Good News #44
Griffon Vultures in Sardinia, rewilding in Wales, youth climate champions in Africa, cleaner air in Bogotá, Giant Tortoises return to Galápagos
Climate anxiety is real — and so are the threats to our planet. But there are many positive initiatives and good people behind them, and they deserve our attention. And we need all the good news we can get. That’s why I scour the internet each week to curate the top 5 environmental good news stories and share them with you. I hope these give you a boost of hope and some motivation to be part of the solution.
Wales’s biggest rewilding project kicks off
Welsh charity Tir Natur (Nature’s Land) has purchased more than 480 hectares in the Cambrian mountains to launch Wales’s largest rewilding initiative. The £2.2 million purchase at Cwm Doethie, funded through community support and a philanthropic loan, aims restore rivers, peat bogs, and ancient woodlands. By creating new habitats and improving ecological connectivity, the charity hopes to bring back wildlife like Curlews, Pine Martens, Polecats, and Red Squirrels.
Griffon Vultures soar across Sardinia
Once teetering on the brink of collapse, Sardinia’s Eurasian Griffon Vultures are making a strong comeback. Their numbers are climbing significantly thanks to EU-backed conservation programmes that increase food access, protect nesting sites, and reduce threats. Recent counts show hundreds of vultures now thriving along the island, with steady reproductive success and expanding colonies — a rare success story for scavenger bird conservation in Europe.
Youth climate champions fight floods in Africa
Winners of the African Youth Climate Initiative are tackling climate impacts like flooding through creative, community-led action. Their initiatives blend games, storytelling, rain gardens and drainage clean-ups to increase resilience in flood-prone Nigerian and Ugandan communities. They combine education, local research, and nature-based solutions to help neighbours mitigate recurring flood risks and reduce reliance on outside help.
Bogotá greening tackles air pollution
Bogotá, Columbia, was once one of Latin America’s most polluted cities. But thanks to green infrastructure and clean transportation, the city cut air pollution by 24 percent between 2018 and 2024. The city has expanded urban parks and strategically planted trees to create buffer zones between residential areas and major roadways. There are now at least 350 miles of cycling lanes, and a fleet of 1,400 electric buses. On Sundays, major streets are closed to traffic.
Giant Tortoises return to Galápagos After 180
Conservationists have reintroduced Giant Tortoises to Floreana Island in the Galápagos, where they were last seen nearly two centuries ago, as part of a landmark ecological restoration project. Dozens of tortoises, bred from descendants carrying the extinct Floreana lineage, are now roaming the island again; their grazing will help restore native vegetation and ecological processes lost after invasive species and historic over-exploitation disrupted the ecosystem.