FAO’s Post

Want to share exciting news of winning Eucalypt Australia research grant "Maximizing Eucalyptus forests resilience to increasing fires". The aim of our project is to measure the recovery of native Eucalyptus sieberi forests following the 2020 wildfires to determine the impacts of low and high severity fire on forests not thinned or thinned. https://lnkd.in/g_EKcW6b

ERDN is a member of a consortium that has just started the implementation of a new 4-year Horizon Europe project named Nemesis-Soil Health Living Lab Network for Combating Desertification in the Mediterranean (Grant Agreement: 101219087). The consortium comprises 37 partners and two associated partners from 13 countries across Europe, North Africa, and beyond, and is led by the Eratosthenes Centre of Excellence in Cyprus. Nemesis establishes five autonomous yet interconnected user-oriented, sustainable Living Labs (LLs) in Cyprus, France, Italy, North Africa (Tunisia/Algeria), and Spain, to combat desertification and improve soil health across the Mediterranean. These LLs will evolve into a multi-disciplinary virtual LL, with primary goal to incorporate all relevant soil health descriptors across a spectrum of heterogeneous real-life environments. Nemesis seeks to promote effective, sustainable land management practices and tackle the various societal challenges associated with soil health deterioration in the region. A comprehensive set of tools will be established to secure the long-term viability and optimal functionality of the LLs, with the aim to advance LLs’ pilot sites into Lighthouses where they can showcase solutions and exemplary achievements. A core principle guiding Nemesis is its commitment to co-creation and co-development. Nemesis will also emphasize the active engagement of local communities and citizens, with a special focus on representing future generations to build a foundation of environmentally conscious citizens. ERDN in NEMESIS is responsible for leading tasks 1.3 and 1.4. Task 1.3: Ecosystem building panels facilitating interactive and multi-actor processes focuses on creating a gender-responsive, inclusive, and multi-dimensional MAA strategic plan, along with five LL-oriented guidelines to ensure the systematic integration of a transdisciplinary MAA co-eco-approach across all WPs, with ongoing monitoring/revisions. Task 1.4: Multi-stakeholder governance model and dynamic stakeholder dynamic-mapping tool will establish and analyse the efficacy of LL-oriented multi-stakeholder governance frameworks and advancing them to strengthen LLs' operationalization/inclusivity/transparency/accountability mechanisms. Please follow project’s and ERDN’s websites and social media for further news on NEMESIS: 🔸️NEMESIS Website: www.nemesis-soil.eu 🔸️NEMESIS LinkedIn: @nemesis-soil #SoilMission #HorizonEurope

TWP is setting out on an exciting new expedition: a baseline study of the Breede River in South Africa. While our work usually takes us into the Zambezi, Okavango, Congo and Nile Basins, this journey marks the first we will be stepping outside the tropics and exploring a very different, highly developed river system. By studying the Breede, we hope to shed light on how rivers across Africa connect, differ, and shape the lives around them. Over 30% of the Breede Basin is covered with agriculture — predominantly wheat, grape vines, and stone fruits. To support this industry, the Breede and its tributaries are heavily engineered, with nine dams, numerous weirs, canals, water abstractions, and bridges. Collectively, these make the Breede one of the most altered rivers sampled by TWP to date. By using our standard research protocol, this survey offers a unique chance to compare the characteristics of this river with some of Africa's wildest. With all this development comes a cost. The Breede River and its tributaries are home to endangered aquatic ecosystems. One striking example is the Papenkuils Wetland, which harbours a remarkable mix of wetland and terrestrial plant species — many of which are not protected elsewhere in the country. Follow live updates from the Breede expedition team via Instagram @greatspineofafrica. Matthew Dooley Kira-Lee Courtaillac Lauren Searle

Think tropical forests store the most carbon? ❌ Wrong. Here’s a little puzzle for you: 🧐 🌱 Who stores up to four times more carbon than tropical forests? 🌍 Who covers around 140,000 km² across more than 118 countries? 🦀 Who sustains entire communities, providing crabs, shrimp, and fish to feed families and supply regional markets? 🐟 Who doubles the productivity of local fisheries because it acts as a nursery for fish and crustaceans? 🌊 Who protects coastlines, reducing wave heights by up to 66% and preventing billions of dollars in flood damage? 🐢🦩🐅 Who is the habitat of hundreds of species, from fish and birds to turtles, manatees, and even **TIGERS (!) **? 🌾 Who enriches soils and stabilizes ecosystems? 💧 Who filters pollutants and protects coral reefs? Did you guess which ecosystem I’m talking about? 🌴 Write your answer in the comments! 💬

Restore America’s Estuaries, in close coordination with and financial support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is pleased to announce the release of the 2025 NEP Watersheds Grants. This nationally competitive program funds projects addressing the most pressing challenges threatening estuarine health — including: • Habitat loss (wetlands, seagrass, mangroves, reefs) • Coastal resilience and sea level rise • Nutrient pollution • Stormwater impacts and erosion • Invasive species and marine mammal mortalities We invite eligible partners and organizations working within the 28 NEP boundary areas to apply. Learn more about the program and how to apply: https://lnkd.in/gwZr3ivy #Estuaries #CoastalRestoration #GrantOpportunity #NEPGrants

Today, IUCN releases a new update of the Red List of Threatened Species™, bringing important news about the status of many species. 🦭Three Arctic seal species are in decline. The main threat is the loss of sea ice due to climate change. These seals rely on the ice for breeding, raising their young, and finding food. 🦜A major study by Bird Life shows that 61% of bird species worldwide are declining, up from 44% in 2016. The leading cause is deforestation. In Madagascar, the status of 14 endemic forest bird species has shifted to ‘near threatened’, and three to ‘vulnerable’, including the Schlegel’s asity (Philepitta schlegeli). 🌊There’s also good news: the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) is no longer classified as ‘threatened’, thanks to decades of conservation efforts. Since the 1970s, its global population has increased by around 28%, despite ongoing threats to some subpopulations. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/et86QJrp . . . #RedList #IUCN #Biodiversity #ArcticSeals #Birds #GreenSeaTurtle #Conservation #Nature

For us migratory birds not only play a vital role in ecosystem by contributing to pollination, pest control, and biodiversity conservation but also are the symbols of a healthy ecosystem However, they face threats like habitat destruction, hunting, and climate change. To mitigate these challenges, Pakistan has initiated conservation efforts, including protected areas, community engagement, and international cooperation. The Green Pakistan Initiative and wetland conservation projects aim to enhance forest cover and wildlife habitats, providing a safe haven for migratory birds. Community-based conservation and eco-tourism initiatives also promote sustainable livelihoods and conservation awareness.

What does kelp forest restoration actually look like? Active restoration means hands-on intervention - from projects like wolffish, Brian Tsuyoshi Takeda work with Restorae, which reintroduces natural urchin predators to restore balance, to initiatives by Mossy Earth and SeaForester using green gravel to re-wild lost kelp forests. Active methods are needed when natural recovery is insufficient or too slow, while passive methods work best when the ecosystem has the potential to recover once pressures are removed. Most of the methods reviewed below work best in tandem with one another, and it's essential to find the best way to couple them. 👉🏼 Ultimately, the goal isn’t just to bring kelp back, it’s to aid the rebuilding of ecosystems. Marine protection relies on nature’s ability to heal when left undisturbed, and remains one of the most powerful tools we have to prevent biodiversity loss. We’ve translated and summarised this fascinating section of Norway’s Kelp Restoration Overview, which dives into current research and field trials in active restoration. Swipe to explore the methods reviewed in Norways report. 🥽 *Edit* Quicklime can increase local pH and can reduce localized issues of ocean acidification. #kelpforestrestoration #Kelp #seaweed #biodiversity #restoration

The Ocean-Based Economy plays a huge role in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, especially when it comes to shipping and cruise tourism. Ports like those in San Juan and Charlotte Amalie are major economic drivers, with shipping and cruises bringing in millions each year. Cruises alone are a big part of the economy, drawing in tourists from all over the world, while cargo shipping is essential for moving goods and supporting local industries. In the end, the Ocean-Based Economy is crucial for job creation, growth, and keeping Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands connected to the world.

Grasslands in South Africa are often overlooked in favor of more charismatic ecosystems like forests or savannas, yet they are ecological powerhouses. These landscapes act as natural sponges and filters—absorbing rainfall, replenishing aquifers, and purifying water before it reaches rivers and wetlands. They host rich biodiversity, including endemic plants and pollinators, and cradle vital wetland systems that regulate climate, prevent erosion, and support livelihoods. Despite covering nearly a third of the country, grasslands are undervalued, degraded by agriculture, mining, and urban expansion, threatening the ecosystem services they quietly provide. Among the most vulnerable treasures of these grasslands are their avifauna—species uniquely adapted to open habitats. The Botha’s Lark (Critically Endangered), Rudd’s Lark (Critically Endangered), and Yellow-breasted Pipit (Vulnerable) are endemic indicators of grassland health. Majestic birds like the Secretarybird (Vulnerable) and Wattled Crane (Critically Endangered) rely on these spaces for hunting and breeding. The Blue Swallow (Endangered) and African Grass Owl (Vulnerable) depend on intact grassland mosaics, while the elusive White-winged Flufftail (Critically Endangered) and Eurasian Bittern (Least Concern) highlight the importance of wetland-grassland interfaces. Their survival is inseparable from the fate of South Africa’s grasslands. Please join us. https://lnkd.in/dV2Mybas