POSITIVE CORNER #16: Eco-Optimism Reloaded

Following the POSITIVE CORNER #14 report that the tropical rainforest is recovering significantly better than expected, there are also other signs that the efforts to protect the global ecosphere, some of which have been ongoing for decades, are coming into effect.

Further, more recent, hopeful examples:

• A recent study from the renowned Tulane University shows that after decades of global decline in mangrove forests, the trend has reversed since the 2010s, and the area lost since the mid-1980s has now been almost completely restored. The study predicts further expansion of mangrove forests beyond their original levels. This is particularly important because mangrove forests are considered highly efficient sinks for greenhouse gases, five times more effective than tropical rainforests. In their study, published in the current edition of the Science Magazine, the international research team reports an "unexpected expansion and recolonization of the Earth's mangrove forests over the last four decades" (ref. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aec9773 ).

• "During a research mission in Antarctica, a research team sighted what is believed to be the largest number of whales in decades . The strict protection of these marine mammals is paying off, they say." (ref. https://science.orf.at/stories/3234534/ ). The researchers from the marine conservation NGO Sea Shepherd — including scientists who have dedicated their professional lives to whale research — were absolutely astonished by what they found. The populations of various large and nearly extinct whale species appear to have recovered to pre-industrial whaling levels. Never before had the researchers been able to observe hundreds of whales, such as humpback whales, in such a small area.

Both research teams attribute the unexpectedly positive findings largely to the effect of corresponding national and international protective regulations, which are now showing results.

These remarkable developments are, however, no reason to rest on our laurels (ref. POSITIVE CORNER #14). At the same time, they are excellent examples of the insight and cooperation capabilities of people and countries worldwide.