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Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Agencies Adopt Diverse Strategies for Wildfire Management Amid Climate Change

Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Agencies Adopt Diverse Strategies for Wildfire Management Amid Climate Change

Federal land management agencies and a non-profit organization within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) are increasingly adopting a mix of management strategies—Resist, Accept, and Direct (RAD)—to address ecological transformations driven by climate change and wildfires. A study involving interviews with fire and forest managers from the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Greater Yellowstone Coalition revealed that while most current practices still prioritize 'resist' actions to maintain existing conditions, there is a growing openness to 'accept' and 'direct' changes. These changes include allowing natural regeneration post-fire in some areas and actively guiding ecosystems toward new, desired states, particularly for high-value vegetation communities like whitebark pine and Douglas-fir forests. The study highlights that agencies often share the overarching goal of fostering 'resilient landscapes,' ...

Forest Fragmentation Linked to Warmer Canopy Surfaces Globally, Study Finds

Forest Fragmentation Linked to Warmer Canopy Surfaces Globally, Study Finds

A new global study has revealed that forest fragmentation, the process of breaking up continuous tree cover into scattered patches, is linked to warmer canopy surfaces in approximately two-thirds of the world's forests. The research, conducted by Jiawei Li, Jiaxin Wu, and Jun Ma at Fudan University in Shanghai, analyzed satellite data and found that even with the same amount of tree cover, a more broken-up forest exhibited higher treetop temperatures. This phenomenon, known as fragmentation, occurs when roads, farm fields, or clearings divide forests, creating more edges and reducing the deep interior. The study indicated that in about half of the forests examined, the degree of fragmentation had a greater impact on canopy surface temperature than the total amount of forest remaining. Fragmentation caused by farming, particularly large-scale clearing for market goods, was associated with the most significant increases in surface temperature, as it exposes more canopy edge to direct sunlight.

Custer Gallatin National Forest Issues Christmas Tree Permits, Citing Forest Health Benefits

Custer Gallatin National Forest Issues Christmas Tree Permits, Citing Forest Health Benefits

The Custer Gallatin National Forest has begun issuing permits for Christmas tree cutting, a practice officials state can contribute to forest health. According to Charity Berry, Public Affairs Specialist for Custer Gallatin National Forest, cutting Christmas trees helps thin dense stands, allowing remaining trees greater access to sunlight, water, and nutrients. This thinning process is also said to reduce waste and improve wildlife habitat. Permits are mandatory, and tree harvesting is restricted to specific areas within the Gallatin Forest, excluding campgrounds, picnic areas, trailheads, wilderness or riparian zones, natural landmarks, and reforestation sites. Permittees are limited to three trees per household and must cut the entire tree, not just the top, with the stump as low as possible, ideally six inches or lower. Fourth-grade students with an 'Every Kid Outdoors pass' can obtain a free permit, though a small reservation fee may apply. The initiative aims to balance holiday traditions with ecolog...

European Commission Funds GENCODE with €19 Million, Bolstering Critical Biodata Infrastructure

European Commission Funds GENCODE with €19 Million, Bolstering Critical Biodata Infrastructure

The European Commission has announced a €19 million funding initiative for GENCODE, a globally recognized biodata resource that serves as the reference map for human and mouse genes. This financial commitment underscores the Commission's view of GENCODE as critical infrastructure for the European Union's economic security. GENCODE, which has been primarily funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health since 2003, is one of 52 officially recognized global core biodata resources and the only one hosted in Spain, sharing responsibility with the UK and the United States. The funding, allocated for five years, aims to ensure the long-term sustainability, technical maintenance, and service continuity of this vital resource. The project is currently managed by EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) in Cambridge, UK, in collaboration with the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona, and involves an international consortium including research groups from MIT, Yale, Stanford, the University ...

Senate Unanimously Passes Peters and Slotkin Legislation to Extend Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Funding

Senate Unanimously Passes Peters and Slotkin Legislation to Extend Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Funding

The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed legislation championed by Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) to extend the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). This critical bill authorizes $475 million in annual funding for the program through 2030. The GLRI is a comprehensive effort that combines federal and nonfederal resources to address various environmental challenges facing the Great Lakes and surrounding waterways in Michigan. Its objectives include preventing the spread of invasive species, restoring coastlines and habitats, cleaning up environmentally damaged Areas of Concern, and preventing future contamination. Senator Peters, who co-chairs the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, emphasized the GLRI's significance as the largest investment ever made to protect the Great Lakes from issues like invasive species, pollution, and shoreline erosion. Both senators have been consistent advocates for the Great Lakes, previously securing the single-largest investment in the GLRI through the bi...

University of Wyoming Researchers Identify Research Gap in Livestock Methane Emissions and Soil Carbon Sequestration

University of Wyoming Researchers Identify Research Gap in Livestock Methane Emissions and Soil Carbon Sequestration

University of Wyoming researchers have identified a significant gap in existing studies concerning livestock methane emissions: the simultaneous assessment of soil carbon sequestration. A new literature review, titled 'Global Review of Grazing Beef Cattle and Methane Emissions: More Simultaneous Animal and Soil Sampling Needed to Inform Appropriate Policy and Management,' led by Nicki Nimlos, UW Extension state range management specialist, and her colleagues, analyzed 82 peer-reviewed papers on methane emissions from grazing cattle globally. The review found that only two of these studies simultaneously assessed both soil carbon sequestration and cattle methane emissions. These two studies indicated that, under specific grazing management systems, soil carbon sequestration could potentially offset more methane emissions produced by cattle than previously understood. This highlights a critical oversight in current research, as most mitigation strategies proposed for methane emissions, such as feed additives...

Carbon to Sea Appoints Paolo Roberto Domondon as Vice President, Policy and Finance to Advance Ocean-Based Carbon Removal

Carbon to Sea Appoints Paolo Roberto Domondon as Vice President, Policy and Finance to Advance Ocean-Based Carbon Removal

Carbon to Sea has announced the appointment of Paolo Roberto Domondon as its new Vice President of Policy and Finance. In this role, Domondon will lead the organization's efforts to foster a responsible sector for ocean-based carbon dioxide removal, specifically focusing on ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE). Domondon brings over two decades of experience in environmental governance and social equity, having previously served as Chief Program and Policy Officer at Global Fishing Watch and Senior Director of Policy and Partnerships at Rare. His expertise includes securing international and national policy wins, building partnerships, and mobilizing financing across diverse regions. Carbon to Sea's mission is to advance rigorous and responsible research into OAE as a climate solution, recognizing its potential to help meet climate targets alongside deep emissions reductions, as highlighted by reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and UNEP.

American Livestock Industry Lobby Group Downplayed Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Research Reveals

American Livestock Industry Lobby Group Downplayed Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Research Reveals

New research published in the journal PLOS Climate by Jennifer Jacquet of the University of Miami and Loredana Loy indicates that the National Cattlemen’s Association (NCA), now the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), actively worked to downplay the climate impacts of livestock. The study, based on archival research at the University of Wyoming, details instances where the NCA attempted to suppress messages and distort facts regarding the cattle industry's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. This effort dates back to the early 1990s, following significant scientific findings on methane emissions from ruminant animals and increased public awareness of the 'greenhouse effect.' The NCA’s actions included publicly calling for the cessation of a children's book that mentioned cattle methane and commissioning researchers to refute claims about the environmental impact of meat consumption. The organization's 'Strategic Plan on the Environment' from 1989 acknowledged climate change as a real threat...

Trump Official Lauds Admin. for ‘Protecting White American Men From Discrimination’

Trump Official Lauds Admin. for ‘Protecting White American Men From Discrimination’

FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson is teaming up with JD Vance to crackdown on supposed fraud — and to protect the privileged

Rutland Students Participate in American Chestnut Tree Restoration Project

Rutland Students Participate in American Chestnut Tree Restoration Project

Students in Rutland, Vermont, are actively involved in a conservation effort to restore the American chestnut tree, a species that was once prevalent in the region but was nearly eradicated by blight. At Mount St. Joseph Academy, nine chestnut trees serve as a living classroom for students, who have been tending to the grove for the past five years as part of their biology classes. Tom Estill, a local resident and educator, has been instrumental in guiding these students. Their tasks include planting, spraying to deter deer, and fertilizing the trees. Seeds cultivated at Mount St. Joseph Academy are subsequently planted at six other schools within Vermont, and Estill has personally planted seeds at over 80 schools across the state, including Rutland High School’s Allen Street campus.

Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations Aim for Completion by End of 2024 to Address Full Lifecycle of Plastic

Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations Aim for Completion by End of 2024 to Address Full Lifecycle of Plastic

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has designated 'Beat Plastic Pollution' as the theme for World Environment Day 2024, highlighting the urgent need to address the global plastic crisis. Over 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced annually, with half being single-use, and only 9% of all plastic ever made has been recycled. This waste chokes oceans, contaminates soil, and enters food chains, with microplastics even detected in human blood. In response, 175 nations adopted a resolution in March 2022 to negotiate a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty, with a target for completion by the end of 2024. This treaty aims to address the entire lifecycle of plastic, from polymer production to waste management. The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) is holding meetings throughout 2024, including INC-4 in Ottawa and INC-5 in Busan, to finalize the treaty. Key discussion points include production caps versus waste management focus, chemical transparency, a just transition for waste picker...

2026 UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP 17) to Focus on Translating Global Commitments into National Action

2026 UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP 17) to Focus on Translating Global Commitments into National Action

The seventeenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17) is scheduled to take place in Yerevan, Armenia, in 2026. Ahead of this conference, experts and partners convened to discuss the critical deliverables for nature and people. The discussions, held at the David Attenborough Building and online, focused on how global biodiversity commitments, particularly those from the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, can be effectively translated into national action. Key themes emerged, including strengthening national monitoring systems, mobilizing finance for conservation, and supporting inclusive conservation practices. The panel highlighted the existing gap between national commitments and global ambition, citing limited resources, capacity, and coordination as significant barriers to implementation. The first global review of progress towards the framework's implementation is underway, though evidence remains incomplete as countries develop their plans.