Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

2 months ago

Whale sharks released from nets along India’s coast as fishers turn rescuers On a March morning in the suburbs of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala state’s capital in southern India, a group of fishers were hauling their kambavala — a traditional net fixed between bamboo poles driven...

Whale sharks rescued by fisherman who once butchered them and are reimbursed for torn nets is my news to me good news for Feb 4. #OceanOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries news.mongabay.com/2026/02/whal...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

2 months ago

'This mysterious little beast is returning to our forests': Rare images of Europe's 'ghost cat' Wildcats are so elusive, they were thought to be extinct in parts of Europe. But they are making a comeback in some areas.

A bit of good news in these dark times, and my news to me good news for Jan 25. #EarthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries www.bbc.com/future/artic...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

2 months ago

Adorable ferret-sized martens are rebounding in California Highly valued for their fur, martens were almost hunted to extinction in the late 20th century.

They're back! California martens are my news to me good news for Jan 23 #EarthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries www.popsci.com/environment/...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

2 months ago

Crocodile guardians: Redefining the Buwaya Community-led conservation efforts and head-starting programs for the Philippine crocodile in the Northern Sierra Madre.

Conservation is rarely easy or quick but it can happen. My news to me good news for Jan 22 is the Philippine crocodile hanging in there. #EarthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries onewater.blue/article/croc...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

2 months ago

The Gold Rush Delicacy That Started a War: Eggs | KQED When food shortages struck San Francisco, wily entrepreneurs raided the dangerous Farallon Islands for protein-rich eggs from seabirds. In the process, they destroyed both wildlife and each other.

Murre miracle - Today the Farallon Islands are home to 400,000 of them - my news to me good news for Jan 21. But we almost lost them to an egg rush fueled by the Gold Rush. #OceanOptimism #EarthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries www.kqed.org/news/1187273...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

2 months ago

How Community Solar Turned a Superfund Site into Savings in Illinois A new 9.1-MW solar array will help residents of Waukegan, Illinois, reduce energy bills. State incentives for low-income solar made the project possible.

From superfund site to #solar site in #Illinois is my news to me good news for Jan 20. I won't give up on shining a spotlight on people making a positive difference #EarthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries reasonstobecheerful.world/illinois-com...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

2 months ago

A First Nation’s prairie grows in Ontario, then burns | The Narwhal A portion of the Alderville Black Oak Savanna is burned each year, giving way to new life. Conservation efforts have revived the rare tallgrass ecosystem that was nearly lost to colonialism

"Good fire" working is my news to me good news for Jan 18 #EarthOptimism #beyondTheObituaries thenarwhal.ca/alderville-b...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

2 months ago

How a ‘dysfunctional’ English farm became a biodiversity hotspot A trailblazing rewilding site in England has recorded a 900% increase in breeding birds in just 20 years

A 900% increase in breeding birds at this rewilded farm is my news to me good news for Jan 17. #EarthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries www.positive.news/environment/...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

2 months ago

PFAS levels are declining in Great Lakes fish, new research shows - Bridge Michigan The study, spearheaded by a federal research office that the Trump administration has since dismantled, shows fish responded quickly after manufacturers stopped using some PFAS compounds.

Surprisingly quick decline in forever chemicals in fish when we stop making them - my news to me good news for Jan 16 #EarthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries bridgemi.com/michigan-env...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

2 months ago

Wild Oysters Make a Comeback in Maine After more than a century, these shellfish have reappeared in Damariscotta River. Their return is a boon—and a warning of a changing climate.

The accidental rewinding of Maine's oysters - my news to me good news for Jan 15 #OceanOptimism #EarthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries civileats.com/2025/10/14/w...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

2 months ago

Three Andean condor chicks hatch in Colombia as species nears local extinction Since July 2024, three Andean condor chicks have hatched at an artificial incubation program located near Bogotá, Colombia’s capital city, contributor Christina Noriega reported for Mongabay. The arti...

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and these kinds of efforts have worked before. My news to me good news for Jan 14 #earthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries news.mongabay.com/short-articl...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

3 months ago

Abandoned oil refineries are becoming unlikely havens for wildlife From southeast England to California, decommissioned oil refineries are being reclaimed by nature, prompting calls to protect them

File under silver linings - my news to me good news for Jan 13 #EarthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries www.positive.news/environment/...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

3 months ago

Cowboy boots made from pirarucu leather fund Amazon’s sustainable fishery A massive Amazonian fish yields the unique and once overlooked leather prized by luxury brands and Texas cowboys.

A complicated story but my news to me good news for Jan 12. #earthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries news.mongabay.com/2026/01/cowb...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

3 months ago

To Save An Endangered Prairie Fish, Dried-up Iowa Wetlands Get New Life - Inside Climate News Efforts to save the Topeka shiner have restored hundreds of oxbow lakes across Iowa. Now, those wetlands are helping to improve the state’s water quality.

The return of oxbow lakes in Iowa is my news to me good news for Jan 10 - turns out they aren't just good for a fish - they also improve water quality #EarthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries insideclimatenews.org/news/0701202...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

3 months ago

The School Where Students Pay With Plastic Bags An innovative education model in northeast India aims to reduce plastic pollution, cut school drop-out rates and give students vocational training.

From #India, making plastic pay - my news to me good news for Jan 9 #EarthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries reasonstobecheerful.world/india-school...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

3 months ago

Sacred land returned to North Carolina Cherokee Indians after 200 years The Franklin Town Council on Monday voted unanimously to transfer the deed to the Noquisiyi Mound to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina.

A lovely story of people doing the right thing - we need more of this! #EarthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

3 months ago

Plagued by Flooding, an African City Reengineers Its Wetlands As climate change and urbanization intensify flooding in Rwanda, the capital of Kigali has embraced nature-based solutions. The city is restoring and reshaping 18,000 acres of degraded wetlands, plant...

Sanity does exist, including in places "disparaged" by US leadership (diplomacy-speak, so-called "S-H countries" that increasingly put us to shame).... Thank you #Rwanda for my news to me good new for Jan 6 #EarthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries e360.yale.edu/features/kig...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

3 months ago

The City Where Free Buses Changed Everything New York's new mayor Zohran Mamdani has said he’ll make every bus free to ride. This French city did just that — and is reaping the rewards.

I took a break for the holidays, but the bad news didn't :-(. Time to regroup now that I'm back, with a small contribution to mental health - my news to me good news for Jan 5 #EarthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries reasonstobecheerful.world/city-where-f...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

3 months ago

Tiny wild cat spotted in Thailand for first time in 30 years The flat-headed felines are the smallest wild cats in Southeast Asia.

Meow meow. My news to me good news for Dec 26 is the return of a tiny wild cat to Thailand after being MIA for 30 years. #EarthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries. www.popsci.com/environment/...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

3 months ago

The World’s Last Flock of Wild Whooping Cranes Gets More Living Space - Inside Climate News On an isolated stretch of Texas coastline, conservation groups have acquired more than 3,000 acres of nearly pristine prairie to preserve as habitat for endangered whooping cranes, one of the rarest b...

A big whoop for the whooping cranes is my news to me good news for Dec 20 #EarthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries insideclimatenews.org/news/1912202...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

3 months ago

In an Ohio suburb, sprawl is being transformed into walkable neighborhoods » Yale Climate Connections Rethinking American suburbs could help people drive less, lowering emissions.

In big cities walking to the grocery store is something that is (or should be) routine. In the suburbs it can be harder. But not impossible, as my news to me good news for Dec 18 shows. #EarthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries yaleclimateconnections.org/2025/12/in-a...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

3 months ago

Astounding evidence of recovery on Ulong Island in Palau after just one year! — Island-Ocean Connection Challenge Seabirds, the IUCN Endangered Palau Ground Dove (Pampusana canifrons), and other native species have significantly increased in number thanks to a successful restoration campaign on Ulong Island, Repu...

The rats are gone and the birds are back - my news to me good news for Dec 17. #OceanOptimism #EarthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries. www.jointheiocc.org/news/data-sh...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

3 months ago

Roots of Resilience: The Women Preserving Asia's Ancient Mangrove Forest Local collectives in the Sundarbans are leading the charge to restore a vital marine ecosystem.

Women saving mangroves is my news to me good news for Dec 15 #OceanOptimism #EarthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries reasonstobecheerful.world/women-preser...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

4 months ago

This Arkansas City Shows How to Slash Emissions and Save Money, Too

I LOVE this @nytimes.com series - today's story is my news to me good news for Dec 10, from #Arkansas - not typically viewed as an epicenter of environmentalism - and that's the point! #EarthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/c...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

4 months ago

A major networked geothermal project gets underway in Connecticut The project will provide clean heating and cooling for New Haven’s train station and nearby public housing. It could be a test case for similar efforts…

Having worked at Yale early in my career I know this lovely old train station well - that it and neighboring public housing is about to get lovelier energy-wise is my news to me good news for Dec 9 #EarthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries www.canarymedia.com/articles/geo...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

4 months ago

Rewilding is revitalising lives and landscapes in the Iberian Highlands | Rewilding Europe The Iberian Highlands of Spain have struggled with rural depopulation and economic decline for many years. Today, rewilding is helping communities in the landscape turn these challenges into new…

In #Spain, what's good for nature is good for people. My news to me good news for Dec 8 #earthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries. rewildingeurope.com/news/rewildi...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

4 months ago

In Kenya, Maasai private landowners come together to protect wildlife corridors “Look, giraffes are walking in front of me. We have hundreds of them in our conservancy. There are zebras, too, see! And elephants,” Nelson Ole Reiyia describes during a phone interview with Mongabay,...

In #Kenya, private conservancies are crucial for conservation and so is the ability of wildlife to move. My news to me good news for Dec 7 brings these two together. #EarthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries news.mongabay.com/2025/12/a-ma...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

4 months ago

Driving an E.V. Across North Dakota? Thank the Standing Rock Tribe.

As an EV owner and a supporter of indigenous efforts to live in harmony with the planet, I loved this article on many levels. My news to me good news for Dec 6 - #EarthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/c...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

4 months ago

A rare bright spot for whales: Decades of conservation pay off for endangered population in Canada Populations of northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus), playful animals that resemble large dolphins, stretch across the Atlantic Ocean, with each group of whales living year-round in a par...

I sort of take issue with the title as quite a few whales have recovered, but this one not generally so it's my news to me good news for Dec 5 #OceanOptimism #EarthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries news.mongabay.com/2025/12/a-ra...

Nancy Knowlton

@nancyknowlton.bsky.social

4 months ago

Rare Win for Renewable Energy: Trump Administration Funds Geothermal Network Expansion - Inside Climate News A first-in-the-nation heating and cooling network in Massachusetts is set to double in size.

Not sure how geothermal escaped the insanity but I'll take any win I can - my news to me good news for Dec 4 #EarthOptimism #BeyondTheObituaries insideclimatenews.org/news/0312202...