Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Good News Fri Yay

~ John W. Howell
Kali the Destroyer, CC license

Good News from Mexico. The jaguar population there increased by about 800 animals from 2010 to 2018. This is according to the latest census. The news confirms that Mexico’s national strategy to protect jaguars is working.

The jaguar (Panthera onca) ranges from northern Mexico through Central America, the Amazon Basin, and northern Argentina. Before 2010 ecologists had never properly counted jaguars in Mexico, making it challenging to design a conservation program in the iconic cat’s northernmost ranges. An alliance created by Gerardo Ceballos of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and founder of Mexico’s National Alliance for Jaguar Conservation used the results of the first Mexican jaguar census in 2010 to create a national strategy endorsed by government policy and scientists alike. The latest count is most encouraging for the cat and we humans.

“It was incredible to see jaguars in so many places where there weren’t any before,” said Ceballos. Good news indeed.

Our next good news story is about the marriage of farming with renewable sources.

Jack’s Solar Farm – Photo by Werner Slocum: NREL

Planting crops under solar panel arrays called Agrivoltaics, the plants grow better and need less watering, while the panels produce more electricity. Our good news comes from Jack’s Solar Garden in Boulder, Colorado. There the owner Byron Kominek has successfully planted crops under about 3200 solar panels. In doing so, he can generate enough power to serve 300 homes. In addition, the plants do better since the panels shield the crops from damaging sun, rain, and hail. Also, the shade reduces the need for water by 150%.

It is estimated that if one million acres of US farmland were covered with solar panels and crops planted below, there would be enough power generated to meet the country’s renewable energy goals. Wouldn’t that be something?

Today’s JohnKu talks about signs that nature is responding to conservation efforts. I hope you have a great weekend.

Nature by John W. Howell © 2010

Every day the news,

Has nature information . . .

Good progress reports.

 

 

82 thoughts on “Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Good News Fri Yay”

  3. Wonderful news indeed! Thank you for sharing these two great examples of hope. It abounds but often we don’t see it through the craziness. Have a great weekend, John. 😊

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  7. It is terrific that those magnificent creatures are increasing. But I’m afraid the ‘powers that be’ would never allow the whole country go to solar panel farming. Too much money to be made the “old fashioned way”!!

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  12. What a wonderful couple of stories, John. It is always heartening to hear a species has been brought back from the edge of extinction. And the solar panels/farming idea is brilliant!
    Happy Friday to you, my friend!

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Wonderful to learn that the Jaguar is once again starting to thrive… These are beautiful animals as are many more of our animal species which are being driven to intinction, via the hands of Man and his ways..
    And I am all for crop growing and solar power.. As a person who grows much of our own vegetables and tries to live in harmony with nature…
    This was a most welcome read…
    And many thanks also John for your kind comment in welcoming my return.. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I was happy about the good news, regarding the jaguar, Sue. The solar panel and agricultural synergy hit a note on a beautiful way to solve problems. Let’s hope it is done more. I was very pleased to see you return. I never like to see productive voices go silent. 😁

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  19. More wonderful articles. Apparently the occasional jaguar still crosses into Arizona but they don’t stay. Maybe one day soon, they will. The farming technique amazes me. I suppose it would have to be limited to certain kinds of crops harvested by hand. I don’t see driving a threshing machine underneath them. Still, every little bit can help and it’s amazing about the water usage.

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  20. It’s always a treat to read your good news on a Friday, John. Thank you! In the midst of a somewhat challenging week (you read about Irish Coach Kelly bailing to LSU, right?), I’m eager to find something to be happy over — and what a beautiful jag that one is!

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  21. An extra special WOOHOO for the jaguars! Such amazingly beautiful cats. Thank you for sharing all the news, John, but especially (for me) the JAGUARS! Stunning photo, too! 😊😊😊

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  22. Thanks for sharing the great news, John. I’m delighted that those beautiful panthers are coming back. And what great use of solar panels. It people put their minds to it, they’re capable of amazing things. 🙂

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  25. Great news, John. The jaguar is such a beautiful cat. Glad to see them thriving. But the Colorado farmer really piqued my interest. What an innovative man! Thank you for sharing and Happy Fri-Yay!!

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  29. Those are gorgeous animals. So glad to hear things are improving.Interesting about the farming. I know someone who is trying to make a go of hydroponic (is that what they call it?) farming. Lots of new and innovative stuff for the burgeoning population of humans :/.

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  33. Love the positivity of this post, John. I feel encouraged by the conservation of the jaguar. WOW! That is one handsome cat.
    The reality of farming under solar panels rocks. I hope we see a lot more of this and other brainiac ideas.
    The John Ku is right on. All in all a wonderful post!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I was very happy to find that bit of news, Resa. I liked the fact that someone has figured out how to use the space under the solar panels, Too. Humans are genius when they put their minds to it. Thank you so much for the visit.😁

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