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1. Birdlife International reports that women are championing mangrove conservation in Nigeria

   Posted on 9:00pm Monday 12th Mar 2018

   International bird conservation charity BirdLife International report that a group in Nigeiria is empowering women and the community to protect the very productive but rapidly disappearing mangrove forests there. Groups of women are helping commuinties to restore and manage mangrove forests in 5 villages in South East Nigeria.   It’s a important breeding site.  Crocodiles, tortoises, turtles, fish, shrimps, crab, snails, clam and oysters call this area home.  Local people depend on the forest to support their livelihoods.  For the forests have been overharvested.  Trees have been used for firewood in homes and to build canoes.  Patches of forest have been cleared for housing.   This means that ecosystems and economic benefits have put the mangroves at risk.  But the good news is that 7 women on the frontline are working with communities. Workshops reaching 330 women are raising awareness about the importance of mangrove restoration and tree planting. Just 9 months after the project was started, over 400 trees have been planted in key areas.  Another 600 have been ear-marked for distribution to women in the communities to promote agro-forestry practice. And 2 nursery sites have been established in 2 communities to grow the Rhizophora species of mangrove tree, and over 400 seedlings grown! Fly away to BirdLife International for more information

2. Ecuador declares new National Park for the first time in 9 years

   Posted on 7:00am Tuesday 6th Mar 2018

   Ecuador declares new National Park Good news from Ecuador! It’s just declared the protection of the country’s first national park in 9 years – the Rio Negro – Sophadora National Park. It’s an important protection.   The reserve fills a big gap in a Páramo and Cloud Forest down the eastern Andes.  It’s between two national parks – the Sangay and Podocarpus.   What’s more, a recent survey of its incredible wildlife has discovered 3 news species – a frog, a caecilian and a salamander, so it’s very exciting. This has been achieved through a number of groups working together: Nature and Culture International Municipal governments The Ministry of the Environment Local communities The new reserve covers 75,654 acres.   Nature and Culture International undertook a Rapid Biological Assessment which showed the region’s ecosystems to be unique for its biodiversity and endemism, and having dramatic altitude changes over short distances. These altitude gradients encourage the evolution of diverse species and provide a critical “escape valve” for climate change.  They give an upward migration path to cooler temperatures which help species survive as the climate gets hotter.  The Rapid Biological Assessment showed 43 species of mammans in the area, including threatened specials such as the Spectacled Bear, Mountain Tapir and Andean Condor.   And there are also 546 species of plants, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals.  And there’s more from the Nangaritza Reserve Supporters of the UK based charity World Land Trust helped fund a 447 acre extension to protect other areas in the Sangay – Podocarpus Corridor, namely the Nangaritza Reserve.   It has foothill forests close to the Podocarpus National Park.   It’s really critical to connect large protected areas such as national parks, to ensure the health of wildlife population.  It's home to birds such as the Orange-throated Tanager, Cinnamon-breasted Tody Tyrant and Ecuadorian Piedtail. You can help by donating £25 to the World Land Trust’s Buy an Acre programme, and help it continue to fund land purchase and create nature reserves to protect threatened habitats and wildlife.

3. Good news from Colombia - Chiribiquete National Park is to be extended

   Posted on 9:00pm Monday 5th Mar 2018

   Good news from Colombia. The President, Juan Manuel Santos, has announced plans to extend the country’s largest national park by 1.5 million hectares.  At the moment, the Chiribiquete National Park covers 2.8 million hectares in the Amazon region, so this planned extension is enormous.   The National Park has got one of the highest rates of plant diversity in the northern Amazon, and it’s famous for its tepuis (table-top rock formations) which rise out of the forest.   In fact, the forest is located on one of the world’s oldest rock formations, the Guiana Shield.  The park is rich in wildlife and it has traces of ancient human life.  Francisco Forero Bonell, a phpotographer, documented ancient paintings on the sheer rock faces depicting animals and humans.  They are thought to have been made by one of the indigenous groups which lived in the area way before the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors. The Colombian government is hoping that Chiribiquete will be added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites this year;  it’s on the tentative list at the moment, and the World Heritage Committee will study the application in June.

4. Côte d’Ivoire's forests get a financial boost

   Posted on 8:00pm Monday 5th Mar 2018

   The Côte d’Ivoire has only two million hectares of forest – nearly 90% less than in the early 1960s.   80% of its forests vanished in 50 years, but Ivorian forest cover has slowly risen to about 12 million ha in 1970 and 4 million in 2000, according to the Director of Cabinet of the Ministry of the Environment. To stop deforestation and forest degradation, a loan and grant agreement for FCFA 7.5 billion (that’s about 11.4 million euros) was signed in February 2018 between the Ivorian Minister of Economy and Trade and the Director of Operations of the World Bank for Côte d'Ivoire in favour of the Forest Investment Program (FIP).  The 5-year project will support the sustainable management of classified forests and the monitoring capacity of Taï National Park.  Communities depending on it will be involved, and there will be incentive mechanisms to generate other forms of income to reduce human impact on the area. Global Forest Watch for the Côte d'Ivoire   Find out about the Rainforest Trust's work to protect the Tanoé Forest in the Cote d'Ivoire and how you can help

    

5. Canadian wildlife benefit from 2018 Budget

   Posted on 9:00pm Thursday 1st Mar 2018

   Canadian wildlife would surely be leaping for joy (if they can leap) at the news that the Budget 2018 will earmark significant funds to protect Canada’s nature, parks and wild spaces. $1.3 billion will be invested over 5 years.  Preserving the country’s natural areas ensure that Canada will remain a place where people want to live, work, invest – and visit.  So protecting the environment and helping the economy can marry well. Finance Minister Bill Morneau said in his budget speech to the House of Commons, “Canada is one of the most beautiful places on Earth.   It is up to us all to help keep it that way.” Canada has pledged to protect 17% of her land and inland waters, and 10% of her coastal and marine areas by the end of the decade.   Countries are working to reach these global targets by 2020 around the world.                                                                   The budget recognises the importance of private land conservation and $500 million from the government towards the $1 billion nature fund will encourage collaboration as provinces, territories, corporate and charitable organisations work together to conserve land and protect species at risk. There is commitment to increase the federal capacity to protect species at risk, and there are new recovery strategies: expanding national wildlife areas and migratory bird sanctuaries, and establish a new network of conservation areas, working with provincial, territorial and – crucially – indigenous partners. There are expanded measures to include Indigenous Peoples in creating and managing protective areas.  Indigenous governments have played roles already in creating protected areas across the country, from Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve of British Columbia’s northern coast to the Torngat Mountains National Park in Labrador. This budget is being described as a game-changer for nature conservation in Canada.  It should support vital work to protect the habitats, animals and plants at greatest risk.   Canada has significant intact natural areas, and land trusts are specially placed to leverage the government’s investment to help slow or reverse species decline and mitigate the effects of climate change. This move was welcomed by organisations such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.