Lisa S. Howard’s Post

"Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced that NOAA is designating 4,543 square miles of coastal and offshore waters along 116 miles of California’s central coast as America’s 17th national marine sanctuary. Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary will conserve the area’s diverse range of marine life and celebrate Indigenous peoples’ connections to the region. It is the third largest sanctuary in the National Marine Sanctuary System. The sanctuary designation advances President Biden’s ocean conservation legacy and his America the Beautiful Initiative, which supports locally-led collaborative conservation efforts across the country and sets a national goal of protecting, conserving and restoring at least 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. With this designation, the Biden-Harris Administration has now conserved more than 45 million acres of lands and waters." NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Northern Chumash Tribal Council https://lnkd.in/gqw3q4D4

Feeling for communities who love and live for the Reef, and for the broader world who are grieving this latest mass bleaching event. These sorts of hard hitting events bring up so many emotions for those who have been paying attention. Deep sadness and grief for the environmental losses underway caused by climate change, the loss of places and ecosystems that are meant to outlast us, and the futures we are closing off as more collapse happens. Rage and anger for the decades lost to inaction in which we were aware of the risks yet kept saying we can't move too quickly to a zero carbon world (something we are still told). Rage and anger for the social and environmental injustices caused by the delay and distract tactics, and outrage at the ongoing decisions to continue fossil fuel production. Guilt for not feeling like we are doing enough, even though so many of us are burning out from doing all we can to turn this around. Deep love and gratitude for what is left. All of these emotions swirl around until hopefully, instead of giving way to despair, they galvanise into a new strength and dedication to move faster together to become better stewards. A big chunk of the work is fighting (need I point out who against?), and fighting can definitely feel good and is deep rooted in most of our DNA. But the work is also about caring, re-learning, decolonising, reflecting, listening, challenging, slowing down and so on. (As I write this post in my backyard I am grateful for the calming sounds of the wings of 3 silvereyes who are feasting on the nectar of the eucalyptus tree beside me, and blue banded bees are busy buzz pollinating. A few hours earlier a wedge tailed eagle was being chased high in the sky by a bold magpie a quarter of its size. A landscape once denuded and destroyed by the goldrush)

The time for drilling next to coral reefs is over! Help save Scott Reef: https://bit.ly/4fQwUye 👈 The WA environmental watchdog has raised concerns indicating that the potential impacts on Scott Reef from Woodside's Browse gas proposal are unacceptable. 🐳🐢 Although lesser known, Scott Reef is one of the most spectacular and important coral reefs in Australia. This flourishing marine ecosystem off the north-west coast of WA supports hundreds of species of ocean wildlife, including whales, dolphins, turtles, tropical fish, sea birds and corals. Woodside is currently proposing one of Australia's biggest and dirtiest carbon polluting gas projects around Scott Reef. 🏭 We have joined with other leading conservation groups in calling on the WA and federal governments to respect the independent scientific advice and expert opinion. Woodside’s application to develop Browse fossil gas must be rejected. 📷 7News Perth. We have lightly edited the segment to fit within 60 seconds.

If you work on ocean conservation, read this. Angelo Villagomez supports the potent headline with substantial evidence and nuance. Area based conservation targets, (albeit reached sometimes by creative arithmetic!), are one of many tools at play in the global effort to stop species loss, prevent irreversible coastal erosion, and avoid livelihood collapse. I agree wholeheartedly with Angelo's assessment: that efforts need to scale up and speed up, and that best efforts will be the ones that center #communities, #justice, and #equity. https://lnkd.in/e5jVz6Tj

🎉 We are thrilled to celebrate the milestone achievement of the Great Bear Sea Project for Finance Permanence, announced today. After more than two decades of dedication, this initiative will safeguard the Great Bear Sea, ensuring cultural vibrancy, supporting resilient communities and economies. The agreement signed between Coastal First Nations, the federal government, and the BC government aligns with the 30 x 30 vision, committing to protect 30% of lands and waters by 2030. This Indigenous-led effort will bring $335 million in new investments to the Northern Shelf Bioregion and the Great Bear Sea, encompassing 10 million hectares of culturally and environmentally significant ocean, safeguarding 84 species of ocean and wildlife. The Houssian Foundation is proud to be a part of this historic initiative. We understand the profound connection between cultures, communities, and wildlife with the land and sea, underscoring the significance of this endeavor. We extend our gratitude to the First Nations communities for their steadfast leadership and commend our partners Coast Funds, Nature United for their invaluable contributions to realizing this vision. “This ground-breaking initiative, led by 17 First Nations, launches a new era of collaborative governance in marine conservation, stewardship, and Marine Protected Areas. It represents a beacon of hope for the future ‒ a future where ongoing management and stewardship are not just aspirations, but realities. Together we have forged a path where prosperous communities and stewardship go hand in hand, where economic growth is synonymous with environmental stewardship.” - Chief Marilyn Slett, President of Coastal First Nations #IndigenousConservation #greatbearsea #conservation #culturalconservation #bcgovernment #bcnews

The Ocean gives us so much. It's time to start giving back. This #WorldOceansDay, why not take a step towards changing the tides and get involved in Ocean Conservation? Here at SeaTheFuture we can help you take that step 🌊 You choose how much to contribute, how often to do so and which of our 10 projects you wish to support. Let's keep taking steps forward and make a lasting impact on our most valuable resource 🧡 #WorldOceanDay #WorldOceanDay2024 #OceansDay2024 #OceansDay #OceanDay

#WorldWetlandsDay is tomorrow, February 2—which marks the 1971 signing of the international Convention on Wetlands and aims to raise awareness for these vital ecosystems. Even with these commitments, 35% of the world’s wetlands have disappeared and we have lost an estimated 70% of our wetlands in the developed parts of Canada. When we save natural areas like wetlands, the world becomes a safer, healthier and happier place. In the op-ed piece below, Shawn Graham, secretary of DUC's board of directors, discusses the reasons why when we invest in nature, we're investing in our well-being too. #DucksUnlimitedCanada #WWD2024 #ForWetlands #WetlandConservation #Conservation #Nature #Wellness

🌱 With World Conservation Day on July 28, it's the perfect time to reflect on the immense value of our natural world. Recent fires in Jasper, Alberta, remind us of the delicate balance within our ecosystems and the devastating impact when that balance is disrupted. CBC/Radio-Canada reported that the fires were so intense there was nothing experts could do to stop the flames from spreading, highlighting the urgent need for robust conservation efforts. Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gHF8TiXg   Understanding the value of our natural assets is more important than ever. Our research at ISF has revealed that Canada’s wetlands contribute an incredible $225 billion in value each year. These vital ecosystems filter our water and capture carbon, providing services worth about 10% of our GDP. 🌱💧   Despite this, there's still a lot more work to be done. We need to fully assess our economic dependence on nature and invest in its preservation. By continuing our research and promoting the value of these natural assets, we can ensure they’re protected for future generations. Read more about our natural assets work here: https://lnkd.in/g2ynzmeX   🌎✨Join us in celebrating World Conservation Day and supporting our mission to preserve Canada’s natural treasures. Together, we can make a real difference. #WorldConservationDay #NaturalAssets #Sustainability #Wetlands #ISFCanada #Conservation #EnvironmentalImpact #EcosystemServices

👀 We're calling for a dedicated EU Nature Restoration Fund! Every €1 invested in nature restoration can generate benefits from €8 to €38. Despite this, nature conservation & restoration in the EU are critically underfunded. Across Europe, we are witnessing more droughts, floods, and wildfires, along with the decline of pollinators, soil erosion, and water eutrophication. But there is a solution: nature itself. The next EU budget must include a dedicated Nature Restoration Fund to address the escalating impacts of nature degradation and the climate crisis. 🗞 Read our joint paper: https://lnkd.in/eu5tAB9H

During the pandemic, we collaborated with Gisselle Brady (featured in this BBC video) from the BICA Roatan team through the MPAConnect network. Our goal was to better understand the business model for a local water quality lab. It's exciting to see the development of this model yielding multiple benefits for the island: ◼ The additional data that the lab produces enables more effective wastewater treatment, leading to better water quality and improved coral reef health ◼ The model generates income that is used to sustain the lab's activities and support other conservation efforts in the protected area. This initiative is a remarkable example of a single mechanism that delivers significant environmental, economic, and social local benefits - which can hopefully form an inspiration for islands in the Caribbean that are facing similar challenges as those in Roatan! https://lnkd.in/ei2DKEZ4 Amílcar Guzmán