The lesser blind mole rat (Nannospalax leucodon) has some highly specialised physical adaptations. Unlike some mole rats belonging to the family of rodents called Spalacidae and despite its name, the lesser blind mole rat is not completely blind. Its tiny (1mm) eyes are sunken beneath its skin and fur that act as light sensors. Adults typically range from 11 to 16 cm in length but can grow as much as 27 cm. These characteristics along with its cylindrical tailless body, no external ears, fur coat and protruding incisor teeth, make it uniquely adapted to life underground. 

Being well equipped to spend most of its time burrowing beneath the surface, this rodent is capable of building impressive long tunnels. To do this, it prefers areas with a deep layer of loose, draining soil that can be easily dug. The mounds they create appear like molehills, only bigger, and are used for foraging, nesting and shelter. This particular species is found across Eastern European lowland meadows and pastures where there is a semi-steppe climate.

As a solitary species, lesser blind mole rats live separately in special corridor systems. They only encounter others during mating season (January and February) with a gestation period of about 3-4 weeks. After this time, females typically produce litters of 2-6 babies. Mole rats are mainly active during the night, when they emerge from their tunnels in search of food. Their diet predominantly consists of potatoes, onions, carrots, parsley and other tuberous shoots. Possessing strong incisors allows them to gnaw through an assortment of plant material.

Below ground behaviours impacting vegetation above

Burrowing animals are important ecosystem engineers of open habitats. In the case of the lesser blind mole rat, through their burrowing they shift large amounts of soil creating sparsely vegetated areas. Studies have found these patches often consist of different vegetation from the surrounding habitat. In this sense, the lesser blind mole rat is considered to engineer its environment to benefit biodiversity. Their impact on vegetation happens in the following ways:

By consuming below ground plant organs like bulbs and roots, they help reduce certain plant species abundance. Conversely, any leftover organs a mole rat doesn’t eat, can sprout later.

Mole rat mounds allow for areas of open soil surface which affects vegetation dynamics and can increase species diversity.

The presence of such underground species impacts soil structure and parameters.

From abundance to ‘extinction’ in Croatia

The story of the lesser blind mole rat’s demise is one of land use change and the resulting loss of its habitat.

Years of increasing agricultural intensification, urbanisation and infrastructure development, meant the species’ natural habitat of grasslands and pastures gradually gave way to other land uses. Mole rat populations withered as these habitats were ploughed and the animal began adapting to life on agricultural landscapes. It’s on these private fields of pastures, small crop-fields and orchards the mole rat caused damage and suffered persecution. Eventually, the species was declared extinct in Croatia in 1984. After almost three decades without a single sighting, the existence of a small population was confirmed in 2023 in Vučedol, near the banks of the Danube River. Being the only known population and recently discovered, there is little knowledge on their status and current threats.

There is a fear among conservationists from BIOTA that after the attention and excitement of discovering this new population settles, the species will be deemed a pest once more. It is therefore essential to gather information quickly to safeguard the species and avoid it slipping ‘back’ into extinction. Their survival would not only be of conservation value but they would also improve the landscape ecologically through the mole rat’s role as an ecosystem engineer.

The two key objectives of this project are:

to address the knowledge gap on this newly discovered population; 

to serve as a rapid response to prevent its potential extinction.

To achieve the first objective biologists from BIOTA intend to develop a non-invasive and cost-effective eDNA based approach to detect this secretive species. This involves identifying a sequence in the DNA of lesser blind mole rats that can be used to distinguish it from other species and then analysing soil from active tunnels to validate the method. We hope that by developing and validating this eDNA approach, we will make it faster and cheaper to assess the distribution of the species and that this will allow us (and anyone else working to conserve the species) to be more data-driven in our efforts to help this species bounce back.

The second objective will require the team to act quickly on several fronts involving:

assessing the status and threats to the newly detected population;

identifying appropriate solutions and conservation actions to tackle the threats and ensure the species’ pervaliance.

BIOTA will conduct an assessment of the species’ status and threats, including a survey at the site and suitable locations surrounding the confirmed sightings. One of the main aims is to evaluate the presence or absence of the species, which will involve checking the areas for large molehills. 

Discussions will also be initiated with local farmers and authorities to seek viable solutions for the coexistence of mole rats and farmers. Several actions can be explored, such as relocating the population or converting the surrounding available land into feedlots to reduce any potential damage to farmland.

We would like to thank our members for making it possible for us to set aside a budget of €5,000 to cover staff, equipment, materials and any urgent damage control measures that may be needed to facilitate the coexistence between the species and local people.

The future of this species is tightly linked to the way it is perceived by the people who interact with it day to day. Therefore we believe that any measures designed to help the species recover have to be co-designed with local people through healthy dialogue and collaboration if they are to have a long lasting impact. This is especially important because the lesser blind mole rat can cause damage to crops and this is something that cannot be ignored as we look for ways of finding space for the species in the landscape. 

Further benefits could also extend to these areas: 

Once developed and validated, the eDNA monitoring approach can be implemented by anyone that has the needed tools and skills. This could open the door for additional research and will also make it easier for the Public Institution for Management of Protected Areas of Nature in Vukovar-Srijem County to update the distribution of the species and make well informed management decisions.

By collecting baseline data and shedding light on the situation, we will be laying the foundation for additional work. The data we collect may help to attract more funding to support the recovery of the species. The successful recovery of the lesser blind mole rat could become a reason for pride among the local community and perhaps attract interest from tourists visiting the  City of Vukovar. 

This work should also generate momentum around this topic and facilitate the collaboration between different stakeholders including local landowners and public institutions.

We would like to thank our members for funding this project and our partners, BIOTA, for taking swift action to ensure the reappearance of this unique underground animal isn’t short lived.

For more details of this intervention, check out the interview below with our conservation biologist and project manager, Tiago de Zoeten.

Lesser blind mole-rat project discussion w/ Tiago & Meija

Lesser blind mole rat map icon 185.svg

HR_001_MOLERAT_Rewilding management plan.docx.pdf

This burrowing ecosystem engineer has been rediscovered after being declared extinct in Croatia. This is the first phase of a rapid response to assess the species status, threats and plan of action.

Safeguarding the Lesser Blind Mole Rat

A rapid response to protect the only known population in Croatia

The lesser blind mole rat, a peculiar underground rodent, has been rediscovered in Croatia. Thought to be regionally extinct, sightings of this small subterranean mammal provide new hope for the future of the species in the country. Spending most of its life underground building complex tunnel systems, these mole rats have an interesting effect on the areas they inhibit. As ecosystem engineers, their burrowing behaviour affects soil structure and species composition. Having already suffered a difficult past being branded as agricultural pests, we are working quickly with partners, BIOTA, to prevent the Croatian population from vanishing again. This mission begins with addressing a knowledge gap through detecting the newly discovered population using eDNA analysis and assessing their status and threats.

Over recent decades, large swathes of Slovakia’s wetlands have been lost. They have been drained to make way for agriculture as a result of the construction of dams for hydroelectric power, as well as for timber production. Wetlands are an integral part of the Danube floodplain landscape in Slovakia and draining them to plant trees has detrimental impacts on the environment. Wetlands store large amounts of carbon and are home to a diversity of plant and animal species that are specially adapted to the wet conditions. One of these species is the nationally endangered and endemic Pannonian root vole, which has declined drastically in Slovakia in response to disappearing wetlands. This project will turn forest back into a wetland by digging 650 meters of ditches. This will kickstart a “flood” of change and bring back a healthy functioning, sustainable and wilder ecosystem.

Two years ago we flooded a forest- now it's full of life

This ambitious project aims to restore an area of degraded wetland by digging water channels that to reconnect the site to a nearby river. These channels will enable water to travel from the river to the core area of the wetland and restore a more beneficial flooding regime. The project will also remove encroaching woody vegetation that is outcompeting the native wetland plant communities. 

create suitable conditions for the regeneration of the wetland plant communities;

suppress the expansion of non-native plant species;

create suitable habitat for a diversity of invertebrates, amphibians, birds and mammals;

and finally, sequester vast amounts of carbon.

We will be supporting our partners BROZ to create 650 meters of water channels to restore a 64ha wetland. 

Learn More About the Context Behind this Project

Wetlands can be found anywhere water interacts with land. The diverse and complex conditions of wetland habitats can support a diversity species, including an abundance of invertebrate and bird life. Wetlands are therefore some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth. They also play a crucial role when it comes to climate change. They help fight floods by absorbing excess water and limit droughts by releasing water slowly.

The waterlogged conditions combined with high plant productivity make many freshwater wetlands, including the wetlands we are restoring, significant carbon sinks. Our wetland has the potential to sequester between 200 – 350 tonnes of carbon per year (Mitsch et al., 2013; Brix et al. 2001). When converted to carbon dioxide this means that every year it will sequester about 1290 tonnes of CO2 out of the atmosphere. That is the equivalent of you taking 3902 flights between Lisbon and London or the full footprint of about 189 average Europeans each year. 

The Pannonian root vole is what’s known as a glacial relict. This means it is a species leftover from the cold-adapted communities of the Ice Age. As the climate warmed and the continental ice sheets retreated, the Pannonian root vole population disappeared from most of its range.  However, it managed to avoid complete extinction, surviving as isolated populations in the vicinity of the Danube river in Slovakia, Hungary and Austria. 

Despite clinging on for thousands of years after the Ice Age, the Pannonian root vole is now under immense pressure from human activity. As well as having an already restricted range, the Pannonian root vole has very specific habitat requirements, which makes it a particularly sensitive species. 

Their survival hinges upon the conservation and restoration of functioning wetland habitats. 

The site we are restoring was drained during the 80s and 90s primarily due to the construction of a dam, and secondarily to create suitable conditions for timber production. An extensive wetland ecosystem, 80ha in size, was lost. This is a perfect example of how not all tree planting is beneficial to the environment. 

Prior to this project, the site had still flooded, but very rarely and for such a short period of time that the wetland’s natural communities were unable to establish. The native plant species that are important for the Pannonian root vole had been in a state of decline and had been replaced by woody vegetation, such as shrubs and trees, and invasive plants had taken over. Our intervention has begun to reverse this situation. See the transformative results in the videos below.

See the impressive results of the first flood below!

We flooded a forest - the result blew our minds

What Happened to the Forest We Flooded?

Showing the results of this year's spring & summer floods.

One year ago we flooded a forest - the results are insane

Returning a regular flooding regime to create a temporary wetland habitat. 

Mossy Earth Final Report and Spending Report.docx.pdf

wetland_circle.svg

Microtus II Wetland Restoration Management Plan.docx.pdf

Flooding a forest to restore a wetland ecosystem in the Slovakian inland delta of the Danube River.

Restoring Wetlands

Turning a forest back into a biodiverse, carbon rich wetland

How we are reviving an Ancient Icelandic Wetland

A vital breeding ground for international waders

Iceland is a crucial hub for migratory birds, hosting the breeding population of 52% of the world’s Eurasian Golden Plovers, 27% of Eurasian Whimbrels, and 12% of all Common Redshanks. After breeding, these birds migrate south, linking Iceland to ecosystems across Europe and Africa. The Mýrar-Löngufjörur area is one of the country’s protected natural areas, where these birds of international importance come every year to nest alongside others, like waterfowl species. Its low-lying aquatic vegetation provides perfect shelter, with rich food sources available from plant material, invertebrates and other species.

In our project areas in the Kálfalækur and Blöndulækur watersheds, a combination of peatlands, shallow lakes and small wetland streams are home to a diversity of flora and fauna. Some of the species in the area include: Brown Trout (Salmo trutta), Dunlin (Calidris alpina), Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa), Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago), Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), Spiny quillwort (Isoetes echinospora), Lake quillwort (Isoetes lacustris), Rusty Hook-moss (corpidium revolvens), Lustrous Bog-moss (Sphagnum subnitens subsp. Subnitens), and the critically endangered European eel Eel (Anguilla anguilla).

One of the most remarkable lifecycles supported by Mýrar’s wetland ecosystems is that of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla). Traversing thousands of kilometres and transforming dramatically at different life stages, it's a story of endurance, metamorphosis, and survival.

Beginning life in its sole spawning grounds in the Sargasso Sea, eel larvae are carried up to 6,000 km via ocean currents to the coasts of Europe, where they metamorphose into glass eels. Icelandic wetlands become their home during a crucial growth phase that can last up to 20 years. Here, eels play important ecological roles as both predator and prey, before beginning their migration (without feeding!) back to the Sargasso Sea, where they spawn and die.

Peatlands are unique wetlands where waterlogged soils preserve partially decayed plant matter over thousands of years. The low oxygen levels slow decomposition, creating rich, carbon-storing soils in conditions that support specially adapted plants like mosses, sedges and grasses. Many of Iceland’s wetlands are special in that they contain soil properties, such Andosol and Histosol, not commonly found elsewhere in the world. Their fertile grounds often consist of deep intact layers of peat with high organic content. Soils can extend 1-3 metres in thickness that can store 33 to >100 kg C m−2, which exceeds global averages of carbon storage.

The peatland vegetation in our project area is mainly characterised by Common cotton-grass, which provides food and habitat suited to numerous species, particularly wading birds. While this vegetation still shows signs of its original wetland character, historic land use has altered water flow and plant communities significantly. 

A landscape impacted by drainage and channels

Last century, widespread drainage and channelisation reshaped Iceland’s wetlands. Between 1960s and 1990s, in attempts to improve food security and rural livelihoods, the government subsidised access to large excavators, which farmers in Mýrar used to drain peatlands, lakes and straighten natural stream channels to expand agricultural land. While areas of land were converted, not all attempts were successful in improving conditions for farming. Today, only small areas of land are kept for horses and sheep grazing. 

In the Kálfalækur and Blöndulækur watersheds, the channelised streams have led to the formation of barriers that disconnect freshwater habitats. They cut off vital spawning grounds for trout and blocked eels' migratory paths through the system. Habitats for other aquatic life have also been destroyed with reduced water affecting the integrity of the peatlands. Not only has this altered general ecosystem health, but it has increased carbon emissions as peatland conditions deteriorate and their carbon-storing powers diminish.

This project is an exciting opportunity to reverse some of the ecological damage in Mýrar by reconnecting freshwater habitats and reviving peatlands. Restoring these ancient wetlands not only supports local wildlife, it also provides crucial breeding and resting grounds for great migratory species, extending the impact far beyond Iceland.

In partnership with the Land and Forest Iceland, Fuglavernd/ BirdLife Iceland, the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute and the RSPB - Flyways Programme, we've identified these opportunities to improve the landscape. 

This project is the first phase of re-opening connectivity and restoring channels, lakes and peatlands in the wetland system. Our focus is on restoring two vital watersheds in the Mýrar region: Kálfalækur and Blöndulækur. Both areas have been heavily impacted by past land use, where peatlands were drained, streams were straightened, and fish migration routes were blocked.

Restore natural hydrological processes and flows to reconnect habitat for migratory freshwater species

Create and restore peatland habitat for more biodiversity, with a particular focus on breeding wader populations as an indicator of habitat function

If you want to see a lay of the land before reading our plans, view this 360° drone image.

In both watersheds, we’re restoring natural stream channels and removing barriers that prevent migratory freshwater fish from reaching spawning and feeding grounds. This will be done by removing four man-made barriers and regrading the watercourses. 

Beginning with Stream Bretalækur in the Kálfalækur watershed, two barriers are being removed and redesigned using a natural step-pool approach. This involves closing drainage ditches that were cut into natural streams, diverting flows and causing the build up of barriers in the streams. By closing these ditches and re-profiling the area into step-pools, we will allow the flow to reach Lake Bretavatn. In doing so, this opens up 30.6 ha of feeding grounds for trout, connecting them from spawning grounds in the stream. Other species, including birds, will also benefit from the restored habitat, with islets in the lakes also providing breeding areas. This phase will improve the freshwater connectivity of the system by another 4 km.

In the Blöndulækur watershed, we’re removing another two barriers to open access to two small restored lakes, which in turn will connect three lakes across the watershed. To do this, full channel realignments will replace artificial drainage ditches. For both barriers, we will close the channel and build more natural connections by redesigning the flow between lakes. Creating longer, more natural bends provides more habitat for aquatic organisms as well as helps prevent erosion, which could dramatically lead to the lakes draining again. By replicating natural and physical processes as much as possible, we are trying to ensure the re-opened watercourse is physically stable for the long-term.  

The restoration work in Blöndulækur will result in critically endangered eel gaining access to two more lakes, which is 21.6 ha of new habitat. With the lakes reconnecting to 6.3 km stream habitat, this benefits both resident and anadromous trout who also access more vital habitat. Once the final obstacle is removed, there will be an uninterrupted flow that extends 16 km from the headwaters out to sea.

As part of the restoration, any fish present will be carefully rescued using electrofishing to safely move trout and endangered eels upstream before barriers are removed. In parallel, we're studying fish populations in affected lakes by trapping, measuring, and tagging eel and trout. The data will help us estimate population sizes, track their movement between lakes and understand their age and growth through scale analysis.

In total, 3,362 meters of surrounding drainage ditches will be closed, allowing the peatlands to re-wet and the water table to rise. As natural flows are restored, the decomposition of organic matter will slow and reduce GHG emissions, and conditions for peatland vegetation will improve. Overall, these changes will boost ecosystem health, benefiting many species but especially vital for wading birds and waterfowls, which rely on these wetlands being intact and healthy habitats to breed.

This project also seeks to engage stakeholders like landowners in the process of restoring their lands. They will be supported and guided on how to track changes to the wetlands by being fully involved in the monitoring. Through active participation, our ambition is to demonstrate a new, more holistic model of wetland restoration— one which both biodiversity and people benefit.

Different angles of Mýrar's inland wetland ecosystem, including its inhabitants and species, the migration barriers and spectacular Icelandic scenery. 

To measure the impact of our actions, the project team monitors key indicators and compares outcomes to the baseline scenario. Some of the areas we’ll be looking to assess include changes in watercourse topology, peatland water table levels, wader populations, and where possible breeding densities recorded. Any relevant results that are gathered will be shared more widely through the RSPB Flyways Programme— a network of conservation sites aimed at protecting vital habitats for migratory birds along the East Atlantic Flyway.

Mossy Earth is providing €135,364 of the total budget of €157,483 to cover staffing, engineer contractors, equipment, travel and monitoring costs.

Asset 76.svg

Restoration of wetlands in Mýrar Management Plan.docx.pdf

Closing ditches and removing barriers to rewet peatland and reconnect crucial freshwater habitat in the inland wetlands of Mýrar, West Iceland.

Restoring Ancient Wetlands

Closing ditches and removing barriers to rewet peatland and reconnect crucial freshwater habitat

The inland wetland of Mýrar in West Iceland is an ancient freshwater ecosystem of international importance. Its expansive freshwater habitats are resting places for migratory birds, some of whose global populations rely on them as breeding grounds. Within its many lakes and streams, species like the critically endangered eel feed and grow during epic migrations. In two key catchments of the Mýrar wetlands, we’re supporting the first wetland restoration project of its kind in Iceland for freshwater species. The goals? To unblock migratory paths, rewet drained peatlands and restore flows that connect all the way out to sea.

We’re chainsawing healthy trees into rivers - here's why

Riparian Ecosystems - supporting an array of aquatic life

Rich riparian ecosystems host a complexity of biodiversity and support many natural processes and functions. In addition to providing habitats for insects, fish and other species drawn to these vibrant water sources, they play a role in mitigating flooding and pollution. Natural riverside ‘buffer’ zones, where areas like swales and small wetlands form, can reduce peak flows, capture pollutants from agricultural runoff and promote natural processing of nutrients. 

Another vital component of healthy, dynamic riverine ecosystems is tree cover. By providing shade, trees help control rising water temperatures, hence minimising the thermal stress on aquatic life which can be fatal for fish species like the Atlantic salmon. Tree root systems also prevent riverbank erosion and are used by fish to shelter from predators. Further to this, riparian trees help reduce airborne spray drift of agrochemicals and add woody debris and leaf litter into the system that creates habitats, more dynamic water flow and aids pollutant removal. That being said, too much tree cover blocks the light needed for photosynthesis for other important aquatic plants. This can adversely affect species reliant on a diversity of vegetation. The ideal balance between shade and open areas is generally agreed at 60% shading of the channel with 40% receiving dappled sunlight.

Situated within the Bristol Avon catchment, the River Chew has fragments of lush wetlands and ancient woodlands that provide vital wildlife corridors for insects, birds, bats and mammals. The river also supports migratory fish after their arduous migrations out to sea when they return to spawn in freshwater habitat. Among the species found to be using the tributaries through eDNA testing is the European eel, sea trout, brook lamprey and the iconic Atlantic salmon, all of which appear on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. 

Maintaining healthy populations of these species has a positive cascading effect across freshwater and marine ecosystems. Take the Atlantic salmon for example, it’s a prey species to many animals along its migration and brings nutrients from the ocean upstream to freshwater environments through excretion, spawning and decay. Current challenges of habitat degradation and obstruction in the Chew catchment are jeopardising these species’ life cycles, risking the balance of interactions that would result from population declines.

Within the Bristol Avon catchment only 12% of water bodies have been classified as having good ecological status. Reasons attributed to the poor conditions include physical alterations to watercourses and elevated levels of phosphate and nitrate. There are other factors considered to also affect this, such as fine sediment loads from land use, pesticides, pharmaceutical chemicals and contaminated road runoff. Subsequently, fish populations are threatened by the pressures created by poor water quality and pollution as well as physical barriers like weirs that prevent them reaching spawning sites.

One of the main drivers of degradation to these precious riparian ecosystems, and in particular for the River Chew catchment, comes from adjacent land use. Alongside many areas of the stream, surrounding land is used for pasture and crop production. In some areas, there are no boundaries as the agricultural land squeezes up close to the water’s edge. This leads to agricultural runoff and silting which smothers the gravels that fish use for spawning and can impact other aquatic life within the freshwater. As access for livestock is unrestricted along some of the riparian zones, vegetation and banks have been disrupted by trampling and excretion. Furthermore, there are areas of overgrown vegetation which prevent macrophytes (aquatic weeds that help the oxidation of water) from colonising. 

The current state of the riparian habitat leaves great potential to restore and connect areas that will not only help struggling species populations but also enhance the ecosystem’s overall resilience. 

The overall objective of this project is to restore sections of the Candlestick Brook and Bathford Brook to improve the ecological health and riparian habitat connectivity of these two key fish spawning sites. Both brooks flow into the River Chew in the Bristol Avon catchment.

The first stage of the project involves conducting habitat and fish spawning surveys and developing landowner engagement. These actions intend to inform the required restoration works and reduce landowners’ impact on the riparian areas. The outcomes of this stage could lead to a combination of the following interventions being implemented by BART, working in partnership with relevant landowners.

Livestock management: such as livestock fencing and creating buffer strips to reduce encroachment along the brooks.

Installation of woody debris into the watercourse: to improve the diversity of waterflow, with the potential to create new wetland areas, in addition to providing habitats and spawning sites for wild migratory fish.

Riparian tree management: designed to achieve more optimal light conditions (targeting a 60:40 ratio) by thinning wooded canopy. A reduction in shading can facilitate macrophyte growth and help create clean riverbed gravels ideal for fish spawning.

Riparian tree planting: to increase shade where the brooks are overexposed to natural light, helping to regulate water temperatures. Additionally, tree planting can eventually help stabilise banks and input woody materials into the watercourse, needed for the development of invertebrate populations.

The main desired outcomes these interventions hope to achieve are:

Improved habitat for migratory fish species, including Atlantic salmon, brook lamprey and European eel

Increased areas for pollinators via establishment of marginal vegetation and macrophytes

Enhanced biodiversity within a region with a growing population with a significant history relating to its river.

Funds raised through the Mossy Earth Membership are covering the initial costs of the project which include equipment and contractor fees for the habitat restoration works, tree management and livestock management as well as staffing, travel and permits costs.

The wider objective of this project is to establish a flagship ‘spawning tributary’ restoration to stimulate public interest and contribute to the Bristol Avon Fish Recovery Strategy. Produced by the Bristol Avon Catchment Partnership, this is a guide for collective action to sustain fish populations by embedding the value of rivers in decision-making across spatial planning, public health and economic development, with an ultimate aim of generating learning and information sharing across stakeholder groups. To add to this, the Bristol Avon Catchment Partnership also seeks to improve access for fish moving into and within the River Chew by working in partnership with local authorities, water companies, the Environment Agency and other NGOs. This focuses on improving fish passage by removing barriers to fish movement, such as weir removal and installing fish passes where removal is not feasible.

Freshwater ecologists from BART will conduct the habitat and fish spawning surveys, including salmonid spawning surveys and redd counts. The River Corridor Survey will be done at the start of the project and repeated 1-2 years after the project’s completion. 

Various other methods of monitoring will be applied, including site visits to check on the health of new trees, capturing ‘before and after’ imagery of the habitat and on-site discussions with landowners. Long-term monitoring will involve the community in the way of citizen science where volunteers will monitor riverflies as indicators of water and habitat quality.

Areas of the watercourse have a variety of vegetation while others are bare and exposed to livestock.

Different views of River Chew's riparian zone 

Key to achieving this project’s main aims is building landowner engagement. BART has already established good relationships with several landowners and is developing further support for the project. By promoting the benefits of establishing riparian corridors, BART hopes to encourage more landowners to agree on opportunities to reduce impact on the land through the proposed interventions. This project will be used as an example of best practice to promote more widespread adoption from other landowners in the future.

We are excited about working towards this project’s outcomes in the hope our efforts will create better ecological conditions and bring more life to the river.

There is a significant sediment issue in the catchment which greatly reduces water quality and decreases habitat quality by smothering gravel riffles in silt. One of the main pollution pathways into streams and rivers are roads and track systems. BART is creating 7 cross drains across the tracks to divert the runoff of the tracks and into the neighbouring vegetation.

Asset 226.svg

River Chew Spawning Tributary Restoration Management Plan.docx.pdf

Learn how we aim to restore riparian habitats and improve watercourses of two key fish spawning tributaries in the Bristol Avon catchment in partnership with BART. 

Restoring Fish Spawning Tributaries and Riparian Habitat

Improving connectivity and habitats in the River Chew catchment

The River Chew is a scenic watercourse that forms part of the Bristol Avon network of rivers, streams and lakes in the British countryside. Along stretches of the river, trees and vegetation provide food, shelter and spawning grounds for important migratory fish and invertebrates, including the protected Atlantic salmon. Where there is sufficient shade, trees help improve water temperatures, sediment levels and the riverbank. However, sections of the River Chew don’t have this delicate balance of vegetation cover and have been degraded by surrounding land use. Partnering with BART (Bristol Avon River Trust), we are focusing on river habitat restoration, riparian tree management, landowner engagement and habitat and fish spawning surveys to improve two key fish spawning tributaries.

How we are Reviving the Upper River Poudre Watershed | VLOG

The Cache la Poudre River, generally known as the “Poudre,” is part of the South Platte River basin. The Poudre spans approximately 140 miles and serves around 300,000 people in northern Colorado. The river originates in Rocky Mountain National Park and flows through the Roosevelt National Forest, eventually passing through Fort Collins and joining the South Platte River near Greeley.

The upper reaches of the Poudre are designated as “Wild & Scenic,” providing important recreational opportunities and supporting a range of wildlife.

The Poudre River and its tributaries are a network of waterways that provide habitat for fish, plants and insects that include grasses, rushes, and sedges as well as shrubs and trees that grow along its banks.

The rich riparian ecosystems along the Poudre River host a diverse array of biodiversity and support numerous natural processes and functions. This vibrant water course provides essential habitats for a variety of insects, amphibians, fish, and other species, including the threatened Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse, wood frogs, and potentially the Boreal Toad. The natural vegetation, including cottonwoods, aspens and native willows, are essential for providing food, shelter and breeding grounds for these species. 

Healthy riparian zones also play a crucial role in mitigating flooding, helping to maintain water quality and stabilising stream banks. In addition, trees and vegetation along the riverbanks create shade, which in turn helps control water temperatures, prevents erosion of their root systems and contributes to organic material that supports aquatic life. Maintaining an ideal balance of shade and sunlight is essential in sustaining healthy aquatic plant life and overall ecosystem health.

The Poudre River faces significant challenges due to physical alterations, pollution, and sedimentation from surrounding land use. Agricultural runoff, livestock access and historical land management practices have led to habitat degradation. Besides this, the widespread removal of beavers from many of these streams has led to a loss in their function to store sediment, reduce flood and fire risk, and support adequate wildlife.

Wildfires, such as the 2012 High Park and 2020 Cameron Peak fires, have further exacerbated these issues, causing erosion, debris flows and deteriorating water quality. These factors collectively threaten the overall resilience of the riparian ecosystems.

Removal of the Beaver, a Keystone Species

The beaver (Castor canadensis) is a keystone species that plays a vital role in maintaining the ecological health and biodiversity of the Poudre River. Through their dam-building activities, they create and enhance wetland habitats, which many other species rely on. Their presence transforms river and stream habitats into varied, rich environments that support numerous insects, amphibians, fish, and other wildlife. Additionally, beaver activity helps stabilise stream banks, reduce erosion, and improve water quality by trapping sediments and pollutants.

Furthermore, the wetlands created by beaver dams are significant in mitigating flooding by slowing down water flow and increasing groundwater recharge. By maintaining these dynamic habitats, beavers enhance the resilience of the Poudre River ecosystem to changes, such as the impacts of climate change.

The historical decline of beaver populations due to hunting and habitat destruction has led to profound ecological consequences. In North America, estimates say that beaver populations have declined by 80% to 98% since pre-European settlement, compounding issues such as increased erosion, degraded water quality and loss of habitat diversity.

Despite their ecological importance, Colorado state law allows for beavers to be hunted and killed if they damage property. This legal framework creates a conflict between human interests and ecological preservation, highlighting the need for policies that balance property protection with the conservation of essential species.

The primary objective of this project is to restore sections (both burnt and unburnt) of the Cache la Poudre River and its tributaries, such as Elkhorn Creek and South Lone Pine, to improve ecological health and habitat connectivity.

Installation of LTPBR structures: Use Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration (LTPBR) structures, such as post-assisted log structures and beaver dam analogues, to enhance water flow diversity, create new wetland areas and provide habitat complexity.

Livestock management: Implement livestock fencing (if needed) and create buffer strips to reduce encroachment along the tributaries.

Riparian tree management and planting: Planting native willow and cottonwood trees to regulate water temperatures and stabilise banks, to help restore the riparian habitat.

Enhanced habitat diversity and complexity 

Improved sediment storage potential as LTPBR structures capture sediment 

Improved water quality as riparian and wetland ecosystems help to filter pollutants and trap sediment

Increased resilience to severe wildfires and flooding 

A more engaged community that is aware of the benefits of this type of restoration and the conservation/enhancement of wetlands and riparian areas

Sustained health and resilience of riparian and wetland ecosystems which will contribute to the overall health of the watershed.  Beavers would come back into the system and build off the installed structures and maintaining the ecological integrity of the site(s)

This project aims to serve as a flagship restoration effort, inspiring public interest and contributing to the long-term health and resilience of the Cache la Poudre River and its watershed. By addressing critical threats and implementing targeted restoration efforts in partnership with the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed (CPRW), we aim to create a healthier, more resilient Poudre River ecosystem that benefits both wildlife and the surrounding communities for generations to come.

The project kicked off with CPRW on the ground installing the first round of low tech processed based structures at the South Fork tributary of the Cache la Poudre River in fall 2024.

In this vlog, we look at how the river is responding to our restoration structures, including clear signs of beavers returning!

How we're helping beavers return to restore this watershed | VLOG

Thanks to the work of our partners at the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed (CPRW), their research partners and volunteers, we have some early monitoring results ready in January 2026 from the South Fork restoration site. 

Nitrate (NO₃⁻) levels are one of the key parameters being tracked at the South Fork restoration site, a critical indicator of post-fire water health. The early data shows promising trends:

Before restoration, upstream NO₃⁻ concentrations ranged from 0.64-4.93 mg/L, while downstream levels were 0.28-0.47 mg/L.

After restoration, upstream levels dropped to 0.17-0.34 mg/L, and downstream levels were 0.16-0.37 mg/L. 

This suggests that wetland structures may be helping to reduce nitrate loads especially since post-fire baseline levels (pre-restoration) were already elevated compared to pre-fire conditions (0.06 mg/L, Rhoades et al. 2025).

While we can’t yet calculate a precise “average drop” due to limited pre-restoration data and variable sampling, the trend is encouraging: downstream concentrations are now slightly lower than upstream, indicating some level of attenuation. In a watershed where 85% of the area burned in the Cameron Peak Fire, even small reductions in nitrate can make a meaningful difference for aquatic life and long-term recovery.

Data is still being gathered, and while it's still earl, the trend suggests our beaver dam analogs are helping filter out excess nutrients as water moves downstream.

In the two reaches where we installed log jams, fish abundance has increased by 145% and 61% in just one year. Right below the confluence of South Fork with Little Beaver Creek - where water slows, pools, and creates perfect hiding spots for fish, and this is where we saw the biggest jump in fish abundance. The control reach (no structures) showed no change. 

Community and key stakeholder involvement is an important component of this project, which will influence buy-in from land managers, private landowners and the local community. There are several priority areas located on private land and the concepts behind low-tech process-based restoration are still relatively new to some land managers and private landowners in the watershed, so the data and experience with completing these projects will need to be shared widely. 

Ways in which this project aims to create engagement, include:

Collaborating with CSU researchers and community scientists in data collection on water quality and pre and post project monitoring via photo points, cross sections and vegetation surveys. 

Organising regular meetings with private landowners and local community members to update on the project's progress. Additionally, CPRW will meet with local road association in the project area to share project plans and updates.

Running tours at similar projects completed in 2021-2023 to showcase examples of low-tech process-based restoration 1-2 years after construction.

Engaging with the local press from local news sources like the Fort Collins Coloradoan & North Forty News to CBS and/or 9News in Denver, Co.

The work of CPRW is under the guidance of the Upper Poudre Stakeholder Committee, which meets quarterly and includes representatives from the US Forest Service, Colorado State Forest Service, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, local municipalities, county government, researchers, landowners, and non-profit organisations.

Reviving the Upper River Poudre Watershed - PROJECT DISCUSSION

Asset 253.svg

USA_001_RIVER POUDRE Rewilding management plan_CPRW.pdf

We're partnering with the CPRW to restore riverine and wetland functions in priority areas of the Upper River Poudre Watershed in Colorado.

Reviving a watershed

Protecting water quality, restoring beaver habitat and building resilience to wildfires and floods on the Upper River Poudre Watershed

The Cache la Poudre River is a vital watercourse originating from Rocky Mountain National Park and flowing through northern Colorado. This river and its tributaries support a rich diversity of wildlife and provide vital resources for the surrounding communities. However, recent wildfires and historical land use have significantly degraded parts of the river, threatening water quality and habitat integrity.

In partnership with the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed, we are focusing on restoring riverine and wetland functions in landscape 'pearls' - priority areas of the watershed. Through interventions such as installing low-tech process-based structures and engaging key stakeholder and community groups, this project aims to achieve a myriad of benefits: reduced sedimentation; protected water quality; strengthened resilience to floods and wildfires; and improved ecosystem connectivity and health.

Iberá - the shimmering waters of Argentina

The expansive wetland habitats of Iberá are famed for conjuring up picturesque scenes of entrancing wilderness. The land of ‘shimmering waters’ (‘iberá’ translated from Guaraní) also holds significant value as an area of special conservation interest. It’s situated in the Corrientes Province of northeastern Argentina in the heart of a subtropical plain encompassed by Paraná Atlantic forest, Chaco forest, open grasslands and shrublands. 

Within the park’s 758,000 hectares (comprising the Iberá Provincial Park of 600,000 ha and Iberá National Park, of 158,000 hectares) are some of the largest wetlands in South America. An estimated 4,000 species of flora and fauna contribute to the productive ecosystems in the diversity of marshlands, grasslands, forests and open water habitats. Of the many reptiles, mammals and birds, there are caimans, rheas, capybaras, many species of deer, armadillos, foxes, herons, storks and birds of prey. Endangered species such as the black-and-white monjita, the pampas deer, marsh deer, maned wolf, crowned eagle, and a large diversity of Paraná fish also take refuge in Iberá.

We're releasing Ocelots in a wetland - here's why

In the last century, a host of species in the Corrientes Province have succumbed to human pressures, either slipping entirely into extinction or greatly decreasing in numbers. 

Habitat destruction driven by factors such as agricultural expansion, and hunting, in which animals were killed for their feathers and fur, led to mass losses of wildlife. Jaguars, giant river otters, tapirs, collared and white-lipped peccaries, giant anteaters, bare faced curassows, red-and-green macaws, and the glaucous macaws went extinct in the wild on a regional, national and sometimes global level. While ocelots, along with pampas deers, maned wolves, lowland pacas, and red-legged seriemas suffered huge declines.

Since 2007, Rewilding Argentina (previously operated as CLT-Argentina, an NGO initiated by Doug and Kris Tompkins) has been working to reverse the extinction crisis, restore ecological health and create new economic opportunities in Iberá.

Iberá offers the right conditions to undertake ambitious multi-species reintroductions owing to its vastness and quality of habitats. Within Iberá - the nation’s largest protected area - the threats to animals are being managed. Nature-based tourism is the main economic activity, enticing nature enthusiasts from around the globe to come and observe animals of all kinds in spectacular settings. Surrounding the park, there has been a shift from cattle ranching and forestry towards nature-friendly land use. Members from the surrounding 10 communities are now trained as wildlife guides and work in ecotourism.

Some of the impressive rewilding work already undertaken by Rewilding Argentina has focused on recovering locally extinct or struggling species. In 2021, jaguars returned to the park after being absent for 70 years in a reintroduction project. Corrientes went from having no jaguars to being the province of the Argentinean Chaco with the highest number of this wild cat. Building on this experience and with the help of Mossy Earth funding, Rewilding Argentina has now set out to bring back another important predator - the ocelot.

The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) is classed as a medium-sized wild cat, but sits only behind the jaguar and puma as Latin America’s third largest feline. With its beautifully patterned coat, the ocelot has an eye-catching appearance for us, but its dark rosettes and spots allow it to camouflage and blend into its habitat. Combined with a slender and agile build, it is well equipped to seek out its prey, which includes small birds, rodents and reptiles among medium-sized mammals, such as brown brocket deer and young capybaras. They are skilful tree climbers and patient hunters, known to wait 30-60 minutes before pouncing on their prey. Ocelots are adaptable species suited to numerous habitats from dry mountains, humid jungles, open grasslands, wetlands and deserts.

Ocelots are mesopredators (medium-sized predators) who play a crucial role in maintaining two important ecological relationships: predation and competition. By hunting prey and competing with or directly preying on other medium-sized predators like foxes, they regulate the abundance of these species, which has a cascading effect on the ecosystem and populations of other species. For instance, the establishment of a healthy ocelot population in Iberá will likely have a positive effect on some threatened species of grassland birds that are currently under high predation pressure from foxes.

The presence of predators also affects behavioural patterns of their prey. In Iberá, one of the expected impacts of an ocelot comeback relates to the grazing behaviour of capybaras. Faced with the threat of predation by ocelots, we can expect that capybaras will spend less time grazing and more time avoiding the predators, which will decrease grazing pressure in a given area and lead to more environmental heterogeneity. Rewilding Argentina is partnering with researchers and universities to study the long-term ecological impact of species reintroduction in Iberá.

Historically, ocelots were widely distributed with a range stretching from central-northern Argentina to the southern United States. Appearing in early civilizations through the artwork and mythology of the Aztec and Inca eras, ocelots were respected for their prowess as hunters in the animal kingdom. In more modern times, humans’ can be viewed more as ‘eradicators’ in this relationship. A booming fur trade in the 1960-70s for ocelot hides compounded by an accelerated rate of habitat destruction, caused ocelot populations to severely decline or go extinct in much of their original range. Habitat loss is the main threat that exists today due to deforestation and other human driven factors, such as agricultural intensification.

Ocelots are classified as vulnerable to extinction in Argentina. Small remaining populations have sought refuge in the humid forests and mountains of the north. In the Corrientes Province, only a few individuals have been recorded, being restricted to the extreme northeast of the province. In Iberá, the last sighting came from a camera trap of a single male ocelot in 2015. Without an effort to reintroduce the species, ocelots are highly unlikely to reoccupy Iberá naturally.

Mossy Earth is proud to be supporting Rewilding Argentina with an ocelot reintroduction project at Iberá park to recover the species. Through funds made available by our members, we are supporting one year of this ambitious 6-year project, the first ever ocelot reintroduction project worldwide.

This component of the project requires the diligent work of the Rewilding Argentina team, which incorporates experts and trained professional, to carry out the following activities:

Incorporate a minimum of four ocelots into the project (from the project total of 15 ocelots): ocelots to be donated by wildlife rescue centres and zoos in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay and translocated to Rewilding Argentina’s quarantine centre.


Ensure the animals meet the necessary sanitary standards for eventual release: involving health checks, analysing biological samples, managing any treatable diseases and verifying the animals are disease-free.


Conduct the rehabilitation of animals within pre-release enclosures after the quarantine period ends, in preparation for their release: through placing the animals in pre-release enclosures to replicate their natural environment; incorporating live prey into their diets until the animals exclusively hunt for food; and facilitating mating encounters to produce offspring. The possibility of releasing females with their cubs will be evaluated. Individuals that show strong breeding capabilities during their time in captivity will be released to bolster the number of births and improve the self-sufficiency of new populations. 


Release a minimum of 4 individuals into Iberá park: between 4 to 6 individuals from the pre-release pens during two release periods during the year.


Rewilding

How it works

Safeguarding the Lesser Blind Mole Rat

Restoring Wetlands

Restoring Ancient Wetlands

Restoring Fish Spawning Tributaries and Riparian Habitat

Reviving a Watershed

Ocelot Reintroductions in Iberá

Rewilding:

An introduction