The Ecologist’s Post

The worst spots for wildife-vehicle collisions in the #bayarea include the 101 in Marin, I-680, Hwy 24 in East Bay, I-280, & Hwy 17. To reduce roadkill and increase habitat connectivity, the CA Dept of Transportation plans to construct five new #wildlife crossings across the Bay Area. Crossings and other corridors connect wildife habitat patches, allowing species to find mates, thereby reducing inbreeding. #wildlifecrossings #mountainlion #habitatconnectivity #conservation #norcal #wildcat https://lnkd.in/gQFvYpfe

I've recently started receiving more impromptu recommendations and support. They make me increasingly emotional. I'm not good at receiving positive feedback. My first reaction is to assume there's been some sort of mistake. I prefer criticism, it feels I can do something tangible with it. But I notice that I search for validation, sub-consciously - and occasionally bubbling up to the surface. And need to acknowledge that to be able to take another step forward: one of the main things I've learnt about becoming a social entrepreneur is that it feels like a very public very personal journey into self-development. I'm learning to get better at hearing and acknowledging support. And recognising that I need it. Earlier this year I started The Bio-Leadership Project and yesterday I heard an incredible Pecha Kucha from Sulaiman R. Khan – سلیمان راشد خان. One strand of this was about interdependence. We are all interdependent - and this is a strength not a weakness. I'm so used to the opposite narrative: that independence is good, and relying on others is bad. That you can give support, but you shouldn't have to need it from others. Learning to unlearn... Anyway, a very rambling way of saying a huge thank you to Rob Fenton - he was open to exploring with me what a business offer through Wild Mosaic might look like. Maybe there should be an London Business School ex-staff entrepreneurs group - it feels like there are quite a few of us! #rewilding #socialenterprise #socialentrepreneur

It's #WildlifeWednesday, and today we are talking Herons! Herons include a broader group, in the family Ardeidae, related to bitterns and egrets, however today we are highlighting the 6 native species of Heron to North America: Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron, Green Heron, Yellow-Crowned and Black-Crowned Night Heron, and the Tri-Colored Heron. While many species are present all year round, they are commonly viewed during summer months in shallow waters of marshes, swamps, and wetlands. They often nest in large colonies called heronries or rookeries, and as gleaned from their names, they can be active during the day or at night. While some species are commonly out in the open, most are cryptic and prefer the cover and protection of wetland vegetation. They have tall legs which help them walk above the waters surface. The can often be seen with their neck bent in the shape of an S with large broad wings and long-straight sharp-pointed bills, which they use for preening and for catching aquatic prey like fish, crayfish, frogs, and even snakes. Green herons have been documented utilizing bait, which they drop on the surface of the water to assist with catching fish. Historically, herons were coveted for their elaborate plumage which was often used in decorative clothing and hats, however today, their largest threat is loss and pollution of wetland, riparian, and coastal habitats. Read more with the Pennsylvania Game Commission: https://lnkd.in/e2JWU8JK If you would like to discuss improving habitat on your land with one of our biologists, reach out at info@nalt.org, or visit our website to learn more about our conservation management plans: https://lnkd.in/ec-t2Qzz #nature #outdoors #landconservation #naturelovers #conservation #northamericanlandtrust #privatelands #naturalresources #privateland #conservationmanagement #privatelandconservation #landpreservation #easements #landprotection #nativewildlife #WildlifeWednesday #wildlifeconservation #birdconservation #herons #wetlands

We’ve got the latest news and updates about wildlife conservation across the globe in one spot for you. Take a look at this month’s Frontline Dispatches to stay informed 👉🏼 https://lnkd.in/dVMZhxfx #ConservationFirst #Wildlife #WildlifeNews #ConservationNews

Are wolverines making a comeback in Colorado? With the help of rewilding it sure looks like it. A bipartisan group of lawmakers is proposing legislation to reintroduce these carnivores into the state, marking a historic moment in conservation efforts! The reintroduction of wolverines to the Centennial state could provide a much-needed boost to the species, offering them a buffer population against the threats of climate change and habitat fragmentation. With ample unoccupied landscapes and the potential to support 180 wolverines, Colorado could play a crucial role in increasing the species' North American population. While some believe wolverines will naturally find their way back to Colorado, others argue that a planned reintroduction would ensure the population's genetic diversity and success. Regardless of the approach, the goal of rewilding remains the same: to give these animals a fighting chance to thrive in their natural habitats once again. #Wolverines #Rewilding #WildlifeConservation

"The unfortunate truth is that North American #grasslands are now vanishing as fast as the Brazilian rainforest." - Me, in this blog I wrote. I encourage you to check it out if your curious about the #climatechange impacts grasslands have along with their value to #wildlife, #water, and #livelihoods.

And more good news, this time from the Cornish conservation charity which launches a major ‘Tor to Shore’ rewilding project. This Cornwall Wildlife Trust initiative aims to benefit creatures from upland marsh fritillaries to seahorses in St Austell Bay. +++ A Cornish conservation charity has launched an ambitious rewilding project intended to benefit creatures from marsh fritillary butterflies living high on the moor to long-snouted seahorses in seagrass in a bay five miles away. The Tor to Shore project will stretch from Helman Tor, a reserve topped with a granite boulder summit near Bodmin, to St Austell Bay via the tumbling River Par, its idea to improve a landscape at scale. The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded the Cornwall Wildlife Trust a £265,000 development grant for the project, and if it goes to plan another £3m should follow. +++ The trust’s chief executive, Matt Walpole, said: “For too long conservation efforts on land and at sea have been fragmented. Joined-up efforts to create bigger, better, more connected landscapes and seascapes can be transformative for nature recovery.” Tor to Shore builds on work the trust has carried out over the past 18 months, including the introduction of Tamworth pigs and English longhorn cattle that roam, rootle and graze among wet woodland and heathland at Helman, a 730-acre reserve. +++ As we know from recent projects piloted by our friends at Ecosulis, (coastal) terrestrial ecosystems need be restored from headwater to estuary, taking into account a significant part of the watershed. (See for example https://lnkd.in/eU5-g32k) +++ The Tor to Shore project is being helped by the unexpected arrival of two beavers at the site in February, which have begun building dams. “They will really enrich that space, help to re-wet that landscape,” Walpole said. It is not clear how the beavers arrived and the trust has said a third party may have released them. Clearly secret beavers are getting to work in the UK. More excellent news! This exciting project is clearly one to follow, and I look forward to writing more about it in the years to come. #TorToShore #Cornwall #Rewilding #CornwallWildlifeTrust https://lnkd.in/eXkk_BZ7

What's most jarring to me about this report is that the rate of wetland habitat loss has been *increasing*. Today, overall U.S. wetlands are at 50% of their historic size according to USFWS. For the west coast that figure is even more dramatic. NOAA estimates that 85% of west coast estuary habitat has been lost. Habitat loss means the critical benefits provided by that habitat have also been lost. In the Northwest that means critical nursery grounds for juvenile salmon. Imagine if we removed 85% of the food and refuge for human toddlers, how do you think the species would fare? In the debate on NW salmon/steelhead, I think more attention needs to be given to conserving and restoring habitat. It's not as shiny or sexy as some of the other options being discussed, but habitat work yields real world results and can be done on a much quicker time scale, thus increasing the actual odds of benefitting salmon before it's too late. https://lnkd.in/gFgCgyqE.

#Seagrass is a really important part of the #marineecosystem and home to a wide variety of #wildlife . According to Project Seagrass CEO, Dr Leanne Cullen-Unsworth, in Wales, each hectare is home to about 40,000 individual animals including tiny invertebrates, crabs, fish and seahorses. These habitats are being lost at an alarming rate, with the UK having lost about 90% of seagrass groves in the last 30 years. This is why the efforts of Project Seagrass are so important – it is the largest project yet to cultivate and replant new seagrass around England, Scotland and Wales. Where is your nearest seagrass bed?

Following a voter-approved measure, Colorado has released five wolves into the wild. This step is part of a regulation aimed at reintroducing wolves to their natural habitat, reflecting the state's compliance with public decision. The initiative marks a significant regulatory action in wildlife management. #EnvironmentalRegulation #WildlifeManagement #ColoradoRegulation https://lnkd.in/g7uZ4u23