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Conservationists hail scientists’ western rewilding blueprint as “a major call to action” to the Biden administration

by sharonstjoanLeave a Comment on Conservationists hail scientists’ western rewilding blueprint as “a major call to action” to the Biden administration

Natural History Wanderings

EarthJustice News Release

Conservationists today hailed a new scientific study that identifies an ambitious network of protected areas, with wolf and beaver restoration as a centerpiece, as a sound strategy for restoring native ecosystems and wildlife diversity on western public lands. The benefits of this proposal would contribute significantly to stream restoration and help mitigate drought, wildfires, and climate change. The study uses scientific modeling to identify 11 large-scale reserves, then identified connectivity habitats to allow the dispersal of native species among the Western Rewilding Network.

“This scientific blueprint for large landscape conservation, and its focus on retiring public land livestock operations and restoring wolves and beavers is a major call to action for policymakers in Congress and the administration,” said Erik Molvar, a wildlife biologist and executive director of Western Watersheds Project. “The ecological success of Yellowstone National Park shows that this combination restores biodiversity, and replicating this…

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Hiking in Taiwan: More than Trails in Xitou

by sharonstjoanLeave a Comment on Hiking in Taiwan: More than Trails in Xitou
Hiking in Taiwan: More than Trails in Xitou

Parkbus Taiwan

Deep in the central mountains of Nantou County is Lugu Township and a spectacular forest park. Once a site used by students of the University of Tokyo during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, sits Xitou Nature Education Area. This unique protected area is actually part of a much larger experimental forest owned and operated by National Taiwan University.

Visitors are drawn to Xitou for its trails and paths that criss-cross the beautiful forests and valleys. But there is something more here to discover too. Whether it’s the unique and endemic birds, insects and other wildlife or perhaps it’s the interpretation and sheer range of plants and tree species that are found in Xitou.

Here’s the only guide you’ll need to explore the best of Xitou Nature Education Area:

Walk on the Skywalk

Well we know we said there is more to the park than just the trails and paths, but…

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The plan to turn half the world into a reserve for nature

by sharonstjoanLeave a Comment on The plan to turn half the world into a reserve for nature

Exposing the Big Game

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https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200318-the-worlds-largest-nature-reserve

(Image credit:Getty Images)

Nature is going through a mass extinction as habitats are changed beyond recognition by human activity (Credit: Getty Images)

By Jim Robbins18th March 2020FromYale e360

Scientists and conservationists are proposing that up to half of Earth’s land and oceans be protected for nature. Is it a necessary step or a pipe dream?

A

As humans continue to rapidly expand the scope of their domination of nature – bulldozing and burning down forests and other natural areas, wiping out species, and breaking down ecosystem functions – a growing number of influential scientists and conservationists think that protecting half of the planet in some form is going to be key to keeping it habitable.

The idea first received public attention in 2016 when E.O. Wilson, the legendary 90-year-old conservation biologist, published the idea in his bookHalf Earth: Our Planet’s Fight for Life.“We now have enough measurements of extinction rates…

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Snowy Sierra~

by sharonstjoan2 Comments on Snowy Sierra~

We have decided not to stay home anymore. We are going to resume our regular vagabonding, as safely as we can. We left sunny Southern California,

for some cold Sierra snow.

Sunset on the peaks are lovely.

But is quite nippy.

Winds on the peaks are 55-75 mph, with temps approaching 0 F,

gets your attention skiing!

View towards The White Mountains from The Sierras.

We’ve come 6 weeks after an epic storm.

It has been sunny, but cold since.

Maybe these folks are gonna wait till spring to dig out? I don’t blame them.

Cheers to you from the chilly Sierra~

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Wild Mustangs of Mono Lake~

by sharonstjoanLeave a Comment on Wild Mustangs of Mono Lake~

Really beautiful animals!

Officially named The Montgomery Pass Wild Horses, (click to enlarge)

these mustangs have a range of 50,185 acres,

spanning the borders of California and Nevada.

Photos were taken on the south shore of Mono Lake in California.

There has been no human round up, or baiting population control efforts, with this herd for the past thirty years.

They are the only herd in the US whose population is managed entirely by mountain lion predation.

These guys are clearly advising me not to come much closer!

There were only two other people here in the winter and you can see the horses seemed more interested in the people, than visa versa.

These are shy and elusive creatures, I was fortunate to spend time with them.

I didn’t have my zoom lens and was pleased they allowed me in shooting distance.

The herd is estimated to have a population of over a…

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Randomly Saturday – Thoughts I May have had Before

by sharonstjoan1 Comment on Randomly Saturday – Thoughts I May have had Before

antilandscaper

Wonders of life

All around us

Even below our feet

Letting go of what we know

To begin see all the unknowns


A feeling that there is

More to life

Than we ever imagined

Thanks to loujen haxm’Yor https://loujenhaxmyor.com/ for reminding me of an old post I had done https://theantilandscaper.org/2014/04/24/collaboration-on-oldest-living-things/

Thanks all

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