Starting Earth Day 2011, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners are sharing stories about how accelerating climate change is impacting or may impact fish and wildlife where you live.
As detailed on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife blog, Open Spaces, where the stories are being posted, “Each weekday for 50 consecutive weekdays we are rolling out a new story from a different state. Our aim is to show the broad scope of changes and emerging trends we’re just beginning to understand, as well as collaborative efforts to respond across the nation.”
Earth Day was last Friday. For those of you who are counting, that means that this Friday marks the sixth days of climate change stories. A good time for a little Five for Friday feature, I figured.
The first five stories posted on the Open Spaces blog are:
- California: Incorporating Climate Change into Planning California’s Bay-Delta Future
- Idaho: Streamflow Responses to Climate Change – Why Elevation and Geology Matter
- Louisiana: Re-planting Forests, Reducing CO2 and Saving Wildlife
- Missouri: Climate Concerns Add to Challenges Facing Sturgeon Recovery Efforts
- Massachusetts: Changes at Walden Pond
Of the first five, my three favorite stories are:
(1) Idaho, for the focus on streamflow, a major pillar of our Fresh Water Initiative here at National Geographic
(2) Louisiana, for the strategy to re-plant forests along the Mississippi and Red River Valleys, two areas that have featured prominently in the news in recent years (I love trees!)
(3) Massachusetts, for the approach to conduct current phenological research and compare it with the historical observations of Henry David Thoreau at Walden Pond, right in my parents’ backyard in Eastern Mass!
Take a look at the first few stories and bookmark the Open Spaces blog to follow the series over the coming months. The entries are nicely organized with basic information about the location, primary climate change impact, current threats, and the multimedia and resources included with each article. Additionally, the stories are tagged with recurring themes such as “adaptation,” “mitigation,” and “engagement.”
I’m looking forward to reading these real stories of climate change across the U.S., and about the efforts scientists and citizens are taking to make a difference where possible. What an inspiring chronicle of science in action!
Logos courtesy U.S Fish and Wildlife Service
Post by Sarah Jane