National Park Foundation’s Post

📢 Earth Hacks Team Update! Meet Arpan Somani, one of our new Environmental Justice in Tech Fellows. Arpan is a storyteller, dot-connector, and partnership strategist focused on youth civic engagement, environmental justice and ethical technology. "As an Environmental Justice in Tech fellow at Earth Hacks, I'm working on developing two workshops about maps as tools for storytelling and participatory processes for design. I'm also supporting EJIT's research on environmental justice data infrastructure. And my favorite project this summer is that I am curating and designing this year's Glitch zine, where we are examining the intersections of spirituality, environmental justice and technology."

“For policymakers and researchers alike, open science often encourages us to move away from rigid top-down hierarchies and information silos, towards greater collaboration and transparency. This paradigm shift has the potential to transform our efforts to build not just a more sustainable, but also a more equitable, future.” 🌎 📖 To celebrate Earth Month, check out our latest blog post by former Intern Joyce Chen and Senior Program Associate Alison Parker, Open Science for Environmental Justice: Opportunities and Challenges. Joyce and Alison explore how, why, and where scientists and policymakers can bridge the gaps of accessibility and participation in environmental efforts using open science. ➡ https://bit.ly/4cQv5zV

Citizen Science: Science by everyone, for everyone. Citizen science invites people from all walks of life to assist scientists by gathering data, or analyzing information, or even managing projects. It makes it possible for anyone to participate in projects with real-world effects—like tracking wildlife, monitoring weather patterns, or even studying the stars. There’s no need for special skills—just curiosity and a willingness to participate. It's an engaging way to make a positive impact on pressing issues such as climate change, conservation, and public health. Through hands-on participation, volunteers help advance scientific research while fostering a deeper understanding of the world around us. In exactly one week, on 16 September 2024, we are co-hosting a Citizen Science workshop in collaboration with our partners, Saxon State and University Library Dresden (SLUB) and DRESDEN-concept.  

It's About Science! It's About Justice! It's About Community! Summer 2024 Just Science Scholars. Using science, engineering, research, and data science to mitigate, social, racial, and environmental justice issues Hailing from top Tier 1 research universities across the country including UCLA and Georgia Tech, students take on real-life challenges and issues impacting underserved communities including energy, pollution, climate, and health. Making a more Just, Sustainable, Equitable, and Resilient world for all

Can you name these artists and environmental activists? Do you know how they helped us to be thoughtful about the earth and its resources? TeachRock can! It's #EarthScienceWeek and we are highlighting some of the best resources in our Science collection. Choose the "Science" filter at TeachRock.org to learn about the contributions of each person in the graphic!

Here's the first slide I presented yesterday to kick off a gathering of about 40 folks to explore bioregioning hosted by the Connecticut River Valley Bioregioning Collaborative at the Sirius Community ecovillage in Shutesbury, Massachusetts. (I'll post more about this exciting event -- including a link to the deck of all the presentations -- later this week). In particular, we explored the idea of launching a Bioregioning Learning Center at Sirius! To support my introductory framing that bioregioning is the marriage of nature and culture, I told the story of this recent scientific research into territorial habitats of several bear species in British Columbia https://lnkd.in/eU8xkpaQ . Researchers were stumped as to why the bear species had such distinct habitats, as they couldn't identify any physical boundaries -- until they overlaid a landscape map of Indigenous languages, when they discovered a "mind-blowing" overlap between bear habitat and Indigenous language boundaries. This neatly illustrates the underlying principle of bioregioning, which is well encapsulated in a quote I used from Peter Berg and the Planet Drum Foundation (a longtime leading voice in bioregioning) that a bioregion is “a geographic terrain and a terrain of consciousness.” https://lnkd.in/eFwbxbFn I sourced this from an *incredible* new resource -- "What is a Bioregion?" posted by Brandon Letsinger of the Department of Bioregion / Regenerate Cascadia earlier this month. https://lnkd.in/eG2ThxTS I strongly encourage you to read this full article. Brandon quoted this definition from the Planet Drum Foundation homepage: "A bioregion is a distinct area with coherent and interconnected plant and animal communities, and natural systems, often defined by a watershed. A bioregion is a whole 'life-place' with unique requirements for human inhabitation so that it will not be disrupted and injured." Many of us in the Connecticut River Valley Bioregioning Collaborative will be participating in the 6-month Learning Journey on Bioregional Learning Centers hosted by Joe Brewer and the Design School for Regenerating Earth, which kicks off tomorrow! I'll post more on the Sirius gathering tomorrow (or later this week).

This recently published article defines a bioregion as a "living mosaic" that is an "area smaller than a biogeographic realm but larger than an ecoregion or an ecosystem, and is defined along watershed and hydrological boundaries using physical, biological and cultural layers." https://lnkd.in/eJHYZ-SW Recognizing a watershed as a bioregion, defined by the natural flow of water, is crucial for a cohesive and systemic nature-based solutions (NbS) approach. It encourages an integrated perspective that considers not only physical geography, but also the ecological processes and ecosystem services that define the unique character of the area. Under ACT's Natural Solutions Initiative, implementing NbS within the boundaries of the bioregion and traditional territories, expanding beyond political jurisdiction, can spur collaborative solutions-building, and new forms of decision-making and co-governance. A wonderful example of the bioregion is the fascinating study showing how territorial habitats of several bear species in British Columbia overlap with Indigenous language boundaries. Read more below.

I am very proud to share with you the pre-print for my first scientific article (see abstract is below as well as the link to the study). The article is currently in the peer review process with a journal and will be updated and shared upon completion. This was an incredible process to be apart of and I could not be more happy with the end result. This study evoked my love for bats and field research. To all the amazing people who were involved, a tremendous thank you for pushing me to achieve this. https://lnkd.in/dufgC3j2 **Abstract** Deagrarianisation (cropland, field abandonment) is a widespread global phenomenon with high potential for carbon sequestration and for reversing biodiversity extinction debt thus promoting environmental sustainability and conservation. To date, much work on this topic has focused on plant succession and associated plant diversity, but few studies have considered faunal communities, particularly in Africa. Here we used passive acoustic monitoring to record insectivorous bat communities within forest fragments and former fields under communal land tenure in the Transkei region (Eastern Cape) of South Africa. Insectivorous bat diversity of fields, abandoned in the 1960s to 1980s, resembling late stages of succession, were compared to fragments of Transkei Coastal Scarp forest embedded within the landscape. We found that former fields hosted 14 species from 11 genera, comprising greater species richness, activity, Shannon-Weiner diversity, and functional diversity, irrespective of age, as compared to the forest fragments. Furthermore, the former fields exhibited comparable species richness to, and higher functional diversity than, three large neighbouring intact Transkei Scarp forests. Interestingly, the time since cultivation had ceased (35—64 years ago) had no measurable effect on species and functional diversity. Former fields are dominated by the invasive alien shrub Lantana camara and the indigenous pioneer tree Vachellia karoo, but nonetheless in terms of insectivorous bats, these landscapes have a conservation value as they are diverse both in terms of species and function. Mutual mechanisms to enhance both biodiversity conservation and the utility of the land to local communities should be further considered.

In Murray Bookchin's seminal work, "Post-Scarcity Anarchism," we encounter a compelling fusion of ecological sensibility with anarchist theory, underscoring the potential for a society where the abundance afforded by technological advancements is leveraged to eliminate material scarcity and foster a harmonious relationship between humanity and nature. Bookchin articulates a critique of capitalist modes of production, which, in his view, perpetuates environmental degradation and social inequity through the exploitative harnessing of technology. He posits that a sustainable future is achievable through the decentralization of authority, the embrace of direct democracy, and a reconfiguration of societal structures to align with ecological principles. The book challenges traditional Marxist narratives, advocating instead for a decentralized, federated approach to community organization that prioritizes ecological balance, human needs, and the equitable distribution of resources. Through a detailed exploration of the intersection between technological capacity and societal organization, Bookchin presents a vision of a post-scarcity world where the dichotomy between individual autonomy and collective responsibility is reconciled. "Post-Scarcity Anarchism" remains a cornerstone of eco-anarchist thought, inviting us to reconsider our relationship with technology, the environment, and each other. It calls for a revolutionary praxis that not only critiques existing capitalist and authoritarian structures but also actively seeks to establish a more equitable, sustainable, and freer society. This work is a must-read for those interested in the nexus of technology, ecology, and social change, offering insights that are increasingly relevant in today's context of environmental crises and technological potential. #PostScarcity #Anarchism #Ecology #Technology #Sustainability #DirectDemocracy #Decentralization #SocialChange

Join Long Now Boston at the Cambridge Science Festival for a thought-provoking panel discussion on "Why Think Long Term?" This event brings together members of Long Now Boston to share their insights on deep-time ideas, exploring how we can cultivate a mindset that considers the far-reaching impacts of our actions today. From becoming a good ancestor to integrating long-term thinking into our daily lives, this discussion will challenge you to rethink how you engage with time and legacy. The panel will also delve into the ways different time scales interact, from the rapid shifts in fashion and society and culture to the enduring forces of infrastructure and geology. Whether you're curious about how to make more sustainable decisions or interested in the broader implications of our choices for future generations, this discussion offers a unique opportunity to explore the power and potential of long-term thinking. Don’t miss this chance to engage with ideas that could reshape how you see the present—and the future.