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Clearing the stage
You might think that it would be easy to keep track of deforestation around the world. Does the landscape have trees, or not? Turns out, it’s not easy. Much deforestation is associated with small clearings that do not show up on aerial photographs. And, many times governments do not want to admit to the rates of deforestation that they tolerate. [Read more…] about Clearing the stage
Riding the winds
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The impact of windmills and wind turbines on birds is controversial, to say the least. It’s not surprising that the American Wind Energy Association claims that there is no significant mortality of birds associated with windmills. It’s alarming that Save the Eagle International reports that 116 Golden Eagles were killed each year at the wind-turbine farms in Altamont Pass, California. But each of these groups has a clear agenda. Who are we to believe? [Read more…] about Riding the winds
Regulating fracking
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Hydraulic fracturing – better known as fracking – has driven a boom in natural gas production in the United States over the past decade. Fracking is also at the center of a raging controversy over its potential effects on public health and the environment. Despite these concerns, the federal government has left the issue of fracking regulation to individual states. [Read more…] about Regulating fracking
Food and climate change
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A leaked draft of a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that global warming may cause a world food shortage in coming years. [Read more…] about Food and climate change
Tax: It’s a dirty word
Most economists agree that the best way to reduce the use of fossil fuels and lower the emission of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere would be to put a tax on carbon emissions. That would open a competitive market for alternative sources of energy, raise sorely needed government revenues, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. A carbon tax would even preserve the freedom to buy a big, low-mileage car, if you want one. [Read more…] about Tax: It’s a dirty word
Gold’s tarnished side
The price of gold has more than doubled in the past decade, as a flood of new buyers has entered the world’s commodity market. Gold is in demand for jewelry and as a hedge against erosion in the value of traditional currency. Lots of new effort is devoted to finding new deposits of gold and to mining old veins that were not economical just a few years ago. Big new mines are proposed in Alaska and Canada. [Read more…] about Gold’s tarnished side
Forest fragmentation
Scientists have long known that habitat fragmentation poses a threat to native species. It can lead to stress on the surviving animals, and weakened genetic fitness due to their smaller breeding populations. [Read more…] about Forest fragmentation
Schools and the environment
A group of public school systems across the country has formed an alliance to make schools more environmentally responsible and to help change nutrition and sustainability policies. Known as the Urban School Food Alliance, the group includes the public schools in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Orlando. [Read more…] about Schools and the environment
Seawater: It’s just not the same anymore
We know that carbon dioxide concentrations are increasing in Earth’s atmosphere, and that this will increase temperatures on our planet. But, rising CO2 will have another effect—making the oceans more acid. [Read more…] about Seawater: It’s just not the same anymore
Nature and allergies
As a society, we place a high value on cleanliness. We like to have control over dirt, germs, and nature. Most of us now live in urban or suburban settings with minimal intrusion from the natural world. We clean and sterilize our hands, homes, and children, and our outdoor surroundings are dominated by concrete, pavement, and lawn. [Read more…] about Nature and allergies
Carolina wrens, daffodils, and other climate canaries
When I moved to the Hudson Valley from North Carolina, I didn’t expect to see red-bellied woodpeckers or Carolina wrens, two of my favorite backyard birds. But I was surprised. The woodpeckers are common, and the wrens come and go. They are sparse after a cold winter but usually rebound in a year or two. [Read more…] about Carolina wrens, daffodils, and other climate canaries
Native protection for the coast
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When coastal areas are subject to storm surges, for example, during hurricanes, areas with coastal vegetation tend to fare better. Salt marshes, mangroves, and sea weeds provide an important buffer. This natural vegetation breaks up the direct energy that the sea can exert on coasts and their beaches. [Read more…] about Native protection for the coast
Let's reflect on our success stories
Sometimes people find me depressing to be around. I endlessly point out the impacts of rising human population and resource use, extinction of Earth’s biodiversity, air and water pollution, and climate change. When I really get going, I point out that these human impacts on our planet may threaten the continued persistence of our own species. [Read more…] about Let's reflect on our success stories
Cattle, prairie chickens, and compromise
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The protection of a bird called the lesser prairie chicken has inspired intense debate in Texas – between the government, environmentalists, oil and gas companies, and private landowners. [Read more…] about Cattle, prairie chickens, and compromise
Invaders underfoot in our forests
Despite their familiarity, earthworms are an invasive species in America’s northern temperate forests. They arrived in the mid-1800s, with the arrival of European settlers. And today, humans continue to spread earthworms through activities such as road building, mountain biking, and bait fishing. [Read more…] about Invaders underfoot in our forests
Declining moose populations
As a part-time resident of Maine, I can attest that seeing moose in the wild is a memorable experience. I’m fortunate that Maine boasts a healthy moose population. But in other parts of the U.S., sightings are becoming rare. [Read more…] about Declining moose populations
Stopping by the woods on a snowy evening
I suspect that many of us have visited a natural area from our childhood only to find it paved over by a shopping center or converted to suburban development. Elected officials call this economic progress and applaud the added tax revenue. Ecologists call it sprawl. [Read more…] about Stopping by the woods on a snowy evening
We're making it tough for Santa Claus
It used to be that young children wondered about the reality of Santa Claus. Would Santa show up on Christmas Eve? Parents turned the controversy to good ends by threatening us that Santa would not show up unless we were good. [Read more…] about We're making it tough for Santa Claus
An invasive species named Fluffy
