Good News: Issue 10
Endangered fish return to Malibu, Kyrgyzstan creates ecological corridor, researcher invents seaweed "plastic," Alabama nature reserve created, and Quebec Town Fined for endangering Bobolinks
I hope you are all keeping cool today, and I hope you enjoy this week’s edition of Good News!
8,000-Acre nature preserve in Alabama named after E.O. Wilson
In 2024, nearly 8,000 acres of wilderness in Alabama’s Mobile‑Tensaw Delta were saved from being cleared for a wood pellet mill. The Nature Conservancy, with support from Patagonia’s Holdfast Collective and an anonymous donor, purchased the land for $15 million. Now, the site has been named the E.O. Wilson Land Between the Rivers Preserve in honor of the famed biologist. Born in Alabama, Wilson spent his childhood exploring the Delta’s bayous and backwaters.
This conservation effort preserves critical habitat for at least 300 migratory birds, black bears, American alligators, and rare species like the endangered Alabama sturgeon. It also forms a cornerstone of a proposed wildlife corridor that would stretch from the Gulf Coast to the Appalachian Mountains. The Nature Conservancy plans to eventually transfer the preserve to the National Wildlife Refuge system, ensuring its long-term protection.
Seaweed “plastic” could replace plastic mulch for farming
Iranian-Canadian researcher Ranah Chavoshi is turning seaweed into plastic. Unlike traditional plastics that break down into microplastics (and can take hundreds of years to do so), Chavoshi’s seaweed-based plastic fully composts into natural materials. Her innovation is aimed specifically at replacing plastic mulch, which is widely used in agriculture but often contaminates soil and water.
Beyond the product itself, seaweed farming offers major environmental wins: seaweed absorbs carbon dioxide faster than trees, doesn’t require freshwater or fertilizer, and supports healthy marine ecosystems. Chavoshi’s innovation tackles both plastic pollution and carbon emissions, making sustainable farming more attainable.
Kyrgyzstan creates 800,000-hectare ecological corridor to safeguard mountain wildlife
Kyrgyzstan has announced a new 800,000-hectare ecological corridor that connects Khan-Tengri National Park with the Naryn Nature Reserve. This protected stretch is designed to safeguard migration and dispersal routes for mountain species like snow leopards, argali sheep, and golden eagles, which are under pressure from overgrazing and climate change.
Developed through a collaborative ecological study by Humboldt University and the Kyrgyz Republic’s National Academy of Sciences, the project works directly with local herding communities to balance conservation with traditional livelihoods. Officials are also exploring transboundary corridors that could link ecosystems across Central Asia, creating a stronger, region-wide foundation for biodiversity.
Tidewater gobies return to Malibu after Palisades Fire
Scientists have successfully returned hundreds of endangered northern tidewater gobies—small, thumb-sized fish—to Topanga Canyon Lagoon in Malibu. Evacuated in January 2025 while the Palisades Fire raged through Malibu, the gobies were cared for in two Los Angeles aquariums (Aquarium of the Pacific and Heal the Bay Aquarium). The operation was a collaboration involving California State University biologists, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Geological Survey, California State Parks, and dedicated citizen scientists.
Now that their habitat is recovering, the fish have been reintroduced and are being closely monitored. The gobies play an essential ecosystem role: eating mosquitoes and small invertebrates and serving as prey for birds and larger fish. This recovery effort not only helps protect this endangered species but also serves as a replicable model for rescuing other wildlife affected by wildfires and natural disasters
Quebec town fined for violating the Species at Risk Act
The Ville de Longueuil has been fined $30,000 for violating the Species at Risk Act after destroying at least one bobolink nest while mowing the grass at Parc des Sorbiers. Listed as a threatened species under both federal and provincial laws, the bobolink is a migratory songbird that relies on tall grass for nesting. This case underscores the need for municipalities to implement wildlife protection measures, such as delaying mowing and conducting ecological assessments, during sensitive nesting seasons. The fine will be directed to the Receiver General for Canada and serves as a precedent for better safeguarding biodiversity in urban areas.
Conservation groups have welcomed the ruling, emphasizing its role in reinforcing accountability and encouraging other cities to adopt more sustainable practices. As Longueuil reviews its maintenance protocols, this case highlights the delicate balance between urban management and protecting threatened species like the bobolink.
Yours for the Greener Good,
Brett