Volume 30 No. 2 of the Renewable Resources Journal features “Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Marine Biodiversity,” an article adapted from the Convention on Biological Diversity Technical Series No. 75. This article provides an overview of the most up-to-date information on the impacts of ocean acidification on biodiversity. Introduction Ocean acidification, often referred to as the…

“Deforestation Fronts” is one of three articles featured in Volume 30 No. 2 of the Renewable Resources Journal. Originally published by World Wildlife Fund (WWF), this article is an adaptation of the Living Forests Report. Deforestation is driven, among other factors, by demand for food, fuel, and fiber; pollution; human-induced disturbances; and invasive species. This…

The National Park Service (NPS) celebrates its centennial on August 25, 2016, marking a century of stewardship of America’s national parks and engagement of communities through recreation, conservation, and historic preservation. However, despite the immense popularity and significance of the National Park System, NPS faced $11.49 billion of deferred maintenance costs at the end of…

This article was originally posted on insideclimatenews.org.  Author: Sheila V Kumar Deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest. NASA.   A cutting-edge satellite-based alert system could help policymakers and conservationists put a dent in illegal logging by notifying users in real time of new bald patches in the world’s rainforests. The system, known as the Global Land Analysis…

This article was originally posted on the U.S. Department of State’s website. The Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking released its first annual Progress Assessment on March 3, 2016, World Wildlife Day. The report details accomplishments of the Task Force in implementing the U.S. National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking in its first year, as well as…

In December 2015, the Renewable Natural Resources Foundation (RNRF) convened a Congress on Sustaining Western Water. A report summarizing the presentations, findings, and recommendations of the congress is now available. The Colorado River near Moab, Utah. Chapters Drought and Water Use in the Western United States: The Western Water Landscape Legal Issues and Constraints on…

Author: Kurt Johnson, National Climate Change Scientist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service   Raccoon in Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.   Water is the lifeblood of western wildlife. Almost always in short supply, wildlife usually exists where surface water is available—springs, seeps, vernal pools, streams, wetlands. Water shortages are a part…

What is citizen science? Citizen science refers to the voluntary participation of the public in a scientific project. Citizen scientists contribute to various steps of the scientific process, including collecting, categorizing, transcribing, or analyzing scientific data.[1] For example, eBird, jointly coordinated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, is a real-time, online checklist…

Author: Ellen Hanak; Director, PPIC Water Policy Center; Senior Fellow, PPIC.  This article was originally posted on the Public Policy Institute of California’s website.   When water supplies are tight—as during the latest drought—discussions often turn to the question of whether state and local governments should be limiting growth. How western states are managing this…

Yosemite National Park Those who enjoy spending time outdoors away from built spaces, whether playing, hiking, birding, or fishing, have all personally experienced the rejuvenating effects of immersion in natural spaces. Increasingly, the physiological effects of nature on humans are being scientifically proven, as well. In its January 2016 edition, National Geographic Magazine featured an…