Mongabay

First ever U.S. Indigenous Marine Stewardship Area declared in California

January 29, 2024 | By Peter Schulte | -, Good News Links

The Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation, Resighini Rancheria, and Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community designated the first ever Indigenous Marine Stewardship Area (IMSA) in the U.S. along the northern California coast.
The tribes plan to steward nearly 700 square miles of their ancestral ocean and coastal territories from the California-Oregon border to Little River near the town of Trinidad, California using traditional ecological knowledge and management practices.

First ever U.S. Indigenous Marine Stewardship Area declared in California Read more

Mexico announces 20 new protected areas covering more than 5 million acres of land

January 25, 2024 | By Peter Schulte | -, Good News Links

Mexico’s government recently announced the creation of 20 new protected areas across 12 states and two coastal areas in the country, covering roughly 5.7 million acres. Officials introduced four new national parks, four “flora and fauna protection areas,” seven sanctuaries, two biosphere reserves and three “natural resources protection areas” under the protection of the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas.

Mexico announces 20 new protected areas covering more than 5 million acres of land Read more

Indigenous effort in Bangladesh helps reverse endangered fish’s slide to extinction

January 19, 2024 | By Peter Schulte | -, Good News Links

Unchecked logging and quarrying of rocks from streambeds in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts led to springs drying up and populations of putitor mahseer fish, an endangered species, disappearing. A project launched in 2016 and backed by USAID and the UNDP is working with Indigenous communities to reverse this decline.
Now, as a result of these efforts, areas where forests have been conserved have seen the flow of springs stabilize and fish populations revive.

Indigenous effort in Bangladesh helps reverse endangered fish’s slide to extinction Read more

11 countries sign global pact to protect endangered river dolphins

January 15, 2024 | By Peter Schulte | -, Good News Links

Since the 1980s, the combined populations of river dolphin species have plummeted by 73%. With the Global Declaration for River Dolphins, 14 countries are expected to join forces to protect six surviving species. So far, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, and Venezuela have signed the declaration.

11 countries sign global pact to protect endangered river dolphins Read more

Forest restoration planned for Colombia’s Farallones de Cali National Park

January 9, 2024 | By Peter Schulte | -, Good News Links

The $3.7-million project could take several decades because of the severity of the environmental damage done by illegal mining, which has deforested the park and polluted its rivers with mercury. The 485,226-acre national park is an important biological corridor along Colombia’s Pacific coast.

Forest restoration planned for Colombia’s Farallones de Cali National Park Read more

Papua New Guinea creates two massive new Marine Protected Areas

December 14, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Good News Links

Together they cover more than 6,200 square miles, tripling the country’s marine area under protection, and are the country’s first to be co-managed by Indigenous communities.

Papua New Guinea creates two massive new Marine Protected Areas Read more

Panama copper mine to close after Supreme Court rules concession unconstitutional

November 28, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Good News Links

Minera Panamá will have to close the Cobre Panamá mine after the country’s highest court unanimously ruled that the terms of its contract were unconstitutional. The decision comes amid nationwide protests that blocked roads and shipping routes as Panamanians fought back against expansion of the mining sector due to its damaging environmental impacts.

Panama copper mine to close after Supreme Court rules concession unconstitutional Read more

Participants at the Indigenous Peoples’ and Local Communities’ Conservation Congress

Namibia hosts Africa’s first community-led conservation congress

November 1, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Good News Links

Hundreds of Indigenous and local community groups, conservation organizations, governments and policymakers gathered to strategize how communities can play a bigger role in African conservation efforts, which are typically dominated by big international NGOs.

Namibia hosts Africa’s first community-led conservation congress Read more

School of fish with big fish in the middle

New Caledonia expands strictly protected coverage of its swath of the Pacific

October 27, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Good News Links

A decade ago, New Caledonia established its entire 502,000-square-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as a marine protected area. However, only 2.4% of the park prohibited fishing, drilling and mining. Now, the New Caledonian government has designated an additional 7.6% of its EEZ to be highly protected.

New Caledonia expands strictly protected coverage of its swath of the Pacific Read more

Indonesian government recognizes ancestral forests in Aceh for first time

October 26, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Good News Links

The Indonesian federal government has recognized 55,700 acres of ancestral forests on the northern tip of Sumatra for the first time. Indigenous communities in the region have welcomed the recognition, saying it will give them legal protection to manage their forests in a sustainable manner.

Indonesian government recognizes ancestral forests in Aceh for first time Read more

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