Pheasants Forever’s Post

I recently read an article called “For Wildlife in Rehab Centers, Humans are the Culprit”, written by Dana Kobilinsky from the wildlife society. It’s linked below. Here are some of my insights and takeaways- Realizing the extent to which humans are responsible for the bad condition of these animals can be eye-opening and can serve as a powerful motivator to take action. It highlights the urgent need for individuals and communities to become more aware of their impact on the natural world and to strive towards more sustainable and compassionate ways of coexisting with wildlife. Reading about these issues ignite a desire to get involved in wildlife conservation efforts, whether through supporting rehabilitation centers, advocating for policy changes, participating in habitat restoration projects, or simply making more conscious choices in my daily life to reduce harm to wildlife. It underscores the interconnectedness of all living beings and the importance of taking responsibility for the well-being of our fellow inhabitants on this planet.

Advancing human rights is critical to every project that Everland represents.   The Wildlife Alliance Southern Cardamom REDD+ Project is no exception. And for over a year, we have been supporting Wildlife Alliance as they engage with Human Rights Watch about a report Human Rights Watch has prepared on the project. We have learnt that this report will be published imminently. While we have only just received the report and are still working through the details, the nature of its allegations appears largely the same as those made by Human Rights Watch in their letter to Wildlife Alliance dated 6 November 2023. Therefore, we encourage everyone to read this open letter by Wildlife Alliance CEO Dr. Suwanna Gauntlett which comprehensively addresses the concerns raised. We credit Wildlife Alliance for transparently communicating about these matters well in advance of this report - https://lnkd.in/gQ86xrdE The letter sets out Wildlife Alliance’s correspondence on these matters and makes clear: ▪ Crucial facts and context that are excluded from Human Rights Watch’s report. ▪ The 29 communities who directly benefit from the project’s work, including the Indigenous Chorng people, overwhelmingly support the project - and express that support freely. ▪ Without the dedication of Wildlife Alliance, much of the Southern Cardamom rainforest would be gone, and the local communities displaced and disenfranchised by land grabbing, logging, mining and construction, and other infrastructure development - as has taken place throughout Cambodia. ▪ Wildlife Alliance’s commitment to continuous improvement in its multi-decadal effort to transform the relationship between people and the forest, and the actions it is taking. Everland remains committed to the Southern Cardamom REDD+ Project, given Wildlife Alliance’s thorough responses to the allegations and the tremendous positive impacts the project has achieved for human rights, sustainable development and forest conservation in one of the most challenging operating environments in the world.

Wetland plant once nearly extinct may have recovered enough to come off the endangered species list MARY ANN FUREDI/ASSOCIATED PRESS BOSTON, July 31, 2024— The federal wildlife service on Tuesday proposed that a wetland plant once in danger of going extinct be taken off the endangered species list due to its successful recovery. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is asking that the northeastern bulrush be delisted. The plant is a leafy perennial herb with a cluster of flowers found in the Northeast from Vermont to Virginia. The federal service’s proposal opens a 60 day comment period. The plant was listed as endangered in 1991 when there were only 13 known populations left in seven states. It now has 148 populations in eight states, often in vernal pools, swamps and small wetlands. “Our important partnerships with state agencies, conservation organizations and academic researchers have helped us better understand and conserve northeastern bulrush through long-term population monitoring, habitat conservation, and increased surveys in prime habitat areas,” said Wendi Weber, northeast regional director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Detailed surveys of the plant’s unique behavior have aided the recovery effort. The bulrush can disappear for years and reemerge when conditions are right. Several states also worked to reduce invasive species that encroach on wetlands and protect land where the bulrush is found. Vermont, for example, has purchased two parcels for the bulrush. In 2014, a coalition of soil and water conservation groups and a wetlands organization launched a successful pilot program to establish a new northeastern bulrush population in New York. Photo: Northeastern bulrush (Scirpus ancistrochaetus), © Arthur Haines

Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy purpose is to conserve wildlife species in Kenya with a keen focus on the critically endangered Mountain Bongo. Our projects encompass a wide range of initiatives aimed at preserving the natural world and ensuring the survival of endangered species. I am thrilled to share some of the highlights of our ongoing projects and annual activities: Habitat Restoration: One of our core projects involves the restoration and protection of the critical habitats of the Mountain Bongo antelope. We have made significant strides in regenerating and conserving the forests and ecosystems essential to the Bongo's survival. In partnership with members of the community, we have so far planted 40,000 tree seedlings and seen 90% grow to maturity. Breeding and Rewilding of Mountain Bongo Antelope: We have successfully established a breeding program, working in collaboration with wildlife experts, to help bolster the Mountain Bongo population. These efforts have been essential in ensuring the continued existence of this magnificent and rare species. Animal Orphanage: Our conservancy runs an animal orphanage that provides care and rehabilitation for various orphaned and injured wildlife species. This facility has become a sanctuary for these animals and a place where they receive the necessary care and attention. Conservation Education: Education is at the heart of our mission. We are committed to raising awareness about the importance of conservation through various educational programs, workshops, and outreach initiatives. We believe that by instilling a sense of responsibility and care for our environment in the younger generation, we can shape a better future for our planet. Annual Activities: Trek for the Bongo - Mount Kenya Challenge: Each year, our dedicated supporters take on the ultimate challenge by trekking up Mount Kenya. This event raises both awareness and crucial funds for our Bongo conservation efforts. I am excited about the opportunity to collaborate with you, your organization, community groups, and your team to make a positive impact on these important initiatives. Please let me know how and if you would like to partner. #ConservationFinance #SavetheMountainBongo #MountKenyaWildlifeConservancy #AnimalOrphanage #HabitatRestoration #ConservationInitiatives

#wolves #colorado #wyoming #management #conservation #anthropocentrism #halfearth #reverenceforlife #loveofJesus THE PEREGRINATION: "In recent wildlife monitoring developments, Colorado’s collared gray wolves, reintroduced in December as part of a state initiative to restore the species, may have expanded their range into neighboring Wyoming." DON'T FRET. WE HAVE THINGS WELL IN HAND: "This finding aligns with expectations outlined in Colorado’s Gray Wolf Restoration and Management Plan, which was carefully designed to anticipate and manage such movements." WELL, OKAY. MAYBE A HITCH OR TWO: "This reintroduction has not been without controversy, particularly with local ranchers in both Colorado and Wyoming who have reported livestock losses attributed to wolf predation. The management of gray wolves is further complicated by differing state laws. In Colorado, the wolves enjoy protection under the Endangered Species Act, whereas in Wyoming they do not, making them susceptible to hunting. This legal discrepancy has fueled ongoing debates between Conservation efforts and local ranching interests." THE USUAL FECKLESS SUMMATION: "This cross-border movement highlights the complex interplay between wildlife management, conservation efforts, and human interests, suggesting that the path forward will require careful, continued monitoring and cooperation across state lines." THE SOLE AMELIORATIVE: A reverence for life is an an ethos of life affirmation mandating that humans accept and adopt a solemn duty to serve as stewards to all nature, all God's creation. As regards wildlife in particular, this stewardship is best discharged by setting aside large swaths of acreage in which such beings may exist and thrive according to their own predilections, needs and drives, not ours. Rather than playing God, let us allow God's will to play out. Instead of seeking to control by dint of wildlife management and conservation, may we seek to facilitate through a focus on the protection, assistance, and enhancement of life, all life. That is a reverence for life. That is conferring the love of Jesus universally.

#zoos #wildlife #freedom #captivity #anthropocentrism #life #love #reverenceforlife #loveofJesus The Decision: "In a historic move, Costa Rica has decided to close its two remaining state zoos, marking a significant step in its commitment to wildlife Conservation." Why? "Overall, Costa Rica’s decision underscores its dedication to wildlife conservation and offers a hopeful model for global efforts to protect and rehabilitate wild animals." The Methodology: "The transition, which began last week, involves relocating 287 animals to a rehabilitation center where their health will be assessed. According to Franz Tattenbach, the minister of environment and energy, some animals will be reintroduced to the wild, while others will be placed in sanctuaries if they are deemed unfit for release." The Analaysis: A reverence for life imposes upon mankind the sacred duty to serve as stewards of God's creation. This duty is usually best discharged by permitting that creation to live according to its own proclivities and predilections, not ours. As most zoos were created and maintained to promote human amusement and diversion from gawking at confined animals, their abolition is in consonance with a reverence for life. The major concern is that a reverence for life is not followed at all as a tenet throughout the vast majority of the globe overrun by humans. It is not even acknowledged. So, while we promote and proclaim this ethos, until then, sadly, some zoos must remain in operation, as their alterative is to release these animals into a milieu of human exploitation, torture and butchery.

Wildfires in California have had a devastating impact on the state's wildlife. In 2020 and 2021 alone, approximately 58% of the area affected by wildfires since 2012 occurred, making the fire activity "unprecedented." Researchers assessed the impact by comparing maps of habitats for 508 vertebrate species with indices of fire coverage and severity. The data shows that fires spanned up to 30% of ranges for 50 species, while another 100 species had at least 10% of their habitats burned. Five to 14% of these species’ ranges burned at high severity. These findings highlight the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect California's wildlife from the effects of wildfires. Let's work together to protect our natural world.

Share your feedback on the 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan! The draft 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) is due to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service by September 30, 2025. CPW is working closely with the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) on the development of the SWAP. Feedback on initial work, including the criteria for selecting the Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), is being accepted from June 11 through July 9, 2024 on EngageCPW. What is a State Wildlife Action Plan? State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAP) guide the conservation of a state’s most vulnerable species and the habitats they depend on. An updated SWAP is required every 10 years for federal funding eligibility via the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants (SWG) program. What is happening now with the SWAP? Colorado Parks and Wildlife is seeking feedback on the draft process to select the Species of Greatest Conservation Need to help determine which species are a conservation priority in the 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan. Feedback is being accepted online via the EngageCPW website from June 11- July 9, 2024. https://lnkd.in/gSH3JfRW

Bipartisan Members of Congress Show their Support for State and Tribal Wildlife Grant Funding in FY2025   Washington D.C. (May 30, 2024)- The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies is pleased to see 46 bipartisan members of the U.S. Senate and 142 bipartisan members of the U.S. House of Representatives signed on to Dear Colleague Letters supporting funding for the State & Tribal Wildlife Grants (STWG) program next fiscal year. “The State & Tribal Wildlife Grants program has successfully prevented dozens of species from being listed as endangered and is aiding the recovery of others already listed,” said Chuck Sykes, Director of the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries and President of the Association. “Recent funding cuts to this program have impacted the ability of states, territories, and tribes, who bear primary responsibility for fish and wildlife conservation, to stem the decline of fish and wildlife and their habitats.” The State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program is the nation’s core program to prevent fish and wildlife from becoming endangered. This program is the only federal grant program available to states, territories, District of Columbia and tribes to conserve more than 12,000 species identified by states as species in greatest conservation need. States, tribes and their partners have used this funding to combat invasive species, protect natural areas, restore habitat, conduct research, implement monitoring programs and facilitate partnerships with landowners to protect declining species and habitats on public and private lands. [Read more: https://lnkd.in/e-4HznGb ]

Target: Roy Cooper, Governor of North Carolina Goal: Safeguard the remaining 20 critically endangered red wolfs. The red wolf (Canis rufus) once roamed freely throughout the southeastern United States, but today, it is teetering on the brink of extinction. With fewer than 20 red wolves left in the wild, the species faces a dire and imminent threat to its existence. North Carolina is home to the last remaining wild population of red wolves, making it absolutely crucial to their survival. Historically, these remarkable creatures played a vital role in maintaining ecological balance in the region. However, habitat loss, illegal hunting, and interbreeding with coyotes have pushed them to the edge of oblivion. In 1987, North Carolina took a commendable step by implementing a program to reintroduce red wolves into their native habitat. This initiative, led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, aimed to ensure the survival of this critically endangered species.