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How a Beloved Bird Is Helping Save the Chesapeake Bay

Libby Sander

February 18, 2020 |

Hakai Magazine |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Chesapeake, Maryland

The Natural Lands Project works with local landowners to turn hundreds of hectares of marginal croplands into native grasslands. The grasses offer refuge for the northern bobwhite quail and grip the soil, which helps prevent erosion and keeps agricultural runoff and sediment out of the Chesapeake Bay. The quail population has grown to 450, a 39% increase from 20 years ago. The project works with landowners to convert small parcels of their land for the habitat. The landowners receive a small payment and help planting and maintaining the native vegetation. Many species have flourished in the new habitat.

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The Bitter Side of Cocoa Production

Teresa Carr

February 13, 2020 |

Sapiens |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Dominican Republic

Carla Martin is an anthropologist at Harvard University, who also founded the Nine Cacao and Chocolate Institute — a nonprofit that brings together industry professionals, academics, and producers to share insights and discuss the challenges of producing chocolate. Cocoa production historically has participated in questionable labor practices, unfair wages, and tropical deforestation, so through her workshops, Martin aims to empower the workers along the supply chain to ensure their voices are heard through the process.

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The Coral Ark That Hopes to Save Florida's Ailing Reefs

Sabrina Imbler

February 12, 2020 |

Atlas Obscura |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The Coral Rescue Project is trying to save coral reefs, and their newest tool is a series of arks at Nova Southeastern University that will house and study corals that are under threat of a mysterious carribean disease. So far, they have collected 1,747 colonies and are storing them in the arks and at zoos across the U.S.The hope is that ultimately, the reefs can be restored to their ocean home in Florida.

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Artificial reefs breathe new life for Tamil Nadu's fishing communities

Mahima Jain

February 11, 2020 |

Mongabay |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, Poompuhar, Tamil Nadu

After climate change led to a declining fish catch, fishermen in Tamil Nadu experimented with artificial reefs to boost biodiversity that would provide fishermen with a better catch. Artificial reefs can serve many purposes, but it must identify the needs of the community before it can be successfully implemented. Only a year later nearly 60 concrete structures have been built around the city and fishermen report bigger catches.

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How to restore a rainforest with a nursery, science and some bat poop

Rishika Pardikar

February 05, 2020 |

ThePrint |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, Tamil Nadu

The Nature Conservation Foundation is working to restore patches of rainforests in India that were degraded due to the expansion of plantations in the region. As the climate crisis continues, rainforests can play a key role in offsetting carbon dioxide emissions. By partnering with plantation companies, conservationists have been able to collect seeds from diverse rainforest tree species to grow in a nursery before planting the saplings in the degraded patches of land. However, the organization cautions against using restoration "as a crutch."

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The divers rescuing a drowning island

Kamala Thiagarajan

February 02, 2020 |

BBC |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: India, Vaan Island

Vaan Island, off the coast of Indian in the Gulf of Mannar, is rapidly sinking. But scientists are working to prevent that erosion by replanting seagrass, which is an important plant in a marine ecosystem. Despite fishermen pulling up the seagrass with their nets, so far, nine acres of seagrass have been rehabilitated in the area.

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A Battle to Protect Forests Unfolds in Central Africa

Jack Losh

January 28, 2020 |

The New York Times |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Central African Republic, Moloukou

In Central African Republic, the first community forest was created with the hope of reversing the area’s deforestation and empowering the Indigenous communities living in the forests. By placing the community forest inside a logging zone, local inhabitants can explore alternatives to timber production that are more eco-friendly. While the future of the country’s community forest depends on government negotiations, the model can provide a road map for other Indigenous communities throughout the region.

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How to Exorcise the Ghosts of Crab Traps Past

Dani Leviss

January 09, 2020 |

Hakai Magazine |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New Jersey

Low cost sonar helps teams of crabbers in the Great Bay Estuary locate abandoned traps, which they use hook lines to remove to protect wildlife and damage to fishing boats. Funded by three grants, teams have retrieved around 2,200 traps and crabbers are compensated for their efforts. The initiative is modeled after one in the Chesapeake Bay, where 34,408 ghost pots were removed over six years. Similar efforts have been implemented around the world, including the Ghost Trap Rodeo in Tampa Bay, which is styled like a fishing tournament but competitors collect abandoned traps instead of catching fish.

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Community conservation agreements a lifeline for Uganda's grey crowned cranes

Fredrick Mugira

December 24, 2019 |

Mongabay |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Uganda, Kabale

Working with communities to develop alternative forms of livelihood helps to curb unsustainable practices and land degradation. In Uganda, the destruction of wetland habitat by farmers had had a serious impact on the population of grey crowned cranes in recent decades. The Cranes and Wetlands conservation project provides support to local communities, working to find alternatives to draining wetlands and promoting habitat restoration.

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Reforesting the Ocean

Christine McLaren

December 17, 2019 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Australia, Port Stephens

In Australia, scientists have developed a method to seed the ocean floor with healthy plants as a way to regrow dying ocean forests vital to the ecosystem. They have also crowdsourced the process, with volunteers collecting healthy seagrass and depositing it in bins along the beach.

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