“After three years extracting plastic waste from the notorious Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an environmental nonprofit says it can finish the job within a decade, with a price tag of several billion dollars.

Twice the size of Texas, the mass of about 79,000 metric tons of plastic floating in the Pacific Ocean between California and Hawaii is growing at an exponential pace, according to researchers.

At current levels, the cleanup would take a decade with a price tag of $7.5 billion, the Netherlands-based Ocean Cleanup said in a press release, announcing the group’s intention to eliminate the garbage patch entirely. However, computer models suggest a more aggressive approach could complete the job in just five years and cost $4 billion.

The cleanup vessels deploy enormous u-shaped floating barriers to funnel trash toward a focal point where it can then be loaded aboard and brought to shore.”

From Los Angeles Times.

“Rewilding efforts in part of the Scottish Highlands have led to Black Grouse numbers reaching their highest level for 17 years.

A study in the Affric Highlands near Inverness has found numbers are recovering well at sites where restoration of native woods, peatlands and wetlands is being carried out on a large scale.

The Affric Highlands and RSPB Scotland study involved trained volunteers counting the numbers of males going to leks at 14 locations between April and May this year. The team recorded 405 lekking males, up from 378 the last time the survey was done in 2021, and up from the 250 recorded in 2007.”

From BirdGuides.

“Studies of whale populations make it clear that virtually all species are now increasing. Humpback numbers have risen sharply, along with blue and minke whales. The main exception is the North Atlantic right whale, which has suffered badly from vessel strikes and entanglement in fishing gear.

However, the rest of the world’s whales are doing well, said Bridgewater. ‘Species numbers have bounced back since the moratorium to varying degrees levels. And that is the point of our message to the IWC: ‘You have done your job. It’s been really good work. You have got a result. Now it is time to hang up things and go with dignity.’’

From The Guardian.

“Due to the country’s unswerving conservation efforts, the number of flagship species within national parks has continued to grow. For instance, the Tibetan antelopes population has risen to over 70,000, while the snow leopards population has returned to over 1,200. In addition, the wild population of Hainan gibbons has increased from less than 10 to 42…

China’s ecosystem is steadily improving in terms of diversity, stability and sustainability. Overall, the Yangtze River, Yellow River and Lancang River sources have been well protected, conserving more than 70 percent of the habitat of wild giant pandas.”

From Xinhuanet.