Wild Faith

What could sugar, sharks, and a pandemic possibly have in common? Turns out, a lot. And the connections raise issues that go to the heart of our outlook on the environment. Let’s take a closer look. Sharks These apex predators of the ocean are essential to a healthy marine eco-system. They’ve earned our respect as kings of the abyss. Sharks have a number of unique adaptations. Their sharp teeth are produced in a conveyer-belt fashion and are continually lost and replaced. The

From her high perch, the solitary raptor scans the open fields. She suddenly takes flight, bursting into high speed as she pursues her prey. Her sharp talons snatch songbirds or insects midflight; her hooked beak tears into the still-moving victim. This raptor is an efficient hunter. Is she an eagle? A hawk? A kite? No. This predator is a merlin. Today we associate the name “merlin” with wizardry. Mysticism. After all, the Merlin of Arthurian legend was an important literary

“It’s clear to anyone who puts their head below the waves that the fate of the world’s coral reefs is hanging in the balance,” said UNEP chief Erik Solheim. “At the moment these undersea explosions of colour and life face an extremely bleak future.” Let’s put our heads below the waves for just a moment. Coral reefs are extremely sensitive to changes in the environment. Coral polyps, the organisms that colonize and build these reef structures, can be found in warm tropical sea

Christen, here. You may know me professionally as a writer, an environmental attorney, an adjunct, or as a human being committed to addressing environmental problems in Western New York. But I’m also a person of faith. I’m used to the odd looks. Person talking to me: “You’re an environmentalist ... and a Christian?” Me: “Yep.” Cue the [raised eyebrows] [barely concealed smirks] [twisted theological doctrines]. The reactions come from people of all stri

Our planet is experiencing biodiversity loss on an unprecedented scale. Last year, the United Nations released the stunning results of its first comprehensive study of biodiversity -- and the news is dire. One U.N. source sums it up this way: Current global response insufficient; ‘Transformative changes’ needed to restore and protect nature; Opposition from vested interests can be overcome for public good; Most comprehensive assessment of its kind; 1,000,000 species threatene

The protection of migratory birds has been a focus of environmental law for more than one hundred years. Now, those protections are in danger of being diluted. The federal agency in charge of protecting migratory birds has proposed a rule change that will codify a narrow definition of “take” under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). The proposed change essentially guts those protections. The MBTA became necessary largely because of overhunting and … fashion. For instance, t

Sometimes reading environmental news induces a collective sigh. A communal SMH. It’s filled with the multiple ways in which humans are negatively impacting the environment. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought that point home in a powerful way: without us, the oceans are quieter, whales are returning to shipping lanes, jellyfish have found their way into Venetian canals, and big cats are pacing city streets. It’s not just the presence of people that cause disruptions in the envi

We live in an age of extreme political views on everything from immigration to the environment. It wasn’t always that way. Fifty years ago, the environment was a pressing concern for people of every political stripe. This may come as a surprise to many, but Republican President Richard Nixon oversaw the enactment of many of our Nation’s major environmental laws. And he worked with a Democrat-led congress to establish them. On January 1, 1970, in response to a series of enviro

We know that the loss of biodiversity significantly impacts our ecosystems and is happening at an alarming rate. But sometimes the true cost of biodiversity loss is hard to grasp until we increase our sensitivity to the impacts. The loss of a plant or animal species is complicated, possibly invisible, and sometimes hard to quantify, much like coming to grips with our spiritual nature. But just because these losses are difficult to see doesn’t mean they don’t exist. (We can lo