Insects play critical role in ecosystems beyond just providing food, new research shows

“We need to pay attention to insects and make their conservation a top priority, because conserving insects will benefit all the other species that rely on them. Insects are so much more than just food for vertebrates like birds and bats – they create and maintain habitat, provide protection to other species, help with reducing diseases and removing waste, and so many other ecosystem services that we, and other species, rely on. They really are the unsung heroes of the natural world,” she added…

 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/sep/30/insects-ecosystems-conservation 

 

One in nine migratory birds threatened with extinction, global report says

Findings on decline of species such as Arctic tern and turtle dove published alongside flyways pledge at Kenya summit…

 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/sep/11/migratory-birds-species-threatened-extinction-decline-global-report

 

USDA cuts strip NRCS workers from local communities

The Natural Resources Conservation Service lost nearly a quarter of its staff nationwide in 2025 after the Trump administration’s cuts to the federal government. Many were local experts that help farmers with soil and water conservation efforts...

 https://www.kcur.org/environment-agriculture/2026-08-31/nrcs-cuts-impact-conservation-farmers

 

Trump is lifting protections in America’s largest marine protected areas : NPR

The largest conservation areas in the U.S. are in the Pacific Ocean. President Trump is rolling back their protections...

 https://apps.npr.org/troubled-waters/

 

Obama’s Interior Secretary Goes Off on Trump & Talks His New Book (Find Out podcast)

Former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation that quickly turns to life under Trump — the crew and Salazar touch on immigration crackdowns, tariffs on wildfire-stricken countries, and how the sheer volume of Trump-era news drowns out everything else that matters, public lands and conservation included.

From there it gets personal: Salazar talks about his debut book and swaps old stories with Tim about pickup basketball games at the Department of the Interior — including the time he tried to recruit Reggie Love and had to be talked into building Interior's first digital program back when he could barely turn on an iPad.
Interview: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/obamas-interior-secretary-goes-off-on-trump-talks-his/id1802722241?i=1000778659846

Judge orders temporary halt to new construction at Alligator Alcatraz - The Washington Post

Florida State Rep. Anna Eskamani (D), who testified at the hearing in support of the conservation groups, called the order "a necessary and welcome step in stopping a project that never should have been approved in the first place."

"This facility is not only a threat to one of the most environmentally sensitive regions in the country. It is also a glaring example of how far the State of Florida will go to criminalize immigrants and ignore the long-term health of our natural resources," Eskamani said in a statement.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/08/07/alligator-alcatraz-judge-halts-consruction/

What the end of Energy Star could mean for commercial real estate

Energy Star, a public-private partnership administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is reportedly on the chopping block as part of massive budget cuts proposed by the Trump administration.

Roughly 2,500 builders, developers and manufactured housing firms participate in the Energy Star Residential New Construction program, which sets strict energy-efficiency guidelines required to earn its designation.

Last year, more than 8,800 commercial buildings earned the Energy Star, saving more than $2.2 billion and preventing more than 5.7 million metric tons of emissions…
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/06/energy-star-commercial-real-estate.html

White House swears in first class of American Climate Corps

The Biden administration on Tuesday swore in the first class of the American Climate Corps, a federal program that is meant to place young people in the clean energy, conservation and climate resilience sectors...

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/white-house-swears-first-class-american-climate-corps-rcna157562

How Biden is conserving land and water as Trump looms

The White House has a goal to conserve 30% of US land and water by 2030 – Trump has different plans…

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jun/10/land-water-conservation-biden-environment

Biden moves to protect public lands with sweeping conservation rule - The Washington Post

Under President Biden, the BLM has put a greater emphasis on protecting public lands from the twin threats of climate change and development. Tracy Stone-Manning, the bureau's director, has warned that hotter, drier climates are driving longer and more intense wildfires and drought across the American West. At the same time, development has fragmented and destroyed wildlife habitat and migratory corridors...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/04/18/biden-public-lands-conservation-rule/

Nature conservation near you: Restor maps parks, forests, prairie, and more - Vox

Here's where nature is, in fact, healing...

https://www.vox.com/down-to-earth/22870194/restor-map-nature-healing-forest-restoration

Opinion: What 'BBB' really means - CNN

…Passing the legislation would count as a landmark achievement. The $1.9 trillion bill would drastically expand the social safety net and help fight climate change by providing subsidies for health care and childcare, free and universal preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds, along with new tax credits for clean energy, investments in electric vehicles, and funding for environmental conservation. The bill will would also allow the federal government to negotiate the prices of prescription drugs for older Americans on Medicare, provide new and improved affordable housing, include subsidies to make high-speed internet more accessible -- and more...

https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/19/opinions/build-back-better-biden-messaging-zelizer/index.html

A Conversation With Jane Goodall (On Point)

60 years ago, Jane Goodall first began her close observations of Tanzania’s chimpanzees. Equipped with simple binoculars, a notebook and patience, she transformed the way the world understood primates and wildlife. She joins us to look back on her legacy, and discuss the urgent challenges around climate and conservation.
Interview:

https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2020/07/17/a-conversation-with-jane-goodall-coronavirus-chimpanzees

A Conversation With Jane Goodall (On Point)

60 years ago, Jane Goodall first began her close observations of Tanzania’s chimpanzees. Equipped with simple binoculars, a notebook and patience, she transformed the way the world understood primates and wildlife. She joins us to look back on her legacy, and discuss the urgent challenges around climate and conservation.
Interview:
https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2020/07/17/a-conversation-with-jane-goodall-coronavirus-chimpanzees

Democrats are reaching farmers with an exciting message: green agriculture

Democrats are reaching farmers with an exciting message: green agriculture
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/11/democrats-conservation-climate-rural-america

Republicans form conservation caucus to take on environment, climate change - The Hill

Republicans on Wednesday launched an environment-minded conservation caucus aimed at battling the perception that their party doesn't care about climate change...
https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/452399-republicans-form-conservation-caucus-to-take-on-environment-climate

Trump Gets GOP Pushback On Plan To Close Job Centers And Lay Off Workers - HuffPost

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and other Republican lawmakers are breaking with the White House on its plan to make cuts to a conservation job training program and lay off more than 1,000 federal workers.....
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-gets-gop-pushback-on-plan-to-close-job-centers-and-lay-off-workers_n_5cf93d22e4b0e63eda973263