Saunders, S. (2023, September 15). Great Lakes piping plovers are flying high with a second record-breaking breeding season. Audubon Great Lakes. https://gl.audubon.org/news/great-lakes-piping-plovers-are-flying-high-second-record-breaking-breeding-season 

The efforts of the Great Lakes Piping Plover Recovery Team, comprising researchers, agencies, volunteers, and organizations have led to a remarkable recovery of the endangered shorebird species. Their success led to the nesting of 80 pairs, surpassing previous counts and bringing the population closer to the 150-pair recovery goal. Last year saw 150 chicks fledge in the wild, the highest since the species was listed as federally endangered in 1986. The recovery efforts involve protection measures, such as nest exclosures and fencing, site monitoring, education, captive rearing, and annual banding. The program released 39 fledglings outside Michigan in 2023 which contributed to their goal of having at least 50 successfully nested pairs outside the state. The recovery team’s dedication has played a crucial role in the successful conservation of the Great Lakes Piping Plovers, and the achievements include re-establishing nesting locations and observing a fledgling rate above the annual goal.

I really like how the recovery team began on a smaller scale as they aimed to increase the population of the Piping Plover in the Great Lakes and once they achieved the goal in the Great Lakes they moved on to expand into other states. I like how the article provides so much numerical evidence that shows how successful the project has been and how it continues to grow. Additionally, I think this it is great that the team is taking such a vast approach to protecting the species. They cover all the bases by educating people they ensure that they understand the effect they have on the environment and other living species, but they also talk about traditional protection approaches by using enclosures and captive repairing to support the regrowth of the species. Restoring the population of the Piping Plovers also stabilizes the insect and small crustacean populations on beaches.

Goodykoontz, E., & DeMarban, A. (2023, November 2). Utilities reveal plan to restore most of Eklutna River, setting stage for public comment. Anchorage Daily News. http://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2023/11/01/utilities-release-plan-to-restore-most-of-eklutna-river-with-water-setting-stage-for-public-comment-on-historic-effort/  

Chugach and Matanuska electric associations and the municipality’s Anchorage Hydropower Utility in Southcentral Alaska, unveiled a proposed program to restore water and potentially salmon to the Eklutna River. This proposal attempts to repair damage spanning from the 1950s by releasing water a mile downstream of the dam, leaving a mile of the river dry, and tapping into the pipe delivering Anchorage’s drinking water to divert flow. The plan, estimated to cost $57 million, could bring four species of salmon into miles of river habitat. However, the Native Village of Eklutna and conservation groups argue that the river should be fully restored, this would allow all salmon species to reach the lake. These groups propose that an alternative renewable energy be installed to be able to fully remove the dam.

Restoring the salmon population is very important to ensuring the health of the Eklutna River. I think that money should be put into finding another energy source in order to take down the whole dam and restore the salmon populations. Salmon are an indicator of the health of an ecosystem, without them in the river it disrupts the food chain and can cause the health of the river to decline. Without the salmon to distribute nutrients, balance insect populations, and act as food for surrounding animals, populations like the moose and bear population can become endangered. Additionally, disrupting the land with the dams and drying up large parts of the river compromises the integrity of the land and can further erode as well as force larger species to relocate in order to find water. Overall, it is important that the Ekluta River be restored and simply releasing water a mile downstream of the dam may not be enough to significantly restore the surrounding habitat.

McCarry, W. (2023, October 17). Can shrimp farming restore mangroves? this scientist is making it happen. CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL. https://www.conservation.org/blog/can-shrimp-farming-restore-mangroves-this-scientist-is-making-it-happen 

Dane Klinger, Conservation International’s aquaculture expert, advocates for transforming the shrimp farming industry into an environmentally sustainable and economically viable model to help farmers and restore mangrove forests. Klinger introduces an innovative approach that aims to disrupt the destructive pattern associated with shrimp farming. Half of the farmland is dedicated to restoring mangrove forests. The other half is used to increase shrimp production through a comprehensive approach that includes stocking larval shrimp, providing optimal feed, and closely monitoring water quality factors to create ideal conditions for water and shrimp health. The approach is set to be scaled up through the establishment of a dedicated loan fund, enabling shrimp farmers to transition to more sustainable practices, and the development of AI-based tools to identify optimal sites for mangrove restoration.

I think Klinger’s new approach to shrimp farming is a great compromise to help restore the mangrove forests and also looks at creating a sustainable way to farm shrimp. His approach is reasonable, it doesn’t fully eliminate the farming of shrimp which hurts the economy but instead searches for an eco-friendly way to improve the way farmers do their jobs. The mangrove forests are important because without their natural infrastructure to protect from erosion, and absorb storm surge impacts during extreme weather events, it wouldn’t be possible for the shrimp farms to survive. I like how he proposes to split the land in half and use part for farming and the other part to restore the mangroves. However, he ensures that using an optimal approach to farming the shrimp will ensure that the production doesn’t decrease. Additionally, protecting the mangroves ensures that thousands of plants and wildlife like birds, monkeys, and other aquatic species are protected.

Schatzel, E. G. (2023, August 10). Largest single restoration project in U.S. history breaks ground. National Wildlife Federation. https://www.nwf.org/Home/Latest-News/Press-Releases/2023/8-10-23-Mid-Barataria-Sediment 

The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion in Louisiana marks a historic moment in U.S. ecosystem restoration as they break ground in the largest single project of its kind. The National Wildlife Federation sees large-scale sediment diversion as a pivotal step in reconnecting the Mississippi River to surrounding wetlands. Louisiana, facing significant land loss, is implementing a soft engineering strategy to restore coastal wetlands, the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion is predicted to restore up to 27 square miles of wetlands in the Barataria Basin. This project mimics the natural land-building processes, it is expected to create vital wildlife habitats and serve as a crucial buffer against storm surges for coastal communities.

The restoration of coastal wetlands is important because it will rehabilitate ecosystems home to small organisms that help support larger wildlife, as well as help renourish the ground to protect it from erosion and decay. This approach to habitat restoration is also unique as it serves as a form of protection from sea level rise due to climate change. Restoring wetlands ensures that when waters rise they have the ability to absorb excess water through soil and the roots of the vegetation. I think this project is great because of its ambitious large-scale efforts at removing this built-up sediment. By moving the sediment and allowing the wetlands to be restored, it allows wildlife to reinhabit these areas which reduces competition for space among organisms, this can allow more life to flourish in the river and surrounding wetlands.

Rutter, J. (2023, December 20). Celebrating birds and their habitats conserved in 2023: Reversing Bird population declines. American Bird Conservancy. https://abcbirds.org/news/abc-results-2023-reversing-bird-declines/#:~:text=In%202023%2C%20we%20provided%20direct,on%20an%20additional%2032%2C205%20acres. 

In an effort to combat the substantial decline in migratory bird populations in the United States, the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) employs the BirdScapes approach. Through conservation initiatives spanning core breeding, stopover, and wintering areas. ABC has defined and acted upon 100 BirdScapes, positively impacting 9.3 million acres of habitat for declining bird species. Some of the ABC’s successful regional projects include habitat restoration in the Central U.S. to address the loss of grassland birds and the restoration of early successional habitat in the Great Lakes. They also initiated tracking projects for migratory birds in the Northern Great Plains to understand their habits and help improve the migration population. Last, this year the ABC took legal action to prevent the drying up of the Great Salt Lake, a critical site for migratory birds, showcasing their commitment to addressing environmental threats.

I appreciate the approach that the American Bird Conservatory is taking because I believe it is a more holistic approach. I like how they look at and research each step the birds take throughout their migration process to ensure it isn’t disrupted at any point. This ensures the process cant be screwed up at any one point. I think it is important that they continue to expand their reach and approach this effort over many acres and in different areas of the country. Protecting the migration of birds is important for the environment because it ensures that they are moving from areas of depleting resources to areas of increasing resources and back. Without this important process, the environment can begin to lack the necessary resources these birds need to thrive, like food, protection, and proper weather. Eventually, if this process becomes disrupted it can lead to extinction which is catastrophic for the ecosystem they belong in.

Tiger conservation success in 2023. ZSL. (2023, April 14). https://www.zsl.org/news-and-events/feature/tiger-conservation-success-2023 

The Zoological Society of London is succeeding in the preservation of these majestic big cats in India. The achievement is attributed to collaborative endeavors by conservation organizations, governmental bodies, and local stakeholders to redevelop the shrunken forests to lessen the dance competition between wildlife. These collective initiatives have successfully contributed to a notable increase in tiger populations. Through strategic anti-poaching measures, habitat protection, and community engagement, the conservation drive has reinvigorated the tiger’s prospects. This accomplishment stands as a testament to the effectiveness of concerted, cross-border efforts in safeguarding endangered species.

The restoration of forested zones that provide a home to tigers, Asian elephants, and the fruit-eating sloth bear is important because it ensures the food chain and wildlife balance stays intact. Without the balance and the lessened populations of large animals/predators, it can create an imbalance in the ecosystem leading to disaster. This can cause overgrown or extinction of plants as well as growing populations of small prey, this imbalance leads to a disaster that affects people as well as the environment they live in.  I love how the conservation is striving to not only increase the population of tigers but also make them a habitat where they can survive and have a sustainable life which means the conservation is looking to make changes in communities not just in wildlife numbers. They aim to redevelop the shrunken forests to lessen the competition between wildlife. 

Rajewski, G. (2023, March 2). To conserve African Wildlife, a push to benefit African people. Tufts Now. https://now.tufts.edu/2023/03/02/conserve-african-wildlife-push-benefit-african-people 

The focus of conservation shifts to an innovative approach that seeks to simultaneously preserve African wildlife and improve the lives of African communities. The initiative, taking place in various locations across Africa, aims to harmonize conservation strategies with socioeconomic development by focusing on the causes of drought and how to change its effects as well as redefine how land is being used. This inclusive approach has been progressively implemented, signaling a fresh perspective on conservation. Actions taken by the AWF to reduce locals’ dependence on forests for farmland, firewood, and meat by training hundreds of women in tailoring and soap-making is helping to preserve vital habitats for wildlife.

I really like the approach that Sebunya of the African Wildlife Foundation takes to conserving wildlife, they see it as a problem with humans and managing ourselves rather than managing the animals and wildlife around us. By weaving together conservation and community well-being, the endeavor strives to safeguard vulnerable species and ecosystems while fostering sustainable livelihoods and enhanced quality of life for local residents while allowing them to understand the importance of native wildlife. I like how the efforts aren’t just to restore but to help the community understand the importance of restoration and get the community involved in the restoration of land and the protection of important habitats.

Oxoby, M. (2023, January 20). Eshom Ecological Restoration Project: A Success Story for Shared Stewardship and Innovative Solutions. The Great Basin Institute. https://www.thegreatbasininstitute.org/2023/01/19/eshom-ecological-restoration-project-a-success-story-for-shared-stewardship-and-innovative-solutions/ 

The project was undertaken in California by the Eshom Ecological Restoration Project and partners to restore a degraded ecosystem on over 5,000 acres of Forest, State, and private land. The project aims to enhance the resilience of live trees by diversifying age, size, and species composition. Additionally, it focuses on preserving large existing trees, while addressing excessive fuel buildup to ensure safe fire suppression activities and protect nearby communities. While it seeks to prevent the loss of crucial old-growth habitat for endangered species by reducing tree density and potential drought-related damage. The initiative has showcased the effectiveness of shared stewardship models and innovative techniques. 

I think this achievement serves as a testament to the power of cooperative efforts in restoring and revitalizing ecosystems, highlighting a promising approach to addressing environmental challenges. By combining community involvement, scientific expertise, and adaptive management strategies, the Eshom project has achieved significant ecological recovery. I like how the project does simply restore the damaged land and environments by planting more trees and clearing dead or infected ones but they also plan for how to protect the important growth from natural disasters like fires which frequent California. By doing this it shows that they understand the problem of disasters like fires is just going to go away but they understand that they can take measures to protect the environment from more extensive damage. Additionally, I think it is important that they focus on protecting the old and developed growth rather than just their new growth and they work to replant. It is important that the Eshom Ecological Restoration Project is looking to relive the effects of fires rather than just combat them in the moment or hope that they don’t come back.