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Redwoods in a changing climate
“Coast redwoods and giant sequoia have weathered many changes in their storied history, but the challenge of climate change is unprecedented. Climate change has the potential to affect nearly every corner of our natural landscape. Sea-level rise, drought, severe wildfire, extreme weather, and flooding – and the resulting impacts on wildlife and fauna have serious implications for conservation in California and beyond…”
Citizen science programs, iNaturalist app, makes climate change real
Through its citizen science programs, Redwood Watch and Fern Watch, the Save The Redwoods League (a land trust in California) works with community members to help study where redwood forest plants and animals live throughout the redwood range, and track changes in the forest over time, including climate impact.
The land trust has a variety of programs centered around climate change research and uses iNaturalist to help with community plant identification. Check out the fern watch program…
Carbon markets conserve land, reduce climate pollution
Downeast Lakes Land Trust began evaluating its potential to participate in the carbon market in 2009 and entered a partnership with Finite Carbon in 2010. Finite Carbon Corporation is a forest carbon development company that partners with landowners to create and monetize carbon offsets.
Carbon offsets enabled a small, rural community land trust to conserve a large amount of land, protecting it from fragmentation and conversion to other uses…
A regional land trust works to combat climate change with guidelines for building clean energy
Scenic Hudson has developed siting and design principles for renewable energy development to help stakeholders find common ground in a regional model for increased renewable energy development that also protects natural and economic resources:
- Prioritize development on previously disturbed areas
- Protect agricultural lands and promote co-location
- Protect natural beauty protect ecological resources
- Protect historic and cultural resources
- Maintain the purpose of conserved lands
- Avoid and minimize new transmission and distribution lines
- Use construction and operation best practices
- Promote sustainable renewable energy development through planning and zoning
Perhaps your land trust or community would find these guidelines helpful.
Michigan farmers, residents, praise wind power
Farmers are committing suicide in record numbers—in the US and around the world. Crop and water disasters are a major part of this, resulting in loss of income, massive debt, and unending despair. For some, “farming energy” with solar and wind, along with more traditional agricultural products, may avoid the unhappy reality of selling for development.
“For those committed to farmland conservation programs, Mills said, wind farms and wind turbines help keep farmers living on their farm lands, help attract and retain younger people, and help provide diversified funding streams…”
Earth just had its 400th straight warmer-than-average month to global warming
No, it’s not a fluke. Yes, we can do something about it. But it’s not something we can wait 10 years for to take action. The lands and waters you love are at risk. Check out the drivers and the trends. You and your land trust can play a role in slowing it down…
What moral heroes are made of
Conservation might be seen as a heroic task. It involves taking the here-and-now and thinking into the future, against great odds. With climate change it means re-thinking what is a good use of our time and what is truly urgent. Just what are moral heroes made of? Maybe they are describing you…
Can we break the spiral of silence on climate change?
What can ordinary people do to combat the extraordinary problem of climate change? Talk, and keep on talking. Yet, that’s a step some of us are reluctant to take…
Climate change is happening, here’s how you can help
Talking about climate change and the impacts it is having on the animals, communities, and landscapes people care about is critical. Walking the walk demonstrates the land trust really cares about the issue and is serious about its pledge to conserve land for generations to come.
Providing community members with steps they can take is central to them staying involved and being part of the solution. Check out how one land trust is doing this…
Leading by example: Tackling the climate challenge in the Granite State
Rather than talk about fighting solar and wind, consider linking them to the positive impact needed and how climate change, left unchecked, will destroy much of what we are working to conserve. Talk about balance and the need to think about conservation and renewables with new eyes. Here’s a good example…