Emergency room conservation: why waiting for the Endangered Species Act to save a species is a fiscal disaster

Posted on By Ali Gaster No Comments on Emergency room conservation: why waiting for the Endangered Species Act to save a species is a fiscal disaster
Conservation, Policy, Science

Let’s talk about a pervasive zombie idea (a disproven idea that refuses to die) that continues to shamble through the halls of resource management. This is the belief that we shouldn’t spend money on conservation until a species is officially, legally designated as Threatened or Endangered. The logic behind this delay usually wears a suit … Read More “Emergency room conservation: why waiting for the Endangered Species Act to save a species is a fiscal disaster” »

Is Academic Publishing is breaking conservation science?

Posted on By Chris Parsons No Comments on Is Academic Publishing is breaking conservation science?
Academic life, Blogging, Conservation, Policy, Science

Let’s be honest: if you are working in conservation, you have probably stared down a peer-review nightmare that made you want to throw your laptop into ocean. We’ve all been told the same myth since undergrad: do the science; write the paper; pass the peer-review gauntlet; and magically you’ve saved the planet. The peer-reviewed paper … Read More “Is Academic Publishing is breaking conservation science?” »

Zombie ideas in conservation: trophy hunting and conservation

Posted on By Ali Gaster No Comments on Zombie ideas in conservation: trophy hunting and conservation
Uncategorized

A “zombie idea” is a policy, belief, or theory that has been thoroughly disproven by facts and evidence, and continues to resurface again and again… it just won’t die. Somehow they continue to stagger through public discourse, dragging their rotting limbs into legislative chambers and conservation galas. One of the loudest, most persistent groans from … Read More “Zombie ideas in conservation: trophy hunting and conservation” »

Please Help This Little Dumbo Octopus Travel Across America

Posted on By Angelo Villagomez 1 Comment on Please Help This Little Dumbo Octopus Travel Across America
Climate change, Education, Featured, Policy

A small, friendly Dumbo Octopus named Miss Abyss is currently traveling across the United States, and she needs your help.  Miss Abyss carries a message of urgent importance for the future of our oceans. As she makes her journey, she is gathering allies from every corner of the country to oppose the looming threat of … Read More “Please Help This Little Dumbo Octopus Travel Across America” »

When universities puts $$$ before science and ethics

Posted on By Ali Gaster No Comments on When universities puts $$$ before science and ethics
Academic life, Policy

One thing the latest Trump regime has shown is which university administrators actually care about academic freedom, the pursuit of science, and diversity and equity, and which were just paying lip service for the sake of grant money. For years, universities have proudly proclaimed their commitment to scientific integrity, inclusion, open inquiry, and the idea … Read More “When universities puts $$$ before science and ethics” »

My Journey Into Researching Historical Erasure on Public Lands

Posted on By Angelo Villagomez No Comments on My Journey Into Researching Historical Erasure on Public Lands
Conservation, Education, Featured, Policy

Most people know me for my work on ocean conservation, Indigenous-led stewardship, and marine protected areas. Over the past year, however, I have found myself increasingly drawn into a different but deeply connected area of research: how public lands tell America’s story, and what happens when that story is deliberately altered or erased. This work … Read More “My Journey Into Researching Historical Erasure on Public Lands” »

The “Conservation Paywall”: why saving the planet has become a luxury sport

Posted on By Chris Parsons
Academic life, Conservation

Let’s be honest. Most of us got into conservation science because we wanted to save something. We envisioned conducting science that would be serving as a shield, protecting a fragile ecosystem or an endangered species from the relentless march of human expansion. We expected long hours, muddy boots, and a few mosquito bites. What we … Read More “The “Conservation Paywall”: why saving the planet has become a luxury sport” »

Save the seals.  Congress is trying to shoot its way to salmon recovery

Posted on By Ali Gaster
Conservation, News, Policy, Science

Let’s not mince words: current federal ocean conservation policy is a cocktail of chaos and disaster, with a generous sprinkle of incompetence. Following a brutal stretch of legislative and regulatory rollbacks (including the completely indefensible bureaucratic magic trick of removing habitat destruction from the Endangered Species Act’s definition of “harm”) Capitol Hill decided to double … Read More “Save the seals.  Congress is trying to shoot its way to salmon recovery” »

First, do no harm.  

Posted on By Ali Gaster
Conservation, Policy, Science

How the Trump Administration has yet again hobbled the Endangered Species Act. The Trump administration has officially finalized a rule stripping habitat destruction from the definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In a joint announcement by the Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce, officials rolled back a 40-year conservation … Read More “First, do no harm.  “ »

For when the madness ends: a 5-point plan for getting conservation back on track in the US

Posted on By Ali Gaster
Conservation

Let’s not mince words: the last eighteen months have been an absolute nightmare for federal ocean and conservation policy. Landmark environmental protections have been rolled back or severely hobbled, while agency budgets were slashed more than Janet Leigh when Norman Bates was in a particularly stabby mood. But looking towards the 2026 midterm elections, the … Read More “For when the madness ends: a 5-point plan for getting conservation back on track in the US” »