Six success stories of 2024

Soaring success for the white-bellied heron

The Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) in Bhutan is dedicated to saving the incredibly rare white-bellied heron. 2023 was a challenging year for the team: despite collecting eggs from three active nests, none of the chicks survived. Meanwhile, the only two known chicks that hatched in the wild disappeared from their nest after a week, likely a result of predation. These setbacks made the next attempt to collect eggs in April 2024 all the more crucial.

RSPN continued to prepare for the growth of their heron colony by constructing two additional aviaries and three large fish ponds, and hope sprung when three eggs were lifted from a wild nest. Unfortunately, one was sterile, and another died shortly after hatching, but the final egg hatched and grew well. Then, a second chick was successfully lifted from a different nest, meaning the team were able to bring two healthy chicks to be cared for at the breeding centre – a huge win!

The young herons – a male and female – are bonding well, and we have our fingers crossed that they will eventually become the first captive breeding pair for the species. Ultimately, RSPN hopes to raise at least 50 birds and eventually increase wild populations through releases.

RSPN have kindly sent us the below video of the two juveniles, who have joined their current captive population of three adult birds (two males, one female).

Lost and found: The giant squeaker frog

Sui River Forest Reserve in Ghana is a haven for native biodiversity and the sole remaining home of the Critically Endangered giant squeaker frog – which Save Ghana Frogs are determined to protect. Since 2013, the team have worked tirelessly to restore the forest, linking riverbanks with the frog’s key breeding sites and migration corridors while supporting local communities to create alternative livelihoods that won’t degrade the habitat.

In 2021, they faced a heartbreaking discovery: a huge site area had been logged without warning and around 10% of the giant squeaker’s territory had been lost.

But this year, there was good news. Following extensive expeditions since its last sighting in May 2023, the team’s commitment to locate the iconic species finally proved fruitful. Save Ghana Frogs captured the species for the first time in 5 years!

The team identified two individuals within the dense and moist undergrowth of the reserve, with the first individual successfully captured and examined. They also found evidence of more amphibian diversity moving into the land that has been restored with local communities, showing that the team’s efforts are having a real impact on preserving wildlife.

Fresh start as river runs free

For the first time in a century, the Klamath River – which flows from Oregon to California – will finally run free. The fight to remove the dams along it has been 20 years in the making, sparked by an event in 2002 that saw the death of 70,000 salmon in the lower river before they could spawn.

After decades of work by tribal and conservation advocates, in October, the last remnants of four hydropower dams were removed, returning the river to its historic path. Local families and Indigenous communities that have campaigned for generations are celebrating that they can once again thrive alongside the river they depend on.

A resounding success for freshwater ecosystems, it opens access to hundreds of miles of high-quality tributaries for migrating salmon, steelhead, and other aquatic species.

Our partner International Rivers and Synchronicity Earth Youth Committee member Danielle Rey Frank have played important roles, alongside many others, in making this happen. Though the Klamath sits outside of the regional focus of our programmes, this is an important milestone showcasing that a future where rivers are respected and flowing freely is achievable.

International Rivers Co-Directors Isabella Winkler and Josh Klemm, said: “We are witnessing a powerful example of what’s possible when we prioritise ecological integrity and respect Indigenous stewardship. This victory ripples far beyond the Klamath, offering hope and inspiration for river defenders worldwide.”

Inspiring the next generation: The story that’s saving sawfish  

Among the world’s most threatened vertebrates, the need to protect sawfishes has never been more urgent. In Papua New Guinea’s Kikori Delta, the Piku Biodiversity Network (PBN) is tackling this challenge through community-led conservation.

Alongside James Cook University, PBN recently published The Wonky Tooth Sawfish, a children’s book designed to educate and inspire local communities about conserving the four species of sawfish that call their waters home.

The beautifully illustrated book follows the journey of Sarah the Sawfish as she navigates the threats of the Kikori River. As sawfish are easily entangled in fishing nets, the book acts as an accessible, practical guide on how to safely release caught sawfish, tailored to local fishers’ needs.

With support from our Ocean Programme, in the past year, PBN distributed 100 copies of the book, launched a nature club for 11–19-year-olds, trained local sawfish monitors to reduce bycatch, and introduced a “Sawfish and Rhino-ray Challenge” that offers prizes for their safe release.

Amplifying grassroots voices at COP16

Supporting local, Indigenous, and youth conservation leaders to attend key environment events is essential to make these spaces more diverse and exchange vital learnings. But often, for early career conservationists and smaller organisations, finding the time and funds to participate can be extremely challenging, if not impossible.

We’re delighted that this year 19 grassroots partners were able to join the Conference on Biological Diversity COP16 in Cali, Colombia, which enabled dialogue between representatives of Indigenous and community-led organisations, youth and women’s organisations, funders, and civil society. Partners shared their stories, advocated for community-driven conservation, and forged connections across continents for collaborative work.

Though COP16 highlighted that challenges remain ahead, being able to attend was a success story for Jean Paul Mwassa Mukangamo of ANAPAC, who said this COP was “written in gold” in his and his community’s history. The event showed it is vital to make conferences like this accessible through multilingual coordination, visa support, and transportation assistance, so partners can focus on conservation action, and, crucially, feel part of a team.

Uyunkar Domingo Peas Nampichkai, governing board president of Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance, said: “Before, we Indigenous People walked alone, fought alone, shouted alone. Now we have allies and our voices reach all parts of the world.”

Sowing seeds of success: AFSA’s ‘Seed is Life’ campaign

In April 2024, the Alliance for Food Sovereignty for Africa (AFSA) officially launched its ‘Seed is Life’ campaign to boost local calls for patent-free seeds and protecting Africa’s agricultural heritage.

Across the continent, the spread of monoculture industrial agriculture, backed by governments and corporations, has severely impacted biodiversity and the diversity of people’s diets. That’s why grassroots movements are advocating for farmer managed seed systems (FMSS) – traditional practices whereby small-scale farmers remain seed custodians who select, grow, and share seeds in their communities to ensure food sovereignty and security.

Promoting diverse, resilient crop cultivation and preserving Indigenous knowledge, the campaign lays the foundation for sustainable food systems rooted in local traditions: it calls on governments to prioritise FMSS so farmers retain control over their seeds and communities can reclaim their customs. Bottom of Form

AFSA Coordinator Dr. Million Belay highlights the urgency of this work: “Our seeds are our future, our present, and come from our past. We must protect them in the face of challenges like wars, climate change. Seeds hold the key to our future.”

Want to read more success stories?

Read Five success stories of 2023 and Five success stories of 2022.

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