How Southern Africa’s Elephant Population Bounced Back

Takeaways:

A 2024 study analyzing 103 elephant populations from Tanzania southward—the most comprehensive of its kind—reveals that conservation efforts have successfully halted the decline of savannah elephants in southern Africa over the past 25 years. By 2020, their population had rebounded to 290,000, matching the numbers recorded in 1995.

In 2019, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) launched the Room to Roam initiative, aiming to secure and connect 12 critical landscapes, each home to at least 10,000 elephants.

Researchers found that the “core-buffer model” – creating large, well-connected areas/habitats, rather than confined protective parks, helps sustain elephant populations. Though they are less protected, these open reserves & wildlife corridors allow elephants to migrate when core areas are overcrowded or threatened by poaching or environmental changes.

Previously, elephants had been confined to “fortress parks” designed to protect them from poachers and other threats. But though these parks may be large, they rarely offer the natural flexibility and variance that elephants require to thrive. Instead, researchers have begun connecting parks and creating corridors that allow elephants to follow natural migration patterns.

Anti-poaching efforts have also stepped up dramatically– a 2019 agreement by multiple philanthropies and government agencies saw rangers equipped with a base, enforcement vehicles, a canine unit and drone support. There hasn’t been a single incident of illegal poaching targeting elephants in Hwange National Park since the agreement.

The “buffer” aspect of the “core-buffer” model is the institution of regulated buffer zones between the outer boundaries of wildlife reserves and human population areas. Elephants will often travel into these areas as part of their natural movements, and human interaction is heavily regulated.

The improvement seen in recent years is the result of 20 years of research on population dynamics of elephant clusters, growth rates, genetic makeup and population distribution. IFAW is coordinating with governments, communities and other key landscape actors to restore and set aside these areas for elephant conservation– and will continue to assess ongoing threats against elephant populations.

It takes individuals to do the collective work of reversing 100 years of negative population growth. The scale of human effort and investment that has gone into researching, planning, executing, and sustaining this progress is an inspiring example of our power to affect change.

You can learn more about IFAW’s work in Africa at their website.

By Veronika Perková for Reasons to be Cheerful
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How to Deal with Disappointment

Takeaways:

It is natural to fear disappointment, and to look at it as something to be defeated when it does rear its ugly head. It can make us feel powerless, which we are naturally inclined to find massively unpleasant.

Psychologists relate the phenomenon of “disconfirmed expectancies,” with disappointment, a term used to describe the difference between what you think will or should happen and what actually happens. Disconfirmed expectancies can trigger neuromodulator dopamine, which governs both rewards and the anticipation of rewards in our brains. If we anticipate rewards that we do not get, we become disappointed.

Optimists, in particular, tend to experience greater feelings of disappointment because they expect above-average outcomes. A 2010 Emotion study found that while naturally optimistic students reported feeling no better than any other students prior to an exam, they tended to feel worse afterward since their expectations were further from reality.

Though disappointment is unavoidable in life, Brooks argues that it would be a mistake to go through our days expecting the worst. The key, he says, is to convert your optimism to hope. Hope “does not require that you make any prediction at all about what might happen. It simply asks that you believe that whatever happens, you will have the ability to make circumstances better and you can give some thought to what that action might be.”

So: as you set your sights on what you want in life, be mindful of your expectations. If you’re hoping for a big promotion, avoid predicting the outcome. Instead, acknowledge your desire for the reward and focus on the practical steps you can take if you don’t get it.

From Arthur C. Brooks at The Atlantic:
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This site may contain links to articles or other information that may be contained on a third-party website. Advisory Services Network, LLC and MAP Strategic Wealth Advisors are not responsible for and do not control, adopt, or endorse any content contained on any third party website. The information and material contained in linked articles is of a general nature and is intended for educational purposes only. Links to articles do not constitute a recommendation or a solicitation or offer of the purchase or sale of securities.

It’s Called a Premortem—and It’s the Most Productive Thing You’ll Do All Year

Takeaways:

Entrepreneur Ron Schaich has embraced a unique approach to goal setting at the start of the year: the “Premortem.” This method involves imagining himself on his deathbed, reflecting on what he would feel most proud of and what he might regret. These reflections then shape his actions and growth for the year ahead.

“I imagine my body old and fragile, my life energy almost extinguished,” he writes “I try to evoke the feelings I want to have in that moment—a sense of peace, completion and, most importantly, self-respect. Then I ask myself: What am I going to do now to ensure that when I reach that ultimate destination, I’ve done what I need to do?”

It’s a habit that began as a response to the death of his parents in the 1990s. His father was regretful about decisions he had made and the opportunities he had missed. Ron’s has used that jarring experience to live with intention.

The premortem has become such a crucial part of Ron’s life that he has made it an organizational framework at his companies. He asks them to picture where they want to be in three-to-five years, and how they will get there. He calls this “future-back” planning. He has seen his colleagues progress faster as a result.

In a work setting, the “Premortem” has useful applications as a proactive strategy aimed at improving project success by identifying potential points of failure before they occur. By imagining how and why a project might go wrong, teams can address risks and implement solutions early, ensuring the project proceeds smoothly.

A premortem offers a chance to do the same with your life, while you have a chance to change its course. Don’t wait until the end to decide if you are proud of your life. Take action while you can still do something about it.

From Ben Cohen at The Wall Street Journal:

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This site may contain links to articles or other information that may be contained on a third-party website. Advisory Services Network, LLC and MAP Strategic Wealth Advisors are not responsible for and do not control, adopt, or endorse any content contained on any third party website. The information and material contained in linked articles is of a general nature and is intended for educational purposes only. Links to articles do not constitute a recommendation or a solicitation or offer of the purchase or sale of securities.

Already Abandon Your Resolutions? You Probably Set the Wrong Ones Anyway

Takeaways:

Our New Year’s resolutions often focus on personal goals like improving fitness or achieving career milestones. However, a wealth of scientific research suggests we should take a different approach. The most effective way to boost our own happiness is by helping others feel happy.

A study published in the journal Emotion in 2016, for example, found that participants who were asked to perform three acts of kindness a day for around a month expressed far greater well-being weeks later than those who performed three kind things for themselves.

We often feel too busy to make time for acts of service. However, despite our hectic schedules, research shows that serving others can actually make us feel like we have more time. Helping others boosts our sense of competence, which in turn makes us feel more productive and enriched with the time we do have.

It is clear that personal pursuits are not serving our wellbeing. Less than half of Americans say they are “very satisfied” with their personal lives– a near record low. 1 in 3 Americans say they feel lonely at least every week.

So when it comes to resolutions, the answer likely isn’t setting another personal goal. Instead of focusing inward, resolutions provide a perfect opportunity to look outward—whether by volunteering at a local charity, or something as simple (but intentional) as practicing greater patience with those around you. The rewards to your sense of wellbeing might surprise you– and might make it more likely for your resolutions to stick long term.

From Stephanie Harrison at The Wall Street Journal:

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This site may contain links to articles or other information that may be contained on a third-party website. Advisory Services Network, LLC and MAP Strategic Wealth Advisors are not responsible for and do not control, adopt, or endorse any content contained on any third party website. The information and material contained in linked articles is of a general nature and is intended for educational purposes only. Links to articles do not constitute a recommendation or a solicitation or offer of the purchase or sale of securities.