Behind the Partisan Fight to Eliminate the Country's Largest Conservation Program
With Congress at an impasse, sustainability advocates worry the farm bill could cut funds for conservation and give more to agriculture's biggest polluters.
Conservation
With Family Plots and Migratory Hubs in Its Crosshairs, the Border Wall Looms Large in Texas
After securing over $500 million in March to build a border barrier, the Department of Homeland Security has begun laying the foundation for the first miles of Donald Trump's long-promised wall. The blueprint bisects federally protected public lands and dismembers private property that's been passed down for generations.
Inside Utah's Anti-Public Lands Agenda
New documents obtained by Pacific Standard show the scope of Utah's efforts to roll back key protections for public lands across the country.
In the Salish Sea, Native American Communities Bond Over a Rigorous Canoe Voyage
The Tribal Canoe Journey has become one of the largest Native American gatherings in North America. For one writer, it's also a chance to connect with family.
Mapping Bat Communications With Artificial Intelligence Could Be Key to Conversation
Scientists have developed an open-source artificial intelligence algorithm for acoustic identification of bat species that could help save them from the threat of wind farms.
Drink Beer, Save the Planet
New research finds most American beer drinkers are willing to pay more for an eco-friendly brew.
South American Jaguars Are Losing Critical Habitat Due to Agricultural Deforestation
This has led to over-hunting and persecution by cattle ranchers becoming even bigger threats to the survival of the big cat.
California's Largest Proposed Water Storage Project Hits Regulatory Hurdles
Regulators warnings that the Sites Reservoir may have to cut its stated water storage goals have thrown the future of the ambitious project into doubt.
What Will Happen Now That the Farm Bill Has Expired?
The current farm bill expired on Sunday, putting the debate over key USDA programs that protect public health and the environment on hold.
The Precarious Position of China's Primate Population
A new study warns that most primates in the second-most primate-rich country in Asia could be wiped out by the end of the century.
Inside the Effort to Preserve Migratory Bird Habitat in Central California
Concerned citizens, scientists, and conservation groups have joined forces to protect what stopover spots remain for birds migrating from South America to the Arctic.
Won't You Be My Climate-Conscious Neighbor?
New research suggests social comparison can be an effective way to reduce energy consumption.
California Works to Protect Its Shrinking Wetlands
The Trump administration is rolling back regulations aimed at preserving vital wetlands, but the state government isn't ready to cede control.
Americans Want Businesses—Not Local Governments—to Reduce Straw Pollution
In a new poll, nearly 80 percent of respondents supported companies switching to biodegradable straws.
Hunting for Ghost Nets in the Great Lakes
Free-floating fishing nets can kill fish and sailors. On the Great Lakes, anglers and tribes are confronting the problem.
In Thailand, Ecology Monks Add a Moral Dimension to the Environmental Movement
Through rituals like tree ordinations some monks in Thailand are integrating Buddhist principles into sustainable ecological practices.
Conservationists Are Creating Safer Animal Crossings
To help animals navigate our fast-paced highway systems nature conservationists have started building infrastructure designed specifically for critters.
How Detection Dogs Help Wildlife Rangers Curb Crime in the Maasai Mara National Reserve
Specially trained canines, with their outsized capacity to sniff out even well-hidden people and objects, are helping rangers at several major reserves to do their jobs better.
California Regulators Consider Conservation Protections for the State's Largest Estuary
Conflict over the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta has played out over decades of back-and-forth between regulators and farmers.
Measuring the Cost of Conservation
A new study in Madagascar shows that forest conservation projects come at a great price to the local population, many of whom are already struggling economically.
Public Lands Advocates Respond to New Revelations From the DOI's 'Sham Review' of National Monuments
Documents accidentally shared by the Department of the Interior reveal the prioritization of energy, ranching, and logging in the monuments review.
Environmentalists Are Raising Concerns Over China's Belt and Road Initiative
Environmental experts warn that many of these projects could cause irreversible damage in highly biodiverse areas.
Mike Lee's Myths
Senator Mike Lee of Utah wants to take away public lands. His reasons are all wrong.
Here's Why Environmental Groups Aren't Celebrating Pruitt's Departure
Conservationists believe Andrew Wheeler, the acting administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, may be even more dangerous than his predecessor.