The Thames is one of Britain's most iconic waterways, and it has come back to life. Although Apple, the world's largest technology company, finally allows users to repair their own gadgets-this is a huge victory for the rights of the repair movement. In New York City, the success of urban greening is reflected in its lush wildlife. In California, to stay away from toxic pesticides, people welcome owls into vineyards. This is good weather news this week.

The good news: The Thames, which flows through southern England, was once a backwater zone, but now it supports a wide variety of creatures. Eels, seahorses, seals, and three different types of sharks-Starry Hound, Spurdog and Tope-and countless other animals can be found in the Thames.

Impact: The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) recently completed the most comprehensive river survey in more than 60 years and found that the Thames is undoubtedly healthier today than it was half a century ago-even though water pollution problems still exist. The increased oxygen content and reduced phosphorus help support the flora and fauna that today use rivers as their home.

According to the Mammal Association, a charity conservation organization, there are currently about 900 seals and 3,200 gray seals living in the estuary, and both show a steady "population increase trend." There are also 92 different kinds of birds living on the river and showing an increasing trend. The total number of wading birds has almost doubled.

do you know? In the 1950s, the Thames had been declared biologically dead, but progress in wastewater and pollution management had a clear positive impact on its overall health. However, due to the continuing impact of human pollution and the increasing danger of climate change, some populations are still declining-especially fish, of which there are about 115 different species.

How you can help: Please volunteer for ZSL here and donate to it, or support the Mammal Association here. You can learn more about the Great Thames Shark project here and participate in organizations such as Thames 21, Clean Rivers Trust and UK Rivers. (In England, the public can only use 3% of the river. Participate in the roaming right.)   

Good news: the tech giant Apple can now let you repair your phone. After years of public pressure (and a $500 million settlement for its infamous planned scrapping), customers will eventually be able to obtain genuine Apple parts, tools, and manuals for their own repairs. The first phase of the repair plan will pay special attention to the most common damaged features, such as the screen, battery, and camera.

Impact: Due to various reasons, the right to repair is very important. Planned obsolescence, deliberately limiting product life, and the inability to perform basic repairs all cost individuals a lot of money. (In the past ten years, the price of the new iPhone has risen by 162%.) Upgrades also generate a lot of avoidable waste.

do you know? In 2020, global smartphone sales will be approximately 1.4 billion units. Apple alone has produced more than 1.65 billion electronic devices, of which about 1 billion are iPhones. (In fiscal year 2021, the company reported net income close to 100 billion U.S. dollars.) Although support for repair rights is increasing, it is worth noting that technology giants such as Apple (as well as Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Tes Pull) who lobbied against it.

Overall, manufacturers produce more than 50 million tons of e-waste each year, of which 83% is improperly discarded. The world is becoming more and more aware of the need to reduce consumption and increase repair and protection of rare earth minerals, which ultimately affects manufacturers like Apple, and self-repair services are a small but important step towards a full cycle. However, if the company and its huge profits are to be held accountable, we need legislative protection.

How to help: If you only want to repair something, third-party operators are actually more likely to perform in-depth repairs. Letting companies like Apple (and your government) know that maintenance rights are important to you can help maintain pressure, which promises to lead to more comprehensive solutions and better legislative protection. You can also find creative ways to deliver the devices after using them, such as donating or selling them online. Check out Harvard University’s handy guide on reducing e-waste here.

Good news: Did you know that New York City has more flora and fauna than Yellowstone National Park? With a population of approximately 8.5 million, tens of thousands of miles of concrete, and more than 2 million cars, New York City may not be the first place you associate with a thriving wildlife population.

But this world-famous concrete jungle also has nearly 20,000 acres of natural park space, home to various animals such as butterflies, bees, raccoons, foxes, bats, chipmunks, deer, plovers, coyotes, peregrines and bald eagles. This is due to the protection and urban greening of the entire city for many years.

Impact: In a recent interview with The New York Times, former park commissioner and current president of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Adrian Benepe, pointed out that the current level of biodiversity is something he has not seen in more than half a century. Over. "You are seeing amazing wild animals in the center of the city," he said.

After decades of park expansion, organized clean-up projects, rewilding efforts, restoration of wetlands, and pesticide bans, this welcome recognition of the booming biodiversity. However, larger parks and forestry budgets and better legislative protections are still needed to move forward, especially in response to climate change and growing populations.

do you know? Urban rewilding is a unique, modern and extremely effective solution that can solve the increasingly crowded and huge urban space. Creating green areas as much as possible (including on the sides and tops of high-rise buildings, bus stops, and even unused flyovers) can help promote biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and the overall well-being of urban residents.

How you can help: Join groups in New York City, such as the Rewild Initiative, or volunteer through the "This is My Park Initiative" of the City Park Foundation. The Nature Conservancy is currently running multiple urban conservation projects in the city, focusing on everything from green roofs to coastal resilience. Learn more about wildlife in New York City here, including a calendar and location guide for aspiring animal watchers. Learn about the inspiring Freshkills Park project here-the city's largest park in more than a century.

Good news: The Department of Wildlife at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California is conducting a long-term study to evaluate the potential of owls to replace rodenticides as a natural pest control for vineyards and winemakers. The research team has placed approximately 300 owl nest boxes throughout Napa Valley and will document the effects of this on rodent control. "This is not just a pest control service, it's like a transactional thing," Professor Matt Johnson told Bay Nature.

Impact: The typical rat poison is slow and can cause extremely painful death. They are also extremely toxic to other animals, including humans, and can accumulate in rodents before death-thereby making rodent predators and scavengers (such as mountain lions and owls) themselves Exposure to secondary poisoning. Generally speaking, reducing the use of pesticides is considered to be the best for the environment, wildlife and human health. And compared with other parts of the United States, California has relatively strict restrictions on the use of pesticides.

do you know? Many owls are top predators, just like other animals at the top of the food chain, supporting a healthy population means more sustainable biodiversity overall. The barn owl has impeccable vision and hearing, and can locate and catch mice moving under wild plants or snow. Adults can have a wingspan of about four feet, but they usually weigh only one pound and fly in absolute silence.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) recently overturned the Trump administration's decision to open up millions of acres of West Coast forest for logging. This is a huge victory for the extremely rare Northern Spotted Owl. Their health and population size are also good indicators of overall environmental health.

How to help: Due to the nesting habits of barn owls, artificial habitats are very easy to build and may contribute to local population growth. Learn more about the Humboldt Vineyard Research Project here and here, and read about the use of owls to control pests here. The Barn Owl Trust lists some interesting facts about North American breeds here, and you can learn more about the Northern Spotted Owl here.

I am happy to announce that our plan has been approved! 🍾👏 https://t.co/4S2Ghejbul

The good news: New York City is not the only cultural center that promotes rewilding. The city of Derby, located in the east-central part of England, has just approved a project that the committee believes will become the country's "largest urban re-wild green space" project. The project is located in Allestree Park, the largest open space in the area, and will be carried out in collaboration with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, Rewilding British, University of Derby and City Council.

Impact: The layout of the park has not yet been determined, but it will connect the Peak District with the Trent Valley through the Derwent Valley Corridor, creating a vast green space network. Allestree may include the creation of new woodlands, grasslands, wetlands and bushes, and may reintroduce key species such as water voles and harvest mice.

do you know? This re-wildization project aims to promote biodiversity and provide countless benefits of natural space for surrounding communities. The project coordinator also hopes that the Derby example will inspire other cities to make similar plans, especially when the country’s levels of wild space and biodiversity are so low and the demand for both is so high.

How to help: Rewilding has great potential in mitigating climate change, protecting the already destroyed environment, and improving the quality of life. Researching your local area and participating directly is the best way to help, just like doing field activities in and around your own home-from building bird and insect shelters to planting wildflowers. Rewilding British, Rewilding Europe and Rewilding North America are supported here.

Looking for more good news about the climate? Read previous issues here.

Special Contributor | Liam, Bristol, UK Wrote articles on environmental and social sustainability and animal protection. He holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in English Literature and Film.

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