The Table Mountain Fund’s 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

London’s rivers are set to see a boost in wildlife under the latest phase of Mayor Sadiq Khan’s biodiversity plan. Following the success of the beaver reintroduction in Ealing, the next stage aims to restore habitats for water voles, eels and otters. Key initiatives include adapting the River Lea for eels and bringing otters back to the River Roding, alongside other projects to enhance riverbanks and improve flood defences. Since 2016, £30m has been invested in growing the city’s biodiversity, with more funding available through the “Green Roots fund” for local communities and councils. We work with specialists on river restoration and habitat creation. Read more: https://heyor.ca/9qS14j #Biodiversity #UrbanPlanning #Sustainability #WildlifeConservation #NationalPolicyFramework #ecology

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

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

A Verifiable Nature Unit (VNU) is a new currency for nature, measuring conservation success by assessing habitat intactness and key indicator species. Majete Wildlife Reserve, African Parks' first managed park, serves as the proof of concept for the VNU. Over two decades, sound management and community engagement have transformed Majete, showcasing how effective stewardship can be measured. The Habitat Intactness analysis, a key component of VNU, monitors changes in the extent of habitat degradation due to negative human pressures such as: 1. Settlement Expansion: Transformation of natural landscapes and population growth 2. Deforestation: Driven by fuelwood and charcoal needs, resulting in significant tree loss and reduced biodiversity. 3. Agricultural Expansion: Conversion of natural habitats into cropland, impacting habitat quality and wildlife. While Majete remains a nearly intact ecosystem, neighbouring protected areas face severe threats from tree loss and agricultural encroachment. Urgent management solutions are needed to protect and restore these vital landscapes and the wildlife corridors between them. GIF by: The Landbanking Group #NatureEconomy #ConservationFinance #EcosystemIntegrity #Sustainability #EnvironmentalStewardship #Biodiversity #ConservationInnovation Helge Mahne

Exciting News in #Nature Preservation: Verifiable Nature Units (#VNU s) 🌍 At the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, African Parks Network unveiled a helpful concept in conservation: Verifiable Nature Units (VNUs). Here's why I think this supports a crucial aspect of #ClimateAction and #EarthBoundaries. #ClimateChange is so much more than carbon capture ( although it is that too) Fortunately, we have some strong tree planting and nature restoration organizations, working diligently to finance the protection of our last pockets of massive biodiversity. *** What are VNUs? *** VNUs offer a solid approach to measuring and verifying the ecological health and biodiversity of protected areas. They establish a new framework for quantifying and rewarding the preservation of natural capital. See this list for others ( https://lnkd.in/gp4422p6) *** Investment Opportunity *** Investing in nature, which to me seems like a wise thing, is very difficult to communicate. VNUs are designed to attract investment and ensure the long-term viability of essential landscapes. @AfricanParks Projections suggest VNU initiatives could generate $156 million across just four sites in 2024! ( Newsweek) 🌱 Conservation Strategy 🌱 The conservation strategy part is that VNUs aim to effectively manage and enhance protected areas. But how? That is the sauce. ***Outcomes are the profits*** Global Responsibility Safeguarding Africa's, Indonesia's, South America's, and our Ocean's natural, immense, and hard to rebuild biodiversity is a shared global responsibility. VNUs are designed to enhance worldwide community support for crucial conservation initiatives. This innovative approach could be a turning point in how we value and protect our planet's biodiversity. What are your thoughts on VNUs? Could this be the future of conservation finance? #Conservation #Biodiversity #SustainableInvestment #AfricanParks #VNU Savimbo Simas Gradeckas

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

Did you know? 🦅 The biggest threat to vultures in West Africa is poisoning for belief-based use. 💔 Vultures are critical species for ecosystem health maintenance. However, they have declined catastrophically over the last 50 years, with all African populations plummeting by 80-97%. 📉 Last week, we launched the “West African Vulture Conservation Action Plan 2023-2043” with our Partners to tackle this threat. Learn more here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eExmVBRC  Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) IUCN Species Survival Commission #BirdLifeAfrica #WestAfrica #Conservation #WildlifeProtection #Biodiversity #NatureConservation #SaveVultures

This week, we’re celebrating NAIDOC Week with a theme of ‘Keep the fire burning! Blak, loud and proud’ 🖤❤️💛 NAIDOC Week is a time to honour and learn about the rich history, culture and achievements of Australia’s #FirstNations people.  One of the many ways traditional knowledge is making a significant impact today is through fire management practices. Perfected over thousands of years, these methods have become invaluable tools for savanna fire management projects. A project to highlight is the Batavia Savanna Burning Project by the Batavia Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (BTOAC), which showcases the powerful partnership that emerges when traditional knowledge meets modern industry. The project involves strategic and planned fire management of savanna areas in the high and low rainfall zones during the early dry season to reduce the risk of late dry season wildfires.  These preventative measures provide significant cultural and environmental co-benefits. They prevent wildfires from threatening cultural sites, essential infrastructure, and biodiversity, protect wetlands and control invasive species.     #NAIDOC2024 #TraditionalKnowledge #SavannaFireManagement #IndigenousWisdom #BataviaSavannaBurningProject #Sustainability #CulturalHeritage #BlakLoudProud