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Indigenous Scholar’s Advocacy Draws on Tribal Traditions By Yasmin Prabhudas* Robin Wall Kimmerer: All living beings “are our family.”   istock Becoming a botanist was a natural career path for Robin Wall Kimmerer , a Potawatomi citizen . The professor of environmental biology and best-selling author grew up in upstate New York, where she loved to wander through the countryside and forests. Her books include Braiding Sweetgrass , Gathering Moss , and The Serviceberry . They emphasize the need to acknowledge a reciprocal relationship with the living world, highlighting particularly the contribution of the Indigenous wisdom of communities such as her own. Kimmerer focuses on how traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) should play a prominent role in conservation. She encourages communities, policymakers, and educators to recognize nature’s own agency, as this is vital for the sake of the planet and humanity’s well-being. Plant Elders In an interview with Krista Tippett in the On Being podcast, Kimmerer explains: “I was lucky enough to grow up in the fields, in the woods of upstate New York … but disappointed also in that I grew up away from the Potawatomi people by virtue of history, of the history of removal and the taking of children to the Indian boarding schools  [Her paternal grandfather had to attend one such boarding school]. “The questions that I had about who I was in the world, what the world was like, those are questions that I really wished I'd had a cultural elder to ask, but I didn't. But I had the woods to ask […] they really became my doorway into culture. In the absence of human elders, I had plant elders instead.” “In the absence of human elders, I had plant elders instead.” Robin Wall Kimmerer: “Where in the conservation dogma does love appear?” Indigenou s Knowledge and Science A watershed moment came when Kimmerer participated in a gathering of traditional knowledge holders while a PhD student. She commented during the podcast interview how their conversations “interwove mythic knowledge and scientific knowledge into this beautiful cultural natural history.” She has not looked back since. In a 2002 article, “ Weaving Traditional Ecological Knowledge into Biological Education: A Call to Action ,” she states: “TEK observations tend to be qualitative, and they create a diachronic database, that is, a record of observations from a single locale over a long time period. The National Science Foundation, in its support of the Long-Term Ecological Research program , has validated the importance of such continuous data. “In TEK, the observers tend to be the resource users themselves, for example, hunters, fishers, and gatherers whose harvesting success is inextricably linked to the quality and reliability of their ecological observations. In contrast, scientific observations made by a small group of professionals tend to be quantitative and often represent synchronic data or simultaneous observations from a wide range of sites, which frequently lack the long-term perspective of TEK.” Kimmerer believes both insights are required to connect fully with the natural world. Sacredness of All Beings Kimmerer further takes inspiration from the Anishinaabe language of her Potawatomi ancestors. In an article titled “ Nature Needs a New Pronoun: To Stop the Age of Extinction, Let’s Start by Ditching ‘It,’”  she argues that English grammar can define a person’s relationship with the living world. “The language allows no form of respect for the more-than-human beings with whom we share the Earth,” she says. “In English, a being is either a human or an ‘it.’” This, she states, reinforces the idea that human beings are “more deserving of the gifts of the world than the other 8.7 million species with whom we share the planet.” Using “it,” she believes, absolves humans of moral responsibility and promotes exploitation. She says: “When sugar maple is an ‘it,’ we give ourselves permission to pick up the saw. ‘It’ means it doesn’t matter.” “It’ means it doesn’t matter.” Kimmerer: “When sugar maple is an ‘it,’ we give ourselves permission to pick up the saw.” iStock In Anishinaabe and many other Indigenous languages, however, all living beings are addressed in the same way as family members. “Because they are our family,” she explains. She suggests introducing new pronouns for the natural world— ki  for the singular and kin for the plural. Reciprocity Tied into the idea of nature as family is reciprocity. During the podcast interview , she says “sustainability” has embedded in it the idea that human beings have ownership over the natural world, entitling them to continue to consume its resources. “The notion of reciprocity is really different from that […]  because what it says is   that our role as human people is not just to take from the Earth, and the role of the Earth is not just to provide for our single species. So, reciprocity actually kind of broadens this notion to say that not only does the Earth sustain us, but that we have the capacity and the responsibility to sustain her in return.” “Not only does the Earth sustain us, but … we have the capacity and the responsibility to sustain her in return.” This is highlighted in Braiding Sweetgrass  when she talks about strawberry picking: “The field gave to us, we gave to my dad, and we tried to give back to the strawberries. When the berry season was done, the plants would send out slender red runners to make new plants. Because I was fascinated by the way they would travel over the ground looking for good places to take root, I would weed out little patches of bare ground where the runners touched down. Sure enough, tiny little roots would emerge from the runner and by the end of the season there were even more plants, ready to bloom under the next Strawberry Moon. … Because they had given us a gift, an ongoing relationship opened between us.” Similarly, in Gathering Moss , Kimmerer outlines the lessons mosses can teach. In her interview with Tippett , she claims they are “really good storytellers in the way that they live.” They have an “ability to cooperate with one another to share the limited resources that they have to really give more than they take,” she says. She adds: “Mosses build soil; they purify water. They are like the coral reefs of the forest. They make homes for this myriad of all these very cool little invertebrates who li ve in there. They are just engines of biodiversity. They do all of these things and yet, you know, they're only a centimeter tall.” Kimmerer: “Mosses give more than they take.” Joseph Reagle, CC BY-SA 4.0 Stewardship Kimmerer’s philosophy is implemented in the real world through the Center of Native Peoples and The Environment , which she established under the auspices of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Along with offering fellowship and scholarship opportunities, it organizes programs that create a bridge between scientific approaches to stewardship and Indigenous nations’ TEK. In one initiative, Growing Plants, Growing Knowledge: Restoration Education , students from the university work with Onondaga Nation  young people to learn about ecological activities at Onondaga Lake , including cultivating plants and restoring wetlands. The project not only aimed to promote environmental stewardship but also to encourage Native American young people to take part in higher education environmental science programs. Other initiatives involving students and Native American communities have included working on community gardens, plant knowledge revitalization, and forest and biodiversity monitoring. Students equipped with an understanding of Indigenous ways can become better trained scientists and environmental activists as a result, Kimmerer says in her conversation with Tippett. A Call to Reconnect with Nature Kimmerer encourages people to show their love for nature by taking time out to help restore the land by, for example, getting involved in tree planting, community gardens, farm-to-school projects, and local and organic schemes. She comments : “Just as the land shares food with us, we share food with each other and then contribute to the flourishing of that place that feeds us.” *Yasmin Prabhudas   is a freelance journalist working mainly for nonprofit organizations, labor unions, the education sector, and government agencies.

How Motivational Interviewing Can Spur Climate Action By Becky Hoag* How do we awaken to protecting nature? istock Surely if the right fact was presented to someone, they would feel compelled to act on climate change and other pressing environmental issues. This has been the thought process and hope of many environmentalists and scientists for decades. To some extent, providing the public and lawmakers with facts has helped move the needle. Humanity is now heading for 3℃ of warming  above pre-industrial levels by 2100 instead of the 5℃ once projected in the early 2000s . In the last 25 years, countries have seen a drastic increase in concern about climate change, which has spurred policies and technological developments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Positive, yes, but still a far cry from what is needed to avoid the destruction of coral reefs and more than a foot of sea level rise. Bleached coral reefs at Byron Bay, Australia. pexels Humans may not be as logical as some like to think they are. Oftentimes, being told facts or what to do can cause people to get defensive or disconnected from the conversation. But psychological research supports promoting conversations where each side feels heard and can comfortably come to their own conclusions. Therapy practices have evolved to recognize this, with one of the most consequential methods being an approach known as “motivational interviewing.” Co-developed to Treat Addiction Motivational interviewing was co-developed by Dr. William Miller and Dr. Stephen Rollnick in the 1980s to address substance use disorders. As its name suggests, this therapy technique is used to build patients’ motivation to change their behaviors. This is done by asking the patient what their goals are and then helping them work backwards to determine what needs to be done to reach those goals—a technique also known as change talk . This is done by asking the patient what their goals are and then helping them work backwards to determine what needs to be done to reach those goals—a technique also known as change talk. “Presenting people with information—if it bounces up with a core belief which contradicts with that information—is not going to change them,” explained Dr. Tim Kasser, researcher and Knox College emeritus professor. “I think this is the fundamental thing that [motivational interviewing] recognizes and why it’s so important for addiction.” Motivational interviewing focuses on showing empathy and supporting a patient’s self-efficacy. It is designed to highlight areas where present circumstances and future goals are not lining up, and it is particularly effective for situations where a patient is resistant to change or potential solutions. Since growing in popularity in therapeutic spaces surrounding substance abuse, research has shown motivational interviewing to be effective for addressing weight loss, medication adherence, cancer care, diabetes care, and health behaviors in children. But what about climate change? Climate Change—An Emotional Topic “There’s all these people out there saying our consumerism is an addiction and our use of resources beyond their ability to regenerate is an addiction as well,” Kasser recalled. “And so I started thinking, ‘If that’s true, then theoretically there should be a treatment that should help with that, if it really is an addiction.”  Climate change is an emotional topic. istock Kasser explored this connection with an international group of researchers in a 2016 paper  published in the journal Ecological Economics . As with other therapy topics, climate change is a very emotional subject that some people are more open to discussing than others. It can make people feel scared, angry, defensive, or overwhelmed. Its causes and solutions are also deeply tied to politics because fossil fuels are so engrained in most countries’ current economic and infrastructure systems. People feel strongly about how much control local, state, and federal governments should have. Overall, both problems and solutions can make people feel a loss of control and vulnerable. As with other therapy topics, climate change is a very emotional subject that some people are more open to discussing than others. Beyond Information—How to Motivate “Righting” can be the wrong approach. istock “Information bounces off of belief,” Kasser said. “And what I think [motivational interviewing]  recognizes, and what I think most environmental strategists have recognized, is that information alone is insufficient. You need to have motivation as well. But you’re not going to get motivation by yelling at people or shaming people or arguing with people. It can provide a motivation, but it’s a low quality of motivation that is not going to sustain itself once you leave the room.” It can feel easier to tell people what to do, and people can naturally feel the need to correct someone’s thinking, a reflex called righting . But psychological research shows this can be unhelpful. “It’s a complete flipping of the script on how we generally approach changemaking and advocacy and activism,” said Dr. Renée Lertzman , environmental engagement consultant and founder of Project InsideOut. “Most of us who work in environmental activism tend to default to a yell, tell, or sell approach, which is rooted in a very old, outdated theory of change that makes an assumption that if people knew more, if people raised awareness, or if we created enough nudging or incentivizing, people would actually shift.” Lertzman believes that people continue to use this old method because they’re unaware that there are other communication methods out there. That’s why she developed Project InsideOut , an organization that connects environmental activists with clinical psychologists and evidence-based research to more effectively tackle climate and sustainability issues. Through her consulting work, Lertzman helps groups within big companies and organizations like Google and PBS to spur long-lasting progress toward sustainability goals. This work leans heavily on motivational interviewing’s focus on “guiding” instead of righting. “The spirit of [motivational interviewing] is truly rooted in a fundamental respect for the dignity and the integrity and the volition of others for their own actions,” Lertzman explained. “So, you come in with this orientation of ‘I am not trying to make you change. I’m actually here to be a partner with you.’” “The spirit of [motivational interviewing] is truly rooted in a fundamental respect for the dignity and the integrity and the volition of others for their own actions.” Lertzman told The Earth & I  that, after she introduces an organization’s employees to motivational interviewing, she immediately sees a change in how they engage with their stakeholders. People who feel heard and become connected to potential changes are more likely to buy into or vote positively on those changes. The Five Guiding Principles Attuning to the client. istock “I created these five principles  for guiding—and number one is attuning ,” Lertzman said. “When we attune to the anxieties, the ambivalence, and the aspirations that people have, we become much more open.” The other four principles are reveal  (be a compassionate truth-teller), convene (talk to, not at, your people), equip  (grow people’s capacities), and sustain (build ongoing momentum).   Results can vary, but Lertzman said that many groups she’s worked with have found that progress happens more quickly once they use the guiding principles because they don’t feel like they must constantly convince stakeholders every step of the way. Finding What People Care About Employing motivational interviewing techniques can require more work than just telling someone what to do, but research shows that helping people find their own motivation creates a more lasting impact. In a 2018 study , Kasser and a Knox College master’s student, Sofia Tagkaloglou, found that motivational interviewing helped people adopt and sustain new environmental habits, especially for participants who already had a propensity for pro-environmental behaviors. People who exhibited less inclination about helping the environment needed more direction on what to do than motivational interviewing alone could provide. People who exhibited inclination about helping the environment needed more direction on what to do than motivational interviewing alone could provide. Because climate change connects to every aspect of people's lives, there is a lot of possibility for them to feel emotionally tied to the issue or passionate about some of the solutions. “Every other issue dovetails with climate action,” said John Sabin , a ps ychotherapist and former Citizen’s Climate Lobby (CCL) Great Lakes regional codirector. CCL, a climate activist organization that focuses on pushing for federal policies like a carbon tax, employs motivational interviewing to help connect climate initiatives with lawmakers’ agendas. “They care about national security? Well, the government says climate change is a national security risk,” Sabin explained. Granted, talking to a congressperson is a bit different than talking to a patient in a therapy session. A therapist is not usually coming in with as strong an agenda as a lobbyist. But the method of starting with what someone cares about and going backward from there remains a valuable tool in both settings, as does leading with empathy and active listening. Creating Safe Spaces Sabin sees psychological methods, such as cognitive psychology, continuing to play a bigger role in adjusting climate communication strategies. He and Lertzman are members of the North American Climate Psychology Alliance , which is a community of therapeutic practitioners, researchers, and thinkers who utilize psychology to help people work through their emotions surrounding climate change. The group hosts “ Climate Cafes ” to provide safe spaces for people to talk to each other about climate issues and solutions. (They are not the only organization that hosts Climate Café events.) The group also promotes “ecotherapy” where they bring people into natural settings and talk to them about their relationship with nature. “It’s extremely important that we recognize that, underneath it all, there is a fundamental energy of care, and it’s our job to tap into that and to help people connect with it,” Lertzman reflected. “I’m hoping that’s where the movement goes and that we see much more partnership and collaboration between those in the environmental spaces and those who have psychological training … people who really know how to work with people.” *Becky Hoag is a freelance environmental reporter. You can find her work on her site beckyhoag.com  and through her YouTube channel https://youtube.com/beckisphere

Certain Species Could Become Warriors in the Climate Change Fight By Mal Cole* An African fig tree ( Ficus wakefieldii ). It forms bits of calcium carbonate (limestone) in its woody tissues. Note the man at the right side of the trunk for size comparison. Sadhana Forest/Courtesy of Mike Rowley In the struggle against climate change, it’s easy to wish for some technology—or even magic!—that could remove Earth-warming carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from the atmosphere and turn it into something useful. But this mechanism already exists and is much older than the climate changes of the past two centuries. Trees and other plants act as carbon sponges, taking carbon dioxide from the air and, through photosynthesis, storing it in their tissues as carbohydrates (cellulose, sugars, and starches). The forests around the world are a major “sink” for carbon, and even the oceans play a role in capturing CO 2 . In fact, the oceans, with their vast numbers of phytoplankton and deep waters, are a gigantic carbon sink , absorbing 31% of CO 2 emitted into the air. However, all of this carbon can rather quickly find its way back into the atmosphere when plants die and decay or are harvested and consumed.   These fascinating trees, many of which exist in threatened ecosystems, are able to create a long-term carbon sink by a remarkable biochemical process, the oxalate–carbonate pathway.   But some special trees —African fig trees and iroko hardwoods among many others—have been found to be able to ingest atmospheric CO 2 and turn it into durable, alkalizing limestone, “fixing” the carbon for much longer than in plant tissue. These fascinating trees, many of which exist in threatened ecosystems, are able to create a long-term carbon sink by a remarkable biochemical process, the oxalate–carbonate pathway  (OCP). Scientists are currently working to understand more about the OCP’s untapped potential in fighting climate change , and a recent study  may reveal more about this underexplored mechanism. Trees with Stones in Their Wood A group of iroko trees growing in Uganda. Fenrith/Wikimedia Commons In the 1930s, a group of scientists investigated  a puzzling phenomenon involving the iroko tree, a species in the fig and mulberry family (Moraceae). Lumberjacks in the African forests where the trees grow had noticed small stones within the tissues of the trees that dulled their saws.  Also, the soil beneath the trees contained bits of limestone. This was strange because the soils in that part of Africa were known to be acidic—limestone and other forms of alkaline calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) were not expected to be present. It seemed like the limestone was coming from the iroko trees—but how was that possible? The iroko trees were sinking carbon in a way that had never been studied before. They were drawing CO 2  from the air to fuel photosynthesis and then producing oxalate from the by-products of the process. The oxalate was then transformed into limestone by symbiotic bacteria and fungi  and stored in the woody portions of the tree and in the surrounding soil. This process is the oxalate–carbonate pathway. Scientific interest  in this fascinating biogeochemical process has increased within the last 25 years, and as the implications of climate change become more pronounced, scientists are investigating the OCP as an untapped source of carbon sequestration. The limestone that the iroko trees deposit in the soil is a much more stable way to store carbon and cannot be as easily re-released into the atmosphere as would be the case with decaying wood and leaves. One iroko tree is estimated  to be able to store 1,160 kilograms (2,552 lbs) of carbon as calcium carbonate over its lifetime, assuming storage of 5.8 kg/year and an average lifetime  of 200 years. The OCP in India It’s unknown exactly how many plants use the OCP, but the number could be substantial, as about 80% of plants  produce the oxalate that facilitates the process. But several more species have been identified since the process was discovered, especially in the past 25 years. In a scientific paper currently under review, Dr. Mike Rowley and his colleagues at the University of Zurich identified several OCP trees in the tropical dry evergreen forests (TDEF) of Tamil Nadu, India. This study, supported by the Agassiz Foundation at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, and the Sadhana Forest organization in India, was the first of its kind in the TDEF. Rowley, Camille Rieder, and their colleagues tested dozens of trees before selecting their subjects for the study. The initial selection process involved field-testing trees for surface evidence of calcium carbonate. “We were looking for calcium carbonate precipitation on the bark,” said Rowley in an interview with The Earth & I . “When we apply a weak acid to the tree on these precipitates, it releases the CO 2  that’s trapped within the calcium carbonate.” When the scientists applied a dilute solution of hydrochloric acid to the bark of a selected tree, Rowley said, they could observe a bubbling chemical reaction—an effervescence indicating they were on the right track for finding the OCP in that species. Once the trees with the precipitate were selected for the study, samples were taken for more testing. Biomineral deposits within the tissues were identified using electron microscopes. The team was looking for calcium oxalate crystals that would help them find more evidence of the OCP. Other samples were sent to the University of Neuchatel to identify oxalate-consuming microorganisms—the bacteria and fungi that facilitate the OCP process. The team also determined that the effect of the trees on their local soil chemistry demonstrated there was an alkalizing effect, particularly in the trunks of the trees. Evidence of the OCP was present in all of the sample species Rowley and his team studied. An Ecosystem at Risk   The presence of the OCP in the Tamil Nadu forest shows the process’s potential as a long-term carbon sink and could help preserve the highly threatened ecosystem. The TDEF is the rarest type  of forest ecosystem on the Indian subcontinent. Many of the tree species identified as having an active OCP have potential uses besides carbon sequestration, Rowley told The Earth & I . Agroforestry may be one way to maximize the benefits. Many trees in the fig and mulberry family have been shown to exhibit the pathway, and more species of fruit-producing trees could be found. Abandoned agricultural sites with exhausted, acidic soils could potentially host this research and benefit from the alkalizing effects of OCP trees and the associated beneficial microorganisms.   Rowley is optimistic about the OCP’s potential for agroforestry projects and would like to study how much calcium carbonate an OCP tree can move into soils.   Rowley is optimistic about the OCP’s potential for agroforestry projects and would like to study how much calcium carbonate an OCP tree can move into soils, and the effects of that process. “I’d love to have a long-term experiment to really look at the change in soils,” he said. “Models indicate that it could take up to 20 years before carbon starts to precipitate as calcium carbonate.” If, as Rowley and others suspect, it takes two decades for OCP trees to start fully precipitating carbon in the form of CaCO 3 , it’s urgent to get more experiments underway to study the effect it might have on climate change. Despite the obvious potential of OCP trees, more research is needed to fully understand this fascinating process. While conducting the TDEF study, Rowley’s team observed calcium carbonate deposits deeper than had been seen before in the trunk tissues of OCP trees in Kenya. “We were mapping what types of calcium we had and where,” said Rowley. “What was surprising to us is that the calcium carbonate wasn’t just at the surface of the tree or in the cracks of the bark, but had also penetrated more deeply into the wood.” Rowley can only speculate as to why this might happen. But this mechanism could be another key to how the OCP performs a biogeochemical process that could add just the touch of “magic” needed to tip the scale against climate change.   *Mal Cole  is a freelance science and nature writer based in Massachusetts.

The Growing Campaign against Nighttime Light Pollution   By Julie Peterson* The Milky Way over Monument Valley, California. © istock Gazing up at the twinkling night sky can be awe-inspiring; its breathtaking complexity and enormity, its beauty and tranquility, are beyond compare. Stars have shaped beliefs and cultures, guided travelers, tracked the seasons, “illustrated” myths and legends through constellations, and allowed people  to relay timeless stories to their children.   But today, even as advanced telescopes and other technologies give astronomers closer and deeper views of the universe, there is increasing alarm about what is not  being seen in the night sky. Many stars aren’t as visible  to the naked eye as they were a few years ago.   Poorly designed outdoor lighting bathes the planet’s night sky in artificial light, and the problem is getting worse . Because of this phenomenon, there's a growing campaign to preserve dark skies so future generations can appreciate their immeasurable cultural and scientific value.                                                                                                            Lights Obscure Views of the Milky Way A 2016 study estimated that more than one-third of Earth's population could not see the Milky Way  from home due to light pollution. Stars appearing over a home at night. © Pexels “It’s a crime against nature and humanity that we’ve stolen that away from this generation, and it’s essential that we return it. It’s a vital piece of human heritage . It’s one of nature’s greatest gifts and we’re squandering it,” says James Lowenthal , professor of astronomy at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. He is also president of  DarkSky Massachusetts , an advocacy group against light pollution. Lowenthal’s goal is to engage more people, including professional astronomers, in protecting pristine night skies from light pollution, or in returning those skies affected by it closer to their original state.   But not being able to see stars is only part of this problem—artificial lights at night are also hazards to human health and many species of wildlife, as covered in The Earth & I ’s “ Light Pollution: Keeping Nature Up Past Its Bedtime .” In addition, the US National Park Service’s study, “ Synthesis of Studies on the Effects of Artificial Light at Night ,” reviewed 457 studies on the response of humans and wildlife to light pollution. It found impacts from the psychological effects of light pollution to its destabilization effects on soil bacteria. Globe at Night Fortunately, Lowenthal isn’t the only one championing what some call “visual access” to a night sky unaffected by light pollution. “Astronomers recognized light pollution as a problem in the 1970s. Even with the most powerful instruments, they could no longer view stars and other celestial objects with the same clarity,” says the National Conference on State Legislatures  (NCSL).   “ While at least 2,500 stars should be visible under normal nighttime conditions, only a few hundred can be seen in a typical American suburb. In most large cities, residents would be lucky to glimpse a few dozen,” says the organization, which tracks laws and policies in US states, territories, commonwealths, and the District of Columbia.   As of 2022, at least 19 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia have taken steps to curtail light pollution, according to the NCSL. These laws—which are identified online —address issues like “sky glow,” or the brightening of night sky over inhabited areas; “light trespass,” or lights that shine where they are not wanted or needed; and “glare,” where excessive brightness can cause visual discomfort, the NCSL says.   In addition, over the last 14 years, the international campaign Globe at Night has been gathering information from citizen-scientists about night sky brightness. GaN’s Sky Brightness Monitoring Network (GaN-MN) now has more than 200,000 measurements submitted  by people in 180 countries.   The GaN-MN project uses a commercially available sky quality meter (SQM) for long-term monitoring of light pollution. These efforts have created a huge dataset that allows scientists to measure light pollution over time.   “Everyone over the age of 50 remembers a dramatically better sky.”   “Worldwide, we see a troublesome worsening in light pollution, as fast as 10% per year ,” says Lowenthal. “It reflects what we’re seeing anecdotally. Everyone over the age of 50 remembers a dramatically better sky.”   Dark Sky Places   The positive side of this research—which is actually the dark side—is that some of Earth’s dark skies are now being protected—by responsible lighting practices at night—for future stargazing.   In 2001, Flagstaff, Arizona, was named the first International Dark Sky City. There are now over 200 certified International Dark Sky Places  in 22 countries on six continents. These places might be communities, parks, or reserves that have undergone a rigorous application and approval process. The Milky Way over Cottonwood Gulch, New Mexico. ©James Lowenthal Cottonwood, Arizona , spent four years  working to become accredited, but it now hosts events like star parties where volunteers bring telescopes to share. Lowenthal says events like these are fun ways to connect and can show people the sky they are missing.   The US National Park Service  presents Dark Sky Events to teach about the wonders of the night sky. Such events have led to an increase in astrotourism, in which people gather to observe celestial objects. Utah , for instance , offers camping or rustic accommodations, guided tours, festivals, and storytelling. Video about stargazing in Greater Zion in Utah. For people interested in learning more about celestial things, it’s not necessary to travel to a Dark Sky Place. There is likely a nearby astronomy club or observatory that offers public events and viewing nights. Online resources like the NASA Night Sky Network  also list upcoming activities and skywatching tips. Across the planet, there are in-person and virtual dark sky events  to attend.   Conservationists to the Rescue The dark sky movement benefits from the involvement of other conservation organizations .   “One of the lessons we learned is that the astronomers cannot fix this on our own,” says Lowenthal.    The American Astronomical Society, a trade group with 8,200 astronomers, astronomy educators, and amateur astronomers as members, is concerned about increasing and unregulated artificial lighting. Such lighting impacts  the study of deep-space objects by ground-based observatories .   The dark sky movement benefits from the involvement of other conservation organizations .   Conservation organizations have a broader influence on implementing dark sky policies. For example, the Audubon Lights Out Program  is a national effort to convince building owners and managers to turn off excess lighting during migrations over cities to help prevent birds from crashing into buildings. “ Most birds migrate at night, making them more vulnerable to buildings and other structures lit with artificial lights they might be attracted to, often resulting in tragic collisions, entrapment, and exhaustion,” says the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).   In Texas, organizations in Houston, Galveston, and other cities are doing a “lights out” campaign in which tall buildings turn off their lights from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. during spring and fall migrations, the BBC  reported in April 2024. Birds such as the common yellowthroat migrate over brightly lit cities, which can be a deadly experience. ©James Lowenthal The Sea Turtle Conservancy  aims to educate people on coastal lighting that confuses turtle hatchlings and makes it difficult for them to reach the ocean.   The American Medical Association released a report  titled “Light Pollution: Adverse Health Effects of Nighttime Lighting” to inform people of the increased incidence of some diseases associated with a lack of darkness.   The FWS  also urges dimming nighttime lights to benefit insects and pollinators. “ Although not well-studied, we are beginning to more clearly understand the impact light pollution has on insects and pollinators. This topic is emerging in more and more conversations,” Melissa Burns, western monarch coordinator, said in a report for FWS.   Light Pollution Mapping A good way of grasping light pollution levels is to look at a map.   Jurij Stare, of Slovenia, created Light Pollution Map , an interactive website that provides a global display of light pollution levels. It is accessible to everyone, and is often used by astronomers, stargazers, and photographers to quickly locate dark sites with clear skies.    The map allows users to check visibility using both the Bortle Dark-Sky Scale and SQM data. The Bortle Scale  is a sky quality measurement scale created by American amateur astronomer John E. Bortle and ranges from 1 to 9, with a higher number indicating greater light pollution. It was developed through decades of naked-eye observations. SQM  data is provided by a device the size of a cell phone. The most pristine dark sky registers on a map at Bortle 1 and SQM 22.0, whereas New York City skies, typically among the most polluted, register at Bortle 9 and SQM >18.38.   There is also the option of using the map’s color key. The most visible stars and galaxies are in areas that are darkest on the map. White areas are the most artificially lit and the stars are mostly obscured.    Public Awareness and Policy Changes “People really want to see the stars. Nobody wants to lose the stars. That’s our silver bullet—if there is one,” says Lowenthal. “Light pollution is all due to fear of the dark, fear of strangers, and the irrational sense that more light is better. As a result, we’ve lost this immeasurable treasure.”   “People really want to see the stars. Nobody wants to lose the stars. That’s our silver bullet—if there is one.”   However, after policymakers and communities are educated about how light pollution works, people become more sensitized to the issue—they will notice harsh municipal lighting, upward facing floodlights, flashing signs, porchlights that invade neighboring homes, and office buildings that are lit from within 24/7. Video of home lighting tips from DarkSky The DarkSky Approved program promotes high-quality lighting and signage for outdoor environments that minimize light pollution (including sky glow), light trespass, obtrusive light, and harmful impacts on people, wildlife, and plants. For a product to be DarkSky Approved, it must have a clear purpose, be directed only to where needed, be no brighter than necessary, be used only when useful, and be a warm color.   “The reality is that most people have no idea that light pollution is an issue.”   “If we had everybody educated on this issue, if everybody understood it, then our job might be done and they would turn off their lights and wouldn’t install bad lights or overly bright lights,” Lowenthal says.   But the reality is that most people have no idea that light pollution is an issue. It will take ongoing education, collaboration, legislation , and commitment for people to save dark sky resources for themselves and for future generations—so that we don’t all lose the stars. The moon and Venus over Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. Outdoor lighting at Smith College is fairly well controlled against glare, resulting in a safe and beautiful campus at night. ©James Lowenthal *Julie Peterson  writes science-based articles about holistic health, environmental issues, and sustainable living from Wisconsin.

By Yasmin Prabhudas* Sunrise W Land and Cattle owners Jim and Stephen West setting up booth at a Home & Garden Show. ©Sunrise W Land and Cattle The world's food supply has relied on conventional farming  for the best part of a century. But its extensive use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers is having an impact on greenhouse gases, biodiversity and possibly human health . And genetically modified seeds  could also have consequences for the environment.   Some pioneering farmers and ranchers, however, have decided to ditch synthetic chemicals and adopt regenerative practices  to protect the agricultural ecosystem and promote biodiversity. This includes vermiculture—or worm farming —plus strategies like adaptive grazing and mobile chicken coops to keep fields in the best of health.   Conventional Farming Modern farming is criticized in at least four major areas.   First is its role in producing greenhouse gases.   Industrial farming, with its high-intensity and high-yield focus, uses chemical fertilizers to meet its goals. Many of these products are known greenhouse gas   emitters because they are nitrogen-based and made using fossil fuels. Researchers at the University of Cambridge  found “manure and synthetic fertilizers emit the equivalent of 2.6 gigatons of carbon per year—more than global aviation and shipping combined.”   A second criticism is that the synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides used in conventional farming contribute to loss of biodiversity and soil health. A 2024 paper, titled “ Restoring Soil Biodiversity ,” claims 75% of the world's soil is degraded in part because of the use of agrochemicals.     Third, conventional farming uses genetic engineering to change natural processes to enhance a crop's “fitness.” A risk assessment, published in 2020 , found that these genetic changes could include “displacement and even extinction of native plant species.”   A fourth criticism is that synthetic chemicals could affect human health  because they are often toxic. For example, glyphosate, an herbicide, is an endocrine disruptor , which could interfere with natural hormones (estrogen and androgen) and disrupt reproductive and sexual development.   Regenerative Farming Moving cattle to the next paddock on horseback. ©Sunrise W Land and Cattle Regenerative farming  aims to fix these problems through core principles.   For instance, regenerative farmers protect their soils by limiting nutrient cycle–disrupting synthetic fertilizers, avoiding overgrazing to protect roots, and maximizing biodiversity through varied crop rotation. This approach intentionally adds shrubs and trees to create a habitat for insects and pollinators, and manages livestock, so through the herds’ hoof actions, the soil structure is improved. The European Alliance for Regenerative Agriculture  surveyed 78 farmers from 14 European countries practicing regenerative farming from 2021 to 2023. The regenerative farmers almost matched conventional farmers in yield—the regenerative farms had a 2% lower yield compared with conventional farms—but their use of synthetic fertilizers, fuel, pesticides, and antibiotics was far lower.   [European regenerative farmers] almost matched conventional farmers in yield…but had far less use of synthetic fertilizers, fuel, pesticides, and antibiotics.   More information on regenerative farming, including a list of certified regenerative farmers and ranchers around the world, can be found by visiting the Regenerative Organic Alliance .   A Regenerative Ranch in Texas The Sunrise W Land and Cattle in Texas is a good example of regenerative ranching.   Stephen West and his father, Jim, have been experimenting with regenerative farming  methods over the past five years to improve the condition of their 600-acre-plus cattle ranch. When they took over the land, it had been overgrazed and was in a poor state.   Stephen, who has a degree in agriculture management, outlines the philosophy of Sunrise W Land and Cattle : “We believe that nature had things figured out long before humans came around. And working with nature, working 'God's intended way,' is all about looking at what the soil, the grass, what nature is telling you, and making the improvements based on that.” Sunrise W Land and Cattle’s worm tea brewer. ©Sunrise W Land and Cattle Worm Tea The Wests carried out research that led them to discover the benefits of vermiculture and what they call “worm tea.” “We found out that earthworms are the best fertilizer in the world,” says Stephen.   The ranchers keep 100,000 earthworms in a 16 ft by 4 ft bin. “Every week we harvest their castings [waste], and we brew it in water for 24 hours. During that process, the microbes inside of those castings that are now going into that liquid are doubling in population every single 30 minutes,” he explains.   “We're talking about trillions of microorganisms […] and so all these microbes are going into the soil and it's like a booster shot for the soil.”   “We're talking about trillions of microorganisms […] and so all these microbes are going into the soil and it's like a booster shot for the soil.”   How It Works The worm tea contains protozoa (single-celled organisms), nematodes (microscopic parasites), fungal hyphae (filamentous fungal structures), and bacteria. “When the worm tea is applied, all of that's going into the soil. The first thing that happens is your fungal hyphae attach to the root system. And what that does is it doubles to triples that rhizosphere  [the layer of soil in contact with a plant's roots], and so the root system of that plant is much larger and it has incredible penetrative power. So, it's breaking through those hard pans of clay soil or neglected ground around that rhizosphere,” Stephen states.   “Your protozoa and your nematodes, they're hanging out around that root system. […] When a cow comes and takes a bite of that grass, that grass is sending out a distress signal and the nematode and the protozoa, they're out there getting that nutrient to that plant as it needs it so it can recover faster and be ready to go for the next phase.” To ensure success, adaptive grazing takes place. That means allowing livestock to graze if circumstances are optimal, depending on how much rain there has been and how much forage the cattle have. Adding Chickens to the Mix Two dogs take turns guarding the chickens on the ranch. ©Sunrise W Land and Cattle Chickens have helped deal with flies, which can cause cattle stress and lead to weight loss. Two mobile chicken coops follow the cattle as they graze, and the birds pick through the cows’ manure to feast on fly larvae. This means no chemical fly sprays are needed. Stephen says, “By breaking that cycle, we're not having that fly population.”   Grasshoppers can also be a problem. “They eat more grass than cows do,” he states. “But the chickens chase them through the fields, taking care of that population, too.” Environmental Impact “We use compost for the bin where the earthworms are, and the feed that we use is a mixture of different types of ground-up grains. And there is no runoff,” says Stephen. The worms are shipped from Canada, and two small HVAC units maintain the temperature. But, as a regenerative ranch, using natural farming methods rather than synthetic chemicals, the environmental impact is much lower than that of a conventional farm. Earthworm table. ©Sunrise W Land and Cattle “I'd say the coolest impact we've seen is the amount of wildlife that has come back. It's really cool to see the wildlife starting to treat this as a sanctuary.”   Biodiversity has improved significantly, and there has been a resurgence in the endangered horny toad, as well as hawks, owls, badgers, and deer.   “I'd say the coolest impact we've seen is the amount of wildlife that has come back,” Stephen declares. “'It's really cool to see the wildlife starting to treat this as a sanctuary.” Vermicomposting  Applying worm compost or vermicompost in a garden couldn't be simpler, Stephen says. “You can't mess it up, right? If you overapply, it's just more microbes.” The soil “will become spongier,” he adds. “What you'll find is it gets healthier as long as you're not doing anything to kill the soil.” Vermicomposting or worm composting  differs from traditional composting in a few ways. It takes vermicomposting two to three months to break down organic material, while home composting takes six to nine months. It requires lower temperatures—50°F to 86°F—compared with traditional methods, which need more than 149°F.   Patience is Needed Switching to regenerative farming takes time, and one downside is that it will take a while before the rewards are reaped.   “It's going to take time to reverse what we've been doing […]. And so to bring it back alive, you got to have patience. […] It is a little bit of a sacrifice because you're not going to make money the first couple of years or, if you do, it's very little,” claims Stephen. “You put a lot into it, but the rewards at the end are worth the headaches at the beginning.” *Yasmin Prabhudas   is a freelance journalist working mainly for nonprofit organizations, labor unions, the education sector, and government agencies.

Targeting the Sprawl That Attends Single-Family Housing By Karl Selle* Urban sprawl increases the pressure for suburban sprawl to consume outlying forests, farmland, and parkland. Pixnio /Ryan Hagerty (Free to use) The detached single-family home on a spacious suburban lot has long symbolized American prosperity. But as development sprawls further outward—consuming farmlands, wetlands, and forests— environmental costs  climb: Low-density, car-centric housing developments are a key driver  of carbon emissions, land degradation, and biodiversity loss. A growing number  of urban planners and environmental advocates now argue that rethinking zoning—especially R1 (single-family-only) zoning—is essential to solving the interconnected crises of climate change, affordability, and economic and racial segregation. In a great many US cities, up to 80% of residential land is zoned  exclusively for single-family homes, effectively banning more space-efficient and economical forms of housing. In a great many US cities, up to 80% of residential land is zoned exclusively for single-family homes. Reform of this R1 zoning colossus, however, goes against a mindset that is deeply ingrained in US and other countries ’ laws, institutions, and psychology. Owning a home with a bit of land is a symbol of success that has powerful emotional overtones , tapping into the human need for security, wealth, privacy, and independence. Still, research  has shown that car-dependent single-family-home communities can be isolating with limited opportunities to socialize with neighbors. Reformers believe new kinds of designed, higher-density communities can be friendlier, busier, and more family and environmentally friendly. Reframing Zoning Currently, R1 zoning dominates the housing development landscape. Single-family zoning prohibits duplexes, triplexes, courtyard housing, and low-rise apartment buildings (e.g., six to 10 stories) on vast swaths of urban and suburban land. It also fuels sprawl, pushing new housing developments into outlying natural and agricultural areas. This development push has led to the loss of over 784 square miles (501,000 acres) of natural habitat  in California alone between 2001 and 2011 (about the size of Los Angeles and San Diego together). These are not just empty spaces; they are active ecosystems that store carbon, filter the air and water, and provide habitats for countless species. When these landscapes are paved over, not only is carbon released but the land’s capacity to remove CO 2  from the atmosphere is destroyed. Outward expansion directly fuels the climate crisis by entrenching a reliance on automobiles. With homes located far from jobs, schools, and amenities, driving becomes a necessity, making transportation the largest source of air pollution  in states like Minnesota. According to The New York Times , cities across the US are now questioning the once-unshakable ideal of the suburban home, as both population and climate pressures mount. Thoughtful densification—building more than one dwelling per lot—is seen as a powerful, environmentally friendly strategy. As a Sierra Club analysis aptly puts it, “ The beauty of density is it utilizes already developed land  (e.g., vacant parking lots) and allows more people to live within short distances of jobs, transit, and amenities.” This “infill” approach allows for urban growth while preserving the undeveloped wilderness, farmland, and forests at the outer edges of municipalities. And when infill is combined with what we might call upfill —constructing multifamily housing and low-rise apartment buildings—cities can absorb yet more growth. Creative urban housing design incorporating natural green spaces can lead to both environmental and social benefits. Pexels /Alexander Igrevsky (Free for use) Critically, higher density can also support biodiversity. According to Seattle nonprofit The Urbanist, research shows  that densifying population centers can increase habitat availability and ecosystem services when planned carefully with nature in mind—through green corridors, native vegetation, and water-wise landscaping. This finding challenges the assumption that density and ecological health are mutually exclusive. Moreover, denser development can reduce  air and water pollution through smarter stormwater management, energy-efficient housing, and shorter vehicle commutes. With coordinated land use planning , cities can become “nature bright spots”—places where people and wildlife coexist. Benefits of Reforming R1 Zoning Potential Drawbacks of Zoning Reform ● Increases housing supply in high-demand areas ● Risk of infrastructure strain (sewer, schools, transit) ● Mitigates urban sprawl and habitat loss ● Potential traffic increases and parking pressure ● Enhances affordability and inclusion ● Loss of neighborhood character ● Supports environmental goals via infill development ● Local political resistance and NIMBY opposition ● Enables nature-integrated design in denser settings ● Requires strong tenant protections and anti-displacement policy ● Expands ownership options via condos and townhomes ● Needs complementary green building and transit investments Affordability, Equity, and the “Missing Middle” Zoning reform advocates also argue  that R1 restrictions artificially limit the housing supply, contributing to surging prices. According to   Shelterforce , more housing can increase affordability—but only if it’s built in areas where people actually want and need to live, such as near jobs, transit, and schools. This video  contrasts North American and European housing developments and shows the many types of dwellings not typically found in car-centric North America. © Not Just Bikes The shortage is especially acute in high-opportunity areas. From 2000 to 2015, the US under produced  7.3 million homes, according to housing advocacy group Up for Growth. R1 zoning makes it difficult to build duplexes, fourplexes, and other “ missing middle ” housing that once made neighborhoods walkable and socially mixed. This system also perpetuates  racial and economic segregation. Zoning laws were historically partly designed to exclude lower-income and nonwhite residents from wealthier neighborhoods—a legacy documented  in Richard Rothstein’s The Color of Law . Today, those same rules continue  to shape who has access to good schools, clean air, and job-rich locations. As Apartment Therapy explains , dismantling these barriers isn’t just about building more housing—it’s about correcting long-standing injustices. Some cities and states have begun to act: Minneapolis eliminated  single-family-only zoning citywide in 2018, allowing up to three units per lot. Oregon passed HB 2001, which ends  single-family zoning in most urban areas statewide. California eased  restrictions on so-called accessory dwelling units and lot splitting, making it easier to add housing within existing neighborhoods. These changes have provoked both support and backlash. Homeowners often cite  concerns over neighborhood character degradation, parking congestion, and infrastructure strain. Others worry about housing values, especially since single-family homes are often seen  as safer investments than multifamily properties. However, zoning reformers say these objections must be weighed against the high costs of inaction. Expanding outward continues to swallow  natural areas, degrade infrastructure, increase emissions, and widen affordability gaps.   Zoning, Ownership, and the American Dream Much of today’s multifamily construction is geared toward rentals, but zoning reform could also enable new paths to ownership : co-ops, townhomes, and condominiums. These options are more attainable for middle-income families than detached homes, especially in high-cost metro areas. Medium’s “Sidewalk Talk” blog argues  that expanding housing types allows more people—not just the wealthiest—to participate in the dream of homeownership. And denser development can bolster tax revenues, support small businesses, and sustain more walkable, vibrant neighborhoods. In this video , four people talk about how they and others brought zoning reform to the US cities of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Buffalo, New York. © Public Broadcasting System Still, reform must be paired with policies  that protect renters from displacement and incentivize affordable housing construction. Ending R1 zoning is not a stand-alone solution—but it is a critical lever for equity, sustainability, and economic opportunity. Reform must be paired with policies that protect renters from displacement and incentivize affordable housing construction. To understand the scale of the challenge, consider that detached homes make up over 60%  of US housing units, according to Statista. And per the US Census Bureau, the majority of new residential construction remains  single-family, despite increasing demand for multiunit options.   Some Multifamily-Housing Communities Here are four existing communities that demonstrate how multifamily housing, nature access, and social cohesion can thrive together—with lower pollution and safer streets. Mueller – Austin, Texas A master-planned community  built on the site of the old airport, Mueller features townhomes, apartments, and condos with shared courtyards, pocket parks, and trails. It’s designed around walkability, with cafes, shops, and even a farmers market fostering neighborly interaction. Serenbe – Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia Just outside Atlanta, Serenbe is a wellness-focused community  with multifamily cottages and townhouses along with single-family homes. All have front porches but no backyards. They face a common greenspace and are interwoven with nature trails. Cafes, shops, art galleries, and services are nearby in the village-style layout, encouraging walking and interacting with neighbors. Zibi – Ottawa-Gatineau, Ontario/Quebec A waterfront redevelopment project , Zibi features condos and apartments with communal courtyards and access to green spaces. It’s designed as a mixed-use, walkable neighborhood with shops, restaurants, and cultural venues that connect residents across provincial lines. The High Line Neighborhood – Manhattan, New York City People stroll along the High Line, a former elevated railroad transformed into a park to enhance the livability of the apartment buildings, multifamily brownstones, and office blocs nearby. © iStock /francois-roux The High Line is a 1.45-mile-long elevated linear park and greenway created on a former New York Central Railroad spur. Opened in 2009, the park has inspired  cities throughout the United States to redevelop greyfields (obsolete infrastructure) and brownfields (abandoned industrial land) as public spaces with mixed housing. The High Line has spurred  development of low-rise apartment buildings and brownstones in adjacent neighborhoods, increasing real-estate values and prices along the route. Nature and Crime Reduction Multifamily housing doesn’t just reduce sprawl—it can reduce crime and improve mental health, especially when designed with green space. A 2024 overview  by the National Environmental Education Foundation explains how adding greenery to neighborhood spaces can reduce violence and boost health. In addition, a 2022 study  by the University of Edinburgh found that more urban green space correlates with lower property and violent crime rates—even after accounting for poverty and demographics. Green space, the study concluded, may reduce aggression and stress, contributing to safer neighborhoods. According to a 2018 National Institutes of Health publication , “Simply being exposed to nature has been shown to improve mood, reduce anxiety, and enhance self-esteem. People who see greenery every day may have better mental health and be less stressed. Stress increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other diseases.” Thus, green enclaves in urban areas correlate  with greater peace of mind, increased trust, and stronger community ties— contributing  to both individual and neighborhood well-being . Reforming single-family zoning laws is not a panacea—and it is certainly not easy. But when thoughtfully implemented, it offers a hopeful path toward solving multiple problems at once, both in the way of environmental precariousness and housing scarcity. *Karl Selle is a freelance writer living in Bowie, Maryland, USA.

Toxic Endanger Humans and the Environment A 2025 Nature study  by researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology explores the scope of plastics. It finds over 4,200 “chemicals of concern” that could be toxic to the aquatic environment or human health out of 16,325 unique chemicals that are present in plastics. Of 16,325 unique chemicals, about 25% (or 4,219) were “chemicals of concern” based on four hazard criteria: persistence, bioaccumulation, mobility, and toxicity. The 4,219 figure could be an underestimate given that 10,726 plastic chemicals “lack official hazard classifications by regulatory agencies or industry.” Polyethylene terephthalate (or PET) had the most detected chemicals of concern (472), of which 143 have evidence for being released into foodstuffs and other avenues for human contact. Of the chemicals of concern, about 65% (or 2,760) were classified as toxic to the aquatic environment. About 57% (or 2,421) of the chemicals of concern were classified as toxic to human health. These included 1,774 with toxicity for specific organs; 1,489 as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic for reproduction; and 47 as endocrine-disrupting chemicals.   Sources: Mapping the chemical complexity of plastics - Nature Study

Chlorothalonil Seen as Detrimental to Fertility of Fruit Flies, Pollinators Pollinators are keystone species for food security and biodiversity. Pexels A recent study led by researchers at Macquarie University in Australia has raised concerns about the widespread use of chlorothalonil, a commonly applied fungicide, and its potential to harm insect populations.   The study , published in Royal Society Open Science , reveals that chlorothalonil, even in concentrations typically found on food crops like cranberries and wine grapes, can substantially impair the reproduction of insects, posing serious risks to biodiversity and ecosystem stability.   The pesticide is banned in the European Union. Although allowed in the US, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified  chlorothalonil as a likely human carcinogen.   Researchers are increasingly concerned about the decline in insect populations worldwide—a phenomenon referred to as the “ insect apocalypse .” Insect populations have been plummeting  by more than 75% in certain regions over the past few decades, with potentially devastating effects on ecosystems.   Targeting the Fruit Fly The research, conducted by PhD candidate Darshika Dissawa  from Macquarie's School of Natural Sciences, focused on the impact of chlorothalonil on Drosophila melanogaster —better known as the fruit fly.   According to the study authors, although fruit flies are not a target of agricultural fungicides, they serve as a model organism for studying the broader ecological effects of such chemicals due to their “ genetic tractability, short life cycle, and well-documented sensitivity to a broad range of environmental contaminants .” The study showed that even the lowest levels of chlorothalonil had a detrimental impact on the fertility of these flies, affecting both males and females.   The capacity for detoxification of chlorothalonil could vary across insect species. For instance, due to genetic differences, honeybees could potentially be more susceptible to chlorothalonil than fruit flies.   "Even the very lowest concentration has a huge impact on the reproduction of the flies that we tested."   “Even the very lowest concentration has a huge impact on the reproduction of the flies that we tested," Dissawa told  Macquarie’s news outlet, The Lighthouse, in June. “This can have a big knock-on population impact over time because it affects both male and female fertility.”   Fruit flies are “also at the bottom of the food chain, becoming food for a whole lot of other species,” added Dissawa.   Striking Results The study exposed D. melanogaster  larvae to chlorothalonil concentrations corresponding to those typically found in agricultural environments. The results were striking: the flies exhibited a 37% reduction in egg production at maturity compared to control flies that were not exposed to the chemical.   “We expected the effect to increase far more gradually with higher amounts. But we found that even a very small amount can have a strong negative effect,” explained  study supervising author, associate professor Fleur Ponton . A fruit fly ( Drosophila melanogaster).   Pexels Chlorothalonil Widely Used Chlorothalonil is frequently used in Australian agriculture, particularly in orchards and vineyards, to control diseases like mildews and leaf blights. However, this fungicide has been detected in nearby soils and water bodies, with residue levels in fruits and vegetables ranging from trace amounts to as high as 460 milligrams  per kilogram. Despite being banned in the EU over environmental risks, chlorothalonil continues to be widely used in other parts of the world.   “People assume fungicides only affect fungal diseases, but they can have unintended, devastating consequences for other species.”   “People assume fungicides only affect fungal diseases, but they can have unintended, devastating consequences for other species,” said  Ponton. “We need bees, flies, and other insects for pollination, and this is an important issue for pollinator populations,” she added.   Reassessment of Agricultural Practices Needed This research highlights a significant gap in the regulation and understanding of pesticide impacts. Despite being one of the most widely used fungicides in the world, fewer  than 25 scientific studies have examined chlorothalonil’s effects on insects. “There is a strong need for more research to understand the long-term consequences of these chemicals, especially as insect populations continue to decline,” Ponton told The Lighthouse .   The study calls for a review of agricultural practices, including a reduction in pesticide use to allow insect populations to recover. “We need field trials to explore alternatives and develop evidence-based guidelines to mitigate the effects of fungicides on beneficial insects,” Ponton concluded.

Human Health Tied to Personal Habits, for Better or Worse   By Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe* Apple picking offers several lifestyle medicine interventions in one activity: social connection, healthy exercise, plant-based food, stress reduction, and avoidance of toxins. © iStock   In today’s fast-paced world, lifestyle choices play a significant role in determining health outcomes and overall well-being. Pollution, stress, and sedentary lifestyles are among the leading factors affecting a person’s ability to live a long and healthy life.     To counteract health risks associated with these modern stressors, a discipline called lifestyle medicine is gaining ground as an effective way to combat chronic disease and improve overall health for individuals, communities—and the planet.     Solution to Global Crises   Backed by science, lifestyle medicine is a decades-old, comprehensive medical practice that uses therapeutic natural lifestyle interventions to help prevent, treat, and often reverse chronic diseases.  Neither just lifestyle  nor  just medicine, lifestyle medicine is about integrating the best of both approaches with a focus on prevention and behavioral change as part of clinical care.    “What sets LM apart from conventional medicine is its focus on the root causes of disease rather than just managing symptoms,” Dr. Neha Pathak, chief physician editor, associate program director, and adjunct assistant professor of medicine at Yale School of Public Health, told  The   Earth & I.   The 6 Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine. © Wikimedia Operating beyond siloed approaches to either pharmaceutical-based or “alternative” medical practices, lifestyle medicine combines therapeutic and holistic treatments with those of allopathic (conventional) medicine, considering all areas of a patient’s life and the effects of available treatments. Lifestyle medicine interventions focus on activities individuals can do to take control of their healthcare, while also providing access to traditional medical care. A typical lifestyle medicine care plan includes the “six pillars”: a whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern; regular physical activity; restorative sleep; stress management; avoidance of toxic exposures (such as smoking); and strong social connections. The   American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM), founded in 2004, is among the organizations that set out lifestyle medicine’s six pillars. It and others work to integrate lifestyle medicine training into medical education and provide tools for reimbursement, medication de-escalation, and behavioral change counseling.   A 2024 study  said lifestyle medicine “began as a medical specialty in 2004” and is now a “rapidly growing discipline.”   Lifestyle medicine’s focus on preventing, managing, and reversing chronic diseases is gaining traction. A 2024 study  said lifestyle medicine “began as a medical specialty in 2004” and is now a “rapidly growing discipline,” with more than 9,000 members in 2022 in 30 member groups and communities. Researchers highlight how “the cumulative adherence to the principles of LM can positively impact not only the years of life, but life in the years.”   Roots and Evolution Lifestyle medicine’s roots can be traced back to the 1980s when Dr. John P. Foreyt, regarded as a leading authority on the intersection of lifestyle and chronic disease prevention, laid the groundwork for what would become lifestyle medicine and its principles.   Acceptance grew in the 1990s after an early landmark study on   The Lifestyle Heart Trial was published in The Lancet . The study  declared that “comprehensive lifestyle changes may be able to bring about regression of even severe coronary atherosclerosis after only 1 year, without the use of lipid-lowering drugs.” A 2002 study  of 3,234 potentially prediabetic people found that lifestyle interventions of nutrition, exercise, and stress management advice could reverse the condition compared with those taking daily metformin or doing nothing. In follow-up exams around three years later, the incidence of type 2 diabetes per 100 person-years was 11.0 for the placebo group, 7.8 for the drug group, and 4.8 for the lifestyle intervention group. In other words, the lifestyle intervention group had reduced their incidence of type 2 diabetes by more than half (58%), compared with 31% of individuals who took metformin to manage their condition   In sum, “the lifestyle intervention was significantly more effective than metformin,” concluded the researchers from George Washington University and Thomas Jefferson University.   Today, studies continue to provide evidence for prescribing lifestyle medicine’s pri nciples through in-depth explorations of its six pillars.   For example, a 2017 study  published in The Lancet found that a plant-based diet was “inversely associated with major cardiovascular disease,” meaning that a higher consumption of plant-based foods was associated with a reduction in major cardiovascular disease.  A  2010 study  published in PLOS Medicine  showed that individuals with strong social connections were 50% more likely to survive over the seven-year period analyzed, compared to those with weaker connections across 148 studies with over 300,000 participants. Lifestyle medicine recognizes the importance of social connections and getting outdoors. © iStock Lifestyle medicine not only offers value as a preventative approach but also as a treatment for conditions. Dr. Catherine “Cate” Collings, a cardiologist and former president of ACLM, cites growing consensus and   updates to medical guidelines  as indicators of how applying lifestyle medicine’s pillars can help manage and even reverse chronic diseases, including heart disease,   diabetes , high blood pressure, and some  cancers.     Lifestyle medicine also holds promise as   a potential solution for other non-communicable diseases (NCDs ), such as cerebrovascular diseases. Because many NCDs share the same modifiable risk factors—including hypertension, alcohol consumption, smoking, poor diet, and low physical activity—lifestyle medicine can successfully target many NCDs. Video   of Dr. Dean Ornish explaining LM. Achieving Health for People and Planet Lifestyle medicine is also on the rise as a proactive method to prevent diseases linked to environmental factors, such as toxins and climate change.   “We are in a world where heat waves, food insecurity, and mental health crises are rising—LM offers a grounded science-based framework for healing individuals and the planet at the same time,” Dr. Pathak said.   The same behaviors that improve human health, such as eating more locally grown, plant-rich, whole foods, play a pivotal part in tackling climate change. The same can be said for spending time in nature as a stress management strategy or avoiding toxic exposures. “All of these LM interventions also play a role in lowering greenhouse gas emissions, addressing local air pollution, and potentially protecting biodiversity,” said Dr. Pathak.   In 2024 in the US alone , 60% of people had one chronic health condition, while 42% had two or more.   Research studies show that lifestyle medicine is uniquely positioned to address both the chronic disease crisis and the planetary health crisis within the scope of the health care system. In 2024, in the US  alone, 60% of peopl e had one chronic health condition while 42% had two or more.   “These are two of the most significant health threats of our time,” Dr. Pathak added.   Traditional medicine often relies on pharmaceuticals and procedures. “LM, on the other hand, empowers patients to change behaviors that are driving illness—this, in turn, can reduce the need for medication and lower healthcare costs and carbon-intensive care as a potent side effect,” said Dr. Pathak.   Thwarting ‘Threat Multipliers’ According to a 2021 study , humanity is faced with what researchers described as a “confluence of crises.” To put it simply, aging populations are burdened by NCDs while negative environmental factors and climate change act as “threat multipliers” that further exacerbate the NCDs and threaten human health. Air pollution threatens access to healthy outdoor exercise. ©iStock Lifestyle medicine can help address these threat multipliers and build individual and community resilience. One example is shifting large groups of patients to a plant-predominant diet. This intervention not only reduces the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer but also cuts agricultural emissions, conserves water, and reduces land degradation.   Lifestyle medicine offers other powerful co-benefits. For example, active transport like walking or cycling improves cardiovascular health and reduces fossil fuel use and local air pollution. “A lifestyle prescription for one person can ripple outward to benefit families, communities, and the planet,” said Dr. Pathak. A 2024 study  explored the link between lifestyle factors and air pollution. The researchers found that exposure to ambient air pollution raised mortality from any cause and that individual lifestyles impacted this likelihood. The Challenge of Climate Change A 2024 report,   The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change , emphasized “the record-breaking human costs of climate change, with the two crises leading to a range of health concerns. Heat-related mortality, sleep loss, and life-threatening extreme weather events threaten the global population.”   Climate change even threatens the pillars on which lifestyle medicine is built.   Climate change even threatens the pillars on which lifestyle medicine is built.   In 2022 ,  ACLM researchers said the planetary crisis was restricting people’s ability to access health nutrition, safe outdoor exercise, positive social connections, and restorative sleep while making it harder to manage stress and avoid toxic substances.   Systemic Change Needed Today, the main challenges to lifestyle medicine are systemic. Globally, most healthcare systems aren’t built to prioritize prevention and lifestyle medicine interventions. Many clinicians feel unequipped or unsupported when it comes to delivering lifestyle medicine interventions.   “LM also faces the valid critique that not all patients have access to the resources needed to follow these prescriptions,” said Dr. Pathak. Food deserts, unsafe neighborhoods, lack of green space, and poverty all create barriers to access and to the implementation of health-promoting behaviors.   “What’s urgently needed now is investment in community infrastructure, access to healthy food, safe outdoor spaces, and policies that support equity and health for all,” said Dr. Pathak. In other words, lifestyle medicine must be paired with real and complete systems change to be effective and equitable.   Focusing on Future Health and Well-being As climate change accelerates, the health of the planet degrades, and chronic disease burdens rise, lifestyle medicine offers a way to address all these challenges simultaneously within the scope of the health system—with scalable, cost-effective, and empowering interventions.   Researchers are already seeing more medical schools and health systems integrating lifestyle medicine into their training and delivery models. As patients demand more holistic, prevention-focused care, lifestyle medicine is well-positioned to meet that need. “We are thankful to see a changing healthcare landscape where LM will hopefully become increasingly central to how healthcare is delivered, especially in primary care,” Dr. Pathak said.   Beyond the clinic, lifestyle medicine is also gaining traction as a public health strategy. It is particularly needed in under-resourced communities where the co-benefits of improved health, reduced environmental harm, and stronger communities are most urgently needed.   “The future of LM is not just promising, it’s essential,” said Dr. Pathak. *Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe   is a freelance journalist and editor. Over the past 10 years, Natasha has reported for a host of publications, exploring the wider world and industries from environmental, scientific, business, legal, and sociological perspectives. Natasha has also been interviewed as an insight provider for research institutes and conferences.

By Kathleen Hwang* Food Truck of Love volunteers providing packed lunches at the Gapyeong disaster site. ©Gapyeong County Office  Upon hearing that heavy rains had ravaged people’s homes and lives in Gapyeong County, Go Eun Kim, president of Women’s Federation for World Peace Korea , did not hesitate. “It was simple: They need help, we have to help,” she said. Within two days, she had raised a small army of women volunteers, bringing material support, solace and comfort to the victims.   Record Rainfall Wreaks Havoc In mid-July 2025, South Korea faced one of its most devastating natural disasters in recent memory. Torrential rains, beginning on July 16, led to catastrophic flooding and landslides.  The disaster resulted in  at least 24 deaths and left numerous individuals missing. Over 15,000 residents were evacuated, and thousands of homes, farms, and infrastructures were severely damaged.   One of two areas most severely impacted was Gapyeong County, Gyeonggi Province, in the northeastern part of the country. It received 322 mm (12.6 in) of rain  over five days, including 110 mm (4.3 in) in the early morning of July 20. The area is mountainous and a popular tourist site in summer. Towns and campgrounds located in valleys quickly flooded as rivers overflowed; roads turned to streams or were buried by landslides, and bridges collapsed.  A collapsed building in Jojong-myeon, Gapyeong County, Gyeonggi Province, after heavy rain in July. ©The Segye Times Seven people died, including local residents and campers. More than 4,000 households  lost power, and according to the county mayor, about 1,300 were displaced to temporary shelters after their homes were inundated by water and mud.   Gapyeong County Mayor Teaweon Seo immediately activated the emergency response system, sending teams of government employees to each township and district, and deploying heavy equipment, including excavators, dump trucks, and pump trucks. The military was called in to reinforce river embankments and remove debris.             “Military equipment and soldiers played a particularly important role in dangerous areas difficult for civilians to access,” said Mayor Seo, who was onsite daily to personally assess the situation. “The greatest challenge was the inability to restore all sites simultaneously due to the extent of the damage. Resources and equipment were limited, and areas at risk of landslides were difficult to access. Some villages had completely lost roads and bridges, requiring helicopters to deliver relief supplies.” Gapyeong County Mayor Seo (left, wearing a light-yellow coat) and Gyeonggi Province Governor Dong-yeon Kim (center, wearing a yellow vest) inspect the flood site.  ©Gapyeong County Office Seo then escalated the issue to Governor Dong-yeon Kim of Gyeonggi Province, where Gapyeong is situated. Governor Kim was also on the scene on July 20 and made follow-up visits in subsequent days to monitor the situation. He then set up a support headquarters, deployed members of the Civil Service Volunteer Corps, and contacted Minister of the Interior and Safety Ho-jung Yun to request that Gapyeong County be designated as a special disaster area. The Ministry of Interior and Safety then designated Gapyeong County as one of six special disaster areas , making available disaster relief funds to rebuild both public facilities and individual households. Expanded funding allowed Gyeonggi Governor Kim to allocate provincial relief funds to small businesses, farming households, and bereaved families.   WFWP’s Flood Relief Cleanup Efforts   While the government and the military worked to stabilize embankments, build temporary bridges, and divert traffic to safe passageways, local residents (many of whom are elderly) were struggling to clear mud from their homes and salvage their lives. Go Eun Kim, President of WFWP Korea.  ©The Earth & I Upon receiving reports of the natural disaster and extensive damage in Gapyeong, the women at the WFWP Korea headquarters immediately convened an emergency meeting. “People were suffering and in desperate need of support … I felt a deep sense of responsibility, not only to provide material help but to express solidarity and compassion,” said Mrs. Kim, president of WFWP Korea.   WFWP issued a call to action through its regional chapters. Within the first two days, 110 members joined the effort, and over the course of the following two weeks, more than 400 volunteers from 65 WFWP chapters across South Korea took part. Participants included WFWP members and their families (husbands and children), students, and interfaith peace activists.   “Many adjusted their work schedules or took personal leave to join, demonstrating extraordinary solidarity and compassion,” Mrs. Kim said. “Our plan of action centered on two key principles: rapid mobilization and heartfelt service.” As the Gapyeong County Office was focusing on disaster relief and infrastructure rebuilding, WFWP’s volunteers stepped in to coordinate and assign volunteers to help families, in close communication with the WFWP Gapyeong chapter. WFWP members and HJ Peace Corps volunteers shoveling soil and sand from around flood-stricken homes and placing them in sacks for removal.  ©WFWP “The scenes we encountered were devastating,” Mrs. Kim said. “Entire homes were buried in mud, elderly residents were stranded without power or communication, and families were overwhelmed by loss—both material and emotional. Beyond the visible destruction, there was a deep sense of helplessness and grief in the community. Our volunteers not only helped clean debris but also offered emotional comfort, often simply by being present and listening.” Local women’s associations and church networks provided crucial on-the-ground information and helped volunteers identify vulnerable households in need of urgent assistance. “Their cooperation was vital in tailoring our support to the unique needs of each community,” Mrs. Kim said.   Based on this information, WFWP organized teams that helped with removing mud and debris from elderly care facilities, restoring kitchens and community spaces, organizing temporary meal stations, and supporting basic sanitation. Teams worked in shifts to manually clear hallways and dining areas filled with sludge. In farming areas, volunteers cleared fields of stones and branches and helped to plant new crops. Each volunteer group was led by an experienced regional coordinator to ensure order and safety. WFWP members organizing food and other items in the kitchen of a flood-stricken home in the Gapyeong area.  ©WFWP The work was physically and emotionally demanding, but the volunteers were committed and persistent. “Although it was a hot day, we cleaned up the flooded houses, organized household items and household appliances, and cleared tree branches and blocked drains,” said Mrs. Chiho Shinohara, chairwoman of the WFWP Gangwon Branch, which sent 21 volunteers. “It was particularly meaningful because the volunteers included young people and students on vacation.” WFWP chapters also collected donations from their membership, which were used to provide food and household necessities to those in need.   “We were met with deep gratitude and heartfelt emotion,” said Mrs. Kim. “Some residents, overwhelmed by the sudden loss of family members and neighbors, tearfully expressed, ‘In the midst of such devastation, we didn’t know where to begin, but you came and extended a helping hand, and for that, we are truly thankful.’”    Long-term Impacts One month after the disaster, many residents are still struggling to rebuild their lives. “The biggest problem is housing,” said Mayor Seo.   “Those whose homes were completely destroyed need long-term replacement housing. While water, electricity, and communication services have been restored for most households through emergency repairs, many [others] have lost all basic necessities. Many residents have lost their livelihoods, with household items and farm machinery gone,” he said.   Full restoration of the area’s infrastructure will take two to three years, the mayor said. “In agriculture, damage to greenhouses, storage facilities and crops disrupted harvesting and shipping. In tourism, major hiking trails and campsites suffered damage, leading to numerous cancellations,” he said. “The local economy inevitably suffered.”   Beyond restoration, government leaders aim to prevent recurrence by improving structural safety, including river restoration, drainage expansion, and embankment reinforcement. Insights for Future Response Through this experience, “we reaffirmed that the speed of the initial response determines the extent of damage,” said Mayor Seo. It is important to be prepared with sufficient equipment and personnel, he said, including cooperation with village-level organizations to enhance initial response capabilities. Also, evacuation training for residents is necessary.   As for WFWP, Mrs. Kim said, “We gained three key insights from this experience: the necessity of advance preparedness systems, the importance of strong local partnerships, and the central role of emotional care in disaster response. As natural disasters become more frequent in our time, we plan to establish regional, women-led emergency response networks throughout the country. These networks will be supported by ongoing training in crisis psychology and rapid-response coordination to enhance our organizational resilience and preparedness.”   Emotional support is an often-overlooked element of disaster response that NGOs like WFWP are in a unique position to provide. As Mayor Seo said, “It gave the affected residents a sense of psychological comfort, a sense that they were not alone. While material support was important, the sweat and tears shared on the ground, offering comfort, bolstered the residents' will to recover.”   The women volunteers of WFWP have made a long-term commitment to the people of Gapyeong Country, and they plan to continue their support until the victims’ lives return to normal. Working there has been a very meaningful experience for many of them, Mrs. Kim said.   “Initially, the magnitude of the damage felt overwhelming. But as days passed, we witnessed tangible change—not just in the physical environment but in the emotional atmosphere. Homes became livable again. Smiles slowly returned. Neighbors began helping neighbors. It reminded us that small, sincere actions can ignite profound transformation.”   This is the essence of WFWP’s mission, Mrs. Kim explained. “Volunteerism is not simply a choice for us—it is at the very heart of who we are. This was a moment when we put into action the words of our founding mother, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, who has continually emphasized: ‘Embrace, serve, and heal humanity with the heart of a mother.’ This is the founding spirit of the Women’s Federation for World Peace, and the beginning of the true, sustainable peace we strive to cultivate and bear witness to.” *Kathleen Hwang   is a writer and editor living in South Korea. She formerly worked as a reporter for The Washington Times , correspondent for United Press International, and editor for Asia Literary Review .   The author interviewed Gapyeong County Governor Teaweon Seo and WFWP Korea President Go Eun Kim, and their responses were translated into English.

Experts Sound Alarm for Lost Mammal Habitat, Populations By Dhanada Mishra* Will there always be wild elephants? ©lara zanarini/iStock The conservation world went quiet on May 29 when Valmik Thapar—India’s "Tiger Warrior"—took his last breath. For 50 years, his raspy voice had thundered through bureaucratic halls, fighting for Bengal tigers when only 1,411 remained. There are 3,167 today . In his obituary in The Hindu,   Thapar’ s  family said he dedicated much of his life “in the searing heat or an icy cold winter morning” to establishing forest reserves and tiger  corridors throughout the country.  Days later, as World Environment Day  passed, people received fresh news that they are not doing enough to save wildlife. Bengal tigers in India’s Kanha National Park.   Ashish Mahaur  (CC BY-SA 4.0) Valmik Thapar   Zaidshehzad1991  (CC BY-SA 3) The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed many kinds of lemurs, monkeys, langurs, macaques, and gibbons in its “Primates in Peril”  report of the world’s 25 most endangered primates 2023-2025. Consider the African elephant, not as a statistic, but as Hope —a 55-year-old matriarch in Kenya’s Amboseli National Park . Satellite collars show her herd’s range has shrunk 40% since her birth. She’s witnessed poachers kill her sisters and Africa’s droughts starve her calves. Currently, the African savanna elephant  is considered “endangered” and the African forest elephant  is “critically endangered,” according to the IUCN Red List. In the last 53 years, “[f]orest elephant sites have declined on average by 90%, whereas savanna elephant sites have declined by 70%,” according to a 2024 PNAS study. However, Hope’s life story mirrors the species’ struggles: In the last 53 years, “[f]orest elephant sites have declined  on average by 90%, whereas savanna elephant sites have declined by 70%,” according to a 2024 PNAS study . Researchers used data on elephant population surveys done at 475 sites in 37 countries from 1964 through 2016. Over the decades, poaching and habitat loss reduced the populations at the sites; however, conservation efforts helped savanna elephants rebuild their numbers, the PNAS study said. Large, wild mammals like Hope are already scarce: Land mammals, large and small, constitute just 2% of Earth’s mammal biomass , while marine mammals make up another 2%, says a 2022  article in OurWorldinData.org . The same study finds humans make up 34% of the mammal biomass. But the livestock humans raise—including cattle, pigs, buffalo, sheep, goats, horses, camels, and asses—is 62%. In one sense, it could be said that humanity has turned much of the Earth’s landmass into factory farms and ranches, with wildlife relegated to shrinking islands of land. An estimated 96% of Earth’s animal biomass comprises humans and their livestock. (cc) Ahmet Çığşar In Sumatra’s Batang Toru rainforest, a different tragedy may be unfolding. A male Tapanuli orangutan— one of only 800 left —is already the rarest great ape. The species was only discovered in 2017, according to an article in Current Biology . "There are no captive lifelines," geneticist Christian Roos of the German Primate Center warns . "This species could vanish before most people learn its name." The average size of monitored wildlife populations has declined by 73%  since 1970, according to World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF)  Living Planet Report 2024 . The Tapanuli orangutan habitat, which is being fragmented by a hydroelectric dam, could be seen as a microcosm of the global onslaught. The average size of monitored wildlife populations has declined by 73%  since 1970,  according to World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF)   Living Planet Report 2024 . WWF notes that the percentage change in the index “reflects the average proportional change in monitored animal population sizes at sites around the world, not the number of individual animals lost, nor the number of populations lost.” The steepest drops in monitored wildlife populations are “recorded in Latin America and the Caribbean (95%),” the WWF report adds. This was followed by Africa (76%), Asia–Pacific (60%), North America (39%), and Europe and Central Asia (35%). “When nature is compromised, it is more vulnerable to climate change and edges closer to dangerous and irreversible regional tipping points,” WWF Chief Scientist Rebecca Shaw said when the WWF report was released in October 2024. Rare lemur ( Propithecus diadema ) in Madagascar. ©mirecca/ iStock Why Are Sanctuaries Failing? Europe’s protected areas offer a grim answer. A June 2025 Guardian   investigation revealed that —even in these guarded havens—"numbers of flying insects in 63 reserves [in Germany] fell by 75% in under 30 years.”   The authors of a 2022 study in Nature  wrote that “ Calls  to conserve 30% of the Earth’s surface by 2030 are gathering pace, but we show that protection alone does not guarantee good biodiversity outcomes." Climate-related issues, such as drought and erosion, and even invasive species, ignore park boundaries. Poachers, pollutants, and other climate impacts are not stopped by fences. "You cannot protect what you don’t value." Thapar understood this. His genius wasn’t just creating tiger reserves—it was making them work. He armed rangers with military-grade gear, lobbied for life sentences for poachers, and convinced villages that living tigers brought more tourism revenue than dead ones could fetch on the black market. "You cannot protect what you don’t value," he often said . His model offers a blueprint, yet scaling it demands unprecedented global will. Amboseli National Park has become a “ symbol of hope ” for the African elephant ( Loxodonta   africana ), as well as the Maasai giraffe ( Giraffa tippelskirchi ). The park’s success in recovering elephant and giraffe populations depends on habitat protection and community-based conservation and anti-poaching efforts, including compensating herdsmen for cattle killed by elephants, thus lowering incidents of revenge killing . “The fight is far from over,“ the park admits. “The privatization of migratory lands,” they add, remains a major threat to the “long-term survival of these species.” The Unravelling Web When mammals vanish, ecosystem imbalances multiply: In Yellowstone National Park, wolves  keep elk from devouring young trees that lock away carbon. In the oceans, whale excrement fertilizes phytoplankton that absorb 4 0% of CO₂ emissions. Bats control mosquito populations that carry Z ika and malaria. Losing them isn’t just an ecological tragedy—it’s societal suicide. When insect populations crash in Europe’s reserves, pollination fails. As elephants disappear, seed dispersal stops, weakening forests that stabilize the climate. "The situation is dramatic. If we don't act now, we will lose some of these species forever," says Roos. “In the web of life, every living thing is reliant on the other” Pathways from the Precipice On New Years Day 2025, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged  nations to "exit this road to ruin." Evidence shows wildlife recovery is possible when people commit to: Rewilding Agriculture: Costa Rica doubled its forest cover since the 1980s by paying farmers  to conserve trees rather than clear them. Genetic Rescue: Moving isolated Tapanuli orangutans to breed with other groups  could prevent inbreeding and extinction. Crushing Trafficking: INTERPOL estimates  $21 billion/year in illegal wildlife trade. Freezing traffickers’ assets and treating networks like cartels could cripple them. Climate Corridors : Creating wildlife highways linking lowland habitats to cooler highlands  as temperatures rise. "The Earth isn’t running out of time—we are.” Sabeer Bhatia, founder of Hotmail, framed the crisis  on World Environment Day 2025 with chilling clarity: "The Earth isn’t running out of time—we are.” The IPBES’s 2019 global assessment report  validates his warning, stating that “it is probabl e that at least a million animal and plant species—more than one in eight—already face global extinction." Over 40% of Insect species—foundational to food chains— are threatened  with extinction . The Somali wild ass, which may have less than 700 individuals in the wild, is critically endangered, according to IUCN Red List. ( Equus asinus somalicus )  (cc) T.Voekler  (CC-BY-SA-3.0) In Sumatra, rangers plant fig trees—orangutan favorites—along forest edges. In India, Thapar’s disciples patrol tiger lands, using AI-poaching prediction algorithms. Their battle isn’t just about saving species. It’s about preserving wonder, stability, and humanity’s place in a living world.   As twilight deepens over Hope the elephant, her shadow stretches long across the savanna. It mirrors humanity’s choice: solidarity with life, or the deafening silence of a planet where the wild heart no longer beats. *Dhanada K Mishra is a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Michigan and is currently working as the Managing Director of a Hong Kong-based AI startup for building technology for the sustainability of built infrastructure ( www.raspect.ai ). He writes on environmental issues, sustainability, the climate crisis, and built infrastructure.

Sunscreen Protects Skin, But Can Be Toxic to Marine Life By Francesca Bell-Miller* Applying sunscreen is typical especially during the summer.  ©iStock/MelkiNimages Day after day, the Sun provides the heat and light that allows life to flourish on Earth. Its powerful rays impact the wind, clouds, ocean currents, and countless other essential activities on the planet.   But due to the Sun’s high temperatures, especially in summer months, humanity is constantly seeking peaceful coexistence with it.   A robust “sun protection” industry has emerged to literally block sunrays, sparing people from dangerous sunburns and even cancer. Yet, concerns have now risen about the chemical components in sun products that can threaten fragile environments, such as coral reefs.   As a result, the industry is doing introducing products it deems “reef friendly,” according to The New York Times .   The Sun’s Powerful Rays The Sun emits energy in a spectrum, from infrared radiation (which is felt as heat) to visible light and invisible light, including ultraviolet (UV) waves. Research has shown that unprotected exposure to certain types of UV radiation , specifically UV-A and UV-B, causes skin issues—including cancer—as well as eye damage. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70, says the Personal Care Products Council , a trade group for manufacturers of cosmetics and products such as sunscreens.   To deal with UV radiation, people have taken to using topical sun protection, with specific properties depending on the country . There are two types of sun protection : physical blockers that reflect UV rays (sunblock) and chemical blockers that absorb UV rays (sunscreen). The terms “sunblock” and “sunscreen” are often used interchangeably.    Given the “consistent growth” of the sun protection skin care industry, … the use of topical sun protection raises concerns of it leaching into the environment.   However, given the “consistent growth” of the sun protection skin care industry—with revenue projected to reach about $13.5 billion by 2028 , according to Market.us Media—the use of topical sun protection raises concerns of it leaching into the environment. It is thus important to be aware of the properties of topical sun protection and its potential environmental impacts.   Physical and Chemical Blockers The first sunscreens were developed over the 1880s and early 1890s, until emerging as ready-to-buy topical creams, such as Coppertone and Glacier Cream in the 1940s, according to a published history  by Baylor University Medical Center.   Physical blockers, more commonly known as mineral sunscreens, reflect  UV radiation  away from the skin. Zinc oxide or titanium dioxide (also known as inorganic UV filters) are typically the active ingredients in mineral sunscreens. In micronized sunscreens (with very small particle sizes), however, “the mechanism of action is similar to that of chemical filters,” says a 2020 study , such as for zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.  Top examples of mineral sunscreens include products like MDSolarSciences Mineral Moisture Defense SPF 50 and Australian Gold Mineral SPF 50 , according to Forbes magazine . Titanium dioxide can be found in paint pigments, glass, cosmetics, and some foods, in addition to sunblock.  © Yasmina et al. 2021  (CC BY 4.0) Chemical filters or blockers have active ingredients that absorb UV rays before the skin can soak them up. Also known as organic UV filters, these include oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, and octinoxate, and 55 different types  are registered for use worldwide. Oxybenzone , for example, is used in cosmetics but is known to cause eye and respiratory irritation and is “very toxic to aquatic life.”   Chemical sunscreens without oxybenzone include products like Banana Boat Light As Air SPF 50+, Solimo Sheer Face Sunscreen SPR 50+, and Black Girl SPF 30, according to The New York Times .   The US set standards in 1999 for the maximum concentration of active ingredients in sunscreen. For example, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide can be up to 25%, while others such as oxybenzone and dioxybenzone can be up to 6% and 3%, respectively. Concentration limits vary  worldwide based on different regulations.   Given these limitations, along with how the absorbed UV spectrum varies  with each active ingredient, a single sunscreen may have a combination of various active ingredients. Typically, three to eight organic UV filters —up to 15% of the sunscreen’s total mass—can be found in a single sunscreen. SPF and UV Protection The US Food and Drug Administration ( FDA) defines SPF   (sun protection factor) as a measurement of the amount of (absorbed) UV radiation required to produce sunburn on protected skin versus unprotected skin. This means that SPF is not directly correlated with the amount of time spent under the sun, as the sun’s intensity varies throughout the day. Other factors such as skin color (with lighter skin absorbing more solar radiation) and weather (with clouds absorbing some of the solar radiation) can affect the amount of UV radiation required before sunburn. Thus, a higher SPF value means a protected person can tolerate a higher amount of UV radiation before getting sunburned. According to Raman Madan, MD, a dermatologist with Northwell Health , SPF values can be expressed in a different way: SPF 2 “protects against 50% of UVB rays” and SPF 10 to 100 protects against 90% to 99% of UVB rays. “The difference between SPF 30 and SPF 100 is marginal at most,” he says.   Environmental Impacts of Sunscreen Sunscreen leaches into the marine environment, whether directly (from swimming) or indirectly (such as from wastewater), resulting in UV filters being absorbed by marine species.   A 2022 study , for example, estimated that a thousand swimmers could deposit more than 36 kg (79 lbs.) of sunscreen per day into the water. The researchers said the freshwater “beach showers” in tourist locations were especially likely to transfer sunscreen into coastal waters. Sunscreen can leach into the water while swimming.  Pexels/Larry Snickers (Free for use) According to a 2022 study by the National Academies of Science (NAS), measurements of most organic UV filters in water were below 1 microgram per liter (µg/L), with the exception of five UV filters in the range of 1 to 10 µg/L. While this is below the Environmental Protection Agency’s standard of 1,000 µg/L for “highly toxic,” some UV filters (such as for zinc oxide, oxybenzone, and dioxybenzone) had organisms with lethal concentrations under this threshold, along with three UV filters (avobenzone, octocrylene, and octinoxate) having organisms with lethal concentrations under 100 µg/L. The study also acknowledges that “[t]he compounds used as UV filters are not used exclusively in products marketed as sunscreens. Many different products may contribute to the release and detection of UV filters in the environment.” A 2025 review   by University of Plymouth researchers of studies on the impacts of UV filters on marine organisms goes through a list of species and UV filter(s) tested on each species. For example, titanium dioxide was found to cause rapid bleaching, growth inhibition, and reduced moisture content in corals ( Zoanthus sp. ), skeletal malformations in sea urchins ( Paracentrotus lividus ), and death for zooplankton ( Brachionus plicatilis ) used for fish larvae feed. Zinc oxide was found to inhibit growth in various algae and cellular damage in the Mediterranean mussel ( Mytilus galloprovincialis ). It was estimated … that 25% of the sunscreen used by 78 million tourists—or about 4,000–6,000 tons—leached into reef areas in tropical countries. It was estimated in a 2008 study , for example, that 25% of the sunscreen used by 78 million tourists—or about 4,000–6,000 tons—leached into reef areas in tropical countries. Since then, the 2025 review  claims that “6,000–14,000 tons of UV filters wash into coral reef zones every year.” Coral bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia in 2015.  © The Ocean Agency  / Ocean Image Bank UV filters such as oxybenzone and benzophenone-2 are a concern, as sunscreen with oxybenzone has been banned in Hawaii  since 2021 and benzophenone-2 is a genotoxicant  (or causes genetic damage) to corals. One 2015 study  goes as far as to say that oxybenzone, also a genotoxicant to corals, “poses a hazard to coral reef conservation and threatens the resiliency of coral reefs to climate change.” A blog by the Victoria University of Wellington claims that at “concentrations comparable to one drop in 6 and a half Olympic-sized swimming pools, these compounds are a detriment to coral species.” Unfortunately, traditional sewage and water treatment technologies, such as ozonation, cannot remove most UV filter compounds from the water, so overuse should be avoided. There has been research, however, on using biodegradable microbeads  to absorb the oxybenzone and then removing the microbeads through the use of magnets. Recommendations In light of NAS’s 2022 study, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration   recommends mineral sunscreen over those with chemical UV filters, seeking shade between 10 am and 2 pm, using umbrellas and hats, as well as wearing UV protective clothing as an alternative. When applying sunscreen, the FDA recommends   2 milligrams per square centimeter of skin, which is the same amount used for testing SPF. A girl wearing a UV protective swimsuit. ©Flickr/Eco Stinger (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) Consumers can begin to look for “reef safe” notations on the sunscreens they buy, said The New York Times , noting that Hero Superlight Sunscreen SPF 30 and Vanicream Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30 were examples of such products. A group called Save the Reef, which has a Reef Safe Sunscreen Guide , urges consumers to check ingredients and avoid 10 items. According to Harvard Health , everyone should use sunscreen because “we are all at risk of the adverse effects of UV radiation and can benefit from protection,” even more so for those with lighter skin. “We recommend sunscreen for skin cancer prevention, including melanoma prevention, which has been demonstrated in cohort studies as well as prospective randomized trials,” says Dr. Jennifer Lin of Harvard Medical School in a 2021 interview . Regardless of skin color, “people looking to ward off the aging effects from sun would still benefit from sun-protective habits, which include sunscreen, sun-protective clothing, and sun avoidance,” she adds. *Francesca Bell-Miller is a freelance writer and editor who currently resides in New England. She has worked on articles, newsletters, memoirs, and novels and aspires to publish her own novels. She believes strongly in the magic of language & storytelling. Danika Cantrell , a freelance writer, assisted with research for the article.