Photo: labwebmaster / Pixabay (CC0)
In today’s issue of Squirrel News, communities thrive on land purchased for conservation in the Congo Basin, a court case of Indonesian islanders against a cement concern is allowed to proceed in a climate first, and Orkney Islands’ residents borrow light boxes for mental health in the dark season.
The nonprofit Strong Roots Congo is more than halfway to its goal of obtaining lands for communities that connect a national park and a nature reserve. They say the resulting corridor will be a more just conservation of wildlife and biodiversity because it also preserves the livelihood of the communities.
Source: Mongabay
Residents of the island of Pari filed a lawsuit against the cement giant Holcim in 2023, saying it has not done enough to reduce its carbon emissions and mitigate the tidal flooding caused by climate change. The court has now rejected the company argument that the issue be addressed politically and ruled that the case can continue.
Source: Reuters
The last time Somalians were able to vote directly in a national election was in 1969, but Thursday’s municipal vote in the capital city of Mogadishu is intended as a test run for direct voting at the national level. With streets closed to traffic, residents lined up early for the chance to cast their votes.
Source: Reuters
The new legislation sets strict timelines for hospitals and police in New York State for evidence gathering and processing following sexual assault, as well as for delivering it to forensics. Survivors can choose to store their rape kit while deciding about prosecution and will be able to track the progress of their processing online.
Source: silive.com
Of all US states, New Mexico has the greatest number per capita of grandparents raising grandkids. As retirees, they have not been eligible for government-subsidised care, but the new free childcare legislation exempts grandparents in a parental role from the work requirement and allows them access to free childcare.
Source: The 19th
Built partly on man-made land, the city of Boston is starting to use sensor technology to monitor water levels as changes in climate are making flooding more frequent. Residents can check the levels in their area online for preparation and decision-making.
Source: BBC
The Rivercane Restoration Alliance connects tribes, scientists, engineers, and community groups, all working to bring back rivercane, once abundant along waterways in the South. Rivercane can offer protection against flood devastation with its dense network of roots below the ground. For example, areas where rivercane grows fared better after Hurricane Helene.
Source: Grist
Wintering Well boxes are being used to help people who struggle with low winter mood while living in one of Scotland’s darkest communities as part of a wider research initiative to support the million-plus sufferers of seasonal affective disorder across Britain. Orkney residents have been able to borrow them from the library since the clocks went back.
Source: The Guardian
Societal prejudice against the, admittedly ugly, greater adjutant stork is part of what has devastated its numbers. But the flesh-eating scavenger bird plays a vital role in the ecosystem of Assam, India. A group of 20,000 community women are working to change the image of the stork, enshrining it in traditional culture, and now its numbers are rebounding.
Source: Reasons to be Cheerful
A new collection of papers from scientists across four continents studying climate-resilient areas is helping communities and researchers identify more such climate refuges around the world. It is guiding public and private land managers’ actions to protect critical places from invasive species and pollution, giving endangered species their best chance.
Source: The Conversation
