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1. Ecuador declares new National Park for the first time in 9 years

   Posted on 7:00am Tuesday 6th Mar 2018

   Ecuador declares new National Park Good news from Ecuador! It’s just declared the protection of the country’s first national park in 9 years – the Rio Negro – Sophadora National Park. It’s an important protection.   The reserve fills a big gap in a Páramo and Cloud Forest down the eastern Andes.  It’s between two national parks – the Sangay and Podocarpus.   What’s more, a recent survey of its incredible wildlife has discovered 3 news species – a frog, a caecilian and a salamander, so it’s very exciting. This has been achieved through a number of groups working together: Nature and Culture International Municipal governments The Ministry of the Environment Local communities The new reserve covers 75,654 acres.   Nature and Culture International undertook a Rapid Biological Assessment which showed the region’s ecosystems to be unique for its biodiversity and endemism, and having dramatic altitude changes over short distances. These altitude gradients encourage the evolution of diverse species and provide a critical “escape valve” for climate change.  They give an upward migration path to cooler temperatures which help species survive as the climate gets hotter.  The Rapid Biological Assessment showed 43 species of mammans in the area, including threatened specials such as the Spectacled Bear, Mountain Tapir and Andean Condor.   And there are also 546 species of plants, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals.  And there’s more from the Nangaritza Reserve Supporters of the UK based charity World Land Trust helped fund a 447 acre extension to protect other areas in the Sangay – Podocarpus Corridor, namely the Nangaritza Reserve.   It has foothill forests close to the Podocarpus National Park.   It’s really critical to connect large protected areas such as national parks, to ensure the health of wildlife population.  It's home to birds such as the Orange-throated Tanager, Cinnamon-breasted Tody Tyrant and Ecuadorian Piedtail. You can help by donating £25 to the World Land Trust’s Buy an Acre programme, and help it continue to fund land purchase and create nature reserves to protect threatened habitats and wildlife.

2. Peru has a new national park - the Yaguas National Park

   Posted on 9:00pm Friday 2nd Mar 2018

   Peru has a new national park In January 2011, the Peruvian government established the Yaguas National Park. It is enormous – 2,147,166 acres.  And it’s a safeguard and home to hundreds of species of flora and fauna AND has the ancestral lands of over 1,000 indigenous people living in the region.  The park sits in a remote northwestern region of Peru.  It’s near the Colombain border, and it runs along the Putumayo River.  And it controls weather patterns in the United States. The area has a history of exploitation – logging, mining and rubber production.  Needless to say, some of this has been illegal.  The indigenous people were forced to collect rubber from the forest under terrible conditions, facing murder, mutilation and systematic rape, according to the Field Museum. But now, with the national park status, the land and people are protected.   Additionally, so are 3,000 plant species, 600 bird species and over 150 mammal species in the area.  Many of these are threatened or endangered.   And over 300 fish species live in the various rivers flowing in and out of the Yaguas National Park. Species such as giant otters, woolly monkeys, Amazonian river dolphins and manatees live there. South America is creating vast stretches of protected wilderness, so hopefully they are signs of both people and governments showing how important these regions of wilderness are, both for animal and human wellbeing.

    

3. Canadian wildlife benefit from 2018 Budget

   Posted on 9:00pm Thursday 1st Mar 2018

   Canadian wildlife would surely be leaping for joy (if they can leap) at the news that the Budget 2018 will earmark significant funds to protect Canada’s nature, parks and wild spaces. $1.3 billion will be invested over 5 years.  Preserving the country’s natural areas ensure that Canada will remain a place where people want to live, work, invest – and visit.  So protecting the environment and helping the economy can marry well. Finance Minister Bill Morneau said in his budget speech to the House of Commons, “Canada is one of the most beautiful places on Earth.   It is up to us all to help keep it that way.” Canada has pledged to protect 17% of her land and inland waters, and 10% of her coastal and marine areas by the end of the decade.   Countries are working to reach these global targets by 2020 around the world.                                                                   The budget recognises the importance of private land conservation and $500 million from the government towards the $1 billion nature fund will encourage collaboration as provinces, territories, corporate and charitable organisations work together to conserve land and protect species at risk. There is commitment to increase the federal capacity to protect species at risk, and there are new recovery strategies: expanding national wildlife areas and migratory bird sanctuaries, and establish a new network of conservation areas, working with provincial, territorial and – crucially – indigenous partners. There are expanded measures to include Indigenous Peoples in creating and managing protective areas.  Indigenous governments have played roles already in creating protected areas across the country, from Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve of British Columbia’s northern coast to the Torngat Mountains National Park in Labrador. This budget is being described as a game-changer for nature conservation in Canada.  It should support vital work to protect the habitats, animals and plants at greatest risk.   Canada has significant intact natural areas, and land trusts are specially placed to leverage the government’s investment to help slow or reverse species decline and mitigate the effects of climate change. This move was welcomed by organisations such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.

    

    

4. 664,484 acres protected in Bolivia

   Posted on 9:00pm Monday 26th Feb 2018

   There's good news from Bolivia. The World Land Trust and Nature and Culture International have jointly funded the creation of Heroes del Chaco Historical and Wildlife Municipal Reserve. This is protection a whopping 664,484 acres of Dry Chaco forest in Bolivia! The project was given community support, and on the ground, it's Natura Bolivia who run it.    World Land Trust says the plains of Gran Chaco extend from the base of hte Andes across Northern Argentina, western Paraguay and south east Bolivia. It is ihome to the largest Dry Forest in South America, and has swamps, savannahs, marshes, salt flats and scrubelands. It supports about 500 species of birds, 150 species of mammals, 120 species of reptiles and 100 species of amphibians, so it's a very important area for wildlife.  Threats to the area are deforestation, hunting and unsustainable cattle farming.   Natura is working with locals in the area to develop a conservation model which works for both wildlife and people in the area.   For instance, the govenrment has given support for conservation incentives.    This is very exciting, especially the work to develop conservation models which work for people and wildlife and it will be interesting to see how the project develops.   Meantime, it's great to think that over 664,000 acres are being protected.

    

5. Seychelles protects an area as large as Britain

   Posted on 8:00pm Thursday 22nd Feb 2018

   There's great news from the Seychelles - they are to protect an area as large as Britain in the Indian Ocean. The island has agreed to protect 81,000 square miles of ocean in exchange for getting some of its national debt paid off.   The swap was agreed with the Nature Conservancy, a US charity, and several investors back in 2016.   Future national debt payments will be directed into the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust, which will offer lower interest rates on debt repayments.  Any savings will go to fund new projects to protect marine life and handle climate change effects. The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation is just one of the investors which had worked on the deal.   The actor said the effort will serve as a model for future marine conservaiton projects world wide.    An important part of the agreement is that the Seychelles is raising the amount of its protected waters by 2020 to 30% (from 0.04%) so that's a huge increase.  The plan falls into two parts To create new marine parks covering the Aldabra islands - they are home to hundreds of thousand tortoises, nesting bird colonies, and the endangered dugong.   Only research and regulated tourism will be allowed. To limit fishing and tourism activities around the Seychelles main islands.  The hope is to introduce similar actions in the Caribbean and other ocean regions facing threats from climate change.