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Lionel, Marlin, Keenan and Denzil are from a small village called Langkloof in the Cederberg Mountains of South Africa. They have been upskilled and employed by the Freshwater Research Centre to restore river ecosystems and thereby conserve threatened,endemic freshwater fish in the Cape Floristic Region Biodiversity Hotspot.
 
With support from the MBZ Fund, the team have cleared 20 hectares of invasive vegetation to restore 10 km of critical freshwater fish habitat on the upper Biedouw River. Clearing the invasive plants increases water flow and improves the overall health of the river ecosystem. Invasive fish are also being eradicated from the river to create a sanctuary for five species of endemic freshwater fish, including the Endangered Clanwilliam Sandfish.
 
“Considering that before this project the native fish were restricted to less than 1 km of river, extending their range to 10 km through invasive species removal will be a big win for local freshwater fish conservation” emphasises project leader Jeremy Shelton

This project is made possible with incredible partners including

@bushmanskloof, @mountceder, @alucab_official, @fordsouthafrica and @fosafflyfishing,

#mbzfund #FordSouthAfrica #freshwatersa #sandfish #fish #endangeredspecies #conservation #uae #southafrica #environment #nature #biodiversity ...

According to the IUCN Red List, sawfishes are among the most threatened marine vertebrates globally, with populations declining by more than 90% due to overexploitation and habitat loss. Without urgent conservation action, they face extinction.

With the support of the MBZ Fund, MarAlliance is leading a pioneering conservation initiative in the Darién province of Panama - safeguarding the only currently demonstrated nursery for the Critically Endangered largetooth sawfish (Pristis pristis) in the Americas.

To date, MarAlliance has:
👏 Conducted vital research to inform national and regional protection efforts.
👏 Trained fishers, Indigenous communities, and students in sawfish monitoring, sustainable fisheries management, and safe release practices.
👏 Partnered with local fishers to promote fishing practices that protect sawfish populations.
👏 Involved fishers and their families in paid monitoring efforts to foster stewardship while providing alternative livelihoods.
👏 Raised awareness to mitigate threats from wildlife trafficking.
👏 Created a community-based conservation model for replication in other critical habitats worldwide.

By merging rigorous scientific research with traditional knowledge and community engagement, we are building a sustainable future for the largetooth sawfish in the Americas and Panama’s marine biodiversity.

#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #IUCN #biodiversity #sawfish #sustainability #uae #Panama #Americas #rarespecies #wildlife #nature #animals #environment ...

The Isthmohyla treefrogs, native to the highland regions of Costa Rica and Panama, face significant threats due to habitat loss, disease, and climate change. With the support of MBZ Fund, researcher Wagner Chaves-Acuña from the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia” and the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina aims to monitor and protect populations of four endangered species of Isthmohyla: I. debilis, I. pictipes, I. rivularis, and I. tica.

Wagner and his team are monitoring frog populations at ten sites, focusing on adult frogs, juveniles, and tadpoles. This research has illuminated key aspects of their reproductive phenology and natural history, which are vital for conservation efforts. Interestingly, the exact egg-laying sites remain unknown, though researchers speculate they might be in rock crevices.

They are also conducting taxonomic and phylogenetic studies to enhance understanding of diversity and evolutionary relationships. These insights will not only clarify their identities and distributions but also inform conservation strategies, potentially redefining their known ranges.

Lastly, they are collecting swab samples to test for the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, which poses a threat to amphibian populations globally. Assessing the health of these frogs is crucial for effective disease management and the prevention of population declines.

📸 Thomas Calleja
📸 Wagner Chaves-Acuna

#worldfrogday #MBZFund #conservation, #endangeredspecies #biodiversity #nature #animals #uae #CostaRica #Panama, #FrogConservation #Isthmohyla #Ecology #Evolution #EnvironmentalEducation #Frogs #CentralAmerica #Biodiversity #wildlifeconservation #stri #redlistamphibians ...

Caridina dennerli, commonly known as the Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp, is a unique species native to Lake Matano that gained popularity among aquarists even before its formal description in 2009. Unfortunately, this species faces critical threats, including habitat destruction, invasive species, and overexploitation, leading to its listing as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Urgent action is needed, and thanks to support from the MBZ Fund, the Zoological Community of Celebes (ZCC) launched a population survey in four key localities. Excitingly, they confirmed that C. dennerli still thrives in three sites! They also engaged local youth in eradicating invasive Flowerhorn cichlids, successfully removing 50 kg in the project’s first phase.

The next phase of the project is to host a seminar with the local community, stakeholders, and hunters around the Malili Lake System to gather support for conservation efforts aimed at saving this iconic species from extinction. Collectively, we can secure a brighter future for the Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp!


#MBZFund #conservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #abudhabi #Indonesia #asia #Sulawesi #shrimp #animals #wildlife #nature ...