Biodiversity Conservation Efforts

Birds are changing — and Indigenous memory is the longest record we have Conservation has long depended on measurement. Populations are counted, habitats mapped, and trends plotted against baselines that often extend back only a few decades. Yet many ecosystems began changing long before systematic monitoring began. In much of the world, the longest continuous records of environmental change reside not in databases but in memory, language, and daily practice. Researchers increasingly suggest that these forms of knowledge can reveal patterns otherwise difficult to detect. A recent study led by Álvaro Fernández-Llamazares illustrates the point. Researchers worked with ten Indigenous and local communities across three continents, asking adults to recall the birds most common around their territories today and during their childhoods. The survey produced nearly 7,000 reports covering 283 species over roughly eighty years. When matched with scientific data on body size, the responses indicated a consistent shift toward smaller-bodied birds—equivalent to an estimated 72% reduction in average body mass across sites. The finding echoes scientific literature documenting widespread avian decline. Long-term studies in tropical forests, including parts of the Amazon, have recorded steep drops in bird abundance even in areas with limited direct disturbance. What stands out in the new work is the method. The signal emerges from lived experience accumulated across generations. Traditional ecological knowledge, often called TEK, is best understood as a system rather than a set of facts. Hunters, fishers, and farmers track subtle ecological cues because their livelihoods depend on them. Over time these observations form implicit baselines—expectations about how ecosystems normally behave. When birds become fewer, smaller, or arrive later, the change becomes noticeable. Such knowledge is especially valuable where long-term scientific monitoring is sparse. Indigenous communities often live in regions with limited instrumental records, from tropical forests to Arctic coastlines. Their observations can extend the historical window of environmental assessment. Modern conservation tends to privilege quantitative metrics. Yet some ecological shifts are first noticed qualitatively: a hunter remarking on lighter game, a fisher noting thinner fish, a farmer observing altered migration patterns. These observations arise from sustained attention to specific places. Satellites can monitor deforestation in near real time. But they cannot tell us what a forest sounded like half a century ago or which birds once filled the canopy. Memory sometimes can. Where instruments are recent but human presence is long, the past persists in stories and practice—records that may help explain what has quietly disappeared. 🦜 Full piece with citations: https://lnkd.in/gznhYiF2 📷 Royal flycatcher. By Mileniusz Spanowicz / WCS

The Wildlife Crossings That Changed Everything in Banff In the 1950s, when the Trans-Canada Highway was first laid through Banff National Park, it wasn’t built for the level of traffic it sees today. As the years went by and vehicle numbers grew, so did the number of animal-vehicle collisions. Elk, moose, bears, and other wildlife, key species in the park's ecosystem, were being killed at alarming rates. By the 1980s, the scale of the problem was undeniable. Wildlife deaths weren’t just a conservation issue, they posed serious safety risks for drivers too. Parks Canada knew that minor fixes wouldn’t cut it. A more comprehensive and innovative solution was needed. That’s when the idea of wildlife crossings came to life. Over the years, 6 overpasses and 38 underpasses were constructed along a stretch of the highway within Banff. But these weren't ordinary structures. They were designed to mimic the surrounding environment, covered with native vegetation, soil, and trees to make animals feel safe and comfortable using them. The results have been nothing short of extraordinary: More than 80% reduction in wildlife-vehicle collisions overall. Over 96% reduction for elk and deer specifically. Hundreds of thousands of documented animal crossings since their installation, with species ranging from cougars and wolves to amphibians. Banff’s wildlife crossings have now become a global model for infrastructure that coexists with nature. They prove that with smart planning and ecological awareness, we can redesign systems that not only prevent harm but actively restore balance. The key takeaway? Instead of forcing nature to adapt to our systems, we can redesign systems to align with nature, safely, sustainably, and successfully. #WildlifeConservation #SustainableInfrastructure #BanffNationalPark #EcoDesign #GreenEngineering #WildlifeCrossings #NatureBasedSolutions #RoadEcology #SystemsThinking #HumanNatureCoexistence #ClimateAction #InnovativeDesign #SafetyAndSustainability #EnvironmentalLeadership

I’ve long believed that one of the most powerful ways to advance conservation is to make the economic case for nature. A new report from The Nature Conservancy does exactly that.    Nature’s Dividends brings together decades of research from more than 1,000 studies, and the takeaway is clear: investing in nature delivers real returns for people, communities and the economy.    🔷 For every $1 the federal government invests in conservation, the average return is $4.  🔷 In some states, conservation programs deliver returns as high as $11 for every $1 invested.  🔷 Smart conservation can save $7 in future disaster costs for every dollar spent — while also protecting lives and livelihoods.    Nature fuels jobs, supports working lands and fisheries, protects clean drinking water, reduces risks from floods and fires, and improves our physical and mental health. These benefits show up on the ground in stronger local economies and more resilient communities.    If we want a healthy future for people and nature, conservation is one of the smartest investments we can make. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ePFucUnC

Biodiversity loss kills 🌍💀: This is the story of how the near-extinction of a single bird species led to 100,000 human deaths per year in India.🇮🇳   In the 90s, the number of Indian vultures in the wild fell by over 95%. It turned out, that vultures died because of the use of the painkiller in veterinary clinics. Treating cattle with diclofenac produced carcasses that were deadly to vultures. Vultures provided an important public health service by removing livestock carcasses, which helps prevent water pollution and the spread of infectious diseases.   Two economists estimated that human death rates rose by over 4% in areas where vultures were common.   This implies an average of 104,386 additional deaths a year. 😲   💡Thus, the loss of a single bird species can be catastrophic for public health.   The story of the Indian vultures teaches us that, in an era of mass extinctions, we need more than ever policies that protect biodiversity.   Source: Eyal Frank and Anant Sudarshan, 2024, The social costs of keystone species collapse: Evidence from the decline of vultures in India., forthcoming American Economic Review.

Climate change IS NOT the main source of biodiversity loss.   ▶ The situation is alarming: since 1970, 69% of mammal, bird, fish, reptile, and amphibian populations have disappeared (WWF, 2020).   ▶ The global rate of species extinction is 10 to 100 times higher than the average over the last 10 million years (IPBES, 2022).   As explained in a previous post, the decline in biodiversity is also a threat to human survival. If only because agriculture depends on it: for pollination, maintaining healthy soils, and controlling pests.   The decline in biodiversity is often associated with global warming, and we believe that reducing our greenhouse gas emissions will be enough to solve the problem.   Unfortunately, the situation is more complex.   According to IPBES, there are 5 drivers of biodiversity loss:   1️⃣ Changing use of land and sea: such as converting forests, wetlands, and other natural habitats for agricultural and urban uses.   2️⃣ Direct exploitation of organisms: for example through over-fishing and hunting.   3️⃣ Climate change: rising temperatures are already affecting the most vulnerable ecosystems such as coral reefs, mountains, and polar systems.   4️⃣ Pollution: for example, ammonia, mainly from intense agriculture.   5️⃣ Invasive non-native species: often brought by humans, those species out-compete local biodiversity for resources such as water and sunlight.   Interestingly enough, IPBES also identified 2 indirect drivers: people's disconnect with nature and lack of recognition of the value and importance of nature.   "If people do not feel connected to nature, and therefore don't care for nature and see its importance, they are more likely to over-exploit and not take seriously the impacts of climate change, pollution and invasive non-native species."   So what can we do to tackle biodiversity loss?   🌳 Reconnecting with nature and making sure everyone has access to it. In particular precarious urban populations who are surrounded by concrete and who often don't have the means for a vacation by the sea or in the mountains.   🥗 But let's be honest, it won't be enough. Above all, we need a thorough reform of our food system. Food production has caused 70% of biodiversity loss on land and 50% in freshwater - through several of the drivers mentioned above.   Globally reducing the amount of meat and animal-sourced food currently consumed and supporting more nature-friendly and biodiversity-supporting farming will be critical. I will share more about this in the coming days. Sources: IBPES, UNEP, WWF, Scotland's nature agency, and Pixabay (pictures)

People are surprised technology is saving elephants in India. “Did they build huge fences?” No. “Did they stop running trains?” No. “Did they move the elephants?” No. They built an AI-powered early warning system. Set up 12 towers. Added 24 high-resolution cameras. And let 25 forest staff monitor every movement. Since November 2023, more than 6,500 elephants have crossed railway tracks safely. No magic. No fancy speeches. Just technology and teamwork in action. The system alerts railway authorities instantly. Trains slow down or stop. Elephants move freely. Lives are saved. I’ve noticed this pattern repeatedly: Those who see technology as a threat stay stuck. Those who use technology for solutions keep advancing. This isn’t just about conservation. It’s about how we approach challenges everywhere. The real innovation isn’t in the tools alone. It’s in the willingness to imagine coexistence. Every safe crossing is proof: When humans and technology work together, survival is no longer a fight, it's a partnership.

“𝘍𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 £1 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 £10 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘴.” Howgill Beck in Cumbria teaches us a valuable lesson. It represents not just a beautiful nature restoration but also a blueprint for resilience. It has been re-meandered, reconnected, and revived. I am excited to see Professor Neil Entwistle, The University of Salford, RSPB, Natural England team, and their delivery partners awarded the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗨𝗞 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲 (𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵-𝘚𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥) for their outstanding work in restoring 1.8 km of river. This year marks Neil's fifth consecutive win at the UK River Awards for different projects across the country, each at various scales. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿? 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗨𝗞 𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀: ➜ 90% are polluted, straightened, or disconnected  ➜ 1 in 6 homes is at risk of flooding  ➜ Flooding already costs the UK over £2 billion annually  ➜ Poor water quality is hammering farming, fishing, and public health  ➜ The UK ranks bottom in Europe for bathing water quality We’ve engineered rivers to drain land quickly only to watch that water flood our homes, poison ecosystems, and strain public finances. The Howgill Beck project shows another way. Flood peaks are lower.  The land holds more water.  Redshanks and sandpipers are back.  And the cost? A fraction of post-flood recovery using process-based restoration. This is Nature as Infrastructure in action. ✔ 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵  ✔ 𝘚𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥  ✔ 𝘍𝘪𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦  ✔ 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨-𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘴 It’s time to stop treating river restoration as a side project and start scaling it like the critical natural infrastructure it is. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁? Let’s expand our efforts from 2 km to 2,000 km. We should invest in river restoration to improve climate adaptation and resilience for our homes, businesses, and vital national infrastructure. This will create a UK that is prosperous, resilient, and a great place to live. #UKRiverPrize #ClimateResilience #InvestInNature #NatureIsInfrastructure #FloodRisk #WaterSecurity #NaturalCapital #CatchmentBasedApproach

Valuing Indigenous knowledge in conjunction with Western science involves reshaping how we present and prioritize educational narratives. Sarah Bliss Director of Land Conservation at Mojave Desert Land Trust shared that one way MDLT embodies this is by placing the tribal name in Serrano first on their lists and materials. This approach highlights and honors ancestral knowledge, ensuring that it is not just an add-on but a central, foundational piece of understanding. By doing this, MDLT challenges the typical hierarchy where Western science takes precedence, creating a more inclusive narrative that respects the deep-rooted expertise of Indigenous cultures. When people visit the garden or the desert, there is often a misconception that these landscapes are barren wastelands. However, accompanying tribal elders on these explorations reveals a profoundly different perspective—the desert as a hospital, food pantry, and toolbox for tribal nations. This understanding shifts the narrative from a place of scarcity to one of abundance, interconnectedness, and resilience. Ethnobotany plays a critical role in bridging these insights. It is not just about identifying plants but also understanding the cultural connections, history, and human relationships tied to each species. This deeper lens shows that every plant holds stories and knowledge passed down through generations, encompassing uses for medicine, food, tools, and rituals. Highlighting and integrating Indigenous knowledge not only enriches environmental education but also fosters respect for the people who have stewarded these lands for millennia. By emphasizing cultural connections and valuing this knowledge on equal footing with Western science, we create a more holistic and accurate representation of environmental stewardship. To learn more about these unique relationships and MDLT’s work in conservation, be sure to watch the full episode on my Youtube channel. #science #education #research #academia #indigenous

🐚 "When the tide goes out, our table is set for dinner." 🐟 This ancient saying from the Samish Indian Nation illuminates the deep relationship between Indigenous communities and their environment. But the Nation is now also having to adapt to some of the worst heatwaves known in the region. 🐋 A systems approach 🐋 Warming waters are being linked to the decline of many species including Pacific Salmon, smelt, herring, steelhead trout, halibut, sucker, clams, oysters, and bull kelp; however, the Samish Nation recognise that such declines relate to the health of the ecosystem within which those species thrive. 🪢 Close ties 🪢 The Samish Nation has deep traditional relationships with nature that instructs proper relationship with the land, waters, and resources by teaching lessons left for them by ancestors about both the natural and spiritual worlds and how those worlds cannot be separated. 💡 Hope in Bull Kelp 💡 In response, the Samish Nation has been proactive and are turning to an ancient ally - bull kelp. The Samish Nation recognise that this the extent of this marine plant has reduced dramatically and that this needs to be reversed as bull kelp serves as a nursery for many fish species, as well as being a natural carbon sink, as well as providing an important ecosystem for a wide range of marine species. 🤝 Collective Action 🤝 The goal? The Samish Nation intend to understand the causes of its decline and devise strategies for its revival, so that it can continue to nourish the community as well as contribute in the fight against a warming climate. This article struck a chord with me because it highlights the Samish Nation's holistic approach to ecosystem restoration. According to their traditions and culture they’re not just reviving bull kelp; they're rebuilding an entire ecosystem to restore environmental balance and to preserve the long-term well-being of their community. #kelp #indigenousknowledge #sustainability #marineconservation #indigenouspeoples https://lnkd.in/evtHwuvp

Healthy forests cool our planet, regulate rain, store carbon, buffer storms and droughts, protect biodiversity and sustain communities. They deliver water to our crops, medicine to our hospitals and cultural identity to millions. But when forests are neglected, degraded or destroyed, the balance flips and the costs are immense. 🌲 We’re losing carbon sinks: Deforestation and degradation are turning once-resilient forests into sources of emissions. #Wildfires and land clearing pushed the global forest carbon sink to its lowest level in two decades. 🔥 We’re losing natural protection: Hotter, drier conditions are fueling fires that burn twice as much forest as they did 20 years ago. Mangroves are disappearing just as storms intensify and sea levels rise. 💧 We’re losing resilience: Forests are “rainmakers” and “air conditioners,” stabilizing water availability and cooling the atmosphere. When they fall, droughts deepen, floods worsen, and local climates destabilize. This shift from asset to liability is already happening. The warning signs are everywhere. The real question is not scientific. It’s political. Will we act? Just as any valuable property needs maintenance, so do our forests. This means: ✔️ Early detection of illegal logging and degradation ✔️ Fire-proofing landscapes ✔️ Climate-proofing ecosystems ✔️ Protecting intact forest cores ✔️ Safeguarding high-value and Indigenous-managed areas World Meteorological Organization’s work shows that when forests disappear, regional climates shift — rainfall patterns weaken, heat extremes intensify, coastal vulnerabilities rise. Protecting forests is not just conservation. It is climate resilience. It is food security. It is economic stability. It is human safety. Read More here 👇 https://lnkd.in/ef5RiFtm