The hottest Conservation Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

A Right to Be in this World

Field Guide to the Anthropocene • 334 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🔬 Science Conservation
  1. All living things have a right to exist in this world according to the Endangered Species Act.
  2. Conservation efforts need more support to combat political and industry threats to environmental protections.
  3. Future of the ESA requires broader landscape-scale conservation, increased funding, and alignment with modern conservation strategies.

Happy Thanksgiving

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 419 implied HN points • 23 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Conservation
  1. Hope is important during Thanksgiving and we should strive for a just and equitable world.
  2. Nature plays a big role in our lives, whether it's hiking in beautiful places or enjoying the sights and sounds of urban wildlife like coyotes.
  3. It's essential to appreciate the little things around us, like unique plants and animals, and share our experiences with others.

The Monarch's Shield

coldhealing • 294 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🔬 Science Conservation
  1. Monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico to survive winter.
  2. Raising monarch caterpillars in captivity can hinder their ability to reach Mexico.
  3. Watching a caterpillar grow into a butterfly can be a fun and educational experience.
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As Wild as It Gets

Passing Time • 200 implied HN points • 13 Aug 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Wilderness is something that can diminish but not expand. Once it's used or developed, there's no way to create new areas of true wilderness like before.
  2. The idea that the world moves from wild to civilized makes us rethink our understanding of nature and urban spaces. Sometimes, even developed places can be more natural than they were before.
  3. Aldo Leopold's views highlight the importance of preserving nature. We need to value untouched places even while recognizing that development is always happening around us.

Appitalism

¡Do Not Panic! • 471 implied HN points • 24 Apr 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Progress should focus on fundamental advancements, like clean water and mass vaccination programs.
  2. Relying on one-and-done technological fixes in crises may lead to temporary relief but not long-term solutions.
  3. Sustainable progress requires system change that respects nature and natural limits, not just technological tweaks.

Tails of the City: Part 1

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 419 implied HN points • 31 Aug 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Cattails are really useful plants that have been used for many things like making mats, pillows, and even food. They grow well in wetlands and can be found along roadsides.
  2. Seattle has lost many wetlands due to development, but there are efforts to bring some areas back to a wetland-like state. Wetlands are important for the health of the environment and many species.
  3. Despite the benefits of wetlands, there are still challenges to their protection, with some recent laws making it easier to harm them. It's important to recognize how valuable they are for both nature and people.

Fully Recharged

The Crucial Years • 1684 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Batteries have greatly improved energy density over the last century, making them more practical for cars and other uses.
  2. The rapid progress in battery technology is expected to continue, with increasing energy density, affordability, and innovation.
  3. Efforts are being made to ensure ethical sourcing of materials for batteries, address social inequities, and push for sustainable growth in the battery industry.

The Memory of a Tree

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 439 implied HN points • 20 Jul 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Western red cedars are very important to the Indigenous people, who use them to make many items, from canoes to hats. These trees are seen as a source of life and culture.
  2. Trees like the Wedgwood cedar hold memories of the past. They witness changes in the environment and community, connecting the present to history.
  3. Cutting down the Wedgwood cedar would mean losing a piece of nature and the stories it holds. These trees are not just plants; they carry the life and memories of the area around them.

The Birding Edition

Why is this interesting? • 1266 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Birdwatching can be a rewarding hobby that connects us with nature and can lead to deep emotional connections with birds.
  2. Ecological grief is a real and intense response to environmental losses, including bird deaths caused by human-driven changes.
  3. Efforts like building natural bridges and enacting bird-friendly legislation demonstrate steps we can take to protect wild animals amidst ongoing environmental challenges.

Nature to the North

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 359 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23
🔬 Science Conservation
  1. Seeing hundreds of bald eagles feeding at once is a spectacular sight. They gather to feast on fish when conditions are just right.
  2. Some tree stumps can stay alive and continue to grow even after being cut down. This shows how interconnected nature can be through shared resources.
  3. Sea stars, which faced a severe disease, are now showing signs of recovery. Those that survived may pass on stronger genes to help their species adapt.

A few seconds of video

The Crucial Years • 1574 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. The video illustrates the impact of climate change through unprecedented floods in Greece.
  2. The urgency to take action against climate change is emphasized, as we witness extreme weather events becoming more common.
  3. Global efforts to meet climate targets, such as the Paris Agreement, are falling short and require more substantial commitments.

Payback time

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 119 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Conservation
  1. A connection with nature, like watching sea turtles, can have unexpected and rewarding impacts on our lives. It can lead to personal growth and new adventures.
  2. DIY projects can quickly become overwhelming, especially when unexpected issues arise, like discovering a poorly done floor. Planning can change, and flexibility is key.
  3. Learning to fix things yourself can be a valuable experience, but it often comes with challenges and surprises that test your skills and patience.

Otters in our Midst

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 279 implied HN points • 28 Sep 23
🔬 Science Conservation
  1. Otters are important urban wildlife and their poop, called spraint, can tell us a lot about their diet and health. Researchers study spraint to understand what otters eat and to check for parasites or pollution.
  2. River otters tend to be clean and use specific spots, called latrines, to poop. This behavior might be social, but researchers aren't completely sure why they do it.
  3. Even in polluted areas, river otters are resilient and continue to survive and reproduce. It's important for us to help make urban environments healthier for wildlife.

Name changes are a common sense decision

This Week in Birding • 157 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🔬 Science Conservation
  1. The American Ornithological Society is changing bird names named after controversial figures to be more inclusive and reduce offensive associations.
  2. The decision to change bird names may lead to confusion among birders about identifying species.
  3. Organizations like the Kirtland's Warbler Alliance are grappling with financial and awareness impacts due to the naming decision.

Communing with nature

City Quitters • 199 implied HN points • 24 Nov 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. We need to pay more attention to nature and the non-human world around us. Being in nature can help us feel better and remind us of our connection to everything else.
  2. Humans have thought too highly of themselves and this has hurt the planet. It's important to recognize that all living things have value and we should treat them with respect.
  3. It's possible to learn from nature even in urban areas. By being mindful and observing our surroundings, we can develop a deeper connection and appreciation for the world around us.

The Bird with the Silent P

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 219 implied HN points • 02 Nov 23
🔬 Science Conservation
  1. White-tailed ptarmigan are unique birds that live in cold, high-altitude areas. They change color from brown in summer to white in winter, helping them blend into their snowy environment.
  2. These birds have feathered feet that act like snowshoes, making it easier for them to walk on snow rather than fly. This adaptation helps them conserve energy in their harsh habitat.
  3. Indigenous knowledge about wildlife, like the ptarmigan's snowshoe ability, is being recognized as valuable by scientists. There's so much to learn from traditional understanding of nature.

Emerging from the Fog

Field Guide to the Anthropocene • 235 implied HN points • 28 Jul 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. The world is facing extreme climate changes due to greenhouse gas emissions affecting temperatures and ecosystems.
  2. Human actions and inactions are contributing to the worsening climate crisis, leading to heatwaves, wildfires, and extreme weather events.
  3. Efforts to address climate change include clean energy initiatives, conservation victories, and legal actions against fossil fuel companies.

Rising Tides, Falling Freshwater: The Saltwater Intrusion Crisis

Adetokunbo Sees • 312 implied HN points • 21 Dec 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Saltwater intrusion is a growing problem worldwide, affecting freshwater supplies in many coastal areas. It's happening due to rising sea levels and climate change.
  2. This issue can harm ecosystems by increasing salinity, leading to the extinction of various plant and animal species. Many species are already at risk, which could worsen climate change further.
  3. To combat saltwater intrusion, countries should protect natural areas like wetlands and mangroves. These can help keep saltwater out of freshwater supplies and support local wildlife.

The Alarming Shift: Impact of Human Activities on Ocean Currents

Adetokunbo Sees • 104 implied HN points • 12 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Human activities are causing big changes in ocean currents, like a shift in the Deep Western Boundary Current that could harm our climate.
  2. As oceans warm and ice melts, the saltiness of water decreases, which affects how currents move and can lead to serious consequences like sea level rise.
  3. To fix these problems, we need to work together on climate change solutions, protect our oceans, and keep an eye on changes in ocean currents.

Eating King Can

Bird History • 99 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Conservation
  1. Canvasbacks were once America's most famous and exclusive dish, known for their unique appearance and diet.
  2. The demand for canvasbacks led to fraudulent sales, with some buyers being tricked by vendors substituting them with similar-looking but cheaper ducks.
  3. Conservation efforts have helped stabilize the canvasback population, but threats like habitat loss still pose risks to these birds in the present day.

Water as Lens

The Crucial Years • 1145 implied HN points • 28 Jul 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Water can be a powerful lens to explore issues of memory, resilience, and environmental impact.
  2. The film by dream hampton about Detroit highlights the flooding's impact on communities and memories.
  3. Specific histories of unfairness compound devastation in places like Detroit, emphasizing the importance of addressing systemic issues.

Shifting The Shifting Baseline Syndrome

Surfing the Future • 99 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. System change can often creep up on us, and we adapt without realizing it, leading to the 'shifting baseline syndrome'. We tend to imagine today's world as how it was yesterday, which may not be the case.
  2. The concept of rewilding offers a chance to reset our baselines, allowing nature to rebound faster than expected. This shift could lead to 'Knepp' potentially becoming a verb symbolizing unexpected transformation.
  3. In the sustainability space, there has been a dilution of the original system change ambition over time due to mainstreaming. The concept of triple bottom line has evolved and must continue to adapt to drive urgent systemic changes.

De-extinction and Redemption

treethinking • 176 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
🔬 Science Conservation
  1. De-extinction through gene editing and embryology is being pursued for iconic extinct species
  2. De-extinction presents philosophical, practical, and ethical challenges, including concerns about conservation funding
  3. The allure of de-extinction is more religious than scientific, seeking a restoration to a pre-Fall state

Deforestation in the Amazon has halved in the last few years

Sustainability by numbers • 266 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Deforestation in the Amazon has significantly decreased, halving over the past few years, thanks to new policies and leadership.
  2. Lula da Silva's administration has made real progress in reducing forest loss, following a troubling period of increased deforestation under the previous president.
  3. While the trend is positive, challenges remain and ongoing efforts are crucial to meet the target of ending deforestation by 2030.

The man who invented a time machine

The Crucial Years • 876 implied HN points • 27 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. John Goodenough, who invented a powerful lithium-ion battery, helped keep the Texas power grid run smoothly during a heatwave.
  2. Batteries like the ones Goodenough invented are crucial for storing solar power and preventing energy crises.
  3. The use of batteries is growing worldwide to support renewable energy sources and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Fractured Planet: Glaciers Thawing, Rivers Running Dry, Reefs Vanishing

Adetokunbo Sees • 208 implied HN points • 16 Nov 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. Glaciers are melting at alarming rates, with many disappearing completely. This is a big concern for water supply and ecosystems.
  2. Rivers around the world are drying up, with thousands vanishing completely in recent decades. This can affect agriculture, drinking water, and wildlife.
  3. Coral reefs are facing serious threats, with significant losses in the past few decades. If we don't act now, most coral reefs could be gone by the end of the century.

There is no nature

storyvoyager • 13 implied HN points • 07 Dec 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation
  1. There is no separate "nature" — humans and the rest of life share one interconnected planet.
  2. Treating nature as an optional accessory makes it seem nonessential, but we depend on planetary ecosystems for our survival.
  3. Nature isn’t just a walk in the forest or a scenic backdrop; it’s the whole complex system that supports life everywhere.