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Britain’s Wetlands are the Key to Saving us from Drought, Wildfires and even Floods.  

Glenn and Rick Ecology & Biodiversity
Britain’s wetlands are the key to saving us from drought, wildfires and even floods.  By restoring these natural wet assets that were neglected for decades we can mitigate the worst effects of climate change. Guardian  Tony Juniper 12 Aug. 2022 Fresh water is the lifeblood of civilisation. It makes life on land possible. But we have lost touch with how the water cycle works. As Britain runs further into serious drought, people are asking if we are prepared and if we should have planned better, by building more reservoirs or plugging leaks in the water distribution system.  These are hugely important subjects. What is not being discussed are the severe floods that may well arrive in a few months’ time. Climate change is leading to greater volatility in the water cycle. It’s time to stand back and examine our resilience to water extremes and start improving water quality.One standout conclusion for me is that we need to have much more water in our environment.
During the last 100 years, the UK has lost 90% of its wetlands. This has led to the drastic decline of wildlife and rendered the country more vulnerable to the effects of extreme conditions. Draining fens, desiccating peat bogs, drying floodplains and the claiming of coastal marshes has transformed how our land looks and works. Restoring some of those wetlands could deliver huge benefits. Wetlands can help to keep rivers flowing, even when rain is scarce, thereby protecting the living, shimmering threads that bring life to the landscape. Water standing on the land also helps recharge the aquifers that underpin much of our public water supply. Holding more water in the environment through the restoration of wet ecosystems can reduce flood peaks and protect us from the misery of the flooding that periodically affects communities across the country.  During a recent visit to Norfolk, I saw a newly created beaver pond. The animals had been released by the farmer into a large wooded pen on the site of an old wartime base. A tiny stream had been impounded by the animals to create a quite substantial body of water topped up with winter rain. Since the rain stopped earlier this year, that pond has been sustaining a headwater stream of the Glaven, one of England’s precious chalk rivers. 
The new beaver pond has helped that wonderful watercourse remain in better shape than it would otherwise have been. When it does rain again, that stream will flow more evenly than if there were no beavers, therefore reducing the risk of floods. Beaver ponds and wetlands in general are also excellent at catching carbon and other pollutants such as agricultural fertilisers, so they can play a role in meeting water-quality targets. That beaver pond was also a reminder of how wetlands can bring vibrant life back into otherwise degraded landscapes. Frogspawn, fish, birds and wetland plants had all found a home there........read on   https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/12/britain-wetlands-drought-wildfires-floods-climate-change#:~:text=Restoring%20some%20of%20those%20wetlands,of%20our%20public%20water%20supply.

Endangered Species Day- Every Year on the Third Friday in May & Threats to the ESA

Glenn and Rick Ecology & Biodiversity

Endangered Species Day- held every year on the third Friday in May Monaga Bay  ..https://kids.mongabay.com/this-friday-is-endangered-species-day/ So this article geared for kids -- However maybe all adults should take action as well!    A more serious threat is addressed below.......

 
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is facing unprecedented attacks that threaten some of our nation’s most important species. At the same time, the climate crisis and irresponsible development are leading to catastrophic losses of plant and animal species. Some biologists estimate that 35% of animals and plants could become extinct in the wild by 2050 due to climate change alone. While working to curb our emissions and ensure a livable planet for every species on Earth, we must also ensure that those most at risk and their habitats are protected. This year, on the 50th anniversary of the ESA’s passage, it is more important than ever to uphold this foundational environmental law in the face of continued threats. The ESA’s 50 Years of Success. President Nixon signed the ESA into law in 1973 with overwhelming bipartisan support. The ESA ensures that species in danger of extinction, as well as the ecosystems that support those species, benefit from comprehensive protections. Since its passage, the ESA has secured the survival of iconic species including our nation’s emblem, the bald eagle. Indeed, the ESA has been credited with saving 99% of listed species from extinction, and this achievement is due to the essential collaboration between federal agencies and state, local, and tribal governments. Success stories include the survival of the Florida manatee, seven species of sea turtles, the Channel Island fox, and the gray wolf. Importantly, these species and their habitats are not separate from us. These creatures inhabit the same coasts, forests, bays, and grasslands we do. Often, their loss is an indicator of a broader habitat decline which affects all of us – from the water we drink, the soil we grow our food in, to the larger balance of ecosystems we too are a part of.
Today’s Unprecedented Attacks on the ESA.......There has long been opposition to the ESA’s protections for vulnerable species and habitats, primarily in the name of agricultural development and economic growth. The Trump administration undertook various efforts, both executive and administrative, to prioritize economic development, prevent the use of the best available science, narrow the definition of “habitat,” and overall to interfere with federal agencies’ abilities to prevent species’ extinction. Now, the Biden-Harris administration is taking steps to reverse those actions and strengthen regulations to protect threatened species. However, the attacks continue in Congress. In May, the Senate took an unprecedented step of voting to remove protections for an individually protected species, the critically imperiled lesser prairie chicken, using a deregulatory tool called the Congressional Review Act (CRA). The CRA is an extreme anti-regulatory law, passed under Speaker Gingrich’s leadership in the 90’s, that allows Congress to overturn rules made by an administration and explicitly bans any “substantially similar” rules from being pursued in the future.
Historically, this has been abused by anti-environmental members of Congress who want to permanently strip away protections for our environment, wildlife, and natural heritage. In this case, it could prevent the Fish and Wildlife Service from ever protecting the lesser prairie-chicken under the Endangered Species Act in the future, even if its populations collapsed or just a handful of individual birds remained. The Senate’s May CRA vote was quickly followed by two more votes to remove protections for the northern long-eared bat and to rescind the Biden administration’s expanded definition of “habitat,” which would severely curtail which lands or waters could be considered in ESA designations. President Biden has vowed to veto both resolutions should they pass the House, stating that they would undermine our country’s proud tradition of wildlife conservation and risk the extinction of many critical species.This is part of a larger pattern of attacks on the ESA driven primarily by development and gas and oil interests. Just last week, House Republicans held a hearing “evaluating the costs of the Endangered Species Act” and advocating for individual landowners to make decisions about the future of these species, over scientists and experts. House Republicans also released their interior and environment appropriations bill which proposes funding for everything from the Environmental Protection Agency to the Department of Interior for the Fiscal Year 2024. The bill includes specific provisions rescinding protections under the ESA for critical species like the gray wolf, lesser prairie-chicken, northern long-eared bat, and sage grouse. And we expect to see additional amendments attacking endangered species and their habitats throughout this process.  Article republished with permission from the League of Conservation Voters. by Endangered Species Coalition_8-9-2024    ...............AND.........
Happy World Lion Day, folks! Today we’re shining a spotlight on the king of the jungle – one of the most majestic and iconic animals in the world – and raising awareness of their fight for survival. Sadly, these big cats are in big trouble, as threats from poaching, illegal wildlife trading, climate change, and drastic habitat destruction push them further towards extinction.
Without immediate action, we could lose this species forever! In honor of World Lion Day, join our fight to save lions from all the threats they face.  Here’s the hard truth: The African lion population is less than half of what it was just three decades ago, and experts predict that they could be EXTINCT in the wild by 2050.  Save Animals Facing Extinction P.O. Box 14494 Seattle, WA 98114 United States
SAVE LIONS FROM EXTINCTION →

Half of World’s Bird Species in Decline as Destruction of Avian Life Intensifies.

Glenn and Rick Ecology & Biodiversity

Half of world’s bird species in decline as destruction of avian life intensifies. State of the World’s Birds report warns human actions and climate crisis putting 49% in decline, with one in eight bird species under threat of extinction.Guardian Phoebe Weston  Wed 28 Sep 2022  Nearly half of the planet’s bird species are in decline, according to a definitive report that paints the grimmest picture yet of the destruction of avian life.

The State of the World’s Birds report, which is released every four years by BirdLife International, shows that the expansion and intensification of agriculture is putting pressure on 73% of species. Logging, invasive species, exploitation of natural resources and climate breakdown are the other main threats. Globally, 49% of bird species are declining, one in eight are threatened with extinction and at least 187 species are confirmed or suspected to have gone extinct since 1500. Most of these have been endemic species living on islands, although there is an increase in birds now going extinct on larger land masses, particularly in tropical regions. In Ethiopia, for example, the conversion of grassland to farmland has caused an 80% decrease in endemic Liben larks since 2007. Just 6% of bird species globally are increasing. Since 1970, 2.9 billion individual birds (29% of the total) have been destroyed in North America. The picture is just as bleak in other parts of the world – since 1980, 600 million birds (19%) have been destroyed in Europe, with previously abundant species such as the common swift, common snipe and rook among those slipping towards extinction. Europe’s farmland birds have shown the most significant declines: 57% have disappeared as a result of increased mechanisation, use of chemicals and converting land into crops. In Australia, 43% of abundant seabird species have declined between 2000 and 2016. Dr Stuart Butchart, chief scientist at BirdLife International, said: “We have to stop these declines and start getting on track for recovery. Our future, as well as the world’s birds, depends on it. If we continue to unravel the fabric of life, we’re going to continue to place our own future at threat.” The report is made up of a compendium of other studies, and because birds are the best-studied group on the planet, it gives an idea of the state of nature more generally. “Birds are useful for telling us about the state of the planet. What they say is that nature is in poor condition, lots of species are in decline,” said Butchart.

Birds are cornerstones of healthy ecosystems, so their disappearance is likely to have myriad negative knock-on effects. Hornbills, for example, disperse large seeds in tropical forests; turkey vultures dispose of organic waste, while seabirds help in the cycle of nutrients between sea and land, keeping coral reefs healthy.

The previous State of the World’s Birds report, released in 2018, found 40% of bird species worldwide in decline. Wildfires feature more prominently in this report than previous editions, having increased and ravaged previously unaffected habitats. The succession of heatwaves, droughts and floods in recent years will lead to widespread species extinctions if they continue, researchers warn, highlighting the importance of addressing the nature and climate crises at the same time. Growing evidence links the health of bird populations to human health. Covid-19 is a warning of what could happen if we continue to destroy the natural world, with 70% of zoonotic diseases originating in wildlife. A highly pathogenic variant of avian flu – the result of intensive farming – has driven rapid declines in some bird populations this year. More than 300 outbreaks have been reported in UK seabird colonies......not good at all         https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/28/nearly-half-worlds-bird-species-in-decline-as-destruction-of-avian-life-intensifies-aoe

And check out this Photo Gallery- no doubt some of these beautiful creatures are at risk  Meet The “Cosmopolitan” Birds That Occur All Over the World Cornell Lab 8-12-2024  Our planet has a bounty of birds—more than 11,000 species in all. But on a planetary scale, most have relatively small ranges. Just a couple of dozen species can be called "cosmopolitan," with ranges that touch six continents or at least three oceans. These are the birds that tie our human world together. How many are familiar to you?  
The Birds We Bring With Us.......With their seemingly inexhaustible talent for flight, birds are inherently good at finding new places to live (see the Western Cattle Egret below for a good example). But some species get a helping hand from humans. Some, like Rock Pigeons and House Sparrows, formed a bond with humans centuries ago and have followed us around ever since. Others are brought along for a variety of reasons—parrots and parakeets come with us as pets, for instance—but may escape or be released and gain a toehold on a new continent.  
 Oceans cover more than two-thirds of the planet, and birds have evolved to exist across most of that endless blue-gray habitat........ The Arctic Tern is famous for covering a distance equal to the circumference of the Earth every year. With a lifespan that can exceed 30 years, an Arctic Tern might travel three-quarters of a million miles in its lifetime. Plenty of other seabirds have the ability to spend years on the wing, without touching land—following are a few examples of species that touch at least three of the world’s five oceans in their travels.  
The world is a big place, and some widespread bird species don’t quite make it to that sixth continent........Some species fall short through the vagaries of taxonomic changes—for instance the cosmopolitan species previously known as Cattle Egret was recently split into two species (Western and Eastern Cattle Egrets), neither of which make it to six continents. Others, like the Black-crowned Night-Heron, come oh-so-close to that sixth continent, but fall just short. We love them anyway: these are our honorable mentions.  https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/photo-gallery-meet-the-cosmopolitan-birds-that-occur-all-over-the-world/?utm_campaign=Lab%20eNews%202024&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_-ivlddFi12j7wYKgVYov7PHc_Pcl-lN8bPgCCz_RoNmVQM5VtOv4ygJTr-r2VgNh5DPQx7HqEDgef5_Xfb1AOs0QYrQ&_hsmi=319551650&utm_content=319551650&utm_source=hs_email

Countering Nature Crime: A Convergent Response to Crimes that Harm Nature and People.

Glenn and Rick Ecology & Biodiversity
Countering Nature Crime: A Convergent Response to Crimes that Harm Nature and People. A partnership that mobilizes action by communities, civil society organizations, governments, and key industries to combat nature crime – including illegal harvest and trade of fish, timber and wildlife, as well as illegal deforestation to produce commodities – and associated violations of laws and rights. Illegal fishing, illegal wildlife trade and harvesting, illegal logging and illegal deforestation to produce commodities are all considered nature crimes. These pose major threats around the world. Nature crimes threaten biodiversity, accelerate climate change, violate human rights and increase the risk of pandemics. They also undermine rule of law and security and deter investment and economic growth in many sectors. These crimes are not a discrete issue. They intersect with each other and with crimes such as narcotics and arms trade and human rights and labor abuses. This convergence among crimes demands a convergent approach to analysis and interventions – a priority for this activity. WRI, together with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and other leaders in the field, aims to strengthen the knowledge, capacity and resolve needed to address nature crimes. This includes crimes threatening the health of fish stocks, wildlife and forests, and the billions of people who depend on them for legal, sustainable livelihoods.  
Countering Nature Crime engages diverse stakeholders to prevent and respond to these crimes. Partners range from law enforcement agencies to industry associations and specifically engage Indigenous and local communities standing up for their land and natural resources rights, and their allies in civil society and the press. The Countering Nature Crime (CNC) initiative is a five-year, $25 million partnership funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The partnership’s goals are to.....read on     https://www.wri.org/initiatives/countering-nature-crime   

Trees of life.....Stories of Struggle, Courage and Hope in the Congo Basin.  Paper to Pixels: How Technology is helping Unlock the Secrets of Congo’s Forest.

Glenn and Rick Ecology & Biodiversity