The hottest Conservation Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

🚼 America's worst public intellectual, RIP

Faster, Please! • 2376 implied HN points • 16 Mar 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. A high-profile scientist's bestselling book and repeated TV appearances pushed an urgent overpopulation message into the mainstream and made apocalyptic thinking widely familiar.
  2. When mainstream TV gives big audiences regular access to doomsday-minded experts, it can normalize fear and shift public attitudes about technological risks like AI.
  3. That kind of media-driven alarmism helped shape decades of pessimism about technology, economic growth, and humanity's future.

It's time to abolish Natural England

Odds and Ends of History • 1675 implied HN points • 25 Feb 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Politicians often pass politically risky decisions to arm's-length bodies to avoid blame, but that can prevent the government from actually delivering its strategy.
  2. Natural England’s statutory role in planning acts like a de facto veto—through SSSIs, nutrient rules and SANG requirements—causing delays and blocking housing projects even when the environmental case is weak.
  3. Abolishing or substantially reforming Natural England would put environmental trade-offs back with elected ministers so politicians must own the consequences, while keeping technical enforcement and data roles separate.

Thinking about lying

The Crucial Years • 2939 implied HN points • 02 Feb 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. The fossil fuel industry knew climate science but chose deception to protect profits, and that long campaign of denial taught political leaders to treat reality as optional and to lie shamelessly.
  2. Independent journalism and a commitment to the truth are essential; supporting trustworthy reporting and refusing to give up are key defenses against steady political falsehoods.
  3. Despite powerful obstruction, the clean energy transition is making real progress — EV adoption, cheaper renewables, local solar and battery projects, and targeted pressure on a concentrated set of polluters mean the fight is winnable.

The Pando Edition

Why is this interesting? • 784 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Pando isn’t a forest of separate trees but one giant organism made of many trunks sprouting from a shared underground root system.
  2. It challenges the idea of an individual. What looks like many trees behaves like a single, redundant system—like a server farm or RAID array—where visible parts can be swapped while hidden infrastructure keeps things running.
  3. Even resilient systems have limits; human actions like fire suppression and unchecked deer populations are stressing Pando and could push its redundancy past a breaking point.

The Blue Whales Have Stopped Singing

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2370 implied HN points • 08 Dec 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. The natural world is collapsing — whales fall silent, krill vanish, and oceans warm, signaling urgent ecological decline.
  2. Communities and people are enduring deep social and economic collapse, with addiction, abandoned towns, war, and widespread human suffering intertwined.
  3. In response to this ruin, small acts of tenderness and solidarity — meeting, sharing stories, and tending to one another’s wounds — offer a way to cope, resist, and heal.
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Kitty's Key West Adventure

Who is Robert Malone • 28 implied HN points • 14 Mar 26
🏝 Travel Conservation
  1. Key West is a warm, relaxed, and very dog-friendly vacation spot with great restaurants, a charming Old Town, and strong boating and snorkeling options; most sandy beaches are on the island's south side near Smathers Beach.
  2. Snorkeling at Looe Key Reef is spectacular with clear water, vibrant fish, and colorful corals, but reefs are under serious stress from pollution and disease; restoration and selective breeding or gene-based approaches are being explored, though they carry risks and don’t replace reducing pollution.
  3. Traveling with a small dog is doable but requires planning — some flights or carriers may need a veterinary health certificate, rental and ferry options vary, and many local businesses and charters are pet-friendly if you check ahead.

One Thing Becomes A Million Things

Everything Is Amazing • 801 implied HN points • 17 Jan 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Sleeping outdoors can turn a vague idea of "nature" into a million small details — learning to ID trees and routines makes the world feel more familiar and alive.
  2. Modern wild camping is often practical and gear-driven: people use tarps, ridgelines, cars or vans, gyms and laundrettes to make living outside feasible while trying to follow Leave No Trace.
  3. It comes with real trade-offs — legal and safety risks, a risk of feeling privileged or exploitative, and the danger of treating nature as a quick health cure — so be cautious, respectful and realistic.

Are bees booming or dying off?

Sustainability by numbers • 439 implied HN points • 20 Jan 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Farmed honeybee colonies and global honey production have generally increased, so managed honeybees (kept as livestock) are doing relatively well in many places.
  2. Many wild bee species are declining: their ranges and recorded species richness have fallen and some face higher extinction risk.
  3. More managed honeybees can harm wild bees by competing for resources and spreading pathogens, so rising hive numbers do not mean all bee species are thriving.

Revenge of the Wild: The Changing Game of Human-Wildlife Conflict

Adetokunbo Sees • 312 implied HN points • 25 Jan 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Many animals are changing their feeding habits and moving into human areas — mosquitoes, elephants, and rats are leaving shrinking habitats, raiding crops and settlements, and living off our waste.
  2. This shift is increasing human–wildlife conflict now and is expected to grow by 2050, with more places becoming suitable for disease-carrying mosquitoes, crop-raiding elephants, and larger urban rat populations.
  3. Experts say preventing worse conflicts means cutting fossil fuel use, reducing consumption, and switching to renewable energy to slow climate change and protect habitats.

Whales Die, While Officials, Media, and Environmentalists Lie

RESCUE with Michael Capuzzo • 7567 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Whales are dying along the East Coast due to offshore wind turbines and oil & gas drilling, raising concerns about environmental impacts.
  2. There is uncertainty and disagreement among experts and agencies about the connection between offshore wind activities and whale deaths.
  3. Offshore wind projects may have limited impact on global emissions and climate change, but they are still considered integral for state plans.

The Silent Fall: How Climate Change Is Killing the World’s Trees - and our Future

Adetokunbo Sees • 312 implied HN points • 18 Jan 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Trees worldwide — old growth, newly planted, and reforested — are dying much faster because of hotter, drier conditions, wildfires, pests and disease linked to climate change.
  2. Widespread tree loss could release huge amounts of carbon, raise local temperatures, worsen flooding, and threaten species and human resources like medicine, food and fuel.
  3. Preventing a worse crisis requires cutting emissions and protecting existing forests; shifting to renewables and safeguarding old-growth trees are key since many new saplings also fail to survive.

Shape-Shifting Planet: How Rising Heat Is Reshaping Life on Earth

Adetokunbo Sees • 104 implied HN points • 07 Feb 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Global temperatures have risen rapidly in recent decades, producing the hottest years on record and pushing warming toward and beyond pre-industrial levels.
  2. Rising heat is already forcing biological changes — animals and plants are shifting ranges, changing body size and breeding times, and showing genetic responses to survive higher temperatures.
  3. If warming continues, habitat loss, higher mortality, and widespread coral bleaching will worsen. Continued burning of fossil fuels is a main driver and reducing it is needed to avoid the worst impacts.

Buzzzzzzzzz

The Crucial Years • 2959 implied HN points • 08 Jun 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Insect populations are declining rapidly, mainly due to climate change and shifting weather patterns. This affects entire ecosystems since many animals, like birds, rely on insects for food.
  2. Solar farms are proving to be beneficial for both insects and birds. They provide a safe habitat where insects can thrive, which in turn helps increase bird populations in those areas.
  3. Using solar panels on farmland could replace inefficient corn production while providing all the energy the U.S. needs. This shift can help combat climate change and support biodiversity.

The Quiet Gutting of Yosemite

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1488 implied HN points • 16 Aug 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Yosemite National Park is facing serious issues like overflowing trash and poor food quality due to budget cuts. It's not getting the care it needs to stay beautiful and safe.
  2. Conservation efforts in the park have stalled, meaning important projects to protect the environment aren't happening as they should be.
  3. Visitors are experiencing long waits to enter the park, and while they can enjoy its beauty, they also see signs of neglect around them.

Camouflage for nests, "nests" for language survival, & tumour hijacking strategies

The Strategy Toolkit • 17 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
🔬 Science Conservation
  1. Elaborately draped nest decorations like hanging streamers dramatically lower predation by creating a false shape that confuses visually hunting predators.
  2. This disruptive camouflage works mainly against birds and other visual predators but won’t stop mammals or reptiles that rely on smell, and placing nests over water helps reduce scent-based detection.
  3. Building tails on nests seems to be an evolved adaptation to visual exposure, using conspicuous decorations not to hide but to mislead predators and protect the nest.

High Water and Lake Washington

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 279 implied HN points • 27 Jun 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Lake Washington's water level is controlled artificially now, which is different from how it used to fluctuate naturally by as much as nine feet each year. This change was mainly due to the building of the Lake Washington Ship Canal in 1916.
  2. The current management of the lake helps local properties but is not good for the environment. Plants that normally thrive with seasonal changes are struggling because they can't grow properly in the constant water level.
  3. Union Bay has seen a lot of restoration work from being a dump to a vibrant natural space. It shows that even after mistakes, communities can come together to create a healthier ecosystem.

The Possibility of Pikas

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 419 implied HN points • 02 May 24
🔬 Science Conservation
  1. Pikas are small mammals that usually live in rocky areas at high elevations, but some have been found at lower elevations, like the Columbia River Gorge. These unique habitats help them survive despite the warmer climate.
  2. Researchers found that moss plays an important role for pikas at lower elevations by keeping them cooler and happier. Moss helps create a nice environment for these little creatures as temperatures can often be too hot for them.
  3. Pikas are adapting to their new lower habitats by spending less energy storing food for winter and more time in the shade of trees. This shows they might have the ability to adjust to climate change better than some other animals.

The Monday Media Diet with Michael Lorentz

Why is this interesting? • 1025 implied HN points • 16 Jun 25
🏝 Travel Conservation
  1. Guiding safaris isn't just about spotting animals. It's more about understanding the silence and the stories of the wilderness.
  2. It's important to read widely and explore different viewpoints to avoid being stuck in a bubble of comfort. This helps you learn and grow.
  3. Photography connects nature with creativity. It encourages you to slow down and pay better attention to the world around you.

How can we rewild the Earth at scale?

The Novelleist • 912 implied HN points • 30 Jun 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Rewilding means restoring nature and biodiversity on a large scale. This can start at home, focusing on planting native species and fostering local wildlife.
  2. Humans can play a positive role in nature, rather than being a destructive force. By forming strong relationships with ecosystems and local communities, we can support a healthier planet.
  3. It's important to protect and empower Indigenous communities who have historically cared for the land. Their knowledge and connections can help in rewilding efforts, making conservation more effective.

taylor swift made fox news care about climate change

Airplane Mode with Liz Plank • 864 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Fox News has acknowledged the reality of carbon emissions after reporting on Taylor Swift's private jet use.
  2. Private jets contribute significantly to carbon emissions, with celebrities like Swift producing much more than the average person.
  3. Progressives have proposed various solutions to address private jet emissions, but face resistance from conservatives.

Will Trump Keep Public Lands in Public Hands?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 899 implied HN points • 24 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservation
  1. Public lands should stay accessible to everyone, regardless of wealth. This access allows people to enjoy nature and various activities.
  2. Trump previously promised not to sell off public lands, which was surprising for a real estate developer. It's important to see if he keeps this promise in his next term.
  3. While logging public lands can help manage forests, selling them off is a serious issue. Once sold, these lands will be developed and unavailable for future public enjoyment.

If it destroys life, it is progress?

storyvoyager • 4 implied HN points • 08 Mar 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Progress that destroys ecosystems and species is not real progress; true progress must protect life on Earth.
  2. Economic systems have turned nature and basic needs into commodities, concentrating wealth for a few while wrecking environments and livelihoods.
  3. Technological automation and today's economy make humans increasingly replaceable and consumable, leaving younger generations disillusioned about their value.

Children born in 2100 may never see animals such as penguins

Adetokunbo Sees • 104 implied HN points • 13 Dec 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. If current trends continue, many iconic animals — like emperor penguins, African savannah elephants, and a large share of land species — could vanish from their native ranges by 2100, so children born then might never see them in the wild.
  2. The main drivers are climate change (shrinking sea ice and rising temperatures) together with massive habitat loss from deforestation and human pressures, plus threats like poaching that are already causing steep regional declines.
  3. Significant cuts in fossil fuel emissions and more sustainable land use could prevent many of these losses and reduce future sea level rise, but failing to act will make habitat loss and extinctions far more likely.

We could return three continents of land to the wild

The Novelleist • 434 implied HN points • 30 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. We could bring back a lot of land to nature by changing how we farm. This could help wildlife thrive again and create better ecosystems.
  2. Human activity has caused massive biodiversity loss, but small changes in our diets and energy sources could fix a lot of this damage.
  3. Creating gardens for insects and supporting nature in our own spaces can make a big difference. It helps both wildlife and ourselves feel happier and healthier.

From Ice-Age Mammoths to Serengeti Wildebeest: The Cost of Human Intrusion

Adetokunbo Sees • 104 implied HN points • 06 Dec 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Human expansion and exploitation have repeatedly broken huge animal migrations and driven species to extinction.
  2. The Serengeti-Mara migration is now shrinking because of farming, fences, rising human populations, and luxury tourism, causing major habitat loss and steep wildlife declines.
  3. Protecting migrations will require concrete actions like limiting high-impact developments, banning fences and dams, and cracking down on poaching and the illegal wildlife trade.

No, Kerosene did NOT save the Sperm Whale

Material World • 1323 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Sperm whales have unique features, like the biggest heads and brains among large animals. They are incredible divers and eat mysterious creatures from the ocean's depths.
  2. Whale oil was popular because it made great lantern fuel and was used in various industries. Even after kerosene was discovered, the hunting of sperm whales actually increased due to new uses for their oil.
  3. Whale populations only recovered significantly after international bans on whaling and the development of synthetic substitutes for whale oil. It shows that technology and regulations are important for conservation.

Bird of the Week: Cowbirds

Discourse Blog • 491 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🔬 Science Conservation
  1. Cowbirds are devious birds that survive through deception and thievery
  2. Cowbirds practice brood parasitism, tricking other birds to raise their young
  3. Cowbirds almost drove the Kirtland's Warbler to extinction by parasitizing their nests

The Price of Progress: How Economic Interests Are Destroying the Planet

Adetokunbo Sees • 312 implied HN points • 16 Aug 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Economic interests are leading to the destruction of important ecosystems like rainforests and wetlands. This is troubling because these places help clean our air and support many species.
  2. Many governments prioritize short-term profits over environmental protection, resulting in harmful projects that threaten biodiversity. This could lead to serious consequences for our planet's health.
  3. Robust environmental laws and smarter decisions are needed to protect these special areas. Without these, activities that harm the environment will continue to increase.

Whether the Storm

Field Guide to the Anthropocene • 393 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. In the Anthropocene era, humans must protect and restore the Earth given our excessive impact on its ecosystems.
  2. We need to become rational and compassionate managers of the planet to address climate change and ecological disruptions.
  3. Storms, while disruptive and dangerous, also serve as a reminder of our place in nature and the need to prepare for managing the impacts of extreme weather.

Endangered Promises

Field Guide to the Anthropocene • 393 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. The Endangered Species Act has had successes in saving various species from extinction over the years.
  2. There is a growing resistance against the Endangered Species Act, largely driven by political and industry interests.
  3. Challenges facing the ESA include legislative and judicial attacks, as well as the broader threat of climate change and biodiversity loss.

Bird of the Week: Muscovy Duck

Discourse Blog • 334 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🔬 Science Conservation
  1. The Muscovy Duck is a large duck species with iridescent feathers and a prominent caruncle.
  2. Muscovy Ducks in Florida are considered an invasive species due to irresponsible pet release.
  3. Despite controversies, Muscovy Ducks are adaptable and can thrive in different habitats outside Central and South America.

Tracing a Tragedy

The Forgotten Files • 334 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
💾 History Conservation
  1. William T. Hornaday highlighted the tragic extinction of American Bison and its causes in his report.
  2. The extinction of bison was driven by factors like man's greed, lack of protective measures, and advanced firearms.
  3. Hornaday's efforts led to his influential role in wildlife preservation and saving species from extinction.

Small Islands

rachaelmeager • 337 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Forced resettlement of people for conservation can lead to serious ethical concerns, as it may be viewed as a form of genocide by those affected. It's crucial to balance conservation goals with human rights.
  2. Many people engage in activism mainly for emotional reasons, which can lead to a mix of real concern and performative actions that don’t address the actual issues. Understanding our true motives can help us engage more sincerely.
  3. Smaller crises in the world often get overlooked in favor of larger, more dramatic issues. We should pay attention to these smaller problems, as they are real and affect real people, and acknowledging them allows for a better understanding of larger-scale issues.

Economic Ornithology

Bird History • 379 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🔬 Science Conservation
  1. Before pesticides, birds were valued by farmers for their role in controlling bugs on crops, and economic ornithologists calculated the precise worth of each bird in dollars.
  2. The Bureau of Biological Survey was established to study the economic impact of birds on agriculture, shifting focus to quantify the benefits and drawbacks of various bird species on crops.
  3. Studies conducted by economic ornithologists resulted in a widespread belief in the economic significance of birds in pest control, but the field eventually lost credibility as pesticides and modern agricultural practices took over.

Shifting Habitats: the Great Animal Migration due to Climate Change

Adetokunbo Sees • 312 implied HN points • 19 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Many animals, like mosquitoes and fish, are moving north because of climate change. They're trying to find better places to live as their old homes become too warm.
  2. Birds and insects are arriving at their breeding spots earlier each year due to rising temperatures. This can lead to them missing food supplies when they need them most.
  3. To help migratory species survive, we need to lower greenhouse gas emissions and switch to renewable energy. Working together globally is important to tackle this problem.

First Contact!

Technohumanism • 39 implied HN points • 24 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Conservation
  1. CETI is using advanced technology to understand sperm whales' communication. This shows how AI can help us connect with other species.
  2. There's a humorous aspect to this first contact, highlighting the unexpected ways we might communicate with animals.
  3. The idea raises questions about the limits and responsibilities of using AI in understanding and interacting with wildlife.