Hello dear friends of ecotrain, I hope you are all very well and are having a nice week, I know I have been some time without posting and I apologize about it, I have been busy in other projects. But I'm back. And today I want to talk to you about the things that are being done well and that perhaps in these complex times we live in have been overlooked... although the dangers of climate change still exist and it is difficult to think positively between pandemics and global crises. We should celebrate the small victories and support those who made them possible... that said, let's begin.
1-The jaguar population in Mexico is recovering, growing by nearly 20% between 2010 and 2018.
2 jaguars in a river in Mexico. Photo by Gerardo Ceballos.
The policies implemented in Mexico have proven to be successful according to the latest census and recent research https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0255555 going from approximately 4000. Individuals in 2010, to about 4000 counted in 2018. While they are still far from being endangered, this is great news for many reasons, as Gerardo Ceballos of the National Autonomous University of Mexico comments. It was incredible to see so many jaguars where there were none before' the jaguar is an Umbrella species, we could say that it is our first reference to understand the health of the ecosystem where it lives, and because it requires large extensions of land, to protect it is to protect its prey and the habitat of many other creatures.
The conservation method in Mexico involves all the traditional proposals such as creating protected areas, penalizing illegal hunting of the felines, and trying to raise public awareness of the importance of big cat conservation, but in addition, and this is perhaps what made it work, The national government has been involved with its resources in subsidy programs for people living near jungles to avoid deforestation, payment to ranchers for possible losses of cattle attacked by jaguars, and facilitating the installation of electric fences to avoid incidents between ranchers and jaguars. In addition to a conflict resolution policy.
All this tells us that it is possible to coexist with predators, and that if we all cooperate we can protect and recover endangered species, we just need everyone's help. Congratulations to the Mexican people for this victory for all.
2-Offshore wind turbines become sanctuaries for marine life.
Recent studies showed that on Virginia's beaches the pilot project to place wind turbines about 27 miles offshore had an unexpected consequence, because due to the relatively calm conditions, the absence of fishing boats in the area and the placement of the structures, several species of fish, turtles and other creatures have decided to make the area their habitat, https://news.yahoo.com/virginia-first-offshore-wind-turbines-174100146. html the massive structures that stand 600 feet high and 120 feet below the surface are part of a project aimed at having 100% of the nation's energy consumption covered by carbon-free energy by 2035 that has the backing of the U.S. government https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/04/22/fact-sheet-president-biden-sets-2030-greenhouse-gas-pollution-reduction-target-aimed-at-creating-good-paying-union-jobs-and-securing-u-s-leadership-on-clean-energy-technologies/.
Of course, there are still developments to be taken into account on how the huge structures will affect seabirds for example, and although the creation of artificial reefs is not new, the fact that an initiative to reduce pollution will also help marine biodiversity is a win-win, good news indeed.
3- New chemical compound can eradicate the bacteria that causes Lyme disease without harming ticks, their hosts, or other bacteria.
Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi which is usually found in ticks that transmit the disease usually among livestock and pets, although it can also be transmitted to humans, in the wild it can infect species such as deer and even chimpanzees, the disease is characterized by the appearance of rashes and fever, although it can evolve to more critical conditions such as arthritis and neurological problems.
While the compounds used to control the bacterium, Doxycycline, can have side effects on living organisms and the environment, the new compound Hygromycin is described as unusually safe, and may lead to eradication of the disease. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2292543-drug-treatment-for-lyme-disease-could-lead-to-its-eradication/
Although viruses and diseases are part of nature, the emergence of precise solutions that have no collateral damage to the environment is always good news, as it helps us to live better with the world around us.
4-After 60 years, cheetahs are back in Mozambique.
In October of this year 4 of the felines were released in the special reserve of Maputo in southern Mozambique. Although there are only 4 individuals, this is a great step forward in the conservation of the species that only has approximately 6,600 specimens worldwide, not only is the fact of reintroducing the species, but the creation of the legal and logistic physical infrastructure for its protection and the species that cohabit with it, undoubtedly a great step forward taking into account that since the 60's when they were extinct due to illegal hunting and the destruction of their environment there was not a single cheetah in Mozambique. Another point that gives importance to this news is that reintroducing a wild animal to its natural habitat is not something simple, since in captivity they do not learn to hunt or avoid dangers, so any initiative in that way is really praiseworthy.
5-The ozone layer shows signs of recovery.
Since 1987, when alarm bells were ringing around the world about the deterioration of the ozone layer and its possible consequences for the environment and human life, the governments of many nations worked on a project to limit the use of chemicals that damage the ozone layer, known as the Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the ozone layer https://rewildingglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/8d89ab17-0630-d950-f177-345a44a329e2. jpeg however it had not been possible to obtain concrete data on whether such measures were being effective, it was not until 2014 when scientists discovered the first signs of recovery of the ozone layer, and in 2016 a study conducted in Antarctica showed that the hole in the ozone layer in the area was slowly closing, it is estimated that at the current rate the ozone layer will be completely restored between 2040 and 2070.
Conclusions.
I know these are hard times to stay positive, but that does not mean that humanity is doing everything wrong, out there there are very talented people doing a great job to make this world a better place, celebrating their victories is a way to recognize their good work and inspire others to do their bit, of course... even the planet suffers, there are still crimes against the environment all over the world, but there is a glimmer of hope, these 5 news stories prove it.
Recommended Bibliographic Reference
[2] offshore wind farms boost ocean biodiversity
[3] 2292543 drug treatment for lyme disease could lead to its eradication