50 reasons to be cheerful
In the face of a devastating pandemic, organisations across the globe have continued to do battle for our most precious species and habitats. As we leave 2020 behind and look forward to a more positive year ahead, it’s time to celebrate their successes.
COVER STORY Putting 2020 firmly behind us, we start the new year with a look at the conservation work having a positive impact, and hear from Chris Packham, Megan McCubbin and Natalie Fée about why they’re hopeful for the future
1 SEAL CELEBRATIONS
The grey seals at Norfolk’s Blakeney National Nature Reserve have had another strong year. The first pup was spotted there in 1988, and the site has since flourished to become the biggest colony in England. The number of young has burgeoned from just 25 in 2001 to a whopping 3,399 in 2019, a result of low levels of disturbance and mortality during the first key weeks of life, and lack of natural predators. Autumn 2020 again predicted about 4,000 new arrivals – so many that rangers are having to change the way they count. nationaltrust.org.uk
2 TENERIFE A TOP SITE FOR WHALES
In February 2021, the pristine waters of Franja Marina Teno-Rasca, south Tenerife, are set to become Europe’s first Whale Heritage Site. The area has long been popular with whale-watchers, boasting 28 species of cetacean, including a resident population of short-finned pilot whales. Whale Heritage Site status is granted to outstanding destinations where cetaceans are embraced through the cultural, economic, social and political lives of their associated communities, and where people and cetaceans co-exist in an authentic and respectful way.
3 VERGE VICTORIES
More than 700 species of wildflower grow on the UK’s road verges. And where there are wildflowers, there is wildlife. In 2013, Plantlife launched its Road Verges Campaign to push for this undervalued habitat to be better managed for nature. “We saw a real surge in support for the campaign in 2020 – citizens and councils are recognising that ‘messier’ verges are desirable for biodiversity,” says Plantlife’s Archie Thomas. “Our verge management guidelines have been widely adopted by councils from Dorset to Burnley, and we fully envisage the campaign to accelerate into 2021.” plantlife.org.uk
4 LANDSCAPES THAT FEEL A MILLION DOLLARS
You can do a lot of good with $30 million. The Endangered Landscapes Programme (ELP), with funding from the Arcadia Fund, supports large-scale restoration projects across Europe, including creation of a wilderness reserve in the Romanian Carpathians and a wildlife corridor in Portugal’s Greater Côa Valley. “The ELP sends a powerful signal for the importance of reviving nature,” says manager David Thomas, “representing major philanthropic investment in reversing biodiversity declines and empowering conservationists.” endangeredlandscapes.org
5 NEW BEGINNINGS FOR BELUGAS
Two and to released perform Little beluga into White, at whales, an a waterpark open taken known ocean from in as sanctuary China, the Little wild Grey have at in a just Klettsvik young been age Look Bay, Iceland – the first project of its kind. Similar propsals are in the pipeline, thanks to the efforts of Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) and the SEA LIFE Trust. The hope is that other captive cetaceans can the be rehabilitated into natural environments in the coming years, paving the way to put an end to the use of these animals as entertainment. “These robust, healthy whales can now look forward to a brighter future,” says WDC’s Rob Lott. uk.whales.org; sealifetrust.org
6 DARTING UPWARDS
The white-faced darter is one of our most endangered dragonflies – but the British Dragonfly Society and partners are taking steps to safeguard its future. Reintroductions have already taken place in Cheshire and Cumbria; a third is underway at Drumburgh Moss on the Solway. british-dragonflies.org.uk
7 CHAMPIONING THE CHOCÓ
The southern part of Ecuador’s Chocó rainforest is an important biodiversity hotspot, but precious little remains. By acquiring 230km² from a logging company, Fundación Jocotoco plans to link a network of protected areas covering 3,000km². The initiative will save countless species from extinction and, since the area slopes upwards to 4,900m, offer a safe haven to any species shifting altitude in response to climate change. jocotoco.org; worldlandtrust.org
8 FLICKING A SWITCH FOR BIRDS
The hundreds of millions of birds that migrate through Texas each autumn were given a helping hand in 2020 with the Lights Out, Texas campaign. From 5 September to 29 October, Texans were asked to dim the lights between 11pm– 6am, to protect night-flying migrants from collisions and from veering off course. birdcast.info
9 OYSTER LOVE
The UK's native oysters have declined by an alarming 95 per cent – which is why ZSL and partners have launched the Wild Oysters project, involving plans to install 10,000 oysters in specialised nurseries beneath marina pontoons. Boasting incredible waterfiltering capabilities, oysters are vital to ocean health. zsl.org