Natural Resources

"Gray Whales Are Dying Off The Pacific Coast Again. Scientists Unsure Why

"At least 70 whales have perished since the start of the year in the shallow lagoons of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula where the animals gather to calf, nurse and breed. Three gray whales have died in San Francisco Bay recently during their migration north, with one showing signs of malnourishment."

Source: LA Times, 04/09/2025

Park Service Restores Original Harriet Tubman, Underground Railroad Webpage

"The National Park Service has reversed edits and restored content to its webpage about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad in the wake of news reports and public backlash over the changes."

Source: AP, 04/09/2025

"Neurodivergent People Find Solace in Wild Places"

"On a recent trip to Mexico City, I marveled at some small, speckled Inca doves, which are almost as common as pigeons in the United States. Nearby, grackles bathed their long, gorgeous blue-black tails in a fountain. Ever since I got the Merlin Bird ID app, my partner has become accustomed to my stopping midwalk, pausing the conversation, and holding up my phone to catch a bit of birdsong or do a step-by-step visual search. Ideally I add a new species to my “life list” in the process."

Source: Sierra, 04/08/2025

"National Park Service Rewrites History Of Underground Railroad"

"Since Trump took office, the park service —- an agency charged with preserving American history —- has changed how its website describes key moments from slavery to Jim Crow."

Source: Washington Post, 04/08/2025

Rio Grande Valley Was Once Covered In Forest. One Man Tries To Bring It Back

"The Tamaulipan thorn forest once covered 1 million acres on both sides of the border. Restoring even a fraction of it could help the region cope with the ravages of a warming world."

Source: Grist, 04/08/2025

Trump Said Cuts Wouldn’t Affect Public Safety. Then He Fired Firefighters

"President Donald Trump’s executive orders shrinking the federal workforce make a notable exception for public safety staff, including those who fight wildland fires. But ongoing cuts, funding freezes and hiring pauses have weakened the nation’s already strained firefighting force by hitting support staff who play crucial roles in preventing and battling blazes."

Source: ProPublica, 04/08/2025

"Trump Administration Orders Half Of National Forests Open For Logging"

"The Trump administration has removed environmental protections covering more than half of the land managed by the U.S. Forest Service as part of the president’s aim to significantly bolster the U.S. logging industry."

Source: Washington Post, 04/08/2025

Storms Tore Up Two Of America’s Iconic Trails. Federal Cuts Disrupt Repairs

"Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail is a challenge, especially for adventurers making the entire run from Southern California to Canada, and Eric Kipperman’s job is to greet them at the start and lay bare the difficulties ahead. He has lately begun warning that the journey may be even tougher. Following cuts by the Trump administration, plans to clear downed trees and rebuild storm-battered stretches in 2025 have been scrapped."

Source: AP, 04/07/2025

Jury Orders Chevron To Pay Over $744M For Destroying Louisiana Wetlands

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"Chevron has been ordered to pay more than $744m in damages for destroying parts of south-east Louisiana’s coastal wetlands over the years. The ruling, which came in the form of a civil jury verdict on Friday, marks the conclusion of the first trial among 42 lawsuits filed about 12 years earlier which alleged that the company’s oil and gas projects have led to the degradation of the region’s wetlands."

Source: Guardian, 04/07/2025

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