hectares

A wildlife charity bought 335 hectares in Dorset; two years later, it is one of England’s newest National Nature Reserves

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A wildlife charity bought 335 hectares in Dorset; two years later, it is one of England’s newest National Nature Reserves

Representative Image of a vibrant landscape of chalk grassland and wildflower meadows at Lyscombe National Nature Reserve (AI Generated Image) In March 2024, Dorset Wildlife Trust and Natural England acquired 335 hectares of chalk downland and farmland at Lyscombe, around 10 miles north-east of Dorchester. The former organically managed farm was acquired for nature conservation … Read more

In 1993, a project set out to reconnect wildlife habitat from Yellowstone to Canada’s Yukon; its partnerships have now helped create 204 crossings and protect 24 million hectares

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In 1993, a project set out to reconnect wildlife habitat from Yellowstone to Canada's Yukon; its partnerships have now helped create 204 crossings and protect 24 million hectares

Thirty-three years after scientists began an ambitious effort to reconnect wild areas across North America, a cross-border conservation project stretching from Wyoming to northern Canada has been named a finalist for Prince William’s Earthshot Prize. The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, launched in 1993, has helped establish 204 wildlife crossings and protect about 24 million … Read more

South Africa launched a €15-million programme to restore grasslands, savannas and thickets, with 100,000 hectares targeted by 2030

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South Africa launched a €15-million programme to restore grasslands, savannas and thickets, with 100,000 hectares targeted by 2030

Representative Image of a lush South African landscape being restored, showcasing diverse grassland, savanna, and thicket ecosystems (AI Generated Image) South Africa has launched ReLISA, or Restoring Landscapes in South Africa, a 5-year, €15-million programme aimed at restoring degraded grassland, savanna and thicket ecosystems while expanding protected areas and strengthening climate and water resilience. The … Read more

Priced out of Melbourne, an Australian couple bought 1.5 hectares in Tasmania for $330,000; in 2022 they began a recycled bottle Earthship and completed the home nearly three years later for $880,000

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Priced out of Melbourne, an Australian couple bought 1.5 hectares in Tasmania for $330,000; in 2022 they began a recycled bottle Earthship and completed the home nearly three years later for $880,000

For Matt Ellis and Kate Tucker, buying a home in Melbourne became a familiar cycle of hope, bidding and disappointment. The couple wanted to remain close to their community and friends, but they were repeatedly outbid in the inner city market. Eventually, they looked far beyond Victoria and found a more affordable path near Cygnet … Read more

Meet Daniel Janzen: The ecologist who turned 169,000 hectares of Costa Rica into a giant forest filled with biodiversity

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Meet Daniel Janzen: The ecologist who turned 169,000 hectares of Costa Rica into a giant forest filled with biodiversity

Image(s): Left/Wikipedia/Right/Impact Destinations/GDFCF Daniel H. Janzen is a biologist whose career has blurred the traditional boundaries between field ecology, evolutionary science and conservation. For decades, his work has centred on tropical ecosystems, particularly the forests of Costa Rica, where he studied the intricate relationships between plants, insects and other organisms. His research eventually developed into … Read more

Brazil’s polluted Rio mangroves were disappearing under waste; then local fishers restored 18.2 hectares and more than 60 animal species returned

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Brazil’s polluted Rio mangroves were disappearing under waste; then local fishers restored 18.2 hectares and more than 60 animal species returned

Local fishers collect waste from Guanabara Bay as part of a mangrove restoration and cleanup effort in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Decades of pollution, untreated sewage, industrial activity and waste have placed heavy pressure on the mangroves around Rio de Janeiro’s Guanabara Bay in Brazil. Yet in one of the bay’s remaining protected mangrove areas, … Read more

A small Scottish town raised £6 million to buy 10,500 acres from a major landowner; its new nature reserve is now restoring 190 hectares of degraded peatland

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A small Scottish town raised £6 million to buy 10,500 acres from a major landowner; its new nature reserve is now restoring 190 hectares of degraded peatland

When people in the small Scottish town of Langholm set out to raise £6 million, they were not simply trying to buy a piece of countryside. Their campaign secured 10,500 acres and helped create the community-owned Tarras Valley Nature Reserve, turning an ambitious local vision into one of the region’s largest community-led conservation efforts. Now, … Read more

Much of Sweden’s Söderåsen plateau became more open in the 18th and 19th centuries; in 2001, 1,625 hectares were protected as a national park, and today it is one of northern Europe’s largest continuous protected broadleaf forests

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Much of Sweden's Söderåsen plateau became more open in the 18th and 19th centuries; in 2001, 1,625 hectares were protected as a national park, and today it is one of northern Europe's largest continuous protected broadleaf forests

Söderåsen national park (Image Credit: Canva) Much of Sweden’s Söderåsen plateau was once far more open than the dense woodland visitors see today. A 2025 study published in The Holocene found that the landscape became much more open during the 18th and 19th centuries as grazing intensified, with grazed heathland developing on parts of the … Read more

South Africa is mining lithium for the green-energy transition; prospecting rights now cover 73,000 hectares, 117 farms and land supporting 30,000 jobs

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South Africa is mining lithium for the green-energy transition; prospecting rights now cover 73,000 hectares, 117 farms and land supporting 30,000 jobs

Mining lithium for batteries is a growing part of South Africa’s plan to use the global shift towards green energy to revive its economy, but now it faces a challenge from thousands of angry farmers who fear losing productive land to open-pit mines. On the southeast coast, where a lithium mine operates and more than … Read more

3,000 hectares up in flames: Belgium battles its biggest wildfire on record

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3,000 hectares up in flames: Belgium battles its biggest wildfire on record

Firefighters from across Belgium, as well as teams from Germany and Luxembourg, have been working alongside the Belgian army and local farmers to prevent the blaze from spreading further. Belgium’s biggest wildfire on record continued to spread towards the German border on Sunday, as firefighters backed by Dutch helicopters, the army and teams from neighbouring … Read more