Blog
Cities Are Running Out of Water
Imagine having no water to drink or cook with, or for bathing, flushing toilets or watering pets. Imagine this situation going on for not just a day or two, but possibly long into the future. This is the dire situation that many cities around the world are facing...
A Look at Record Glacial Melting & It’s Implications
Climate change, polar vortex, global warming -- these terms appear more and more frequently in the news and on social media, often relating to the melting of glacial ice in Antarctica, Greenland, and mountain ranges around the world. According to the National Snow...
Private Landowners Role in Land Conservation
Private landowners across the nation are continuing to discover the benefits of becoming active participants in land conservation efforts. Landowners who are ecologically minded have partnered up with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and private conservation groups such as The Nature Conservancy to help transform their property into habitats for migratory birds as well as endangered, threatened and at-risk species of plants and animals. Such innovative conservation programs allow landowners to maintain land management goals and keep lands working for them, all while helping to preserve habitats for the wildlife that needs it most. With more than 61 percent of US land owned by private landowners, programs like these are crucial to effective land conservation.
How Natural Disasters Affect Homeland Security
The year 2018 suffered some of the worst natural disasters in recent history. A magnitude 7.5 earthquake was responsible for the death of approximately 1,900 people in Indonesia. The massive fires in California burned with such intensity as to melt vehicles, turn people into ash and exterminate a community. Hurricane Michael ravaged North and South Carolina and was reportedly the strongest recorded storm in the last five decades. However, along with lost lives and property damage, natural disasters pose a threat to homeland security.
How Climate and Farming Interact
As the effects of global change become more noticeable, farms and ranches will be among the first industries to suffer. The human-caused buildup of greenhouse gases that we’re currently experiencing has been shown to lead to a greater frequency of extreme weather events such as droughts, flooding, and intense winter storms. These changes are altering growing seasons, increasing pest populations and weed growth, and even killing off cattle. Eventually, all of these pressures on our farms and ranches might lead to a decrease in our food production. At the same time, farmers may be a major part of the solution to the effects of climate change and may be able to reduce greenhouse gases, even while increasing productivity.
The Invasion of Plastic in Our Oceans
Since the late 1900s, plastic pollution has become a frequent topic of discussion. Mounting concerns about single-use plastics, the volume of plastic containers in landfills, and the mass-contamination of the Earth’s oceans have led to increased pressure on...
Sustainability Trends 2019
With more nationwide and local initiatives promoting sustainable practices, sustainability has become somewhat of a hot topic. In order to encourage healthy habits, limit further damage to the planet, and endorse sustainable actions, the following trends may influence...
The Importance of Planting Native Vegetation at Home
When it comes to landscaping, many DIY’ers will go to a big box store to buy plants, often non-native species. There is nothing necessarily wrong with this, but it would be better for the environment to plant North American native species. These plants grow naturally...
Celestun: The Return of the Pink Flamingos
Every nature preserve is known for its particular characteristics. The Magombera Nature Reserve in Tanzania is known for its endangered primates and Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve is known for being one of the largest freshwater wetlands in the Washington, D.C. metro...
Understanding the Value of Young Forests
Young forests are a key part of an ecosystem. Also known as early successional habitats, they are an area of young trees, plants, shrubs and flowers. They replace forests that have been damaged by fire or weather conditions as well as those that have been clear cut....
New Nature Reserves Around the World
Every year, conservation groups and/or governments struggle to get sites designated as nature or biosphere reserves. To become a designated biosphere reserve, a country has to submit a proposal to the International Coordinating Council of the Man and Biosphere...
Protected Wildlife in Nature Reserves
In a previous blog, I suggested some local nature reserves to explore near my home in Virginia. Understanding what a nature reserve is and its importance to future generations will help in motivating the public to take more interest in them and to support them. These...