21 reasons to be hopeful for wildlife in 2021

It's no secret that 2020 wasn't the best year for everyone. From the horror-film-like coronavirus, to unprecedented bushfires across Australia, the news was full of suffering, fear and destruction. But it wasn't all bad news, especially for lots of wildlife. With the pandemic keeping people in their homes for most of the year, we started to find a new passion for nature, with an increase in wildlife gardening ('ungardening') to accommodate our wildlife neighbours, and lots more time spent in outdoor green spaces appreciating the beauty around us. Rewilding and animal reintroduction efforts across the world took off, demand for renewable energy sources was higher than ever and many conservation projects, such as for gorillas in Uganda and lions in Kenya, reported great successes and population increases.

With the UK back in lockdown for at least another 6 weeks, it seems that the end of 2020 may not have meant the end of the bad news. But in the spirit of optimism and hope, I've found 21 reasons that nature lovers can have hope for wildlife and conservation across the world in 2021. From rewilding projects to new protected areas, education programs and science innovation, here are (in no particular order) 21 wildlife causes to brighten your new year.

1. The first European Whale Heritage Site in Tenerife

In 2020, Franja Marina Teno-Rasca in South Tenerife became a candidate site to become Europe's first Whale Heritage Site, set to gain its designation in February 2021. The area is home to 28 species of cetacean, including short-finned pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins, and its biodiversity generates a lot of money from tourism. The aim of the site designation is to encourage people and cetaceans to live together peacefully, encourage responsible and sustainable tourism and be a site for research and education.

2. Pine marten reintroduction in the UK

The Pine marten recovery project, run by the Vincent Wildlife Trust, aims to relocate and restore populations of pine martens across the UK. The pine marten is a small carnivore with stable populations in Scotland but facing likely extinction in England and Wales.

An ambitious conservation project to relocate Scottish individuals to suitable sites in the rest of the UK has shown great success with good survival rates, breeding each year and increasing populations. Further releases are expected in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire this year, helping to increase populations of this once widespread mammal.

3. B-lines across the UK to help British pollinators

Across the UK, wild habitat is becoming more and more fragmented, making it hard for many species, including declining invertebrate pollinator species (like bees and butterflies) to move across the landscape. As well as helping to conserve biodiversity, pollinators are an important 'ecosystem service', without them it would be almost impossible to grow plants for our own food. Buglife have developed an exciting project that involves farmers and landowners, business owners, local councils and the general public helping to plant wildflowers across the landscape. These are used to create 'B-lines', a map of corridors of perfect pollinator habitat that help them move right across the UK. In 2021, more and more people will be getting involved, improving our landscape and enhancing our connection with nature.

4. 'Canines for conservation' rolled out into Cameroon and Ethiopia

The African Wildlife Foundation have been using sniffer dogs in several African countries at important wildlife trade hotspots such as ports, borders and airports, to catch wildlife contraband traffickers, who form part of the multi-billion dollar poaching industry. Wildlife rangers and their trained dogs can sniff out even the smallest amount of smuggled wildlife products such as powdered rhino horn. In 2021, the project is being introduced into Cameroon and Ethiopia, bringing the total number of African countries involved to seven. As the project continues, it is hoped that the dogs and their rangers can continue to severely disrupt the illegal wildlife trade, convict perpetrators and develop stricter legislation. The project has huge potential to be implemented across the world in an aim to slow down the rise of wildlife crime.

5. Reintroducing iconic species in Iberá National Park, Argentina

In 2015, the Rewilding Argentina Foundation began its initiative to reintroduce the red-and-green macaw, a species which had previously been extinct in the country. In October 2020, the first chicks were born (the first wild-born macaw chicks in the country for 150 years) and there are 15 individuals flying free. Other endangered and declining species such as the giant anteater and giant river otter have begun to be successfully reintroduced. In 2021, the project aims to reintroduce the iconic jaguar, having had 95% of those living in the area supporting the proposal. This reintroduction will have vast positive effects on the biodiversity in the area, encourage ecotourism and help to engage the locals with wildlife.

6. Finding new sites in the wild for the Javan rhinoceros

Save the Rhino are spearheading the conservation of Javan rhinos in Indonesia, where they are only found in Ujung Kulon National Park. New protected areas plus efforts to eradicate an invasive plant species that suffocates the rhino's foodplants has increased the population to 74 individuals, a huge success for the world's rarest large land mammal. In 2021, conservationists will be continuing to work with the Indonesian government to find a second site suitable for a new population of the rhino, hopefully pulling them away from the brink of extinction.

7. Rewilding Britain: the white stork project

The White Stork Project, along with several land owners and zoos/wildlife foundations, have been working hard to restore a breeding population of the iconic white stork back into Britain's skies. In May 2020, chicks were born in the wild at Knepp estate, the first to be born in Britain since the 15th century. 2021 and beyond will see the project continue working to reach their target of 50 breeding pairs in Britain by 2030, with the continued release of captive-bred chicks and the protection of nesting sites.

8. Fourteen goverments join the Ocean Panel to protect the world's oceans

Fourteen countries have signed a new plan called the Ocean Panel to implement strict rules to protect the world's oceans. The countries, including Canada, Fiji, Australia and Norway, which control a total of 30% of the world's oceans, agreed to goals that aim (by 2025) to conserve biodiversity, prevent overfishing and pollution and overall create a sustainable ocean economy. In 2021, it is hoped that more countries will sign up to the Ocean Panel and the goals they aim to achieve, so that the world's oceans can be used sustainability by humans without adversely impacting wildlife. When governments agree to support conservation and sustainability, it offers huge hope to protecting our planet from further biodiversity loss.

9. Earthshot prize starting in 2021

In 2021, the Earthshot prize is set to launch. Annually for 10 years, five £1 million prizes will be awarded to the organisations and individuals who present the best solutions to solving the world's biggest environmental problems. It is a chance to encourage creative and innovative thinking to find ways in which we can reverse the damage we have done to the planet and contribute to a better future.

10. Cheetahs return to Zambia

2021 saw the reintroduction of three male cheetahs into the community-owned Bangweulu wetlands in Zambia, the first of many to be reintroduced into the area to establish a secure population. The species now only lives in a small portion of it's historic range, so this reintroduction, headed by the charity African Parks, will help to reestablish healthy populations. The support from the local community, as well as cooperation between the government and conservation organisations has ensured the cheetahs have a safe place to live and offers the chance to boost cheetah numbers across Africa.

11. Restoring seabird populations on Gough island

The Tristan albatross is one of the 24 highly threatened British bird species which rely on Gough Island in Tristan da Cunha (a remote set of islands off the coast of South Africa and a British overseas territory). The government and the RSPB have developed a programme to eradicate the invasive mice species which eat eggs and kill and feed on chicks and adult birds. Started in late 2020, 2021 will see this programme continuing which will actively help protected the birds. Whilst eradicating mice may not seem like a positive cause to include on this list, their removal from this important nesting site could save at least 2 million seabirds each year and bring species like the critically endangered Tristan albatross away from the brink of extinction.

12. Saving British hedgehogs with the 'Hedgehog-friendly campus campaign'

This exciting campaign (one of my favourites on the list since hedgehogs were the focus of my undergraduate thesis), aims to encourage universities and colleges to make their campuses 'hedgehog friendly'. This includes staff and students taking action to clear litter, provide hedgehog boxes and supplemental food, maintain safe roads and link up habitat to allow hedgehogs to move around the campus safely. Universities take up a lot of land, and with hedgehog populations reduced by half since 2000, encouraging hedgehog-friendly practises at these sites can help them to survive and breed. 23 campuses are now accredited as hedgehog friendly, with more expected to take part in 2021 and beyond.

13. Creation of Tarras Valley Nature Reserve

Since 2019, the Langholm Initiative has been fundraising in an attempt to purchase large areas of Langholm moor and Tarras Valley in Southern Scotland. At the end of 2020, they reached their target and have made agreements to buy 5200 acres of land, with discussions ongoing on the purchase of 5300 more. In 2021, the development of the new Tarras Valley Nature Reserve will begin, to protect the moorland, restore ancient woodland and encourage a safe space for rare species like the hen harrier.

14. Conservation by Canada's indigenous, Seal River Watershed

In Manitoba, Canada, the Seal River watershed is 50,000 square kilometres and an incredibly biologically rich and ecologically functioning watershed. Coordinated by five indigenous communities that live on the land, the area is now an Indigenous Protected Area, which aims to protect it from industrial development. In 2021, the project aims to continue to provide education on indigenous culture to children in the region, encourage tourism and protect the iconic and threatened wildlife that live there, such as the polar bear and caribou.

15. Community conservation of the Rupununi savannah, Guyana

The South Rupununi Conservation Society has been working tirelessly to protect the grasslands, wetland and rainforests of the Rupununi savannah in Guyana, a richly biodiverse haven for many endangered species such as the Giant anteater, red siskin and jaguar. The project is hugely community-focused, encouraging communities to help conserve these species through incentives and rewards and facilitate community-run ecotourism and education. In 2021, the education programme (which aims to reach 1500 students and integration into the school curriculum) will involve lessons about the local wildlife and environment, and include practical activities like bird watching, setting camera traps and crafting. The future of conservation can only begin with the education of these young, local minds.

16. China and Vietnam crack down on wildlife trade

In 2020, with the link between wildlife consumption and Covid-19 at the forefront of global news, the Chinese government announced new, strict rules to protect wildlife and ban the consumption of wildlife. It announced that inspections would take place in provinces where wildlife trafficking is common and laws will be revised to better protect species like the pangolin, porcupine and civet which are traded for foods and medicine. Vietnam announced similar rules shortly after to prohibit the sale of live animals and the consumption of wildlife. In 2021 and beyond, it is hoped that other countries will take note and follow in these country's footsteps, which could help to disrupt the $23 billion per year wildlife trafficking industry.

17. IUCN world congress to take place in September 2021

The IUCN world conservation congress is held once every four years and after being postponed in 2020, it's due to take place in 2021. It involves thousands of people from a range of backgrounds; government officials and decision makers, businesses, indigenous communities, wildlife organisations and academics who meet to discuss global problems in nature. The congress aims to unite all these different people and encourage collaboration and conversation about how we manage the natural world and how to promote sustainability. It focuses on themes including landscapes, climate change, technology, rights and governance and oceans, presented through exhibitions, discussed through panels, assemblies and lectures and is a fantastic force for global nature conservation.

18. Bison to be reintroduced to Blean Woods in Kent

I was born and raised in Kent, so this one has a special place in my heart! Wilder Blean, a project developed by the Kent Wildlife Trust and Wildwood Trust (the latter of which is well worth a visit if you're ever in Kent!) is a wilding project based in Blean Woods in Kent, set to trial the reintroduction of bison into the woodland in 2021. Bison are ecosystem engineers, meaning that when left to their own devices they can significantly change and manage the habitat, making the habitat more suitable for a wide range of species and so promoting biodiversity. This is the first time bison have been in the UK since they were here thousands of years ago, but bison have been successfully reintroduced across Europe which has led to habitat improvement and an increase in biodiversity. It is such an exciting project for the UK and offers so much hope for making the UK a little bit 'wilder'.

19. The Ivory Coast's first Marine Protected Area

The creation of Dodo River community-managed nature reserve was announced in December 2020, in coordination with the Rainforest Trust, and is a large ocean reserve of coastal lagoons, mangroves and coastal forests and beaches. 2021 will see it's creation, and hopefully the beginning of better times for the species living here. It was previously at risk from overfishing, bycatch (non-target animals getting caught unintentionally) and pollution. The aim of the reserve is to protect its incredible biodiversity, from highly endangered sea turtle species, many species of shark and dolphin as well as thousands of fish species, manta rays and humpback whales.

20. Myanmar indigenous park of peace

The Salween Peace Park in Myanmar was created in 2018 in response to extreme conflict in the area caused by mining activities, military action and destruction of nature on ancestral land inhabited by the Karen people. These communities consider the conservation of nature vital to their own cultures and traditions, and use nature-friendly practises such as rotational farming and foraging for wild foods, and are therefore able to live in peaceful coexistence with wildlife. In 2020, the park received multiple awards for it's efforts to promote coexistence between humans and wildlife. In 2021, they aim to continue working with the Myanmar government to propose solutions to problems the area is facing such as demand for large-scale hydropower dams, in a way which benefits the indigenous communities and wildlife.

21. Regenerating Australia

Regenerate Australia was announced in late 2020 by the WWF, a $300 million program across 5 years to recover and regenerate Australia in the aftermath of the bushfires. The four goals of the project are to double the number of koalas by 2050, save and grow 2 billion trees by 2030, reach 700% renewable energy (enough for all electricity demand, power transport, industry and building needs, create fuel for export and manufacture solar products) and encourage innovative new solutions to Australia's problems. In 2021, (amongst other things) new wildlife hospitals will be built to better rehabilitate injured wildlife, a competition is running to find solutions to 'future-proof' Australia against climate change and up to 780 million trees are hoped to be saved from excessive tree clearing, all helping to protect and conserve Australia's biodiversity.

Which of the reasons for hope made you smile or inspired you the most? Let me know in the comments, or drop me a message, I'd love to discuss!