Grant Ballard

Climate experts from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, including my dear friend Sasha Gershunov, are shedding light on the cause, impact, and future projections of the wildfires affecting Los Angeles. Get some answers to your questions about these devastating fires. ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/gRDsZmxi

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Conservation Without Conflict Key to Saving Endangered Species Authors - Lowell E. Baier and Christopher E. Segal When we think of Conservation Without Conflict, threatened and endangered species may not spring to mind. Whether the gray wolf or the delta smelt, federally-protected species are often sources of conflict. But in truth, both the history of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) and its application today show that the Conservation Without Conflict model is the best way to approach endangered species conservation.... Read full article below!

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Wildlife Works is thrilled to announce a publication, ‘A novel deforestation risk and baseline allocation model for the next generation of nested REDD+ projects’ in Nature Portfolio’s Journal, Scientific Reports, from a team of scientists that includes members of our own staff. This paper was authored by PhD researchers and forestry scientists that include team members from Wildlife Works and Everland : Emily Dangremond, Will Gochberg, Ph.D., Jeremy Freund and Maren Pauly. The BAAR model builds on over a decade of work by Wildlife Works in preparing its NBS projects for nesting into National REDD+ programs in multiple countries including Cambodia, Colombia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The method enables the standardization of nested project baselines and ensures they are consistent with the jurisdictional programs’ climate goals, while still reflecting the risk of future deforestation accurately for each project. Risk-adjusted baselines enable governments to attract higher investment to highly threatened forests, without the risk of inflated project specific baselines that could jeopardize the integrity of jurisdictional programs. “Wildlife Works has used the BAAR approach for more than 10 years, and we are now making this work publicly available to enrich the current discussions on how best to design jurisdictional programs with nested projects as the carbon market for NBS is rapidly advancing,” said Jeremy Freund, Chief Technology Officer at Wildlife Works and co-author of the paper. This achievement underscores our commitment to in-house expertise, which is critical for ensuring high-quality projects and for effectively leading the voluntary carbon market towards higher integrity. There is an urgent need to scale REDD+ projects across jurisdictions; however, methodologies for allocating national baselines have not been standardized nor tested. This new research represents the first time a risk allocation model has been tested, providing a tool for jurisdictions to standardize how they set baselines. Efforts are already underway to improve BAAR. The next version will use more advanced satellite data to include not just complete deforestation, but also forest degradation, among other advantages. Learn more in our latest blog: https://lnkd.in/g64YeqcF Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/gUkPVvWA

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Last month our organizational partner Local Contexts published a new policy brief titled, “Recognizing Indigenous Interests: Labeling DSI with Provenance Metadata.” We strongly urge all groups and professionals working in #genetic #research and conservation genomics to read and utilize this resource as it is incredibly important to recognize Indigenous provenance in metadata. We’re extremely proud to call Local Contexts a partner as they lead this work on a global scale. Here’s an excerpt from the brief: “Notices and Labels create pathways for partnership and collaboration with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). Specifically, the Notices work to activate researcher and institutional responsibility to identify potential Indigenous rights and interests. The Labels establish Indigenous cultural authority and clarify Indigenous and local community rights, interests, and relationships to collections and/or data.” Learn more and read the brief here: https://lnkd.in/gG9VNr_7 #IndigenousDataSovereignty #Indigenous #Science #IndigenousScience #IndigenousRights #Conservation #Genomics #data #metadata

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In this paper, we show that mixing tree species having both ecto- and endo-mycorrhizal associations increases overall productivity

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Case Study: Radio-tracking Giant Hornets MONITORING & MANAGEMENT OF INVASIVE SPECIES Washington State is facing a significant threat from invasive species, including the Giant Hornet. These formidable insects pose a danger to native ecosystems and agricultural industries, prompting urgent conservation measures to mitigate their impact. Conservation Challenges The presence of Giant Hornets in Washington State presents numerous challenges, including the potential for predation on native pollinators and honeybee populations, as well as the risk of disrupting delicate ecological balances. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach to monitoring and managing invasive species. Traditional methods of tracking insects often involve labour-intensive fieldwork and limited detection ranges. However, the use of Wildlife Drones’ drone-based telemetry system offers a more efficient and effective solution. Drones can cover large areas in a single flight, providing researchers with comprehensive data on Giant Hornet populations and their distribution. Read more here: https://hubs.ly/Q02BdBC70

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New Felidae #research! We used 5 years of #cameratrap & community science data to measure wildlife responses to dog regulations in #bayarea open spaces (i.e. dogs allowed vs open spaces where dogs are prohibited). #Pumas & #bobcats avoided areas with more dogs while mule deer & pumas were more nocturnal in dog-friendly spaces. Our research suggests that dog presence alters wildlife activity, which could contribute to human-wildlife conflict. What's the solution? a better public understanding of why rules related to dog presence in parks exist, along with policy enforcement, as well as ongoing research so that we and our pet dogs can coexist with wildlife in protected areas. Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/gHu7pqK9

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By promoting practices that improve soil health, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance agricultural resilience, this program is setting a high standard for sustainable farming. Its early successes highlight the value of investing in local conservation efforts that empower farmers and land managers to adopt sustainable practices tailored to their unique needs and regional challenges. The data from the past two fiscal years not only underscores the program’s statewide reach but also provides critical insights into its effectiveness and scalability. This program exemplifies how targeted funding and collaboration can yield measurable environmental and agricultural benefits. It serves as a model for how we can balance productivity and sustainability, ensuring that farming in Washington remains resilient and environmentally responsible for generations to come.

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What can agricultural land contribute to protecting biodiversity? In this issue of From the Ground Up, American Farmland Trust's Caro Roszell, and farm and forest policy consultant (and an editor of From the Ground Up) Brian Donahue, investigate this question, shining a light on the rise and fall of the populations of bobolink and other grassland birds in New England. They examine the factors contributing to their significant decline and provide hopeful pathways forward that could be a boon for both the region’s food systems and its biodiversity. With the rise of twentieth century industrial agriculture and suburban development, the farmland habitat for most grassland birds was greatly reduced. On the farmland that remained, earlier and more frequent hay cuttings improved the quality of the hay but degraded the habitat. Sadly, many hayfields now function as ecological sinks, attracting grassland birds to nest and then destroying nestlings before they can fly. Roszell and Donahue present a promising paradigm for farmers and wildlife to support each other. They write, “A rebirth of New England grass farming, after more than a century of decline, could yield multiple benefits: new opportunities for farmers and an increasing regional food supply; improved soil health, carbon storage, and resilience; and real biological conservation value from our farmland.” Read their thoughts and suggestions on how simple adjustments to hay cutting and grazing practices can be the pathway to an avian-agrarian partnership that will make habitats healthier for all species, human and wild. https://buff.ly/4emf5Wd #conservation #newengland #northeast #landconservation #wwfc #environment #biodiversity ##bobolink #agriculture #farming #grassland #grasslandbirds

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Congratulations to Dr. Jeannie Martin, Lead Biology Instructor at CPTC, for her recent publication in Oryx—The International Journal of Conservation. New Marking Methodology in Pangolin Conservation: Introducing the Pangolin Universal Notching System: Innovative Solution Provides Standardized and Widely Accessible Method to Enhance Pangolin Tracking and Conservation Efforts. Have you ever wondered how scientists manage to track some of the world's most elusive animals? For pangolins, a unique and critically endangered group of mammals, tracking has long been a challenge. Today, a new journal article is available that introduces the Pangolin Universal Notching System (PUNS), a standardized and accessible tool available to pangolin practitioners worldwide. Pangolins, often referred to as "walking pinecones" or “scaly anteaters,” are remarkable for their distinctive scales and diet. Despite their fascinating biology, all eight species of pangolins are experiencing severe population declines. Their elusive nature and the challenges associated with current tracking technologies have made it difficult to gather comprehensive data on their populations and movements. The Pangolin Universal Notching System addresses these challenges by offering a standardized, low-cost solution for marking pangolins. Importantly, the system is minimally invasive, prioritizing the well-being of the pangolins and ensuring their natural behaviors are not disrupted. By standardizing how pangolins are marked and tracked, researchers can better assess their populations, understand their movements, and develop more effective conservation strategies. For more information about the Pangolin Universal Notching System or to access the full article, please visit https://lnkd.in/ewE_7Www or https://lnkd.in/eACf825J to review the team’s full pangolin monitoring project.

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Great insight from the USDA Economic Research Service diving into conservation practice adoption across land ownership types. About 40% of the farmland in the U.S. is rented, which can add quite a bit of complexity to the conservation conversation. Benefits from many practices like reducing tillage or incorporating cover crops takes time to achieve, but if you're leasing land as a farmer, do you make those investments unsure if there will be a long-term ROI? I know this issue plagues many of our discussions around conservation practice adoption. But, this report suggests that perhaps adoption across all landownership types is a bit more similar than we anticipated. Differences in tillage intensity were not significant across farmland owned opposed to leased: "An examination of tillage practices between 2011 and 2021 as measured by the Soil Tillage Intensity Rating (STIR) values for five major crops (corn, soybeans, cotton, barley, and sorghum) showed owner-operators and renters both generally showed reductions in STIR values." However, things did get a bit murky when examining cover crop adoption: "While cover crop adoption remained low from 2011 to 2021, adoption rates increased for owner-operators and tenant farms for corn and cotton. Some farm resource regions experienced differences in adoption rates between owners and tenants." Nonetheless, this is very helpful context as we navigate promotion of conservation practices and the challenges that hold back adoption. Bonus points to USDA-ERS for including barley in this study! https://lnkd.in/g_6_sZ_8

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AG ALERT: Water operations long-term plan could limit supply By Christine Souza , Ag Alert State and federal agencies face a challenge to balance the beneficial uses of water needed by farmers with needs of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ecosystem, as water officials plan for climate change impacts. In seeking to coordinate long-term operation of the federal Central Valley Project and State Water Project, the U.S. #BureauofReclamation #CentralValleyProject #Environmentaldocuments #Waterprojectoperations

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A new paper in the Journal of Applied Ecology by 2018 Global Change Research Fellow, Enie Hensel, details how intentionally seeding weed grasses that are more resistant to climate impacts can help seagrass restoration! Read more about the paper: https://loom.ly/3UB96xQ

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Another *trilling* lost bird discovery: birders have documented the Mussau Triller for the first time since 1979! 📷 🔎The Mussau Triller is assessed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and listed as a lost bird by the Search for Lost Birds, a collaboration between American Bird Conservatory (ABC), Re:wild, and BirdLife International. John C. Mittermeier, Director of the Search for Lost Birds for ABC, notes that this “stunning news” shows how valuable the global birding community is in the Search for Lost Birds. According to a recent study published in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, citizen science platforms such as eBird, Xeno-canto, and iNaturalist — where anyone can record their sightings and upload photographs of birds around the globe — contain records on 98% of all bird species on Earth. 🌎 “That documentation is a hugely valuable data point for us as conservationists,” says Mittermeier. “One of the most basic pieces of information you need in conservation is simply knowing where a species is and geo-located records submitted by citizen scientists, like Josh's photographs of the triller, help provide that understanding. That's square one for any conservation analysis and planning.” ➡️ https://bit.ly/3Bf4uOu #MassauTriller #Triller #TrillerNight #Birder #Birding #SearchForLostBirds #eBird

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Interested in upping your landscape planning game? This online course with live instruction and exercises may be for you: A new course in landscape-scale conservation planning This eight-session course will begin January 7, 2025, and is part of a complete conservation curriculum offered by the Center for Wildlife Studies. It complements the core course in the Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation (the Conservation Standards). Topics will include: selecting appropriate landscape boundaries, applying the Conservation Standards at the landscape scale, incorporating socioeconomic considerations, assessing current and future trends, systematic conservation planning, and building partnerships to support ongoing, dynamic planning and implementation. The course is delivered by Dr. Patrick Crist, Principal of PlanIt Forward and a long-time innovator and landscape assessment and planning practitioner. He’s accompanied by a distinguished line-up of experts from several organizations that bring their vast experience from around the world, including John Buchanan, Vice President of Sustainable Production at Conservation International; Dr. Pete Cutter, Director of Program Coordination and Technical Services, RECOFT; Willem Ferwerda, Founder of Commonland; Hannah Grice, Operations Manager of LandScale, Rainforest Alliance; Jamie Faselt, Conservation Science Specialist, Center for Large Landscape Conservation; Dr. Jen McGowan, Global Managing Director, Marxan Solutions; and Tom Mielwald, Program Director, 1000 Landscapes for 1 Billion People. Learn more and register for the course at https://lnkd.in/gZP8hmhF.

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