This month marks the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, a law that promised to preserve America’s largest wild places in an “untrammeled” state untouched by people. But back in 1964, no one anticipated the Anthropocene of the 21st century – a period in which humans affect every corner of the Earth. Today, global climate change and invasive species from foreign lands (and waters) are … Continue reading Wild things
We protect what we value. For some of us, it’s life on Earth in all its wondrous forms. For others, it’s the history that helped shape and define our culture. And for lucky souls like me, it’s both. But the competing priorities of modern society often seem to conspire against such quaint notions. So, to ensure that these treasures endure despite the whims of a … Continue reading Saving places
Maybe it was the frigid temperatures of the polar vortex. Or perhaps it was that crazy cocktail the bartenders at Busboys and Poets crafted specially for the DC Science Café. But as Paul Woods of SkyTruth spelled out the blunt future of environmental remote sensing – that soon nothing will be hidden from view – I thought about wilderness. In truth, I didn’t try the … Continue reading God’s eye view of God’s country
If we were gonna do it, we were gonna do it right. One doesn’t take 4,000 miles, several mountain ranges, and 9 states in a 10 year old Honda Civic lightly. There had to be compelling reasons for my sister, my husband and me to drag my elderly father and 10-year old niece and nephew across the country to Yellowstone National Park. Yes, a trip … Continue reading What we didn’t do on our summer vacation
Summer time is road trip time for many people. But conservation athlete John Davis took a different route last year: He followed the wildest path possible when he traveled from Key Largo Florida to Canada’s Gaspe peninsula, shunning roads for the rivers, wetlands and woods of eastern North America to complete his cross continental trek. I wrote about Davis’ journey in this blog when he … Continue reading Are we there yet?
