biodiversity protections
Credit: Andy Morffew/Flickr
Biden administration safeguards millions of acres in Alaska from industrial harm
The Biden administration announced protections for 28 million acres in Alaska, blocking industrial activities to preserve Indigenous communities, wildlife and ecosystems.
In short:
- The Interior Department has blocked a 211-mile road essential for a planned copper and zinc mine, citing potential harm to Alaska Native communities and wildlife.
- The protected lands include critical habitats and have been at the center of a long-standing debate over industrial development versus environmental conservation.
- Alaska lawmakers are pushing back, with some introducing legislative measures to counter the administration's decisions.
Key quote:
“D1 lands in the Yukon-Kuskokwim region are vital to our people’s way of life — these protections ensure future generations will be able to live safely with and on the land, carrying our customary and traditional knowledge.”
— Anaan’arar Sophie Swope, executive director of the Mother Kuskokwim Tribal coalition
Why this matters:
Protecting these lands helps protect Alaska Native cultures and ecosystems, addressing long-standing environmental and subsistence concerns while increasing the tension between economic development and conservation efforts in the resource-rich region. Read more: Biden’s Arctic drilling go-ahead illustrates the limits of democratic problem solving.
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Credit: Wild & Scenic Rivers/Flickr
Preserving the Owyhee Canyonlands: the push for monument status
Local advocates are urging President Biden to create new national monuments in order to meet his administration's conservation goals, but the push has encountered resistance from some locals in the region.
In short:
- The Owyhee Canyonlands are one of the last intact sagebrush habitats in the Western U.S., spanning around 7 million acres across three states.
- Threats to the region include invasive species, mining, and suburban development, leading advocates to push for national monument designation to protect the area.
- A coalition is working to urge President Biden to use the Antiquities Act to protect 1 million acres of the canyonlands, but legislation faces political hurdles.
Key quote:
“National monuments really are the most effective tool that we have as a country to protect biodiversity and ward off this extinction crisis.”
— Kate Groetzinger, communications manager for the Center for Western Priorities
Why this matters:
Conserving the Owyhee Canyonlands is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and protecting the region's fragile ecosystem, which is threatened by development and climate change. Read more: Giving Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante the protection they deserve.
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Newsletter
Credit: Brian Garrett/Flickr
Florida's wildlife corridor holds the key to mitigating climate change and development
A new study reveals that Florida’s Wildlife Corridor, if fully completed, will provide critical protection against climate change impacts while also balancing the state's rapid population growth.
In short:
- Florida's growing population and rising temperatures pose significant challenges, but the Wildlife Corridor could mitigate these impacts.
- The corridor can protect floodplains, which help absorb rainwater and reduce flooding from hurricanes and storms.
- Two growth plans, "sprawl" and "conservation," show that compact development can save more rural land, supporting the corridor's preservation.
Key quote:
“We need to have policies that integrate climate resilience into land-use planning. That includes local land-use planning of cluster development, and developing in areas that are of lesser environmental value and protecting areas that are of higher environmental value.”
— Meredith Budd, Live Wildly Foundation
Why this matters:
Completing the Florida Wildlife Corridor will safeguard the state's floodplains, support wildlife, and help Florida buffer against climate change while absorbing a growing population. Read more: Embracing rainwater through green infrastructure.
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Credit: Pugun and Photo/BigStockPhoto ID: 168502379
Meet the champions of the 2024 Goldman Environmental Prize
The Goldman Environmental Prize celebrates its 35th year by recognizing seven environmental leaders who have made significant impacts in their regions.
In short:
- Seven environmental activists, including two Indigenous leaders from Africa, received the Goldman Environmental Prize for achievements in environmental conservation.
- Among the winners, efforts ranged from stopping seismic testing in South Africa to protecting forests in India and influencing clean transportation regulations in California.
- These activists have effectively combated threats like deforestation and pollution, promoting sustainable practices across various regions.
Key quote:
"There is no shortage of those who are doing the hard work, selflessly. These seven leaders refused to be complacent amidst adversity, or to be cowed by powerful corporations and governments."
— John Goldman, president of the Goldman Environmental Foundation.
Why this matters:
The grassroots efforts of these activists not only protect local ecosystems but also inspire global policies and movements toward environmental justice and sustainability. Read more: “We should take care of what is precious to us."
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Credit: Lynn Friedman/Flickr
A renewed push for the Recovering America's Wildlife Act faces competition
The outcome of these legislative efforts is crucial for ensuring the protection and recovery of thousands of at-risk species across the U.S.
In short:
- The Recovering America's Wildlife Act (RAWA) aims to secure substantial annual funding for U.S. wildlife agencies and tribal nations, promoting extensive conservation efforts.
- A competing bill in the U.S Senate, America's Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act, has different funding strategies and amendments, affecting conservation approaches and federal budgets.
- Both bills highlight the complexity and urgency of funding conservation efforts, with RAWA gaining broad bipartisan support while facing challenges in securing a stable funding source.
Key quote:
"We got to the point where we just got more and more co-sponsors. Everybody came together and said, ‘This looks like a durable solution’."
— Glenn Olson, chair of bird conservation and public policy at the National Audubon Society.
Why this matters:
Legislation to enhance funding for wildlife conservation in the U.S. affects biodiversity and ecosystem stability across the country. Read more: The health of wildlife is inseparable from our own.
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Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife/Flickr
Altering species to safeguard them
In a bid to save endangered wildlife, scientists explore "assisted evolution" techniques, challenging traditional conservation methods.
In short:
- Australia's unique wildlife faces extinction due to habitat degradation, invasive species, and climate change.
- Scientists propose altering animal genomes through techniques like crossbreeding and gene editing to enhance species' survival traits.
- Interventions like genetic rescue aim to increase genetic diversity and resilience in endangered populations.
Key quote:
"Let’s lean into that, not be daunted by it. My view is that 50 years from now, biologists and wildlife managers will look back at us and say, ‘Why didn’t they take the steps and the opportunities when they had the chance?’"
— Dan Harley, senior ecologist at Zoos Victoria
Why this matters:
As biodiversity declines globally, innovative approaches like assisted evolution offer hope for saving endangered species. However, ethical considerations and potential unintended consequences underscore the need for careful deliberation in implementing these strategies. Some innovators are looking to biomimicry to address sustainability challenges. Can they harness green chemistry to get it right?
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Credit: Adam Baker/Flickr
This B.C. bighorn sheep herd’s fight for survival
Between a mysterious illness, dangerous weather and vanishing habitat, a herd of bighorn sheep almost disappeared from Tobacco Plains Indian Band’s backyard. To bring them back means returning the land to how it looked generations ago.
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