitat as they recover.
The hospital are searching for koalas, along with the National Parks and Wildlife Service crew leaders. So far 31 koalas have been brought to the hospital from various fire locations.
Koalas arriving at the hospital are rehydrated and examined for burns. Burns are treated with cream, and then bandaged. Dressings are changed every three days.
The hospital wanted to raise money to buy and distribute automatic drinking stations in the burnt areas to help koalas and wildlife. Now, more will be built, and shared with other wildlife organisations in areas affected by fire. Two will go to the Northern Rivers fire area next week.
The hospital is buying a water carrying vehicle with fire fighting capabilities to replenish the drinking stations with water as they need it.
Thanks to the incredible amount of money raised, the hospital is going to establish a wild koala breeding programme.
The bushfires in and around the Port Macquarie area killed about 350 koalas. 75% of the fireground footprint was prime koala habitat.
As well as donating to help the koalas, we can all do what we can do consider how our life style is impacting on the planet. The human race has caused enough destruction of our natural world. It’s time to do the right thing and put this right.