parks archives - planet forward - 克罗地亚vs加拿大让球 //www.getitdoneaz.com/tag/parks/ inspiring stories to 2022年卡塔尔世界杯官网 thu, 22 feb 2024 17:04:16 +0000 en-us hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 seeking a swimmable d.c.: water quality monitoring in rock creek //www.getitdoneaz.com/story/rock-creek-water-quality/ mon, 22 may 2023 18:42:41 +0000 //www.getitdoneaz.com/?p=30580 as another hot d.c. summer encroaches, the 19,000 people living near rock creek will need to find a way to cool off — but not in the water.

while the waters may look idyllic, a century-old sewage system and dangerously high levels of bacteria have made the urban national park unswimmable for decades. now, a team of volunteers is working to change that, one water sample at a time.

no-swim zone

d.c. residents know that swimming in the city’s waterways is not the best idea — in fact, it’s been illegal since 1971. lorde shocked concert goers and made national news last year when she claimed to float in the potomac before her show. there’s a stigma around the cleanliness of these rivers from decades of pollution, but in recent years, the waterways have been slowly improving.

the environmental protection agency has been trying to make the city’s waterways swimmable and fishable since the clean water act of 1972. while the original ten-year timeline for that goal passed forty years ago, the act set in motion a clean water agenda the city is hoping to reach in the next few years.

in 2019, city officials began floating the idea of relaxing or lifting the swim ban. but even after decades of cleaning up the waterways, environmentalists question whether the water is safe enough to open to public swimming. data from the d.c. volunteer water quality monitoring project is helping shed light on the state of the city’s rivers and streams.

a sign on a wooden fence in a park reads "stay dry, stay safe"
signs in rock creek park warn park-goers and their pets to stay out of the water. (sophie kahler)

watching the waterways

on a cool day in early may, the ground is damp and the water is high in rock creek park. it’s the first day of the 2023 water monitoring season, an overcast morning after several days of on-and-off rain.

landrum beard, community engagement coordinator at rock creek conservancy, sits under a picnic pavilion at a table lined with small red coolers for volunteers to pick up with their water testing kits. they’ll head out toward their assigned sites, marked with ribbons, along the creek and return with the coolers filled with water samples, which are taken to anacostia riverkeeper’s lab for testing.

anacostia riverkeeper launched the d.c. volunteer water quality monitoring project in 2018 to measure and track contamination levels in d.c.’s main waterways: the anacostia river, the potomac river, and rock creek.

with a $140,000 grant from the d.c. department of energy and environment, the project has grown into a collaboration between anacostia riverkeeperalliance for the chesapeake bayrock creek conservancy, and nature forward. the groups have trained almost 400 volunteers from all eight wards of the city, collecting more than 2,000 water samples from 2019 to 2022.

each wednesday morning from may to september — considered the outdoor recreational season — teams of volunteers take water samples at two dozen sites across the city and test for ph balance, e. coli levels, water temperature, air temperature, and turbidity, a measure of water clarity. they also note if they see anyone in the water, as many people and their pets still wade in the creek despite park signs warning against it. the results are posted each friday and updated in the swim guide app, which lets users check the water quality of nearby beaches.

most of the volunteers are consistent, beard says. there are some newcomers on this first day of the new season, but others have been a part of the program for years.

benita veskimets is one of those veteran volunteers. veskimets, who used to work in fundraising for rock creek conservancy, is in her fourth year of water sampling. “i’m really curious to see what happens this year,” she says. “last year, i feel like it was worse than the year before.”

only a few of the rock creek sites passed with safe bacteria levels last year, beard confirms. those were mostly on dry weeks, when there was little or no rainfall impacting the stormwater sewage overflow. this morning is not one of those times. after a rainy week, the creek is likely swimming with bacteria from runoff. not the best way to kick off the season, he admits.

rock creek park’s sewage problem

the root of this problem lies with infrastructure, and if you’ve ever walked through rock creek park after a rainstorm, you can smell why. 

after just half an inch of rainfall, hazardous waste and sewage flood into the creek from the city’s old combined sewer infrastructure. in this system, stormwater and sewage flow through the same pipes — and when it rains, they quickly fill up and overflow into the rivers. rock creek is considered dangerously contaminated when that happens, and recreators are advised to avoid the waterway for up to three days afterward.

volunteers have tracked that trend at the sampling areas. “all these sites, for the most part, have a storm drain a few hundred feet or so upstream from where the sampling site is,” beard said. “so after big rain events, we always see that the sites have extremely high bacteria.”

d.c. water is now working on a $2.6 billion overhaul to the city’s sewage system with the goal of redirecting some of these sewage lines away from the city’s waterways and back toward treatment plants. this plan, the clean river project, is set to be completed in 2030. 

in the current phase of the project, the national park service is teaming up with d.c. water to take on piney branch creek, one of rock creek’s main tributaries and victims of contamination. an estimated 39 million gallons of sewage and stormwater pour into the creek each year.

“the way to do it is to build bigger pipes under the ground that can handle all the sewage and the stormwater and keep it in the pipes and get it down to the treatment plant,” said steve dryden, a local conservationist who has worked in the piney branch area for years.

the city is expanding these pipes, aiming to reduce the amount of sewage flowing into the three waterways by 96 percent. it’s part of a hybrid plan for rock creek that includes both traditional “grey infrastructure” — like basins, drains, and pipes — and new “green infrastructure,” such as rain gardens and permeable pavers in 365 acres of the surrounding urban areas. a pilot program for this green infrastructure plan reduced runoff into the creek by nearly one fifth, surpassing d.c. water’s goals.

but sewage overflow and runoff after rainfall is not the only contamination source in rock creek. the water quality monitoring project reports that some sites have had persistently high levels of bacteria even during dry weather, which may be caused by “outdated infrastructure, leaking sewer pipes, or uninvestigated point-source pollution.”

jeanne braha, executive director of rock creek conservancy, said this may also come from pet waste and houses or businesses with sewer pipes that are accidentally hooked up to storm drain pipes that flow into the creek. construction in the urban area is another contributor, veskimets adds. while the potomac and anacostia bacteria levels are a direct result of combined sewer overflows, rock creek’s contamination comes from several sources — making solutions harder to find.

one sample at a time

while solving rock creek’s water contamination problem is a long process, participants in the d.c. volunteer water quality monitoring project are ensuring that city officials and environmentalists have the data to help. 

the potomac and anacostia rivers have been slowly improving in water quality since the anacostia was once dubbed “one of the most polluted waterways in the nation.” people debate whether the rivers have recovered enough to be swimmable.

“i think we’re getting there,” said louis eby, a longtime water quality volunteer and former attorney advisor in the epa’s office of water. he’s seen a lot of progress in the two rivers, but remains cautious about rock creek.

“i wouldn’t swim in rock creek,” he said. “we’ll get there some day for rock creek, but not soon.”

sure enough, the rain in early may was a forecast of remaining challenges. both upper and lower rock creek sites reported unsafe e. coli and ph levels in the first week of monitoring.

still, citizen scientists will continue to keep tabs on the water quality each week. as soon as rock creek is finally swimmable, they’ll be the first to know. 

as the summer recreation season kicks off, people flock to d.c.’s waterways for kayaking, paddleboarding, and sightseeing — and one day soon, they might be able to safely swim in them.

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this spring, a changing environment for rock creek park’s songbirds //www.getitdoneaz.com/story/rock-creek-songbirds/ tue, 28 mar 2023 17:45:01 +0000 //www.getitdoneaz.com/?p=29105 on a warm and sunny day in early march, you might be able to spot a few birds perched in the budding trees of rock creek park — and if you listen closely, you can hear them.

though it’s early in the season for the area’s songbirds, the chirps and calls of some species are a sign of what’s to come as temperatures warm and flowers bloom. but this spring highlights a challenging trend: fewer songbirds are returning to the park each year.

rock creek park has long been a hotspot for birders to watch the migration of northbound songbirds each spring. positioned along the atlantic flyway migration route, d.c.’s largest park is home to a variety of birds passing through each year on their return from the winter retreat to warmer climates.

“a key part of the park’s value is as a safe migration route for birds that are traveling north and south,” said bill yeaman, the national park service’s resource management specialist for rock creek park.

to the casual park goer, rock creek park seems inundated with birds each spring. but changing migration patterns and habitat disruption mean that songbirds are disappearing from the area, leaving conservationists concerned about the future of the park’s biodiversity.

the vanishing songbird

over 150 species of birds call the 1,754-acre rock creek park home. many of those species are migratory birds that inhabit the park during the warmer months and migrate south to central and south america for the winter. but each year, fewer birds are making the thousand-mile journey. a 2019 study revealed that the bird population of north america plummeted by almost a third since 1970, resulting in a net loss of nearly three billion birds.

one species falling victim to this trend is the wood thrush, a small, cinnamon-brown songbird with striking black spots — the official bird of d.c. the wood thrush population in the united states has decreased by more than 60% since 1966.

a small brown and white songbird is perched on a branch
the wood thrush, d.c.’s official bird. (larry hubble/flickr)

yeaman has noticed this decline in rock creek park. 

“wood thrush, which is a bird that likes to nest in the interior, as well as scarlet tanagers, red-eyed vireos, ovenbirds — these are interior birds whose numbers have dramatically gone down,” he said.

that loss has been traced primarily to the destruction of the birds’ north american habitat, where they spend roughly half the year from april to october in eastern deciduous forests. but their winter habitats in tropical forests from mexico to colombia are changing as well.

“the habitat in general for that kind of environment is shrinking throughout the country and certainly in central america… it’s a loss of habitat on both ends of their journey,” yeaman said. 

environmental threats

songbirds prefer dense, lush forests to breed in, and the loss of viable forested areas within the park has several causes. urban development has disrupted much of d.c.‘s once-forested areas, including the piney branch stream valley in the southeastern section of rock creek park. after the tributary was paved over to create piney branch parkway in the 1930s, trees that grew along the banks disappeared, reducing the songbird habitat.

human recreation within the park erodes the habitat as well.

“our biggest problem is what we call social or unauthorized trails, which have been created over time with more and more people in the park,” yeaman said. “it disturbs habitats, it compromises the integrity of the forest, and each trail has its own side effects in terms of protecting sensitive habitats.”

he notes that canine park visitors are a concern as well, as unleashed dogs wander through the woods and disturb the conditions off-trail.

vulnerable habitats exacerbate competition between species, and in rock creek park, a large deer population poses an issue for songbirds. in recent years, the park’s white-tailed deer population hit almost 100 deer per square mile — five times the national park service’s goal — which means that deer are overgrazing on trees like maples and hemlocks where songbirds live and feast on insects.

but while plants are dwindling in some places, they are taking over in others. invasive, or non-native, plant species such as bush honeysuckle, english ivy, and bamboo disturb the ecosystem by reducing birds’ native food sources and depleting the fertility of the soil.

“native plants are greatly compromised by invasives,” explained yeaman. “without that [native] food source, you’re affecting the food chain at the insect level, which is the basis for everything above them, including songbirds.”

when springtime comes too soon

new research suggests that ‘early spring’ may be affecting migration patterns as well — that’s the recent phenomenon of warm weather arriving earlier in the year, causing premature blooming and shifting the migration timeline.

migratory songbirds travel with the weather — if winter lasts longer, they’ll stay down south; if spring arrives early, they’ll head north with it. and as climate change accelerates, spring temperatures are beginning earlier each year. some regions of the u.s. are experiencing springtime weather an average of six to 18 days earlier than usual.

that means birds are shifting their migration patterns. songbirds with shorter migration routes like the pine warbler and american robin are picking up on signs of the changing seasons and migrating northward earlier, but species with longer routes from central and south america are falling behind

male birds are seemingly adapting to these changes better, returning to breeding grounds an average of one week before females. these gaps could pose reproductive challenges for birds and cause them to be out of sync with their fledglings’ food supply.

a small yellow and brown pine warbler songbird sits on a branch with green leaves
pine warblers migrate shorter distances than most songbirds, staying in the american southeast and returning north as early as february. (dennis church/flickr)

conservationists in rock creek park are worried about how songbirds will weather the changes.

“those fresh leaves that come out in the spring are very tender and don’t have as many toxins — they’re very tasty for insects,”  said steve dryden, a local conservationist and who has been involved with the d.c. audubon society and rock creek conservancy.

“if leaves start blooming earlier, and the insects start eating them earlier, that whole cycle gets thrown off and it might be bad for the reproduction of the birds. the birds are used to coming at a certain time in the spring. they may be too late.”

scientists are still tracking these seasonal shifts, which are changing with the effects of climate change. in the meantime, experts are focusing on habitat preservation and restoration to ensure songbirds have a place to return to each year. 

preservation and protection

environmental groups in the d.c. area are working to protect and cultivate the forests of rock creek park that are still viable songbird habitats. 

when dryden learned about the plight of the wood thrush in 2013, he launched an initiative to help restore songbird habitats in the park. today, rock creek songbirds has raised over $150,000 and planted more than 600 native trees in rock creek parks’s piney branch.

working with local schools and community groups, dryden has become a steward of piney branch by creating lush habitats that support not only songbirds, but all biodiversity in the park. dryden and volunteers with rock creek songbirds remove invasive plants, clean up litter, plant new trees, and monitor the restoration projects.

rock creek songbirds has been a steward of the piney branch area of rock creek park since 2013 when their founder, steve dryden, heard about the disappearing habitat of the city’s official bird, the wood thrush. the organization works with local schools and community groups to plant trees and create areas catered to songbird habitation.
rock creek songbirds has been a steward of the piney branch area of rock creek park since 2013 when their founder, steve dryden, heard about the disappearing habitat of the city’s official bird, the wood thrush. the organization works with local schools and community groups to plant trees and create areas catered to songbird habitation.
about photo
zoe swiss
dryden and his dog, teddy, regularly visit the restoration area to check up on the plants and animals. he picks up some strewn beer cans and makes a note to repair part of a fence that’s fallen down. although the wood thrush was the original impetus for his project, he’s interested in strengthening the biodiversity of the whole park. “when you get right down to it, if you’re improving the habitat for one species, you’re improving it for many,” he said.
dryden and his dog, teddy, regularly visit the restoration area to check up on the plants and animals. he picks up some strewn beer cans and makes a note to repair part of a fence that’s fallen down. although the wood thrush was the original impetus for his project, he’s interested in strengthening the biodiversity of the whole park. “when you get right down to it, if you’re improving the habitat for one species, you’re improving it for many,” he said.
about photo
sophie kahler
one of rock creek songbirds’ restoration projects lies just yards off piney branch parkway near rock creek park’s picnic pavilion 29. the area was originally a heavily forested stream valley but was closed off to create piney branch parkway in the 1930s followed by residential, commercial, and other urban development. from the road, the area looks unassuming, but dryden and volunteers have spent years planting trees, grasses, and other plants to restore the wetland habitat.
one of rock creek songbirds’ restoration projects lies just yards off piney branch parkway near rock creek park’s picnic pavilion 29. the area was originally a heavily forested stream valley but was closed off to create piney branch parkway in the 1930s followed by residential, commercial, and other urban development. from the road, the area looks unassuming, but dryden and volunteers have spent years planting trees, grasses, and other plants to restore the wetland habitat.
about photo
zoe swiss
the organization has planted more than 600 native trees in the piney branch area in the past decade. the region was once a biodiverse “magnolia bog” home to sweetbay magnolia, highbush blueberry, sphagnum moss, and other plants that grow in the swampy acidic soil.
the organization has planted more than 600 native trees in the piney branch area in the past decade. the region was once a biodiverse “magnolia bog” home to sweetbay magnolia, highbush blueberry, sphagnum moss, and other plants that grow in the swampy acidic soil.
about photo
sophie kahler
rock creek songbirds sources saplings from earth sangha, a non-profit nursery in alexandria, virginia. earth sangha exclusively grows trees native to local forests and meadows as a way to help native species flourish and to practice the buddhist value of conservation. dryden and the volunteers at rock creek songbirds choose trees that attract butterflies and other insects that are a food source for songbirds.
rock creek songbirds sources saplings from earth sangha, a non-profit nursery in alexandria, virginia. earth sangha exclusively grows trees native to local forests and meadows as a way to help native species flourish and to practice the buddhist value of conservation. dryden and the volunteers at rock creek songbirds choose trees that attract butterflies and other insects that are a food source for songbirds.
about photo
zoe swiss
the organization places tree guards around newly-planted saplings to protect their young trunks from animals like deer, who rub their antlers on the bark.
the organization places tree guards around newly-planted saplings to protect their young trunks from animals like deer, who rub their antlers on the bark.
about photo
sophie kahler
one native plant that helps prevent deer browse is northern spicebush, named for the spicy taste that deer dislike. the plants bloom glossy red berries that songbirds eat in the spring.
one native plant that helps prevent deer browse is northern spicebush, named for the spicy taste that deer dislike. the plants bloom glossy red berries that songbirds eat in the spring.
about photo
zoe swiss
dryden samples the watercress that grows in the piney branch area. animals like ducks and deer also eat the slightly peppery vegetable.
dryden samples the watercress that grows in the piney branch area. animals like ducks and deer also eat the slightly peppery vegetable.
about photo
sophie kahler
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rock creek songbirds has been a steward of the piney branch area of rock creek park since 2013 when their founder, steve dryden, heard about the disappearing habitat of the city’s official bird, the wood thrush. the organization works with local schools and community groups to plant trees and create areas catered to songbird habitation.
dryden and his dog, teddy, regularly visit the restoration area to check up on the plants and animals. he picks up some strewn beer cans and makes a note to repair part of a fence that’s fallen down. although the wood thrush was the original impetus for his project, he’s interested in strengthening the biodiversity of the whole park. “when you get right down to it, if you’re improving the habitat for one species, you’re improving it for many,” he said.
one of rock creek songbirds’ restoration projects lies just yards off piney branch parkway near rock creek park’s picnic pavilion 29. the area was originally a heavily forested stream valley but was closed off to create piney branch parkway in the 1930s followed by residential, commercial, and other urban development. from the road, the area looks unassuming, but dryden and volunteers have spent years planting trees, grasses, and other plants to restore the wetland habitat.
the organization has planted more than 600 native trees in the piney branch area in the past decade. the region was once a biodiverse “magnolia bog” home to sweetbay magnolia, highbush blueberry, sphagnum moss, and other plants that grow in the swampy acidic soil.
rock creek songbirds sources saplings from earth sangha, a non-profit nursery in alexandria, virginia. earth sangha exclusively grows trees native to local forests and meadows as a way to help native species flourish and to practice the buddhist value of conservation. dryden and the volunteers at rock creek songbirds choose trees that attract butterflies and other insects that are a food source for songbirds.
the organization places tree guards around newly-planted saplings to protect their young trunks from animals like deer, who rub their antlers on the bark.
one native plant that helps prevent deer browse is northern spicebush, named for the spicy taste that deer dislike. the plants bloom glossy red berries that songbirds eat in the spring.
dryden samples the watercress that grows in the piney branch area. animals like ducks and deer also eat the slightly peppery vegetable.
next

the rock creek conservancy is protecting bird habitats by developing mini-oases throughout the park to remove invasive species from one small area at a time. they regularly host cleanup events and train a group of volunteers known as weed warriors to tackle these invasive species sites.

“our goal is to reduce invasive cover to less than 5%, to reduce the stress on the trees and to hopefully let the forest recover,” said the conservancy’s executive director jeanne braha. 

and the national park service is doing its part to preserve songbird habitats in rock creek park by regulating human recreation and educating visitors about best practices. they even organize people to engage in community science efforts like the audubon christmas bird count. each christmas, yeaman ventures into the park early in the morning with volunteers to count and track all the birds they see that day. the 123-year-old tradition helps conservationists and researchers understand current bird populations.

bringing it home

according to yeaman, people can help protect songbirds from their own backyards by planting native shrubs and trees. if you’ve got a windowsill, you can plant native wildflowers. 

“people can do these things on their property to help. it would improve just the general condition of the environment, including songbirds habitats.”

and of course, the rock creek songbirds, rock creek conservancy, and the national park service are always in need of volunteers to help bring the music of songbirds back to the park. 

as d.c. enters springtime, the songbirds will flock to rock creek park, nesting among the trees after a long journey north. they will continue to do so, year after year, as long as we make sure they have a safe place to fly home to.

]]> pocket parks: moving toward a greener dc //www.getitdoneaz.com/story/pocket-parks-moving-towards-a-greener-dc/ sat, 10 mar 2018 04:43:28 +0000 http://dpetrov.2create.studio/planet/wordpress/pocket-parks-moving-toward-a-greener-dc/ washington, d.c., does an impressive job at maintaining ecosystem corridors throughout the city through the use of pocket parks and green spaces.

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in my utopian world, cities would be their own ecosystem equipped with rooftop highways for squirrels and birdfeed re-fuel stations. but, that’s not going to happen anytime soon. in the meantime, washington, d.c. does an impressive job at maintaining ecosystem corridors throughout the city through the use of pocket parks. pocket parks are little ecological havens where animals and insects can take shelter from human activity when traveling between larger habitats.

actively looking for pocket parks made me realize just how many there are in d.c. as i leave my house, i can see at least five on new hampshire avenue before the washington circle. i thought maybe it would be difficult to find greenery outside of a coffee shop, but there was a tiny pocket park outside of the first coffee shop i walked by on k street.

pocket parks offer a chance to take shelter from human activity, along with the birds and squirrels. the city has a number of coalitions and community organizations to keep pocket parks well maintained so every one has the chance to escape every once in a while. you can look for your local park organization or start one here.

of course, we are still far away from seeing green tree frogs in our parks. the green city utopia of today is more focused on reviving caterpillar populations and pollinators with native plants. the utopia of tomorrow will re-establish bird biodiversity. the next century may bring a fully integrated city, but until then pocket parks are the stepping-stones we need for a healthy, biodiverse urban environment.

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11th street bridge park //www.getitdoneaz.com/story/11th-street-bridge-park/ thu, 31 mar 2016 20:31:06 +0000 http://dpetrov.2create.studio/planet/wordpress/11th-street-bridge-park/ pf_storyfest_badge_finalist.pngthe 11th street bridge park is a unique development project that is focused on the community and the preservation of the anacostia river.

 

 

 

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greener community spaces, sustainability among top recommendations for adams morgan from office of planning //www.getitdoneaz.com/story/greener-community-spaces-sustainability-among-top-recommendations-for-adams-morgan-from-office/ tue, 29 mar 2016 18:29:31 +0000 http://dpetrov.2create.studio/planet/wordpress/greener-community-spaces-sustainability-among-top-recommendations-for-adams-morgan-from-office-of-planning/ pf_storyfest_badge_v4_03-15-16_alsmall-03.png the future of adams morgan may look a little greener with new park spaces and sustainability programs and have a stronger sense of community and culture, under new recommendations from the d.c. office of planning.

the office released a 32-page “adams morgan vision framework” plan outlining 17 long-term goals for the neighborhood, including increasing cultural diversification, embracing the neighborhood’s history and strengthening local retail. plans for developing new community spaces and adding sustainability programs are two of the most emphasized aspects of the proposal.

one proposal includes revamping unity park along columbia road to make it more of a destination for members of the neighborhood.

“once a place for vibrant, episodic commerce, the park’s utility is waning and its design stagnating relative to the liveliness of the corridor,” the plan says. in the future, the park could include more trees, seating and shaded spaces, and may even serve as a space for farmer’s markets, artistic events and concerts.

the plan also proposes adding a new park to the neighborhood at the corner of 18th street and columbia road. the area currently has about 5,000 square feet of unused concrete space, according to the plan, that could be transformed into a more usable community green space.

goals regarding a long-term sustainability plan for the neighborhood include creating a “sustainability task force,” implementing a new composting program and reaching a target of 25 percent of high-performing, solar paneled rooftops.

the plan praises the neighborhood’s current walkability, multiculturalism and emphasis on locality, but also seeks to enhance each of these facets to promote adams morgan’s artistic and cultural history.

“the vision framework tells a narrative of the neighborhood by unpacking its important cultural and historical aspects and building on them to ensure adams morgan retains relevancy and competitiveness in the context of a growing city,” the plan says.

 

(editor’s note: this piece originally appeared in the eagle online.)

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follow these instagram accounts if you love the environment //www.getitdoneaz.com/story/who-to-follow-on-instagram-for-your-daily-dose-of-green/ mon, 19 oct 2015 20:30:00 +0000 http://dpetrov.2create.studio/planet/wordpress/follow-these-instagram-accounts-if-you-love-the-environment/ we love these instagram accounts for their shots of the environment and the planet.

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we love these instagram accounts for their shots of the environment and the planet.

national geographic (@natgeo)

“life is an adventure — enjoy the ride and the world the eyes of the national geographic photographers.”

miles upon miles of compounded and colorful aluminum cans in a new york recycling facility, a red plastic bag floating in the wind near mt. huangshan mountain, china and a german nuclear power plant, rusted, barren and a monument to long-ago war — these are some of the pictures on natgeo’s instagram and they serve to remind us of our impact on the world. don’t worry though, it’s not all doom and gloom. national geographic showcases some of their best photographers from across the world, posting three to four pictures a day that capture the beauty of our planet.

u.s. epa (@epagov)

“the mission of epa is to protect human health and the environment.”

when policy meets pollution and when fed meets farm, the epa is there, meeting the needs of the environment. the epa instagram is an excellent example of how environmentally minded organizations can visually represent green initiatives. with a blend of statistics, infographics and the faces who make the organization what it is today, the epa instagram is a giant in the realm of environmental storytelling.

everyday climate change (@everydayclimatechange)

“climate change is real! a diverse group of photographers from 5 continents document climate change. share your photos, tag #everydayclimatechange.”

who are the people that make the turbines spin and the trees grow and the cities less smoggy? they are many, from china to india to new york, and they’re faces are on everyday climate change’s instagram. ecc focuses on the stories behind some of the challenges that face our planet. a woman, knee deep in the water of the jamuna river in bangladesh, stands in what was once her home. smoke, billowing out of a plastic factory, destroy cairo’s already toxic air. a pair of wrinkly lips and jowls, describing how global warming is a myth manufactured by the chinese, belong to donald trump. together, these stories make up the epic challenge of human vs. environment; everyday climate change shows us that it has to be human and environment.

noaa (@noaa)

“official feed for the u.s. national oceanic and atmospheric administration. our mission: science, service and stewardship. find us on twitter @noaa.”

a glacier, a space shuttle launch and a fragile turtle the size of a walnut. ocean and ozone are noaa’s bread and butter. their instagram lets out all of the stops to show what it means to be a part of a planet that’s over three quarters water. and if you’re sick of being boring and for that cool barista at starbucks to think you’re smart, noaa’s your social media place: (“sup, becky? did you know that the national marine sanctuary system turned 42 today?”). with 160,000-plus followers, the noaa team does everything it can to bring the air and sea to your fingers and inspire you to bring those fingers to pick up a barometer or click a donate button.

yosemite national park (@yosemitenps)

“yosemite national park is best known for its waterfalls, but also deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, & more.”

when talking about sustainability, we often focus on innovation and the future. but what about those ancient sanctuaries that are more myth than reality? these are our national parks, and yosemite national park, just might be one of the most beautiful. in one day you can see vast expanses of green and blue and gray, and as day bleeds into night, millions of stars. the 1,200 square miles of beauty have drawn 221,000 followers, making for a successful instagram. and from it, we can learn that, yes, sustainability is a fast-paced, future-looking force that protects places like yosemite. but can’t we take a moment to enjoy it a little? 

international space station (@iss)

“the international space station is a collaboration of 15 nations working together to operate a world-class, state-of-the-art orbiting laboratory.”

two words: space vegetables! ok, it sounds funny, but space-grown vegetables actually do have an impact on humanity’s ability to survive on potential long-term missions in space. is space the answer to an overcrowded planet? it’s probably not the answer, but it may be one option, at least for those with a great sense of adventure. along with exploring the research being done for future missions, the iss instagram is a fascinating look inside the iss — and the (higher than a) bird’s-eye-view of the planet with awesome views of everything from auroras to storms, surely helped them gain their 936,000 followers.

out of eden (@outofedenwalk)

“out of eden pulitzer prize-winning journalist paul salopek is recreating the journey of early humans out of africa and around the world, one step at a time.”

this project, which started in 2013, is a “slow” journalism experiment spanning 21,000 miles — all traveled by foot — and seven years. the project’s website says along the way salopek will be covering the major stories of our time — “from climate change to technological innovation, from mass migration to cultural survival.” it’s not an “instant read” when you look at the instagram feed, but check it out and give the project a chance. after all, there are five more years to follow on this journey.

planet forward (@planetforward)

“planet forward is an innovative storytelling collaborative based at the george washington university.”

of course you should follow us! planet forward was just in rome with our inaugural storyfest winners sharing their stories at the 42nd committee on food security (cfs) annual conference. but we’ve also explored ethiopia, shared some innovative ideas and announced contests (watch for storyfest 2016’s announcement soon!). be in the know about all things planet forward. and tell us your story, by using #planetfwd.

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reigning in emissions with green infrastructure //www.getitdoneaz.com/story/reigning-in-emissions-with-green-infrastructure/ tue, 18 dec 2012 12:30:57 +0000 http://dpetrov.2create.studio/planet/wordpress/reigning-in-emissions-with-green-infrastructure/ everyone has heard the words global warming and their designation as the number one crisis facing humanity. cities around the world have responded with a wide range of ideas targeting their own emissions. everything from green roofs to alternative fuels and water conservation have been widely debated and implemented. cities learn from and compete with one another around the board, which is the reason their plans need to be spread around the globe. this is the only way you, i, and city officials can learn and implement the most effective strategies in order to defeat global warming.

of the many approaches being taken we believe greening the city is of utmost importance. by incorporating nature within city structure, cities are reversing their carbon footprint and creating a healthier place for you to live. health bonuses come both physically and psychologically. the city of atlanta for example is currently under construction of a beltline project. this 22 mile loop around the city will connect over 20 parks and reclaim 1100 acres of brownfield site. allowing greater community accessibility to sustainable transport, the beltline will provide a gateway and act as a green connection for the city. at its finish the program will be running tours and informational sessions all along its paths, as it becomes a living and functional tourist attraction.

the city of detroit, mi, has undertaken the implementation of “green and blue” landscape systems. the importance of restoring it’s land to it’s natural state, while also improving residents’ quality of life serves as the basis for their mission. a complex action plan detailing strategies like carbon forests, industrial buffers, and surface lakes has been implemented. real results have been noticed by the people. a reduction in construction, maintenance and operation costs, an increase in property values, creation of attractive neighborhoods, vacant land recapture, storm water recollection, and the creation of new jobs, have all led to a greater city government support rates, and overall better health within the city as a reach out to ecological balance is underway.

the city of el paso is a pioneer in prioritizing green infrastructure as a way to improve the city’s appeal to business and visitors and achieve the title of the united states most livable city. el paso has adopted a multifaceted approach to become one of the leading green infrastructure cities in the southwestern united states by making public participation the focus of their initiative to employ green infrastructure techniques in the most effective ways possible. public participation has proven central to el paso’s success because it involves citizens in the decision-making process, which earns their approval and support.

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green infrastructure: parks and open space //www.getitdoneaz.com/story/green-infrastructure-parks-and-open-space/ wed, 12 dec 2012 09:00:24 +0000 http://dpetrov.2create.studio/planet/wordpress/green-infrastructure-parks-and-open-space/ cities use parks to provide better air quality and life quality to make sustainable communities.

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