Hello and happy Friday! In a world where the news surrounding the climate crisis can often feel overwhelming, it is important to take a moment to celebrate the positive developments. Recently, I was inspired by Joycelyn Longdon’s idea that sharing good news in no way negates the challenges ahead, but rather, provides a moment to acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of those who work toward a better future. This week, the Sunflower News team brings you several exciting stories about how communities and nations around the world are working to address the impacts of climate change.
How Bioacoustics Can Measure Restoration Progress
Small scale restoration efforts have the potential to contribute to ecological goals, based on a recent study published in Restoration Ecology. Led by restoration ecologist Pooja Choksi, the study used sound recorders to monitor changes in the soundscape after a successful restoration project in Madhya Pradesh, India. The restoration project aimed to benefit local communities and improve biodiversity by removing the invasive shrub Lantana Camara. Their findings could have positive implications for other restoration projects around the world.
Shadow Woods Show Potential for Successful Reforestation Projects
Ecologists emphasize the significance of discovering “shadow woods” to find suitable sites for reforestation projects. By identifying the remnants of former woodlands and ancient rainforests, researchers can determine locations with higher potential for successful reforestation. “That includes soil fungi which form partnerships with young trees and waiting flowers like bluebell and stitchwort which spread out under developing canopies to become the understory. This reminds us that, ecologically, a woodland is much more than just the trees, but the whole functioning system.”
Tired of being told to ‘adapt,’ an Indigenous community wrote its own climate action plan: A “living document” speaks to thousands of years of history while facing new challenges.
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation have developed a comprehensive strategy to manage and restore their lands in response to the effects of a rapidly changing climate. The CSKT Climate Change Strategic Plan is a collaborative effort led by tribal residents, in partnership with community members and the U.S. Forest Service. The plan focuses on nine key areas of life that are directly impacted by the changing climate and emphasizes the importance of Indigenous customs and stewardship.
New Zealand’s Efforts to Address the Legacy of Colonization Could Inspire the World
New Zealand issued an official apology for the colonial atrocities committed against the Ngāti Maru iwi Indigenous tribes. The apology was accompanied with a $30 million financial compensation package, the return of sixteen culturally significant landscapes, and a fund for traditional revitalization. These steps are part of the country’s ongoing efforts to address past harms and move toward a regenerative future which includes sovereignty for the Māori people.
Urban Microrewilding Projects can Positively Impact Community Resilience
Urban “microrewilding” is becoming popular as cities aim to make their spaces more sustainable and resilient to the impacts of climate change. The rewilding movement is increasingly expanding beyond large scale rural efforts to embrace small scale urban interventions. Microrewilding can offer numerous benefits such as reducing flood risk, improving air quality, and countering urban heat island effects.
Additional Good News to Consider…
- The Indonesian government is developing an ocean accounting system to measure the long-term benefits of the country’s marine and coastal ecosystems, with the goal of promoting sustainable marine management.
- Germany pledges $159 million to help brazil protect the Amazon Rainforest, including $38 million for the Amazon Fund, $87 million in low-interest loans for farmers, and $34 million for Brazilian states in the Amazon region.
- The United States can achieve its goals of increasing access to nature and protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030 by designating five new Indigenous-led marine sanctuaries.
- In Nepal, a growing movement of farmers embrace Indigenous seeds and advocate for local produce as a way to boost resilience to climate change and revive native crops.
- A new study found that the legal recognition of Indigenous lands in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest leads to reduced deforestation and improved environmental outcomes.
- Nine million acres of the Tongass National Forest in Alaska will serve as a buffer against climate change, due to the full reinstatement of the Roadless Rule by the Biden administration.
- African elephants help increase carbon storage in forests by promoting the growth of high-density trees through their grazing habits and animal seed dispersal.
- Canopy bridges provide a viable solution to the negative impacts of roads and highways on arboreal animals by allowing them to cross safely and maintain optimal gene flow between populations.
I love this series! I’ve read most of these stories now and am so inspired to know this work is going on!
Regarding the focus on good news, I’d add that energy flows where attention is focused and I want to flow energy toward these good projects. That said, boundaries are also really important and there’s a lot of extractive violent unjust things happening in the world – may we get ever better at asserting boundaries around that! Both and.