Pelecanus

In this bonus episode we highlight our inaugural recipient of the Carrie Wilson Memorial Scholarship Hope Nye. Hope is a teacher in Wisconsin and a graduate student in Biology in the Global Field Program, part of Project Dragonfly at the University of Miami Ohio. Hope is an everyday conservation hero that the world needs and we had a great time talking with her about her work, research, and personal interests!

Carrie R. Wilson was a staple of the community of San Diego for the last 50+ years. Carrie believed in community inspiration through direct and intentional action. Pelecanus would never have come to fruition without Carrie, and the same can be said for so many people throughout San Diego. As the Dean of Students of the University of San Diego Law School, she was able to make a lasting impact on thousands of students' lives. Carrie asked us to let anyone looking to honor her memory know that she hopes they would make a "heartfelt gift to make the world a better place." She simply hoped for her legacy to be one of paying it forward. We aim to award this scholarship to students who embody the Pelecanus mission of demonstrating optimism through science and align with Carrie R. Wilson’s passion for education, charity and service.

The Carrie Wilson Memorial Scholarship will be open for applications for project dragonfly students again in the Spring of 2022, check our Pelecanus.org scholarship page for more information. Pelecanus is a 501C3 non-profit organization that takes tax deductible donations. You will also find a link to the donate button on our website if you’d like to contribute to the Carrie Wilson memorial programs or to Pelecanus in general.

Check out these awesome headlines from the last few weeks!

All podcasts can be found at Pelecanus.org, iTunes, Soundcloud, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. Long form podcasts including our new series with The Smithsonian's Earth Optimism "The Possibilists" can also be found on YouTube!

People

Razan Al Mubarak becomes first woman from the Arab world to head IUCN

https://news.mongabay.com/2021/09/razan-al-mubarak-becomes-first-woman-from-the-arab-world-to-head-iucn/

Drawdown

From a nuisance to a benefit, ‘world’s worst weed’ finds new use as biofuel

https://news.mongabay.com/2021/09/from-a-nuisance-to-a-benefit-worlds-worst-weed-finds-new-use-as-biofuel/

Toyota Plans $13.5 Bln To Develop Electric Vehicle Battery Tech By 2030

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/toyota-spend-over-135-bln-ev-batteries-by-2030-2021-09-07/

The largest carbon removal facility to date, is now in service

https://grist.org/technology/orca-the-largest-carbon-removal-facility-to-date-is-up-and-running/

Harvard University To End Investment In Fossil Fuels

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/harvard-university-will-allow-fossil-fuel-investments-expire-2021-09-10/

Rewilding

These popular tuna species are no longer endangered, surprising scientists

https://www.pacificlongboarder.com/news/A-good-news-story-these-popular-tuna-species-no-longer-endangered-surprising-scientists/

Snail Darter, Tiny And Notorious, Is No Longer Endangered

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/snail-darter-humble-fish-blocked-dam-longer-endangered-79743238

Check out these awesome headlines from the last few weeks!

All podcasts can be found at Pelecanus.org, iTunes, Soundcloud, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. Long form podcasts including our new series with The Smithsonian's Earth Optimism "The Possibilists" can also be found on YouTube!

People

Ninfa Carianil, 2021 International Ranger Award Winner

https://www.iucn.org/news/protected-areas/202108/ninfa-carianil-2021-international-ranger-award-winner

Legal

South Korea to grant legal status to animals to tackle abuse, abandonment

https://nypost.com/2021/08/19/south-korea-to-grant-legal-status-to-animals-to-tackle-abuse-abandonment/

Federal judge throws out US approval of ConocoPhilips Alaska oil project

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/federal-judge-vacates-us-approval-conocophillips-alaska-drilling-project-2021-08-18/

Rewilding

Blue whales returning to Spain’s Atlantic coast after 40-year absence

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/24/blue-whales-returning-to-spains-atlantic-coast-after-40-year-absence

Second family of wolverines discovered at Mount Rainier

https://www.columbian.com/news/2021/aug/29/2nd-wolverine-family-spotted-at-mount-ranier-national-park/

House Democrats to Provide $100 Million for Critically Endangered Species in Reconciliation Bill

https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/house-democrats-to-provide-100-million-for-critically-endangered-species-in-reconciliation-bill-2021-08-26/

Welcome to The Possibilists!

The Possibilists is a podcast collaboration between The Smithsonian Earth Optimism and Pelecanus.

https://conservationcommons.si.edu

https://www.pelecanus.org

In this partnership we spotlight conservationists working with a possibilistic attitude for solutions-based efforts to tackle the world's critical environmental struggles. We’re attempting to reframe the narrative around conservation to show that conservation successes are possible through changes in attitude and implementation of intentional change.

In this episode we talk with Dr. Arthur Muneza and Dr. Michael Brown of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation. https://giraffeconservation.org

Arthur is GCF’s East Africa coordinator where he manages research for three species of Giraffe in East Africa and Michael is a joint fellow with GCF and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute where he works to advance GCF’s missions of informing conservation initiatives with the most rigorous science available

GCF aims to raise awareness and support towards securing a future for giraffe and the conservation of their habitat in Africa, and more specifically to: Support the conservation of viable and existing habitat for giraffe, Identify key threats to giraffes in Africa and develop innovative ways to mitigate them, Plan, develop, implement and administer projects in cooperation with local communities and partner institutions, Collaborate with local, national and international partners on giraffe conservation efforts in the interests of giraffe conservation in African Range States and raise funds for giraffe conservation and management throughout Africa.

Hosts and producers for this episode are Austin Parker and Taylor Parker

Producers are Cat Kutz and Andrea Santy

Music was provided by “A Picture Book Studios”

Check out these awesome headlines from the last few weeks!

All podcasts can be found at Pelecanus.org, iTunes, Soundcloud, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. Long form podcasts including our new series with The Smithsonian's Earth Optimism "The Possibilists" can also be found on YouTube!

Rewilding

Seychelles magpie robin becomes world’s first ‘digital species’

https://www.nation.sc/articles/9805/seychelles-magpie-robin-becomes-worlds-first-digital-species-and-its-for-sale

Following pandas, Tibetan antelopes off endangered species list in China as population surpasses 300,000

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202108/1231091.shtml

African wild dogs return to southern Malawi for the first time in 20 years

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/30/pack-african-wild-dogs-epic-journey-new-home-malawi-aoe

Drawdown

Senate Passes $3.5 Trillion Budget Plan Funding Climate Programs

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/11/us/politics/senate-budget-plan.html

Biden Calls For Half Of New Cars To Be Electric Or Plug-In Hybrids By 2030

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/biden-calls-for-half-of-new-cars-to-be-electric-or-plug-in-hybrids-by-2030/ar-AAMXS2a

Check out these awesome headlines from the last few weeks!

All podcasts can be found at Pelecanus.org, iTunes, Soundcloud, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. Long form podcasts including our new series with The Smithsonian's Earth Optimism "The Possibilists" can also be found on YouTube!

Drawdown

World’s Largest Solar Farm Costing $2B to Be Built in Indonesia

https://maritime-executive.com/article/world-s-largest-solar-farm-costing-2b-to-be-built-in-indonesia

New Solar Cell Innovation Provides 1,000 Times More Power

https://interestingengineering.com/new-solar-cell-innovation-provides-1000-times-more-power

Bayer To Pull Glyphosate from U.S. Lawn and Garden Markets

https://www.agweb.com/news/crops/crop-production/bayer-pull-glyphosate-us-lawn-and-garden-markets

Protected Areas

Biden Admin Proposes Sweeping Protections For Alaska’s Tongass Forest

https://www.sej.org/headlines/biden-admin-proposes-sweeping-protections-alaska-s-tongass-forest

Rewilding

Four endangered Piping Plover chicks hatched in Ohio for 1st time in 80 years

https://www.ashlandsource.com/life/four-endangered-piping-plover-chicks-hatched-in-ohio-for-1st-time-in-80-years/article_dcf8eb68-9477-571d-a8d1-ebcf08adb5ef.html

A new 'green status of species' will measure the recovery of threatened plants and animals

https://www.iucn.org/news/species/202107/iucns-new-green-status-species-measures-impact-conservation-action

Check out these awesome headlines from the last few weeks!

All podcasts can be found at Pelecanus.org, iTunes, Soundcloud, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. Long form podcasts including our new series with The Smithsonian's Earth Optimism "The Possibilists" can also be found on YouTube!

Representation

First African American Named To Lead US Forest Service

https://apnews.com/article/forests-environment-and-nature-government-and-politics-cc4a96a6937eaeb3a4aeff167172dd9a

Drawdown

Harvard’s new solid-state Lithium battery can be recharged 10,000 times

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/05/researchers-design-long-lasting-solid-state-lithium-battery/

America used fewer fossil fuels in 2020 than it has in three decades

https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/6/22565353/fossil-fuel-america-consumption-united-states-low

Bangladesh scraps plan to build 10 coal-fired power plants

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bangladesh-energy-climate-change-coal-idUSKCN2E410H

Wildlife

Mouse extinct for 150 years found living on island

https://www.daily-sun.com/post/561670/Mouse-thought-extinct-for-150-years-found-living-on-island

China Says Giant Pandas Are No Longer an Endangered Species

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/07/09/asia/china-giant-pandas-endangered-scli-intl-scn/index.html

Check out these awesome headlines from the last few weeks!

All podcasts can be found at Pelecanus.org, iTunes, Soundcloud, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. Long form podcasts including our new series with The Smithsonian's Earth Optimism "The Possibilists" can also be found on YouTube!

Wildlife

New survey nearly doubles Grauer’s gorilla population, but threats remainerss]

https://news.mongabay.com/2021/06/new-survey-nearly-doubles-grauers-gorilla-population-but-threats-remain/

Sea Eagles spotted at Loch Lomond for first time in over a century

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jun/12/sea-eagles-spotted-at-loch-lomond-for-first-time-in-over-a-century

Drawdown

St. Croix Refinery That Rained Oil On Neighbors Shuts Down Indefinitely

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/06/21/business/limetree-bay-shutdown/index.html

Inspirations

Winners of the 2021 Goldman Environmental Prize announced

https://www.goldmanprize.org/blog/2021-goldman-environmental-prize-winners/

In this episode of Conservation Conversations we talk to Dr. Maura Palacios Mejia of the organization CALeDNA. CALeDNA program was founded by the UC Conservation Genomics Consortium that involved faculty from 6 UC Campuses. This group aims to address problems in biodiversity by having community scientists work with researchers to: collect soil and sediment samples from across California to become frozen archives of what the community was like at that place at the time of collection and sequence and analyze environmental DNA in the samples.

This information will allow caledna to assess the biodiversity of different habitats throughout California. By openly sharing these methods and results, and creating strong networks, they can understand the potential of eDNA for conservation.

Please check out their website and follow them on social media at @CAL.e.DNA. and check out their website at UCeDNA.com

This episode is brought to you in part by our sponsor Tidal Influence, a Californian ecological consulting firm who proudly supports environmental education and all of the diverse conservation efforts that Pelecanus works to highlight. Visit their website at www.tidalinfluence.com to learn more about what they do to conserve our coastal resources and how you can get involved

Producers on this episode is Austin Parker

Music was provided by A Picture Book Studios

Welcome to The Possibilists!

The Possibilists is a podcast collaboration between The Smithsonian Earth Optimism and Pelecanus.

https://conservationcommons.si.edu

https://www.pelecanus.org

In this partnership we spotlight conservationists working with a possibilistic attitude for solutions-based efforts to tackle the world's critical environmental struggles. We’re attempting to reframe the narrative around conservation to show that conservation successes are possible through changes in attitude and implementation of intentional change.

This episode is a discussion with Dr. Jon Paul Rodriguez. Dr. Rodriguez is the chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (IUCN.org) co-founder of Provita (Provita.org.ve) whose mission is to develop innovative socio-environmental solutions to conserve nature, as well as a Professor at the Center for Ecology of the Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Investigations.

He has had a profound impact on the conservation field in Venezuela and elsewhere. We were so privileged to talk with him and hear his inspiring stories. You can find him on social media at @iucnssc @provita_ong @Jonparod

Video versions can be found at https://youtu.be/AJC2-1P-n8k

Hosts are Austin Parker and Taylor Parker

Producers on this episode are Andrea Santy, Cat Kutz, Austin Parker, and Taylor Parker

Music provided by A Picture Book studios

Dont forget to check out Pelecanus.org for all our episodes, you can find us on social media @pelecanusinc and also check out the Smithsonian’s earth optimism initiative at conservationcommons.si.edu or @earthoptimism