A Changed Planet by Jan Zalasiewicz, Martin J. Head, Colin N. Waters, Simon Turner, Mark Williams, John R. McNeill, Jaia Syvitski, Anthony Barnosky, Naomi Oreskes, and Peter Haff Anthropocene: when atmospheric chemist and Nobel laureate Paul Crutzen spontaneously coined the term during a meeting of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme at Cuernavaca, Mexico in 2000, a … Continue reading The Anthropocene
Self-Devouring Serpents in the Anthropocene
Human Systems and Earth Systems Are One by Julia Adeney Thomas Rat snakes have died from eating their own tails. Suicide by self-devouring may seem preposterous, something no creature would do, but it happens, and not only with rat snakes. Our species too seems hell-bent on destroying ourselves and taking much of the web of … Continue reading Self-Devouring Serpents in the Anthropocene
Wildland Fires in the Anthropocene
A Personal Encounter by John Kiess During my twelve years as a professional wildland firefighter, events that have stuck with me are the passing away of fellow firefighters, either on the job or from health conditions as a result of the work we do. Firefighting is an inherently dangerous career field. With fire seasons being … Continue reading Wildland Fires in the Anthropocene
Bright Star & Kiavah Wilderness Areas
Are Cattle Grazing Leases Appropriate? by Jeff Aardahl, Senior California Representative, Defenders of Wildlife In September 2022, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published an Environmental Assessment (EA) for a proposal1 to issue new 10-year cattle grazing leases which include portions of the Bright Star and Kiavah Wilderness Areas. Managed respectively by the Ridgecrest and … Continue reading Bright Star & Kiavah Wilderness Areas
Climate Change is Here
Rain Events in Death Valley National Park by Birgitta Jansen On Thursday, August 4, Law Enforcement Ranger April Stiltz looked up at the sky and noticed "a high, light grey cloud ceiling; the light was soft and diffuse. There was a slight drizzle but that just made for a pleasant day in the desert. Nothing … Continue reading Climate Change is Here
Ninety Miles from Needles
Could a podcast help protect the desert? by Chris Clarke and Alicia Pike There are in the neighborhood of 5 million podcasts in the world. Something like 500,000 of them released at least one episode in 2022. In the United States, nearly 80 million people listen to podcasts on a weekly basis. Half of those … Continue reading Ninety Miles from Needles
The Colorado River:
Is it Simply a Water Problem? by John Hiatt Some 40 million people in the western United States depend wholly or in part on the Colorado River for their water supply. After some twenty years of drought or climate change (your choice) Lakes Mead and Powell are down to about 25% of capacity and inflow … Continue reading The Colorado River:
Life Beyond the Alarms
How I found My Place in an Era of Climate Chaos by Mason Voehl There's a little sound I hear whenever I open my door. It sings from the security keypad next to the doorframe, It is a two-note chime. Ba-dah, it says. Someone is entering or exiting. Be aware, it says. This could be … Continue reading Life Beyond the Alarms
Salton Sea – the Saga Continues
Current status? Complex, to say the least by Joan Taylor, Jenny Binstock Like the proverbial blind men and the elephant, the Salton Sea means many things to many people: a critical stopover on the Pacific Flyway threatened with collapse; environmental justice communities faced with escalating health hazards; a potential multimillion dollar international canal; and even … Continue reading Salton Sea – the Saga Continues
Carbon Sequestration in our Desert Lands
CARBON SEQUESTRATION IN OUR DESERT LANDS Essential to California's 30X30 Initiative by Susy Boyd Background California's laudable efforts to conserve 30% of our state's lands and coastal waters by 2030 have not been lost on our desert region. In fact, a small but steadfast collection of environmental groups and scientists have been working over the … Continue reading Carbon Sequestration in our Desert Lands