#GoodNews for our environment! 🐿️ A seven-year, EU-funded conservation programme has been launched in the Pannonian region to halt the decline of the European ground squirrel. The CitellusLIFE project aims to preserve and strengthen populations of the endangered species by establishing a “conservation safety net” to connect existing colonies. 🌊 Following the passage of Storm Goretti, strong winds and waves deposited large quantities of plastic waste along the Normandy coastline. This prompted a clean-up operation organised on 11 January in Fécamp by the Surfrider Fundation. More than 70 volunteers collected over one cubic metre of plastic debris, including bottles, caps, bags and cable sheaths. 🌬️ The Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security has allocated €60 million to the Piedmont region under a national €500 million programme aimed at improving sustainable mobility and reducing air pollution in urban areas subject to EU infringement procedures. 🪸 Portuguese government has approved the creation of the Blue Forest programme, dedicated to the ecological restoration of seagrass meadows, as part of the National Nature Restoration Plan. 💧 The Danish startup Vandrensnings.com has developed a mobile and scalable water treatment solution capable of removing up to 99% of PFAS from contaminated water, in compliance with the new, stricter limit values introduced in Denmark and at EU level. 🐦 The European goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) has been proclaimed Bird of the Year 2026 by SEO/BirdLife after a vote open to the public that has registered a record turnout with more than 11,000 votes. 🌱 Gävleborg County reports that it is proposing to designate an approximately 39-hectare marsh area around Lake Fräkentjärnen as a nature reserve. The proposed reserve contains habitat types and species protected under the Natura 2000 framework and the EU Habitats Directive. 🏞️ Serbia and Hungary are jointly implementing the EU-funded ADAPtisa project to improve cross-border management of the Tisza River amid increasing flood and drought risks. The initiative brings together universities and water-management authorities.