Harvard College Conservation Society - Forum Conservianum

End of the Semester!

4/25/2017

This past weekend was a busy one for HCCS. As the semester comes to a close, we are finishing up all of our projects and gearing up for starting all over again in the fall.
Though the weather was less than optimal, we hosted a table at the Earth Day celebration on Saturday, where we promoted a pledge to move away from plastic straw use, garnering 40 signatures while we were there! Come rain or shine, you’ll find us promoting environmental and wildlife conservation!
Sunday brought another tabling event at the Visitas activities fair for admitted students of the class of 2021 (this one, thankfully, was held indoors). We had a ton of fun hanging out together and talking to the new prefrosh about what we do in HCCS.
If you’re reading this because of meeting us at either of those events this weekend, welcome! We’re so excited that you’re interested, and we look forward to the coming semesters.

This semester has been a great one of continued growth and refinement of our society. Final presentations will be happening next Monday, where each project team will give a short presentation about what they’ve done in the past semester, and shortly after that we’ll officially induct our new members who have completed the comp process in the 2017 Spring semester.

Signing off for the last blog post of the semester,
Harvard College Conservation Society

Mary Katherine DeWane - South Boston Beach Cleanup

4/18/2017

On Saturday, April 15, 2017, members of the Harvard College Conservation Society traveled to Carson Beach, just off the JFK/UMass T stop, to clean litter from the South Boston beach. Although the weather was breezy and warm, there were few other people on the beach. Fort Independence and other islands in the bay were visible from the shore. Most of the people we interacted with thanked us for our work.
Most of the trash that we picked up was plastic waste. Plastic water bottles, straws, lids, and cups were strewn sparsely across the beach, and there were several small pieces of broken plastic. Despite being banned in Cambridge and Somerville, plastic bags were some of the most common items found on the beach. Plastic bags cause serious harm to marine wildlife and ecosystems, and they are often unnecessary, as paper bags, and, even better, reusable bags, can be used in their stead. In May 2016, a proposed statewide plastic bag ban passed the Massachusetts State Senate, but lost the necessary votes in the House to become law. However, Massachusetts remains one of the leading states in plastic bag reduction, with over thirty municipalities banning or restricting the use of plastic bags. In November 2016, an ordinance was introduced to ban or restrict the plastic bags in Boston, but it was rejected by Mayor Marty Walsh.

Source links:
http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/massparks/region-boston/castle-island-pleasure-bay-m-street-and-carson-beach.html
https://patch.com/massachusetts/boston/boston-plastic-bag-ordinance-what-know
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/12/13/plastic-bag-proposal-hits-snag-with-walsh-administration/jJGmpIWWN6YDxhbsmSl0fN/story.html
http://nebula.wsimg.com/3a99546ea38b1e929e126134892cf70c?AccessKeyId=1C31A3B4B1A73412F089&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

Jaelithe Virgin-Downey - Persistent Uncertainty: Budget Cuts Threaten the Environmental Protection Agency

4/18/2017

One of the biggest losers in President Trump’s budget proposal is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and, subsequently, anyone concerned with environmental issues. The EPA was established by president Nixon in 1970 with the mission of developing and enforced standards for clean air and water in the United States.[1] It has since expanded its work to include efforts to mitigate climate change and restore vulnerable ecosystems, among other goals. Now, the proposed budget would cut 31% of the EPA’s funding.[2] As an article for the Washington Post notes, “[t]he $5.7 billion EPA budget will likely undergo massive rewriting by congressional lawmakers, but the document is a declaration of intent by the Trump administration — one that sets the agency fundamentally at odds with the environmental policies of the past eight years and in some cases nearly three decades.”[3] The EPA released a budget plan that outlines how it would comply with Trump’s proposed cuts, revealing that 25% of employees would be laid off and 56 programs would be shut down.[4] Programs for climate protection, water quality research, pesticide safety, estuary protection and more would lose funding.[5] Additionally, major programs that seek to protect ecosystems likes those of the Great Lakes and the Chesapeake Bay would be shut down.[6] According to the EPA’s acting chief financial officer, the new plan would allow the EPA to focus on its legal requirements and halt its voluntary efforts for research and climate change mitigation.[7]
Although Trump’s budget and the EPA’s plan are currently mere proposals, they outline a chilling agenda which jeopardizes efforts to protect the United State’s environment and everyone whose livelihoods and wellbeing depend on it. The EPA’s future has remained uncertain as the official budget negotiations have proceeded. After a two week break, Congress will soon be back in session and facing the rapidly approaching April 28th deadline for the official government budget.[8] Congress is unlikely to meet this deadline. Currently, there appears to be motivation on the part of both Republicans and Democrats to create a “stopgap funding measure” that would support the federal government until September.[9] As such, it is quite possible that official budget negotiations will be ongoing for months, giving those concerned about the environment a chance to fight back.

To ask your congressional representatives to oppose cuts to EPA funding, use https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/map to locate their contact information.

[1] "The EPA's Changing Mission, Explained." The Week. The Week Magazine, 15 Apr. 2017. Web. 17 Apr. 2017.
[1] Thrush, Glenn, and Coral Davenport. "Donald Trump Budget Slashes Funds for E.P.A. and State Department." The New York Times. The New York Times, 15 Mar. 2017. Web. 17 Apr. 2017.
[1] Eilperin, Juliet, Chris Mooney, and Steven Mufson. "New EPA Documents Reveal Even Deeper Proposed Cuts to Staff and Programs." The Washington Post. WP Company, 31 Mar. 2017. Web. 17 Apr. 2017.
[1] Ibid.
[1] Ibid.
[1] Lu, Denise, and Tim Meko. "How Eliminating Two EPA Programs Could Affect Large Parts of America." The Washington Post. WP Company, 24 Mar. 2017. Web. 17 Apr. 2017.
[1] Eilperin, Juliet, Chris Mooney, and Steven Mufson. "New EPA Documents Reveal Even Deeper Proposed Cuts to Staff and Programs." The Washington Post. WP Company, 31 Mar. 2017. Web. 17 Apr. 2017.
[1] House, Billy. "Congress Sinks Into Partisan Morass as Shutdown Threat Looms." Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg, 10 Apr. 2017. Web. 17 Apr. 2017.

Selena Zhao - Agriculture and Conservation on Martha's Vineyard

3/28/2017

I am so grateful to have recently returned from a Harvard Forest sponsored trip to beautiful Martha’s Vineyard over spring break, hosted and taught by Harvard Professor David Foster. Although the trip provided me with a much more multifaceted understanding of conservation from the ecological history of the island to the unique cultural legacies of each town to conservation-focused art galleries, one of the most nuanced lessons I learned was the idea of “the illusion of preservation”, outlined in a former Harvard graduate’s thesis of the same name.
Oftentimes, well-intentioned conservation efforts in richer nations successfully preserve large swaths of pristine land—an outcome that I imagine most environmentalists wouldn’t find fault with. However, in failing to farm the land or harness the natural resources to provide for local populations, they instead import mass quantities of products from poorer, less-developed regions of the world—regions that can’t afford to operate in an eco-friendly manner. In the New England area, for example, since a relatively low percentage of the land is farmed, New Englanders instead import their food from areas of the world that can’t afford to preserve the landscapes from which they’re extracting resources. Instead of Vineyarders chopping down their own firewood, some import wood from Brazil where loggers destroy rainforests without the luxury of considering the environmental consequences of their operations. Instead, Professor Foster has been leading the proposal on the Vineyard for increased self-sustainable, environmentally-friendly agriculture. He argues for opening up maintained grasslands for farmers who could use sheep, cows, or goats to graze the land while providing meat in a sustainable, ecofriendly manner. Instead of consuming fossil fuels to mow the grasslands and importing more meat produced without regard for the environment, farmers could cooperate with conservationists to provide for local residents while maintaining rare grassland habitats. Although preservation is an admirable ideal worth striving for, the trip taught me that operating within the parameters of practicality, perhaps we ought to focus more on marrying preservation with functionality.

David Xiang - Hiking for the Future

3/28/2017

   I spent my spring break this year hiking with my parents at various national parks in Utah and Arizona. We made stops in Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Grand Canyon National Park. I had arrived with the notion that every park was pretty much the same, with a lot of rocks, sand, and dirt roads. I thought the hikes were going to get boring after the first day, as we would become accustomed to seeing the same thing over and over again. I was wrong.
At Zion, we climbed Angel’s Landing, literally walking along the ridge of a mountain. Being slightly afraid of heights, I definitely felt the adrenaline rushing. At Bryce, we walked by snow-capped hoodoos and forged our own path due to the muddied normal trails. At Grand Canyon, we headed 6 miles into the canyon before coming back up to see the sunset.
At every stop, the views were breathtaking, the air was fresh, and the experience was unique. Being completely surrounded by nature, with no other humans around, was an experience I’ll never forget. All we had were the backpacks we lugged around, the camera hanging from my neck, and the sound of rustling birds and mountain wind. It’s an experience I wish everyone could enjoy, as this type of feeling can never be replicated in a movie or conversation.
     Unfortunately, the inauguration of Donald Trump may put many of these parks in jeopardy. He may decide to limit the size of some parks, and may even open some to fossil fuel development. His recently proposed budget wanted to cut the EPA’s budget by over 30%, a crippling number. He has been known to claim climate change is a hoax and that business always comes first.
   This can’t happen. America’s national parks are not just refuges for wildlife, they are also invaluable treasures that remind us that humanity should harmonize with nature, not destroy it.

Sources :
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/11/trump-public-lands-waters-united-states-environment/
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/03/15/us/politics/trump-budget-proposal.html?_r=0

Christie Tzelios - It came in Like a Lion

3/21/2017

If you travel to the Caribbean in the near future, you may be presented with the option of ordering lionfish for lunch. Lionfish are beautiful creatures, with elegantly fanned fins and striped bodies, but they pose a serious threat to coral reef ecosystems. Thus, lionfish may seem like an exotic menu item, but eating them actually benefits conservation efforts.
     Lionfish are native to the Indo-Pacific waters, but they were introduced off the coast of Florida about thirty years ago. Since then, their populations have grown exponentially and expanded in range from Bermuda to Venezuela. Female lionfish can reproduce at an incredible rate; they reach reproductive maturity after six months and then spawn two million eggs per year for up to twenty years. Lionfish have no natural predators, so their populations will continue to explode if left unchecked.
Furthermore, lionfish are voracious eaters. They will devour nearly everything in sight, sometimes consuming prey up to thirty times their stomach size. Their aggressive eating habits have resulted in the depletion of many native fish populations, which threatens the fishing and tourism industries that are crucial to most Caribbean and Central American economies. The lionfish invasion has also generated an ecological crisis; lionfish consume algae-grazing fish, and when the algae are allowed to grow unchecked, they cloud the water and block sunlight from reaching the coral below. Saving the world’s coral reef ecosystems is of utmost importance, because they are hotspots for biodiversity, and in addition to sheltering an incredible number of marine species, they serve an important role in nutrient cycling, buffer coastal areas from potentially destructive waves, and provide food and income for millions of people.
     At present, most regions have been combating the invasion by sending SCUBA divers down to spear hunt the lionfish, but these efforts are insufficient. Thus, conservation groups have been working to encourage people to request lionfish at restaurants and in grocery stores in order to incentivize local fisherman to assist with hunting efforts. Unfortunately, many people believe that lionfish are inedible because of their venomous spines; however, such rumors are untrue.
To learn more about the lionfish invasion, check out this link:
     http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2013/09/27/belize-fights-back-against-an-uninvited-guest/

Scout Leonard - Play for the Planet

3/21/2017

While compiling research for a course this semester, I came across the words “environmental literacy” and “nature deficit disorder” for the first time, and these terms have not escaped my brain. With a few summers as a camp counselor and babysitting experiences that spanned my high school days, I have become familiar with the fixation on technology children are increasingly exposed to, in ways I never was. I had no idea, however, the scale of problems this creates for both children and planet.
     Poorly planned urbanization lacking green spaces and the temptation of sitting indoors and exploring enticing Apps have a range of negative effects on the mental and physical well-being of children which researchers are beginning to realize. In addition, all this time spent out of nature is expected to prompt a lack of interest in nature in generations to come.
     To Gina McCarthy, EPA administrator for the Obama administration, the second biggest threat the environment faces today, after climate change, is this growing disconnect between children and nature. A favorite tree you climbed with the neighborhood kids, that time your mom drove your siblings out to the beach to play in the waves, and sleeping under the stars at summer camp all have the potential to promote some affinity, or simply respect, for the outdoors. This, in turn, can influence adults to be better advocates for nature.
     Not only does a childhood lacking in nature allow more apathy for land, air, and oceans for future generations, it also takes away an essential classroom that gives context to processes that shape civilization: Where does our food come from? Who do we share the environment with? Playing outdoors offers the time and space for girls and boys to observe, experiment and learn about these questions and more.
All this time spent indoors is not only a loss for the environment, but a threat to the health of the children themselves. A deficit of the calming effects of nature are suggested by Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, to increase the likelihood of ADD and depression among youth. Insufficient natural play is also considered as a key contributor in the childhood obesity epidemic.
     How to help children fall in love with the salamanders in their backyards and the pinecones that fit in their tiny hands? Support programs that promote environmental literacy and outdoor play! The National Park Foundation funds a variety of programs, such as the Parks as Classrooms Program, which bring thousands of students, who might otherwise not have the opportunity, to national parks every year. Summer camps often have “campership programs” that fund outdoor experiences for boys and girls whose families cannot send them to camp unaided. There is no shortage of nature advocates working to inspire new generations of environmental stewards.

To hear more of Gina McCarthy’s stance on children and nature:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqvYD1rFavQ&sns=em (around 22:50)

Sophie Pesek - Watercolor Paintings

3/7/2017

How does the environment shape an inhabitant? And how does the inhabitant shape its environment?
Understanding the relationship between creatures and their habitats is essential for conservation. Sometimes protecting an obscure patch of land can seem far removed from the lofty aim of conservation: ensuring the existence of a vibrant and diverse world. It’s easy to forget that each seemingly insignificant section of our planet serves as a home for countless organisms. Similarly, it can be hard to see how important one individual organism can be to its environment. The decline of the ruby-throated hummingbird would be devastating to the flowers it pollinates, and North American forests are shaped by the browsing patterns of deer.
I aimed to capture this connection in my paintings by integrating North American animals’ bodies with the environments that surround them. I was especially interested in how various aspects of nature could fit with their forms and communicate the creatures’ unique ecological roles.
My dream is that this art fosters an appreciation for these animals and emphasizes the beauty in their existence. Hopefully this appreciation will inspire efforts to protect the individual creatures and the extraordinary environments that make up our home.

Beverly Ge - Are Giant Pandas Worth It?

3/7/2017

Recently, giant pandas have been in the spotlight again with the successful transfer of 3-year-old panda Bao Bao (“treasure” in Chinese) from the Smithsonian National Zoo to Chengdu, China. Pandas have long occupied a special place in people’s hearts, drawing millions of viewers every year and headlines at every opportunity. But more than once, the question has arisen--are they worth it?
While it seems unfathomable to allow the charismatic, cuddly creature to die out, there are some compelling arguments against the continual stream of resources being diverted to ensuring the giant panda’s survival. It is unsurprising that for each dollar that goes into preserving flagship species, there is one less dollar being invested in the survival of less glamorous species that are equally, if not more important in their ecosystems (notably, the giant panda’s status was recently changed from “endangered” to “vulnerable” as a result of the increase in available habitat). The lack of funding then results in selection bias--conscious or otherwise--of researchers; there is undeniably a heavy preference for certain species over others (as a concrete example, amphibians often get the short end of the stick).
On the flip side, the giant panda is valuable for a number of reasons. Of course, it possesses an enormous cultural significance and provides economic benefits for local residents, but additionally, the emphasis on preserving its natural habitat has the positive side effect of helping other species dwelling in China’s bamboo forests such as the dwarf blue sheep and multi-colored pheasants. Species like the giant panda spark an interest in conservation that may otherwise not exist. Ultimately, it is highly unlikely that the status quo regarding pandas will change, but it is important for conservationists and scientists to cultivate a more nuanced understanding of conservation in the public that goes beyond simply saving the species that are fortunate enough to have an aesthetic, emotional appeal for human audiences.

Sources :
http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/16/politics/bao-bao-national-zoo-panda-china/
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/why-we-done28099t-need-pandas/
http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/giant_panda/panda/why_we_save_the_giant_panda/
Image: http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/169F6/production/_91026629_gettyimages-519508400.jpg

William Belfiore - Times Changing, Streams Greying

2/21/2017

On February 16th, 2017, President Donald trump signed the repeal of a mining industry regulation known as the Stream Protection Rule. Finalized by The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (an arm of the Department of the Interior) on December 19th, 2016, the rule acted to clarify a wide variety of department mandates and protocols. Generally speaking, it is a rather difficult and lengthy process to repeal rules or legislation within the federal government. President Trump was able to strike down this regulation with relative ease, however, through use of a unique piece of legislation known as the Congressional Review Act, or CRA. The act provides that the House and Senate may vote, through simple majority, to repeal any federal agency rule within 60 “session”, or “legislative” days of its introduction.
Now, not just any day qualifies as a session/legislative day, and as a result, regulations passed as long ago as June 2016 could possibly be in danger. In effect, the particularly late adoption of the Stream Protection Rule under former President Obama’s administration made it one of what will probably be only a handful of regulations signed away by the current President through the CRA.
So out of deference to what has already been lost, here is a quick runthrough of what used to be the law of the land: While it clarified an almost comical number of internal definitions and methods to be used for other regulations, the rule’s centerpiece was its defining of “material damage to the hydrologic balance” around surface and subsurface mining sites. In particular it focused on the damage incurred by the surrounding areas not actually being exploited, but that are often contaminated or sterilized by high concentrations of heavy metals, acidic runoff, and other toxic slag from mining. Among a myriad of updated standards regarding the permitting and oversight structure for mining companies, the rule called for mandatory ecological reclamation efforts on damaged land. Provided for the reformation of perennial streams should they be totally filled in by mining byproduct (this largely targeted mountaintop removal), and established that there be 100ft buffers of native riparian vegetation on either sides of these restored waterways.
The DOI projected the increased cost of the Stream Protection Rule on companies could remove 124 jobs annually until 2040. Energy companies seized on this information to proclaim the regulation as devastating to their bottom line while consumer groups pressed that the rule didn’t do enough to mitigate mining pollution to local communities.
As domestic coal production continues to decline, at the hands of natural gas and alternative energies, President Trump may only have prolonged the inevitable.

Original DOI Press Release:
https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-department-finalizes-stream-protection-rule-safeguard-communities-coal-mining