The Top 5 Happy Eco News Stories for July 4, 2022

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Why Growing Forests Is Awesome 

Guest Post by: Job van Hooijdonk , co-founder of Regreener 

In 2016, a record of 29.7 million hectares of forest disappeared. That’s 290,000 square kilometres. Over 50% of the world’s forests have been cut down in the last 100 years. A lot of deforestation took place in third-world countries.

Globally, one-fifth of the Earth’s land area (more than 2 billion hectares) are degraded, an area nearly the size of India and the Russian Federation combined. Land degradation is undermining the well-being of some 3.2 billion people, driving species to extinction and intensifying climate change. Can we fix this? Of course, we can (you’re visiting Happy Eco News after all!). I believe it can be done by planting many trees if we do this correctly.

Is planting trees as good for the Earth as everyone says? Let’s be clear: I don’t believe we will save our planet by just planting trees. Of course, a major turnaround (in both thinking and doing) is needed to save our planet. We need to reduce emissions and maybe even adjust a lot of the systems that are currently in place. However, I believe that growing forests (if it’s done right) will play a very important role in fighting climate change…[read more].

The Happy Eco News Weekly Top 5

1. Here’s How One Nation is Using Wetlands to Help Tackle Climate Change

Takeaways:

• Somerset, UK’s 15 000 acres “super reserve” can help create nature-based solutions to tackle climate change.
• Protecting wetland areas can control water flows, maximize biodiversity and reduce carbon emissions.
• Protecting these areas will also help the UK reach their net-zero goals in the coming years…[read more].

2. NASA to Test the World’s First Electric Airplane

Takeaways:

• NASA is planning to fly its new all-electric plane this fall.
• The plane is designed to run entirely on electric batteries.
• The plane is lightweight, which will help use less power over the same distance…[read more].

3. Back From the Brink of Extinction: The Best Conservation Success Stories

Takeaways:

• Some conservation success stories include the success of captive breeding for the Chinese alligator and the attempt by the Chinese government to create habitats in other provinces where captive-bred animals can be reintroduced.
• Successful protection and management measures have helped increase the population of the Southern White Rhinoceros to 18 000 individuals in the wild.
• The kakapo is an unusual species of green-feathered parrot native only to New Zealand, which has been saved from extinction due to a successful relocation and recovery program supported by the New Zealand government…[read more].

4. Wild Bears and Bison are on the Rise in Europe. What’s Behind the Numbers?

Takeaways:

• As a result of adequate protection against hunting, overexploitation and destruction of habitats, wild bears and bison populations are increasing.
• European bison numbers have increased 30 times since 1960, and brown bears have doubled.
• Moreover, agricultural land use has declined across Europe, which has allowed natural habitats to return…[read more].

5. Just The Facts: The Cost Of Solar Has Fallen More Quickly Than Experts Predicted

Takeaways:

• The price of residential solar power has dropped significantly from 2010, when it was $7.53/W, to $2.65/W in 2021.
• This is primarily a factor in decreasing the price drop for technologies.
• More Americans will have access to solar power due to the Defense Production Act, accelerating domestic solar panel production in the country…[read more].

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