Tag: Conservation

Sabotaging conservation in the US: this time it’s the next generation of conservation scientists

Posted on By Ali Gaster
Academic life, Conservation, Education, Policy, Science

Let’s be honest. Most of us working in conservation science got into it because we wanted to save something. We envisioned our research ultimately protecting a fragile ecosystem or an endangered species from the numerous threats thrown at them by humans. Looking at the current state of the United States, faced with climate impacts and … Read More “Sabotaging conservation in the US: this time it’s the next generation of conservation scientists” »

A continued assault on the Endangered Species Act – this time it’s the “Jobs Act”

Posted on By Ali Gaster
Conservation, Policy, Uncategorized

There are three ways to destroy an environmental law. You can repeal it outright (. You can withhold the funds needed to enforce it. Or (and this is the preferred method of the Trump Administration and the Republican Party) you can keep the law on the books but completely rewrite the machinery that makes it … Read More “A continued assault on the Endangered Species Act – this time it’s the “Jobs Act”” »

Toxic workplaces: the “tall poppy” problem in conservation and academia

Posted on By Chris Parsons 2 Comments on Toxic workplaces: the “tall poppy” problem in conservation and academia
Academic life, Conservation, Science

Are you in conservation or academia and have noticed these things happening? Somehow, those concerns never seem to involve the actual quality of their work. Welcome to the wonderful world of “Tall Poppy Syndrome”, where the flower that stands out above the others must be cut down. It is the peculiar phenomenon in which someone … Read More “Toxic workplaces: the “tall poppy” problem in conservation and academia” »

The conservation impacts of recreational fishing

Posted on By David Shiffman 1 Comment on The conservation impacts of recreational fishing
Conservation, Featured, Science

Fishing for fun, even “catch and release” fishing, can sometimes have a significant impact on fish species of conservation concern. When most environmentalists think about the impacts of fishing, they’re thinking about large-scale industrial commercial fisheries. These impacts are serious and absolutely deserve our attention, and indeed how to mitigate those impacts is the subject … Read More “The conservation impacts of recreational fishing” »

The Trump Administration’s latest attack on the Endangered Species Act

Posted on By Ali Gaster
Conservation, Policy, Science

There are three ways to destroy an environmental law. You can repeal it. You can withhold funds to enact or enforce the law. Or you can keep the law on the books, but rewrite the machinery that makes it work (i.e., you can sabotage it). Over the course of two weeks, the U.S. Fish and … Read More “The Trump Administration’s latest attack on the Endangered Species Act” »

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

Posted on By Ali Gaster
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
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?” »

Researching Historical Erasure on Public Lands

Posted on By Angelo Villagomez
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 “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” »