Highlights from 2021: A Very Full Year
December 31, 2021
What a year! We are very happy to be part of this amazing community. We have much to be proud of and grateful for as we look back at 2021 and gear up for a fresh new year.
Here are some of our many favorite accomplishments and moments of 2021:
- Starting off the year by welcoming an administration that shared a strong message that a commitment to science, biodiversity preservation, and fighting climate change will once again be a priority.
- Joining NGOs from around the world to help launch the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration with an ambitious commitment of our own and a heart-warming reminder that sometimes it just takes a simple question to create big change and huge positive impact.
- Releasing an updated version of Our Coast Our Future, Point Blue’s widely used sea-level rise planning tool that helps communities plan for the future.
- Securing our largest-ever soil science grant which will help us answer some of the most important remaining questions about how rangeland and agriculture can be part of the climate solution.
- Assisting in the Southern California oil spill by carefully collecting data on recovered oiled animals to document the impacts on wildlife (including snowy plovers) and seeing our staff rearrange their lives at a moment’s notice to help when help was needed the most.
- Getting back on the water with our partners at NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuaries after a year off (due to COVID restrictions) to conduct three research cruises monitoring ocean health as part of our ACCESS oceans program.
- Seeing the Coastal Commission vote to support the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposal to continue restoring the Farallon Islands ecosystem by eradicating invasive mice.
- Welcoming our third RAY Fellow, Danny Khor, and the first to join our Antarctica field crew. The RAY Fellowship Program aims to increase and facilitate conservation career pathways for emerging leaders of color.
- Authoring or co-authoring a whopping 28 peer-reviewed publications! You can find short summaries for many of these papers here.
- Connecting with inspiring climate leaders from around the world and representing a positive US presence at COP26, the United Nations climate change conference, then returning home to further the science that will help California remain a climate global leader.
- Having our first STRAW restoration with students since the pandemic started on December 9th in Alameda County! Wow, it was amazing to be back in the field with students, and we look forward to safely welcoming more students and teachers to work with us to continue to restore the planet and create a healthy future for all of us.
What were some of your favorite moments, especially as they pertain to the work of caring for and being inspired by nature and conservation action? Feel free to share with us at info@pointblue.org.
Wishing you love, joy, and many moments of inspiration to continue to do the good work. We’re in this together.
