Conservation Columns

The Conservation Column By Juliet Grable This month’s column highlights the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between conservation groups and the timber industry, which was signed in early February. This breakthrough occurred when Governor Kate Brown stepped in to mediate a resolution between the two sides, each of which had been planning to introduce ballot measures [...]

The Conservation Column By Pepper Trail Let’s start off 2020 with a summary of some conservation victories over the past year. This summary is from National Audubon, and it reminds us that even in the most challenging political environment, determined advocacy for birds and other wildlife can achieve great results. But, of course, threats remain [...]

The Conservation Column By Pepper Trail The Most Extensive Study Yet on Birds and Climate Change In October, the National Audubon Society released the most detailed analysis ever done on the likely effects of climate change on North American birds. The “Survival by Degrees” report uses a huge dataset of bird occurrence records – from [...]

The Conservation Column By Pepper Trail October’s column is from the National Audubon Society, and covers a major new analysis of North American bird populations. The study, just released, confirms what long-time birders know: bird populations are in steep decline in virtually every habitat and every part of the country. Time to redouble our efforts! [...]

The Conservation Column By Pepper Trail Welcome back from summer! Except for that brief period of smoke from the Milepost 97 fire, what a lovely summer it has been! Fingers crossed for continued smoke-free skies, and a cool, wet September. I wish I had such good news on the conservation front, but sadly the Administration’s [...]

The Conservation Column By Pepper Trail and Juliet Grable Speak Up for Alaska’s Bristol Bay Bristol Bay is the huge expanse of the Bering Sea north of the Aleutians and south of Cape Newenham. The bay supports a vast diversity of birds, a vital food web, and a world-class fishery that supports the surrounding communities. [...]

The Conservation Column By Juliet Grable This month we’ve decided to update RVAS on two ongoing conservation issues: the fate of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument expansion and the status of the Jordan Cove Energy Project. Federal Ruling Upholds Monument Expansion We recently received some great news about the CSNM. But first, a little background. In [...]

The Conservation Column By Pepper Trail This month, the Conservation Column is all about the Greater Sage Grouse, one of America’s most iconic birds. The species, famous for its spectacular mating displays, is emblematic of the “sagebrush sea” in the inter-mountain West. Sage grouse populations have experienced sharp declines due to habitat loss and disturbance, [...]

The Conservation Column By Pepper Trail Hey, how about some GOOD news for a change? No, I’m not kidding! In February, the Senate passed the most important package of public lands conservation legislation in a decade, the Natural Resources Management Act (S. 47). This huge 662-page measure included lands in every state and passed 92-8—an [...]