Positive News

Over 100 new species have been discovered on an underwater mountain near Chile! These never-before-seen species, which include deep-sea corals, glass sponges, sea urchins, amphipods, and squat lobsters, were discovered at depths of up to 3,530 meters along the 2,900-kilometer Salas y Gómez Ridge, which extends between Chile and Easter Island. 🐠⛰ | Source: Good News Network

The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission announced a new policy requiring that any energy project seeking to build on tribal land must earn the tribe's approval before the plan can move forward. 🌊⚡️ | Source: Inside Climate News

Marking a historic milestone, Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, celebrated its first year without elephant poaching in 2023. This achievement has been attributed to nearly a decade of unwavering conservation efforts. 🐘 | Source: Good Good Good

The municipality of Sena, with a population of only 2,500, passed a law to protect 452,639 hectares (1.1 million acres) of Amazon rainforest. The newly protected land represents nearly 8% of the region's forests, substantially expanding conservation coverage to 26% of Bolivia's Pando region. 🌳 | Source: Good News Network

A new study found that the erosion of the Elkhorn Slough river slowed by as much as 80-90% in the sections where sea otters were abundant. Researchers found that this was due to sea otters' voracious appetites for burrowing crabs, which, left unchecked, damage marsh roots and weaken the soil. 🦦 | Source: Mongabay

For decades, mangrove forests around the world have been in severe decline, but the tide is turning. Nowhere is this more clear than in Pakistan, where mangrove growth has increased from 48,331 hectares in 1986 to 143,930 hectares in 2020. Experts attribute this success to prodigious mangrove planting, conservation, and concerted community engagement efforts. 🌱 | Source: Mongabay

The first-ever U.S. Indigenous Marine Stewardship Area has been established in California by three local tribes. This region spans 700 square miles (~1,800 square kilometers) along the Pacific. The Resighini Tribe of the Yurok People, the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation, and the Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria plan to build off of existing marine stewardship to manage the area, in an effort to revive traditional knowledge, restore natural abundance, and contribute to the state's goals of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030. 🌊 | Source: Mongabay

Mexico announced 20 new protected areas covering nearly 5.7 million acres across 12 states and two coastal areas. These newly protected regions will help conserve the country's rich ecosystems, promote sustainable practices, and protect a vast range of culturally and ecologically important species and habitats. 🌳 | Source: Mongabay

The largest known deep-sea coral reef has been mapped off of the Atlantic coast of the U.S., made possible by advanced underwater geographic technology that uncovers the reef's intricate formations in stunning 3D images. These visuals reveal a reef that's a whopping 310 miles long and 68 miles wide — a total area larger than the state of Vermont! 🪸 Source | The Guardian

Scientists discovered four new species of octopus off the coast of Costa Rica. One of the newfound four cephalapod species was discovered brooding in a region nearly 3,000 meters deep, near an expansive array of hydrothermal vents. All of the octopuses were found in previously uncharted areas, highlighting the importance of continued exploration and conservation efforts across the oceanic depths. 🐙 | Source: Smithsonian