The Nature Conservancy, known for preserving landscapes by buying land and development rights, is considering logging as another tool to protect forest land in Virginia. As the coal industry has begun to wane in the southwest portion of the state, timber cutting has increased. According to a survey by the state Department of Forestry, theContinue reading “Logging for Conservation”
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Soaking Up The Sun
Sun and shade are working together at the International Airport in Sacramento. The largest free-standing solarport in the country has a photovoltaic system that tracks the sun across the sky, providing electricity to the power grid and cool parking spaces to airport visitors. The solarport measures 393 feet long, 30 feet wide and 14 feetContinue reading “Soaking Up The Sun”
Harnessing Markets to Improve Water Quality
Using a free-market approach can save money and reduce pollution
Straw Houses
Withstand Huffs And Puffs To many of us, straw is nothing more than brown stubble left behind after the harvest. Once considered an agricultural waste product, straw is the basis of a cost-effective and energy-efficient building material, providing an alternative to expensive lumber. In Perrytown, Texas, on the high plains of the panhandle, Cindy ThyfaultContinue reading “Straw Houses”
Urban Sprawl: Pro and Con
By Randall G. Holcombe The term “urban sprawl” has a bad ring to it. The name reinforces the view that metropolitan growth is ugly, inefficient, and the cause of traffic congestion and environmental harm. Before we decide we are against urban sprawl, however, we should be clear about what it is and why weContinue reading “Urban Sprawl: Pro and Con”
Prosperity and Environment
By Matthew Brown and Jane S. Shaw Deforestation, lack of safe drinking water, oppressive air pollution-these environmental ills are found frequently in Third World nations but rarely in developed ones. Even so, economic growth is still often portrayed as the cause of many (if not most) environmental problems. The economic literature has begun to addressContinue reading “Prosperity and Environment”
Guerillas Go Organic
After 35 years of civil war in Guatemala, peace has led to a surprising growth in organic farming. During the fighting, farmers abandoned their land allowing native plants to reclaim the cleared fields. As the land lay fallow, the pesticides gradually disappeared from the soil and wild herbs flourished. When the farmers returned, they discoveredContinue reading “Guerillas Go Organic”
Keeping It Clean
Marina owners Bill Reiser and Lisa Stowell know that running an environmentally friendly business is not only good for Chesapeake Bay, but good for their pocketbooks, too. With that in mind, they have shelled out some serious money to make sure their customers keep coming back. To keep the waters near their business clean, theyContinue reading “Keeping It Clean”
Forest – Saving Fashions
Native forests in New Zealand are being munched to death by millions of opossums. Introduced from Australia in the mid-1800s, the furry creatures have no natural predators in New Zealand. It is estimated that they are now 70 million strong and consume 20,000 tons of foliage every night. Although hunting and poison have been usedContinue reading “Forest – Saving Fashions”
Turtle Tourism
Along Brazil’s Atlantic coast, local people patrol 620 miles of beaches to protect five endangered species of sea turtle. By protecting the turtles, they are also protecting an important source of income based on ecotourism. One local man said, "Turtles have become a big part of my life. If I or any other fisherman seesContinue reading “Turtle Tourism”