Cristina "Mitty" Mittermeier

Celebrating new gains in our project Mãos Indígenas Floresta em Pé (Indigenous Hands Standing Forest)! The participatory mapping of native Brazil nut groves is a collaborative practice that involves local communities, such as indigenous peoples, in the process of identifying and monitoring areas of Brazil nut production. This technique combines the traditional knowledge of the communities with technological tools, such as GPS and georeferencing systems, to ensure sustainable management and biodiversity conservation. The management of these nut groves by indigenous peoples has a direct relationship with the conservation of forests in the Brazilian Amazon, as the sustainable use of resources promotes ecosystem preservation and prevents predatory practices. The mapping also helps create collection plans that respect both the environment and local socioeconomic needs, promoting social inclusion and strengthening the bioeconomy. An example of this practice occurred with 18 nut collectors from the Suruí Cooperative for Sustainable Agroforestry Development and Production (COOPSUR), who mapped 96 Brazil nut trees over an area of more than 300 hectares in the Sete de Setembro Indigenous Territory in Rondônia. This activity, promoted by Forest Trends' Communities and Territorial Governance Initiative under the Mãos Indígenas Floresta em Pé project, involved the use of technology to record field data and analyze the trees. By integrating local knowledge with modern practices, the mapping reinforces the importance of indigenous peoples in conserving the biodiversity of the Amazon forests, contributing to the preservation of this vital ecosystem. Additionally, the process facilitates the traceability of production, the monitoring of nut trees, and the creation of logistical strategies for distribution, strengthening both environmental conservation and the sustainable development of communities.

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WWF-Canada applauds today's release of the Government of British Columbia's long-anticipated coastal marine strategy, co-developed with First Nations, to improve protection and management of the province's 26,000-kilometre coastline. Among the last coastal jurisdictions in North America to publish a coastal marine strategy, the province has been relying on a combination of regulations administered by various governments and ministries — federal, First Nations, provincial and municipal. This piecemeal approach has resulted in inconsistent protections for sea life, marine vegetation and coastal communities. The new coastal marine strategy details steps such as protecting and restoring nearshore ecosystems, preventing marine pollution, supporting First Nations climate action and many other positive initiatives to address coastal issues and ecological health while also upholding First Nations' rights and safeguarding communities. This collaboratively authored resource, which also incorporates input from the public, industry, and regional governments, provides much-needed policy direction to co-develop and update legislation intended to protect nearshore habitats for the next 20 years.   WWF-Canada looks forward to helping the B.C. government implement the strategy's defined goals, including safeguarding diverse marine life and helping recover species at risk; nurturing honest and respectful relationships with First Nations; and supporting vibrant coastal communities by restoring traditional seafood systems.   For more on the B.C. coastal marine strategy: https://lnkd.in/gE9k3r7z

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integrating Gender Equity in Conservation efforts... ABOYERD's strategic approach to conservation recognizes the unique perspectives and expertise of women and leverages on these in shapping hit conservation policies and actions. Eventhough the process is not an easy one, the stride made in integrating women into conservation initiatives signify a promising trend for the future. Women are custodians of biodiversity; Unsung heroes of Conservation!

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Are you an emerging youth conservation leader seeking an immersive and energizing learning experience? The EXCELerator LIVE program is the answer to making your project have real-world impact. Join us at CoalitionWILD for 15 engaging live sessions, led and facilitated by the expert CoalitionWILD team. Take part in interactive discussions, tackle recent case studies, and apply what you learn directly to your own project. Meet us every two weeks on Thursdays from 12.30 to 14.00 UTC for real-time inspiration and growth. It's our most intense program, but the rewards are incredible - you’ll walk away with an in-depth, step-by-step project plan to springboard your project forward, complete with valuable insights, connections and approaches to take with you as you develop your conservation career. 🌟 Why you should choose the EXCELerator LIVE: 1. Build relationships with conservation experts and peers: Participate in live sessions that enable unique opportunities for interaction and collaboration.  2. Turn ideas into action: Transform what you learn from recorded and live sessions intp practical steps for your project, following the rigorous structure of the course.  3. Collaborative learning: Engage with your peers throughout the EXCELerator and learn insights and expertise from each other.  4. Create a detailed project plan: Draft a meticulous project plan following expert advice and feedback to achieve your goals.  5. Boost your skills and impact: Grow your confidence in various skills while building your network and increasing your project's positive impact. APPLY HERE: bit.ly/EXL2025-apply The LIVE version of the EXCELerator is more time-demanding than the FLEX and requires you to attend a fortnightly live session from 12:30-14:00 UTC on Thursdays. Make sure you can commit to these times for the whole six months before choosing this learning pathway.

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🌍🌿 Fonseca Species Conservation Fund: Call for Proposals 🐢🐒 📣 The Fonseca Species Conservation Fund is now accepting proposals for amphibians, freshwater fish, primates, small mammals, and tortoises and freshwater turtles in Africa and the Indian Ocean! Re:Wild and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) launch this fund to support early-career conservationists from GEF-recipient countries.First Request for Proposals Now Live! 🌍 Region: Africa and the Indian Ocean 📅 Deadline: 19 July 2024: https://lnkd.in/eUN93YpS Requests for proposals will open for Asia-Pacific later in 2024, and the Americas in early 2025. Please share! 🔍 About the Fund: Established in 2024, the FSCF honours Gustavo Fonseca's legacy, providing grants up to $25,000 for species conservation projects in GEF-recipient countries. The fund leverages IUCN expertise to ensure priority projects receive support. #Conservation #Wildlife #GEF #Rewild #Biodiversity #FonsecaFund #EarlyCareerConservationists #AfricanWildlife #IndianOceanSpecies

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We are pleased to share the paper “Veiled costs, concealed incentives: Rethinking market approaches to address institutional marginalization and reduce vulnerability of artisanal fishers to power abuses in the Peruvian dolphinfish fishery” published in Marine Policy. 

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Hopeful that Significant Global Shifts will Occur in Conventional Conservation outlooks: "In recent years, growing evidence that fortress conservation is both morally repugnant and ecologically ineffective has led nations to formally reject it. At an international conference in 2003 in Durban, South Africa, conservationists adopted an action plan that promised to create and manage protected areas “in full compliance with the rights of Indigenous Peoples.” "For the past two years, I have worked with people from many different organizations, under the auspices of the U.N. Environment Programme, to clarify human rights principles that we believe should apply in conservation. Our focus is on affecting the behavior of private conservation organizations and funders, who play critical roles but often receive far less scrutiny than governments. The principles that will be announced on Dec. 13, 2024, are not binding, but they reflect and summarize widely accepted human rights standards. They are based on key concepts that urge conservation organizations and funders to: -Adopt commitments to respect human rights. -Embed the commitments in their work. -Institute processes to ensure that they identify and address human rights concerns. -Avoid causing or contributing to human rights abuses. -Use their influence to try to ensure that their partners, including government agencies, do not engage in abuses themselves. In particular, the principles call on conservation organizations and funders to respect the rights of Indigenous peoples, including their right to decide whether to give their free, prior and informed consent for conservation initiatives and projects." https://lnkd.in/gJGSXeJw

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🐦‍⬛🌎 The eastern loggerhead shrike is a raptorial passerine endemic to North America. Unfortunately, this subspecies is facing continued declines across its range. But the first International Conservation Strategy to ensure their long-term viability is now published and available! 🎉 🟢 For this migratory subspecies, a One Plan Approach inclusive of the full annual cycle is necessary to ensure that actions and resources are effectively targeted. 📅 This strategy details conservation goals, recommended strategies, and a 10-year action plan for Canada and the US. Parallel goals for both countries prioritize: 🔸 Protecting and conserving existing shrike habitat 🔸 Restoring and enhancing degraded habitat 🔸 Reducing knowledge gaps 🔸 Mitigating direct threats 🔸 Improving wild population demographics through integrated in situ and ex situ strategies. 📈🙌 Recovery actions will significantly contribute to the ultimate long-term vision of achieving viable, self-sustaining populations across eastern #NorthAmerica, including the eastern migratory subspecies, supported by local communities and industries. Continued collaboration and coordination among partners across the #US and #Canada are recommended to improve the implementation and effectiveness of recovery actions. 📑 This Conservation Strategy represents the results of a three-year collaborative conservation planning process informed by a complex metapopulation Population Viability Analysis (PVA), designed and facilitated by Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG) and CPSG Canada in partnership with the Canadian Species Initiative, Wildlife Preservation Canada, African Lion Safari, Queen's University, American Bird Conservancy, and the Loggerhead Shrike Working Group. 👫 Many species experts, managers, and other groups with vested interests in the species and its habitat in both Canada and the US contributed to the development of the Conservation Strategy through a series of online and in-person workshops. The culminating workshop was hosted earlier this year by Toronto Zoo and Nashville Zoo and led by Canada Regional Resource Center facilitators from Wilder Institute and Wildlife Preservation Canada. Find the strategy and report here: https://lnkd.in/dgAdV7gD _ #Conservation #EndangeredSpecies #BirdConservation #MigratoryBirds #OnePlanApproach #PopulationViabilityAnalysis #FullAnnualCycle #ConservationAcrossBoundaries

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NATURE'S KEEPERS In the world of zoo operations, every day brings new discoveries and challenges. From dawn till dusk, we're constantly learning—whether it's understanding how giraffes communicate through their behavior or figuring out the best way to manage habitats. Environmental conservation biology is at the core of managing nature, including wildlife, in any setup, whether insitu (in their natural habitat) or exsitu (in captivity). It's about protecting species and their habitats, ensuring they thrive for generations to come. Each animal interaction teaches us something valuable, helping us refine our care and conservation efforts and to learn from nature to better our existing social relationships. All we are, we learn from nothing but nature, be it the most sophisticated advanced scientific breakthrough. This should sound an alarm for more people to enroll in nature conservancy like zookeeping, because what you save today saves you tomorrow. In our team, everyone plays a very important role. Keepers, managers, and technical staff each bring their expertise, contributing to our collective knowledge. We rely on clear communication and teamwork to ensure the well-being of our animals and the success of our conservation programs. Mistakes happen, but they're opportunities for growth. As Theodore Roosevelt said, "The only man who never makes mistakes is the man who never does anything." We learn from our experiences, constantly improving how we care for animals and manage their environments. Zoo operation is considered by most as dirty, less rewarding financially, and risky. However, for the passionate and committed individual, it's a lifetime opportunity to connect with nature and communicate the interdependencies that exist between us and other forms of life. Yes, it's a dirty job, but consider this: the food we eat comes from the earth. Yes, it's often perceived as a low-paying job, yet have you noticed how zookeepers are among the happiest people when caring for and protecting the lives they interact with? In the long run, our goal is to inspire a love for wildlife and educate the public about environmental conservation and to learn from nature to better our existing social relationships. Every task, from cleaning enclosures to conducting research, plays a part in this mission. Together, we're committed to making a difference in the world of wildlife conservation, one day at a time.

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REPORT SUMMARY: The Science of Non-native Species in a Dynamic Delta The Delta is home to over 200 non-native species and is among the world’s most invaded estuaries. These species, introduced by human activities, pose a significant threat to the ecosystem. #Delta #DeltaIndependentScienceBoard #DeltaPlan #Fishandwildlife #Invasivespecies

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Such a great conversation to have! These topics are so important to understand. We also have a blog covering these myths! Click here to read: https://lnkd.in/gc4JcW3k

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Please follow this advice for the 🦔 🦔 🦔

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