Some Wisconsin Wolves in Peril

Currently, there are about 270 wolves in Wisconsin, outside of Yellowstone, and approximately 850 in the state. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must determine policies that satisfy both environmentalists and ranchers - an impossible task. On one hand, wolves have long been the dominant predator.  A keystone species, every aspect of Wisconsin's ecosystem is changed with drastic changes to wolf populations.During their absence from the region (before reintroduction in the mid 1990s to Yellowstone NP) elk populations skyrocketed. These herbivores, free from predation, devastated the fauna. Other, smaller species depended on this fauna, etc. It's essentially for these reasons that environmentalists fight for wolf protection.

Key Alaskan Fishery in Good Hands

Bristol Bay Map. WWF International Arctic Programme.

Alaska's watershed flowing into Bristol Bay is the most productive sockeye salmon fishery. Millions of salmon are harvested annually, and there are plenty to fill the streams. Penetrating deep into wilderness areas these streams of salmon feed the forests and their inhabitants. The Pebble Mine also plans to penetrate deep into this wilderness by digging the largest mineral mine ever planned. The proposed mine "may contain more than $500 billion in gold, copper and other minerals." PBS's Frontline "Alaska Gold" explains the drastic size, ecological sensitivity, and immense waste that would result from this predominantly copper mine.

AQUAPONICS: Agriculture of the Future

Intro

If you haven't heard of aquaponics, here's the long and short of it. Aquaponics is a form of agriculture that is based on the cycle of water between a fish tank, and a plant bed. The fish poop is transported up to the grow bed (by pump) with the water. Their excrement fertilizes the plants, and the water is returned to the fish tank, aerated and filtered. The several benefits of aquaponics can have widespread effects to the world of agriculture, and indeed, our way of life.

A Solar Awakening

The manufacturing sector in Asia has lowered the cost of solar panels by 50% since 2011. Streamlined for efficiency, Photo Voltaic manufacturers have saved, indeed propelled the industry  of deploying these systems in the United States. Rebates and government incentives also contributed to this growth. The substantial monetary aid from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, issued by President Barrack Obama, will expire at the end of 2014. This year, the amount of aid in renewables is about one third the level in 2009. Does this impose risks to this emerging industry?

Victory for the Snowy Plover

On Tuesday, June 19 the San Francisco Chronicle reports the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Survice deemed 38 square miles of Coastline as critical habitat for the Snowy Plover. The 24,500 acres of protected coastline is in Washington, Oregon and California, common breeding grounds for the small migratory bird. The increased habitat follows as the result of the Center for Biological Diversity's lawsuit of 2008 which sued over the illegal reduction of habitat in 2005.

The plovers of the Pacific Coast are either permanent residents, or migratory- moving south during the cold months. On the map below, red designates summer nesting, blue winter, and purple either one.

Courtesy Kenn Kaufman

The pocket-sized birds blend in with their sandy habitats, experiencing disruption from beach-goers, vehicles, or dogs. They also experience challenges from macro-issues, like the changing climate, pesticides, and habitat loss.

For an information video, produced for an L.A. High School Classroom, CLICK HERE.