Allen Pyke Associates’ Post

On Wednesday, the Federal Government reported that more than 115 projects will share in $215 million dedicated to preserving biodiversity and ecosystem restoration. To restore critical landscapes and habitats, tackle invasive pests and weeds, and prevent diseases, $115 million will be dedicated to 55 projects benefiting 20 priority locations listed in the Threatened Species Action Plan 2022–2023, including Queensland’s Brigalow Belt. An additional $100 million will fund 60 projects focused on pest management, habitat restoration, and improving water systems, such as the restoration of Australian Ramsar wetlands. This funding will be channelled from two existing initiatives – the $1.1 billion Natural Heritage Trust and the $224.5 million Saving Native Species Program – and will draw on the expertise of First Nations people, scientists, conservation groups, and community leaders. Read more at https://buff.ly/47mUCOT #BiodiversityMonth #LoveourBiodiversity #ThreatenedSpecies #BrigalowBelt #Ramsarwetlands

Discover more about the “𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚” project! The Resilient and Biodiverse Landscapes of Northern Mesoamerica project funded by the UK International Development Aid through the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund (BLF) will be supporting conservation and management initiatives of Selva Maya Forest in Belize, one of the great forests of the Northern Mesoamerica Landscape. In Belize, BLF activities will support the National Landscape Restoration Strategy for Belize and the National Agroforestry Policy increasing food security, forest cover, and carbon sequestration potential, train and support farmers in regenerative agriculture practices, and mobilize international resources. Activities in country are being implemented by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and a consortium of partners including the Belize Maya Forest Trust , Programme For Belize, Friends for Conservation and Development, and the Julian Cho Society. The BLF focuses on four components: Prosperous and resilient communities; Protected areas and species protection; Enabling policy and financing mechanisms; and Learning and adaptive management. #BiodiverseLandscapesFund #SustainableDevelopment #ClimateChange #Biodiversity #Conservation #RegenerativeAgriculture #SelvaMayaForest #CommunityResilience

Pollinators play a crucial role in our ecosystems, often going unnoticed as the unsung heroes of nature. From buzzing bees to fluttering butterflies, these winged allies are the lifeblood of our world, transferring pollen from flower to flower and enabling the reproduction of plants. Celebrating Pollinator Week is a great way to raise awareness about the importance of these tiny creatures and how we can support them. Without pollinators, the journey from flowers to fruits would be impossible, highlighting why they are truly nature's superheroes and the real MVPs of our ecosystems. #PollinatorWeek

Reintroducing beaver in Scotland brought more species back! In Knapdale, Scotland, beavers reintroduced in 2009 have transformed the habitat, creating safe environments for endangered water voles by blurring the boundaries between land and water. This natural engineering provides voles with protection from predators and supports the growth of diverse plant life. The beavers' dam-building activities created "edge habitats" with complex and seasonally flooded boundaries. These areas are perfect for water voles to dig burrows safe from predators like mink. Additionally, the seasonal flooding promoted diverse plant life, enhancing the overall habitat. The beavers' ability to create and maintain wetlands showcases how rewilding can naturally restore ecosystems. These success stories highlight the urgent need to continue rewilding projects and reintroducing species locally eradicated by human activities. Each step towards rewilding brings us closer to healthier ecosystems and a more alive planet. #Rewilding #Conservation #Biodiversity #Sustainability #EcosystemRestoration Read more about the Knapdale beavers' impact: The Guardian https://lnkd.in/d8NTzAtV The Independent https://lnkd.in/dVcPXB4C Belstad https://lnkd.in/dkVJM_fu Brief https://lnkd.in/dpE3dV9k Credit: Tasos Tsouramanis via iNaturalist, licensed under [CC BY-NC 4.0](https://lnkd.in/dyqkbGzB).

Today, on #WorldHabitatDay, we’re reminded of the critical role natural habitats play in supporting biodiversity. Every species, big or small, relies on the delicate balance of their ecosystems to survive and thrive. As human development expands, it’s more important than ever to ensure that wild spaces are protected and restored. Conservation efforts that prioritize habitat preservation help secure the future of countless species. American Humane’s latest documentary, Escape from Extinction: Rewilding, highlights the importance of making space for species and the resilience of nature when given the chance to heal. #GlobalHumaneConservationFundofAfrica #GlobalHumaneAfrica #GlobalHumane #SpaceforSpecies #Rewild #Conservation #WildlifeConservation #AmericanHumane #EscapeFromExtinction

Today is #NationalThreatenedSpeciesDay, and the anniversary of Tassie’s thylacine passing into extinction. Thanks to support from the Australian Research Council and NESP Resilient Landscapes Hub we're partnering with the University of Tasmania, WWF-Australia and the Tasmanian Quoll Conservation Program to protect the charismatic eastern quoll from a similar fate. The project is focusing on the release of captive-bred quolls across sites in the Midlands and the East Coast, selected specifically for their dwindling numbers of quolls. Intensive monitoring conducted at these sites beforehand, in addition to further monitoring of released quolls, will provide valuable information about the threats and resources that are key to their successful recovery. With Tassie supporting Australia’s only remaining wild population of eastern quolls, this project is critical for understanding what measures we can put in place to reverse their decline. Stay tuned for some more #quollity content. #nature #keeptassiewild #wildlifeconservation #tasmania #natureconservation #positivenature #naturelovers #naturepositive #naturalecosystems #ecosystems #ecosystemrestoration #fieldwork #environment #science #ecologicalrestoration #collaboration #protection #community #biodiversity #conservation #team #naturepositivevibes #research #stem #quoll

Elephants play a vital role in East African ecosystems. These magnificent creatures, a keystone species, exert a profound influence on the overall environmental health and biodiversity of Amboseli. Elephants not only function as habitat architects, creating clearings that allow sunlight to penetrate and foster diverse plant growth, but they also act as seed dispersers, traveling vast distances and scattering seeds with their nutrient-rich dung, promoting plant regeneration in new areas. Their dung serves another critical function, acting as a natural fertilizer that decomposers break down, returning valuable nutrients to the soil and promoting healthy plant growth. Elephants also create vital water sources during dry seasons by excavating water holes with their tusks, benefiting not only themselves but numerous other animals. Despite their ecological significance, elephants face significant threats from ivory poaching to human-elephant conflict, to habitat loss. To combat these threats, Big Life’s community rangers conduct anti-poaching and anti-trafficking patrols to deter illegal activity and protect elephant populations. We strategically address human-elephant conflict by deploying rapid-response ranger units and building crop-protection fences. Additionally, Big Life collaborates with local Maasai communities to promote sustainable land management practices that benefit both elephants and people. Finally, we believe fostering understanding and coexistence through community outreach programs is crucial for long-term conservation success. By working together, we can ensure elephants continue to roam free and contribute to the ecological tapestry of East Africa. Happy Save the Elephant Day. #savetheelephantday #endangeredspecies #elephants #amboseli #coexistence 📸: Nikki Best

How do we know if restoration efforts are working? By eavesdropping! Over the past three years, bio-acoustic monitoring at the Bank Australia Conservation Reserve has shown that the endangered South-eastern Red-tailed Black Cockatoo is using both artificial nest boxes and natural tree hollows. With an estimated population of just 1,500, these birds are in dire need of a population boom. Recording the birds' calls with bio-acoustic monitoring gives ecologists and conservation researchers vital data to better support the species. And while fledging hasn’t been successful yet at the reserve, habitat restoration efforts are ongoing to help boost their chances. 🌱 #BiodiversityMonth

One of the big aims of a Galloway National Park would be to increase biodiversity. The GNPA commissioned a report on the issue which makes interesting reading. On the plus side the report showed that few other areas of Scotland, or indeed the UK, offer such a range of habitats in a comparatively small area. Ideal for a National Park. However, there are multiple challenges - ones that National Park status could help mitigate and reverse. The area has: • Suffered a greater loss of peatlands than any other part of Scotland, making the restoration of existing sites even more critical. • A legacy of acidification of rivers and waterbodies. • Low coverage of native broadleaved woodland, and a high proportion of ancient woodland planted with non‐native trees. • Considerable loss of open moorland, historically and culturally the most characteristic habitat of inland Galloway. • Threatened species such as Willow Tit, Bog Bush‐cricket, Perennial Flax, which if lost, would probably result in their extinction from Scotland as a whole. You can find the report here:https://lnkd.in/eRwSPhR4 #greatforgalloway #gallowaynationalpark #biodiversity

🌿 90 Seconds to Rethink Conservation: "Is complexity the key to saving Britain's wildlife?" The third interview is live❗️ Featuring Matthew Hay, Natural Capital Manager at Nattergal Ltd, who shares a fascinating perspective on ecosystem complexity and species recovery. 🌍Key insights from Matthew: 🔍 Single-species conservation might be missing the bigger picture 🔍 Complex ecosystems are showing unexpected success stories: • Turtle doves thriving at Knepp • Willow tits flourishing on brownfield sites • Novel ecosystems creating resilient habitats 🌱 The surprising revelation: When landscapes are given time to develop natural complexity, declining species often find their way back! 💭 What if the answer to saving Britain's wildlife isn't in targeted interventions, but in letting nature rebuild its own complexity? Share your thoughts below! ⬇️ ⏰ The race to protect nature's complexity is on... #90Seconds #NatureRecovery #Biodiversity #RebalanceEarth #BritishWildlife #Conservation #Rewilding #NaturalCapital