The hottest Conservation Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

Nuclear and nature: the love story no one wants to tell

Everything is Light • 157 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation Clean Energy Climate action Nuclear Energy
  1. Some conservation groups oppose new nuclear power plants despite thriving wildlife around existing plants
  2. Building more nuclear power plants displaces fossil fuels, saves lives, and helps fight climate change
  3. Local support for nuclear power plants like Sizewell C is high due to job opportunities and clean energy benefits

The Spirit of Audubon

Bird History • 59 implied HN points • 14 Nov 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Film Conservation Nature History
  1. During the Silent Film Era, the Audubon Society and other conservation-minded individuals created films to entertain, educate, and promote bird conservation through dramas and documentaries.
  2. Filmmaking played a crucial role in promoting bird protection and educating the public during the early 1900s, with nature documentaries and dramas used for classrooms, lectures, and theaters.
  3. The film 'The Spirit of Audubon' showcases how Audubon societies embraced movies to spread bird knowledge, showcasing a shift towards using films as an educational tool to engage the public and especially children.

Bicycle cheer

The ZIPster • 26 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation Renewable Energy Sustainability Green Technology
  1. Brazil's former president Bolsonaro has created a negative impact but has since left, possibly allowing for positive changes in the country.
  2. Positive initiatives around the world include electric car adoption in Norway, book bans in Texas countered by a banned book section in El Paso libraries, and reforestation through drone technology in Canadian forests.
  3. Various efforts worldwide promote bicycle culture, from creative storage solutions in Amsterdam to bike refurbishing programs in the UK benefiting refugees and prisoners.

Problems Posing as Solutions, Part 1

Field Guide to the Anthropocene • 176 implied HN points • 16 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Conservation Sustainability Ecosystems Global impact
  1. To address climate change effectively, we need new, innovative thinking
  2. Carbon dioxide removal and storage technologies like DAC face immense challenges and may not be the most effective solutions
  3. Carbon offsets have limitations and may not be as effective as hoped, requiring more direct action to reduce emissions and protect ecosystems
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Problems Posing as Solutions, Part 3

Field Guide to the Anthropocene • 117 implied HN points • 30 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Ecology Mining Conservation Biodiversity Sustainability
  1. Personal, economic, and ecological problems are often presented as solutions with unforeseen negative consequences.
  2. SUVs are becoming an increasing burden on the planet, posing threats to the environment and public safety.
  3. Seafloor mining, especially in the absence of thorough scientific understanding, risks irreversible damage to deep-sea ecosystems and biodiversity.

Urban birdwatchers, conservation, and bending the biodiversity curve

This Week in Birding • 137 implied HN points • 20 Feb 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation Biodiversity Nature connection Environmental Activism
  1. Biodiversity loss is a significant threat and changing our ways is crucial for restoration.
  2. Landscaping yards with native plants can greatly support bird populations and wildlife.
  3. Engaging urban residents in observing nature can lead to more interest in conservation and restoration efforts.

Eco-tips #1: Stuff you can do for the environment

Technology, Environment, and Art • 19 implied HN points • 19 Dec 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Deforestation Consumption Conservation
  1. Avoid investing in companies contributing to deforestation by researching your retirement funds.
  2. Check if your country has signed the UN High Seas Treaty to protect the oceans and international waters.
  3. Reduce consumption by consuming less and opting for resource-efficient alternatives to cultivate an attitude of respect for the environment.

The three types of changes for a sustainable future

Technology, Environment, and Art • 19 implied HN points • 18 Dec 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability Ecology Conservation Environmental Activism
  1. Type I changes are superficial changes that may sound good but do little to solve sustainability issues.
  2. Type II changes make a significant positive impact on the environment while still operating within current systems.
  3. Type III changes are radical, revolutionary changes that challenge the status quo and are essential for creating a truly sustainable future.

The Community of Air

Field Guide to the Anthropocene • 98 implied HN points • 10 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation Activism Nature Pollution Sustainability
  1. The documentary 'All That Breathes' highlights the powerful connection between empathy and ethics in caring for wounded birds.
  2. Noticing the suffering of the natural world is a crucial step in understanding our place in the Anthropocene era.
  3. The High Seas Treaty signals a transformative shift by regulating human activity to protect ecosystems in the deep oceans.

Good Grief

Field Guide to the Anthropocene • 98 implied HN points • 17 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation Emissions Biodiversity
  1. The Anthropocene is a period of irreversible ecological disruptions caused by humans, requiring acceptance of losses and a commitment to stabilizing the environment.
  2. In the face of global-scale grief and loss in the Anthropocene, finding small but vital lights of hope is crucial.
  3. Individuals making dedicated efforts to protect and heal ecosystems and species offer paths forward in the challenging Anthropocene era.

Building the Future by Hand

Field Guide to the Anthropocene • 98 implied HN points • 05 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability Conservation Renewable Energy Ecology Climate Crisis
  1. The Green Revolution Requires a Blue-Collar Revelation - Trades jobs are in high demand for the clean energy transition.
  2. If You Go to College, Study the Real World - Encouraging students to study practical skills, even alongside a college degree.
  3. Future Career Advice for Students - Emphasizing the importance of hands-on work and making a meaningful impact on the world.

'Birdwatchers and shorebirds both dream of fluddles'

This Week in Birding • 98 implied HN points • 06 Mar 23
🔬 Science Ornithology Conservation Ecology Migration
  1. Shorebirds like sandpipers and plovers are vulnerable due to their small size and need to forage constantly for survival during migration.
  2. Stopover sites for shorebirds, like fluddles, are threatened by human activities like monoculture farming practices.
  3. Efforts are being made to preserve and monitor wetlands like fluddles to provide vital habitats for shorebirds and support their migration journeys.

A History of Window Strikes

Bird History • 39 implied HN points • 13 Sep 23
🔬 Science Ornithology Conservation Technology History
  1. Birds face significant threats from collisions with buildings, resulting in the death of millions of birds each year.
  2. Historically, various structures such as lighthouses, telegraph wires, and buildings have been responsible for causing bird fatalities, spanning over 200 years.
  3. While skyscrapers and towers have the most dramatic effect on bird fatalities, most birds die from collisions with low-rise buildings and residences, highlighting the need for bird-safe design practices.

A requiem for Bell Bowl Prairie

This Week in Birding • 78 implied HN points • 10 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation Ecosystems Biodiversity Activism Legislation
  1. A group gathered at Bell Bowl Prairie to mourn its destruction by a bulldozer.
  2. Efforts to stop the destruction were unsuccessful due to legal system failures and lack of political action.
  3. Advocates call for updating endangered species laws and increasing funding for conservation to prevent similar devastation in the future.

Yes Happy Earth Day!

the rohn report • 59 implied HN points • 22 Apr 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation Diversity Carbon Footprint Ecosystems Wildlife
  1. Celebrate Earth Day by committing to protect the planet's diversity and ecosystems, conserving energy and water, and treating all entities as valuable members of the whole.
  2. Acknowledging the beauty of the planet and the importance of reducing our carbon footprint to maintain its beauty for future generations.
  3. Encouraging the preservation of wildlife, forests, oceans, and the connection between all living beings on Earth.

The Resilience of Life: Ancient Worm Revived After 46,000 Years 🐛

Stemble - for the love of STEM! • 19 implied HN points • 01 Aug 23
🔬 Science Microbiology Genetics Conservation Evolution Biodiversity
  1. A worm was revived after being frozen for 46,000 years, showing the incredible resilience of life.
  2. Cryptobiosis allows organisms to survive extreme conditions by entering a state of suspended animation.
  3. Studying ancient organisms like the revived worm can offer insights for conservation biology and preserving biodiversity.

OpenBeta and LCOs

Open Source Rock Climbing • 19 implied HN points • 07 Apr 23
🎾 Sports Collaboration Community Building Conservation Technology
  1. Local Climbing Organizations (LCOs) are crucial for maintaining climbing areas, ensuring safety, sustainability, and community engagement.
  2. LCOs manage access to climbing areas, maintain routes for safety, focus on conservation efforts, and build climbing communities through events.
  3. OpenBeta plans to collaborate with LCOs by increasing their visibility on the platform, allowing them to update their information, and incorporating specific calls to action in the future.

Shrinking, Disappearing, and plagued by Dust storms, the World's Lakes are in Danger

Adetokunbo Sees • 1 HN point • 17 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Environmental Impact Sustainability Conservation
  1. The shrinking and disappearing lakes around the world are facing danger due to multiple factors like climate change and reduced water levels.
  2. Lakes like the Aral Sea, Lake Chad, and Qinghai Lake are shrinking dramatically, impacting millions of lives and ecosystems that depend on their water.
  3. Efforts to conserve and sustainably manage these lakes involve global collaboration and the balance between development and environmental preservation.

The First Cat War

Bird History • 1 HN point • 25 Jan 24
🔬 Science Environment Animals Conservation Wildlife History
  1. Conservationists in the early 1900s identified cats as a serious threat to bird populations, sparking a heated debate with cat-lovers accusing bird-lovers of hysteria.
  2. Outdoor cats were seen as harmful to bird populations, particularly during nesting seasons, with young birds being easy prey, leading to significant declines in bird populations.
  3. Efforts were made to find humane solutions to protect birds from cats, including restraining cats at night, using bells on cat collars, and advocating for laws requiring cat licenses to reduce the feral cat population.

Birds die, Birds perish: how humans could perish for making birds to perish

Adetokunbo Sees • 3 HN points • 14 Oct 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Wildlife Renewable Energy Ecosystems Green Technology Conservation
  1. Human activities such as building collisions threaten bird populations.
  2. Global bird population decline can lead to ecosystem imbalances and excess human mortality.
  3. Adopting bird-friendly buildings, reducing habitat destruction, and curbing greenhouse gas emissions can help protect birds and prevent negative impacts on humans.

Embracing Mother Earth

Save Our Happy Place • 6 implied HN points • 18 Apr 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Nature Sustainability Conservation
  1. Reflect on your relationship with Mother Nature this Earth Day to find inspiration and rejuvenation.
  2. Celebrate the beauty and biodiversity of Earth by connecting with nature and viewing it as a living entity.
  3. Take time to journal and reflect on your climate journey, finding ways to integrate more personal and civic climate actions into your life.

Biodiversity: The Core of Earth's Beauty

Save Our Happy Place • 4 implied HN points • 02 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Biodiversity Climate change Sustainability Conservation Ecosystems
  1. Maintaining and restoring biodiversity is crucial for fighting climate change.
  2. Key causes of biodiversity loss include climate change, pollution, habitat destruction, and overexploitation.
  3. Individual actions to help biodiversity include mindful consumption, investing in biodiversity projects, and reducing waste.

in the dappled leaves

the rohn report • 19 implied HN points • 27 Jan 21
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Nature Sustainability Conservation
  1. America faces challenges in belief systems and communication despite advancements in education and technology.
  2. The prioritization of economic interests over environmental concerns by both politicians and voters is a significant issue.
  3. Disconnecting from technology and reconnecting with nature could help us regain common sense and a sense of community.

🌳 Ecosia

Good Business, Better World • 1 HN point • 17 Feb 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation Biodiversity Deforestation Renewable Energy Climate action
  1. Ecosia is a search engine that plants trees with over 168 million trees planted so far.
  2. Ecosia generates revenue through ads to fund tree planting and operates based on an impact model where clicks on ads support planting trees.
  3. Founder Christian Kroll started Ecosia after failed attempts at other internet ventures and the company focuses on environmental features in search results to promote climate-conscious decisions.