Good News! 6 Positive Environmental Stories from August

Sometimes, it helps to be a little creative. In cities, it’s harder to find thriving green spaces that communities can rely on to help biodiversity and cool urban areas. For London, green rooftops became the solution. 

These green roofs have benefited biodiversity by helping rare bees and orchids thrive. These rooftops also help lower temperatures in the city, but studies are still being conducted on whether cool rooftops (rooftops painted white) would prove more effective. 

Either way, green rooftops are a real testament to how nature can thrive in the most unforgiving spaces – if only given a chance!

As temperatures continue to rise, droughts wreak havoc on many communities around the world. Right now, Sicily is experiencing one of the worst droughts seen in European history, but there might just be a light at the end of the tunnel. 

A hidden water reserve has been found that could potentially provide 17 billion cubic meters of water. However, there’s a catch: this particular reserve is about 700-2,500 meters below the surface. The government is conducting studies on whether the water reserve could feasibly act as a solution for the drought. 

If these studies demonstrate that the reserve is the proper solution, not only could it be a great resource of drinking water, but it could also help agriculture and livestock.

Conservationists are celebrating a major milestone in Florida. A species that was on the brink of extinction is making a monumental comeback. This month, the 1,000th captive-bred Florida Grasshopper Sparrow was released into the wild. This marks a crucial moment in the conservation of these once critically endangered birds. 

In 2015, only 50 of these endemic birds were recorded in the wild. Conservationists decided to move the remaining breeding pairs into captive breeding in an effort to save the species. While captive breeding can pose many risks, the end result was one conservationists often only dream of: the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow is on the road to recovery! 

The monarch butterfly is a beautiful symbol of hope and transformation. Pollinators, including the monarch butterfly, play a vital role in the health of ecosystems around the world. 

Because of this, the Canadian government is investing in the restoration of their habitats. This program is designed to improve the connectivity between important

In Argentina, a federal judge ordered a three-month suspension of deforestation in the Chaco Province due to an investigation over illegal land clearance. Now, we know what you’re thinking: How is it good news that land in Argentina has been illegally deforested? 

The answer: it’s not. 

 But while it certainly is never ideal for illegal land clearance to occur, the ruling is encouraging to see.

The National Park Foundation, the official nonprofit organization of the U.S. National Park Service is set to receive a $100 million gift to help restoration efforts.

Though a specific plan for this grant has not been released, it will help address the needs of over 400 national parks across the country. This gift will go a long way toward helping the foundation achieve their restoration goals in parks across the United States!