Biodiversity Conservation Efforts

Have you heard the term “Lazarus” species? It’s when animals reappear after being considered extinct – and eastern barred bandicoots are among them. Three decades ago, the small marsupials were declared extinct in the wild on mainland Australia. But yesterday, 100 of them were released onto Australia's Phillip Island - and Amazon's Right Now Climate Fund helped make it possible! The bandicoots’ backstory is extraordinary. Back in the late 1980s, habitat loss and predators had driven them to the brink. But then, 60 surviving bandicoots were discovered in - of all places - a dump in the state of Victoria. They were taken to sanctuaries, but there was still a big problem: their descendants started to suffer fatal health issues from a lack of genetic diversity. So the Odonata Foundation, Cesar Australia, and the Eastern Barred Bandicoot Recovery Team had an idea. They started breeding mainland bandicoots with genetically distinct Tasmanian populations - and it worked! The bandicoots grew fitter, healthier, more resilient and primed for survival. Not only are eastern barred bandicoots no longer extinct on mainland Australia, but there are more than 2,000 of them - and the project has lasting impact: 🌱 Each eastern barred bandicoot digs through up to three tons of soil every year, improving soil health, water retention, and seed dispersal 🌏 The project could help conservationists save endangered species all over the world The Right Now Climate Fund has invested AU$2.5 million to support a total of nine endangered Australian species protected by the Odonata Foundation, because we know nature is key to building resilience to climate change. It’s amazing to see the results, and I invite you to learn more about what science, collaboration, and commitment to nature can achieve: https://lnkd.in/gikDZi_A Michael Miller Janet Menzies Matthew Benham Justine Mahler Robert Kowalik Jasmine Hyman The Climate Pledge

We’re planting trees — but losing biodiversity. Global efforts to restore forests are gathering pace, driven by promises of combating climate change, conserving biodiversity, and improving livelihoods. Yet a recent paper published in Nature Reviews Biodiversity warns that the biodiversity gains from these initiatives are often overstated — and sometimes absent altogether. Forest restoration is at the heart of Target 2 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to place 30% of degraded ecosystems under effective restoration by 2030. But the gap between ambition and outcome is wide. "Biodiversity will remain a vague buzzword rather than an actual outcome" unless projects explicitly prioritize it, the authors caution. Restoration has typically prioritized utilitarian goals such as timber production, carbon sequestration, or erosion control. This bias is reflected in the widespread use of monoculture plantations or low-diversity agroforests. Nearly half of the Bonn Challenge’s forest commitments consist of commercial plantations of exotic species — a trend that risks undermining biodiversity rather than enhancing it. Scientific evidence shows that restoring biodiversity requires more than planting trees. Methods like natural regeneration — allowing forests to recover on their own — can often yield superior biodiversity outcomes, though they face social and economic barriers. By contrast, planting a few fast-growing species may sequester carbon quickly but offers little for threatened plants and animals. Biodiversity recovery is influenced by many factors: the intensity of prior land use, the surrounding landscape, and the species chosen for restoration. Recovery is slow — often measured in decades — and tends to lag for rare and specialist species. Alarmingly, most projects stop monitoring after just a few years, long before ecosystems stabilize. However, the authors say there are reasons for optimism. Biodiversity markets, including emerging biodiversity credit schemes and carbon credits with biodiversity safeguards, could mobilize new financing. Meanwhile, technologies like environmental DNA sampling, bioacoustics, and remote sensing promise to improve monitoring at scale. To turn good intentions into reality, the paper argues, projects must define explicit biodiversity goals, select suitable methods, and commit to long-term monitoring. Social equity must also be central. "Improving biodiversity outcomes of forest restoration… could contribute to mitigating power asymmetries and inequalities," the authors write, citing examples from Madagascar and Brazil. If designed well, forest restoration could help address the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. But without a deliberate shift, billions of dollars risk being spent on projects that plant trees — and little else. 🔬 Brancalion et al (2025): https://lnkd.in/gG6X36WP

Dit is zo fascinerend. Een manier om koraalriffen te helpen herstellen is: het geluid afspelen van gezonde koraalriffen. Gezonde riffen produceren een symfonie van geritsel, gezwem, gebubbel, en zelfs als het geluid van gezonde riffen met speakers wordt afgespeeld trekt dat zeeleven aan, bijvoorbeeld koraallarven, die op hun beurt kleine vissen en weekdieren aantrekken, die grotere vissen en zeezoogdieren aantrekken, en zo verder. Dat kan riffen intact houden of zelfs doen groeien, suggereren meerdere recente studies. Het opent een nieuw vakgebied: bio-akoestica. Laat ook mooi de rol zien van geluid in ecosystemen, de belevingswereld van dieren, en een mogelijke manier om technologie in te zetten vóór in plaats van tegen de natuur. Mooi artikel op Atmos: “So long as the reef is healthy, that is. “Healthy reefs are louder [than degraded ones],” Lamont explains. “There’s more going on, there’s more sound types, and there’s more variation throughout the day. And fish can tell the difference.” Lamont’s research has found that, when the sound of a healthy reef is played through speakers on a patch of dead coral reef, fish flock to it. Twice as many fish, with 50% greater species variation, swim to and settle on that patch compared to a dead reef patch where these sounds are not played. His findings are part of a growing body of research showing that simply playing the sounds of a healthy ecosystem can bring a degraded one to life. This method is known as “acoustic enrichment.” Earlier this year, researchers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution investigated whether acoustic enrichment could help rebuild the reef itself: would coral larvae move towards the sounds of a healthy reef? The answer was yes. When the sound of a healthy coral reef was played to them through speakers, coral larvae settled at an average rate 1.7 times—and up to a maximum of seven times—higher than when no such sound was played. Where these larvae settle, a barren reef is replenished or a new one can form and grow. Nature’s own sounds, then, could be a powerful tool in the race to restore natural habitats—especially coral reefs, which have suffered a devastating 50% loss since the 1950s. “Often we’re building new wild habitats, and hoping that wild animals come and settle in and make it a fully functioning ecosystem,” Lamont says. “If we can speed up the rate at which they’ll settle into that habitat, then the process of holistic restoration will, in theory, happen faster.” https://lnkd.in/e59MkT67 👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻

Our current food production system, with agriculture at its core, is the single largest driver of planetary boundary transgression. The same system, however, can become part of the solution. In our new review in Global Sustainability, we assess the global evidence on Conservation Agriculture, based on 3 principles: no soil disturbance, permanent soil cover, and diversified crop rotations. The evidence is clear: Conservation Agriculture has expanded from ca. 100 to 200 million hectares in just a decade and now covers about 15% of global cropland. It could reach 50% by 2050. Converting cropland to Conservation Agriculture can sequester around 0.5 to 0.9 tonnes of carbon per hectare per year, potentially about 0.4–0.8 gigatonnes of carbon annually at global scale, while cutting fuel use by up to 70%. Healthier soils mean higher water retention, less erosion and greater resilience to droughts and floods. Conservation Agriculture on its own will not solve all food system challenges, but it is difficult to find a more ready-to-scale transformation in land management that addresses climate, biodiversity, freshwater, and soil degradation at once. It can be adopted at scale and speed, i.e., across all agro-ecological zones within the coming 1–2 decades. To operate within planetary boundaries, we need both an energy transition and a soil transition. Healthy soils are foundational to food security and Earth system stability. https://lnkd.in/dUTG3DSi

🌱 I am happy to present the Multilateral Development Banks' (MDB) Common Principles for Tracking Nature Finance and MDB Common Nature Finance Taxonomy. ‼️ What it is: These documents define #NatureFinance and provide a list of activities across economic sectors that qualify as Nature Finance and contribute to the nature positive goal of halting and reversing #nature loss and supporting the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The activities captured in the Taxonomy focus on delivering results for: (a) Restoration and conservation of biodiversity or ecosystem services; (b) Reduction of the direct drivers of biodiversity or ecosystem services loss; (c) Integration of nature-based solutions across economic sectors; and (d) Design and implementation of policy, tools, or other sectoral instruments enabling (a) to (c). ‼️ Why it matters: These documents represent a coordinated approach among MDBs to channel billions of dollars to Nature Finance to stop and reverse nature loss in economic activity. The common Taxonomy is the most clear and practical guidance on Nature Finance in the market today. While, developed for the application by MDBs, it can be and should be used by all market players -- companies, investors, financiers and governments. Furthermore, the approach articulated in the documents is fully aligned with the recently published ICMA - International Capital Market Association "Sustainable Bonds for Nature: A Practitioner's Guide." The MDB Common Nature Finance Taxonomy can be used to operationalize this guidance through providing a granular list of qualifying activities that can be used for nature bonds and loans and tap the massive potential of the $5.5 trillion sustainable finance market to direct finance at scale to economic activities that protect, conserve, and restore nature. ‼️ What it took: This work has been a huge collective effort among ten MDBs. Enormous thanks and congratulations to my IFC - International Finance Corporation partner Helena Dill, World Bank partners Lisa Farroway and Olga Gavryliuk, and MIGA partner Conrad S. for holding the pen for the World Bank Group and for all the thought leadership and debates. I am thrilled that IFC's own Biodiversity Finance Reference Guide laid a strong foundation for this work several years ago. It is incredibly rewarding for me to see the evolution and improvement on that early work as we have been testing it in the market and opening new business opportunities in Nature Finance. MDB Common Principles for Tracking Nature Finance: https://lnkd.in/ePxCszbq MDB Common Nature Finance Taxonomy: https://lnkd.in/eP3Gei_e Jamie Fergusson, Veronica Nyhan Jones, Valerie Hickey, Genevieve Connors, Beatrice Phillips

This week, as the IUCN’s World Conservation Congress meets, it’s worth asking: Who are we really saving? A massive study of 14,600 conservation projects over 25 years revealed a striking bias: 83% of funding and 84% of projects go to vertebrates. Within them, mammals and birds get nearly everything, while amphibians—our most threatened vertebrates—receive just 2.5% of the funds. Vital groups, such as plants, fungi, and invertebrates, remain critically underfunded, despite their key ecological roles. And here’s the kicker: The amount of money a species gets has no link to whether its population recovers. Meanwhile, species at greatest risk keep slipping toward extinction, unseen and unsupported. Why? Because we’re drawn to the cute and the charismatic — elephants, pandas, dolphins. But conserving only what we love means failing the rest of life that quietly holds the planet together. To truly protect biodiversity, we must look beyond fur and feathers — and fund what really needs saving. #Biodiversity #Conservation #Ecology #WildlifeConservation #SaveTheAmphibians #Fungi #Invertebrates #EnvironmentalAwareness #IUCN #ConservationBias #NatureConservation #BiodiversityCrisis

"But who’s going to maintain the green?" I hear this all the time when I suggest turning empty lawns or parking lot corners into thriving gardens around corporate buildings or public sites. Here’s the simple math that gets ignored and why it’s a massive opportunity: A well-designed edible or biodiversity garden requires about 4h/100m²/year of maintenance. Now take the average size of a big corporate campus with 3000m² of green space: 👉 that’s 120 hours/year of maintenance → at €50/hour → €6000/year (60 USD/hour → 7000 USD/year 👉 that is peanuts compared to what companies pay for their buildings. Or let's take it one step further: Encourage your team spend 1 hour per person per year in the garden → team building + mental health + €0 maintenance cost. Now compare this to mowing grass every week or using chemical maintenance: ❌ Higher cost ❌ No biodiversity ❌ No PR value ❌ No talent attraction ❌ No connection with your brand story Meanwhile at our visitors center garden on a regenerative farm we created a simple biodiversity garden: 👉 it requires less than 24 hours of maintenance across 9 months 👉 it attracts HUNDREDS of extra visitors per season 👉 it makes the farm experience memorable and drives product sales Most companies are sitting on an outdoor goldmine. They just need to stop seeing Nature as a “maintenance problem” and start seeing it as a business asset: ✅ Attract visitors & clients ✅ Enhance brand story & PR ✅ Improve team wellbeing ✅ Get authentic ESG compliance ✅ Turn outdoor space into an experience, not a cost center Or... keep mowing grass and missing the opportunity. In regenerative design, we don’t fight Nature. We partner with it to create beauty, resilience, and business value. 👉 Where do YOU see the opportunity to turn outdoor space into an experience and an asset? #regenerativedesign #corporategardens #esg #biodiversity #talentattraction #businessandnature #natureasstrategy #stopmowinggrass

Can rows of wildflowers really replace pesticides? Turns out, yes. And the science is blooming brilliant. 😉 Farmers across Europe are using wildflower strips to attract ladybirds, hoverflies, and parasitic wasps. All-natural pest controllers. And it’s working. Here’s the real data: ✅️ A UK study on 15 farms showed reduced pesticide use thanks to flower rows planted within crop fields. ✅️ Wageningen University found a 16% increase in pest control from flower strips. ✅️ In some orchards, wildflowers saved up to £3,000 per hectare by cutting pest damage and pesticide use. This is great for insects. 🐜 And... It's great for business, biodiversity, and the planet. And when you think that around 40% of insect species are in decline globally, this isn’t a thing to trial. It’s urgent. What if regenerative farming isn’t the future...but the present, just not yet evenly distributed? I would love to know: Have you seen this in action? And what’s stopping more farms from going down this route? — I’m Richard, a neurodiverse founder using business to help people and planet thrive. Let’s connect if you're building or backing that kind of world.

Foxholes: The Simple, Brilliant Reforestation Method You’ve Probably Never Heard Of 🌳 In Madagascar, Ecosia and The Phoenix Conservancy are restoring forests using a method called 'foxholes' and it doesn’t involve planting saplings. It immediately reminded me of half-moon Earth bunds. Simple, effective and surprisingly powerful. Instead of raising delicate nursery saplings and hoping they survive in harsh conditions, foxholes mimic how forests regenerate naturally. Seeds are scattered into shallow basins, where they compete naturally for light, water and nutrients, just as they would in the wild. The results? ⤷ 30x more trees ⤷ 2x the plant diversity ⤷ 30% lower cost than traditional tree planting This technique rebuilds ecosystems, supports local livelihoods and creates space for endangered species like the ring-tailed lemur to return. Foxholes build on restoration techniques developed in Central and South America, especially ‘applied nucleation’, which is the practice of planting small patches of forest to kickstart natural regeneration. And while the method isn’t new, Ecosia is helping it scale, connecting partners across continents, from Madagascar to Brazil. Effective restoration doesn’t need to be high-tech or high-cost. Sometimes, all it takes is a shallow hole and a deeper understanding of nature. One rooted in the same wisdom that has guided indigenous land stewards for generations: work with nature, not against it. #NatureRestoration #Rewilding #TreePlanting #Biodiversity #Conservation 🎞️ Ecosia

It’s not just good design—it’s good ecology. You could transform this simple roadside drain Western Sydney University Hawkesbury campus into a functioning native waterway. The AI-generated visuals you’ve seen aren’t just concept art—they’re rooted in our detailed management plan built around local native species and hydrological integrity. Here’s what you’re actually seeing in those current, 12- and 24-month visuals: In the channel base: Tufted sedges like Carex appressa, Eleocharis acuta, and Juncus usitatus—perfect for slowing flow, filtering runoff, and supporting frogs. On the mid-bank: Hardy groundcovers and shrubs like Goodenia ovata, Dianella caerulea, and Lobelia gibbosa—offering structure, shade, and habitat. On the upper bank and buffer: Early-stage Melaleuca, Acacia, Bursaria spinosa, and native grasses like Themeda triandra—supporting pollinators, microbats, and soil health. The best part? This system still manages stormwater flow safely. No increased flood risk—just increased biodiversity. #1MillionTurtles #NaturePositive #WetlandRestoration #WSU #TurtleConservation #UrbanRewilding #EcologicalDesign #StormwaterSolutions