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"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
 


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  1. Pub, local residents and children help wildlife in Queensland with a new watering hole

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    Children in Urandangi in the Australian state of Queensland are doing wonderful work keeping the local wildlife well watered.

    Urandangi was founded in 1885 with a general store. It's grown a bit since then and recently locals noticed that the local wildlife had nothing to drink as the river’s been dry for 2 years.

    So locals did something about it to help wildlife.

    With local children’s help, a trough is filled every day.  Kangeroos, pigs and birds visit the trough to drink their fill.

    The trough is filled with a hose from a nearby property.

    Children, local residents and the publican of the Dangi Pub keep a close eye on the water levels to make sure the animals have enough to drink.

    There’s even a sign asking locals not to take the water as it’s meant for wildlife!  It says “This water is for our native and wild friends.  Please do not be mean and borrow it.”

    Well done to the kids of Urandangi and all the residents there for taking action to look after wildlife.  

    Visit the Dangi Pub

    Visit the Lonely Planet Online Shop for books on visiting Australia

     

     

  2. Great news for forest in Tanzania

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    A forest teeming with wildlife in Tanzania has been placed under protection, supported by the World Land Trust and other partners.

    The Magombera Nature Reserve protects 6,425 acres of tropical forest.   It’s managed by the Tanzania Forest Conservation Group.  The land would otherwise been threatened by conversation  to a sugar planatation.

    The Magombera Forest is internationally recognised for its diverse landscapes and unique wildlife.   It has African megafauna such as African Elephants and Hippos and it’s been identified as one of the top 20 Priority Prmate areas in Tanzania  and up to now, it’s been the only one without protected status. It’s also got over 500 plant species with a number of rare and endemic trees. 

    It’s home to at least 5 primate species, including Udzungwa Red Colobus, found only in this valley and the neighbouring Udzungwa Mountains, Angolan Black and White Colobus, Sykes’s Monkey, Greater Bushbaby and Udzungwa Galago.

    Local communities have shown strong support for the conservation of the Magombera Forest.   It helps regulate climate, present flooding and maintains soil fertility for crops.

    But villagers are benefiting from entrance fees paid by tourists to visit the forests.

    The TFCG was able to buy 3,030 acres of the reserve from a sugar company, thanks to the joint support of the World Land Trust, Flamingo Land, Aage V.Jensen Charity Foundation and Rainforest Trust. 

    The other 3,395 acres belong to the Tanzanian government already and will now be protected as the Magombera Nature Reserve which is the highest level of protection available under the Tanzania Forest Service.

    Back in 2008, it had been predicted that the forest understory be gone by 2018 if the rates of logging young straight trees had continued without intervention. There had been drastic deforestation since the 1950s – some 988,420 acres had been lost in the Kilombero Valley and the Magombera Forest was all that had remained.

    Visit the World Land Trust here to find out more

    Support the World Land Trust's Plant a Tree Appeal 

     

     

  3. Good News on Rhinos and Zebras from the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

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    The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy had much to celebrate at the end of 2018 so I thought I'd pick out two things which they are celebrating to tell you about :-) 

    The Conservancy is located at the foothills of Mount Kenya, and it works to protect and manage of species, initiate and support  community conservation and development programmes, and educate neighbouring areas in the value of wildlife.

    So here are a couple of successes Lewa had in 2018

    17 Rhino Births and ZERO poaching

    With their landscape partner Boran Conservancy, Lewa is now home to over 170 rhinos!  They are looking forward to reaching the 200 rhino milestone!   

    The rhinos moved from Lewa to the Sera Community Conservancy are also thriving with rhino birds and no poaching.


    There were 17 rhino births in 2018
    © Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

    The plan is to remove fences between Lewa, Borana and Il Ngwesi Community Conservancy so that there's a secure space for their growing population.  

    Increase in the survival rate of Grevy's zebra foals

    Previoulsy, predation lessened the number of foals who survived into adulthood.   This slowed population growth.   The good rains in 2018 provided healthy pasture needed for the foals and other wildlife to survive and thrive.  There are just 2,800 Grevy Zebra left in the world, and 11% are found on Lewa, so this increase is important.


    Lewa recorded an increase in the survival rate of Grevy's zebra foals


    Lewa has also been busy educating 400 Northern Kenya students, teaching them about land degradation and human-wildlife conflict and what they can do to address these challenges.   In 2018, 400 students and their teachers visited Lewa and they received lessons on things such as reforestation, water harvesting and wildlife protection. 
    Find out more about the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and how you can help

  4. Black bear spotted on camera in Mexico

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    Great news from Mexico!

    The World Land Trust reports that trail cameras in the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve there have filmed a Black Bear recorded in central Mexico.  

    This is the first Black Bear recorded there for 100 years!

    There's also footage of a nine-banded Armadillo and Jaguar.

    Back in 2018, supporters of the World Land Trust raised a whopping £57,800 to protect an area of the forest of 578 acres - that's the size of nearly 300 football pitches!
    Would you like to help the World Land Trust protect more acres for wildlife?

    If you're thinking, "yes, I would!" visit their website here.

     

  5. Palau - islands making a difference

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    What’s special about Palau?

    It’s an island situated in the western part of the Pacific ocean and it consists of one large volcanic island and several smaller coral reef associated islands.

    It’s small.  But it takes action.

    Palau is imposing a widespread ban on sunscreen in order to protect its coral reefs.  This ban will come into effect in 2020.

    The sale and use of sunscreen and skincare products which have a list of 10 different chemicals will be restricted.  Researchers believe that these ingredients are highly toxic to marine life.  They can also make coral more susceptible to bleaching.  The ingredients oxybenzone and octinoxate are particularly believed to make coral more susceptible. 

    Palau has taken the lead in protecting marine life before.

    Back in 2015 it designated almost its entire ocean territory as a marine protected zone.

    It was the second nation to ratify the 2016 Paris climate agreement.

    Thousands of visitors go to Palau every year – and the islands are determined to protect their coral reefs.

    As well as sunscreen, reefs are also threatened by sea water warming, over fishing, nutrient enrichment and pollution. These all need to be stopped to halt the continuing degradation of reef ecosystems.

    But that said, there is always more that can be done, we have to start somewhere, so thank you Palau for leading the way and showing that action can be taken.

    After all, many visitors to come to see the coral reefs in all their beauty, not bleached coral reefs in a terrible state.

    There are bans in other places.  Mexico has banned sunscreen in nature reserves.   The Island of Bonaire in the Caribbean and the state of Hawaii have also passed laws. 

    But Palau is leading the way as it covers 10 chemicals.

    Needless to say, some of the big corporates who produce sunscreen products are sulking, saying that there isn’t enough evidence of the impact on coral.  But some have come together to form the Safe Sunscreen Council and they’ve welcomed the move. 

    Come on other nations – if little Palau can do it, why can’t you? 

    Visit also Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, a nonprofit organization working for healthy coral reefs, clean ocean water and abundant native fish for the islands of Maui Nui