Bay Nature Local Heroes | Environmental Justice | Farming and Ranching | Health | Parks | Policy | Pollution | Stewardship

Bay Area Conservancy Turns 15, but Running Out of Funds

January 1, 2012 •  by

The Bay Area program of the California Coastal Conservancy has been protecting critical open space landscapes and wetlands around the region for 15 years now. However, the program’s anniversary is bittersweet: The sense of accomplishment from having played a central role in conserving 80,500 acres of valuable habitats and recreational open space is tempered by the knowledge that the program could soon run out of money.

A Little Help from Our Friends

January 1, 2012 •  by

In spring 2011, the bad news about California’s state parks hit: 70 parks were slated for closure by July 2012, including 18 in the Bay Area. Since then, volunteers, nonprofits, and public agencies have mobilized to contain the damage. At Henry Coe State Park, donations will keep the park running with existing staff. In Sonoma, closure loomed for five parks and groups have joined forces to create new models of park operation.

Farming for the community

December 29, 2011 •  by

A Petaluma farm is adapting the methods of farming popularized in The Omnivore’s Dilemma to the West Coast climate. The animals work all year round, preparing the soil in the fields for the spring planting.

How water has shaped our lives

December 27, 2011 •  by

The Los Altos History Museum puts a local spin on California’s epic tale of water in a new exhibit. Shaped by Water guides visitors past an artesian well to art installations depicting today’s water use. Did you know the average Santa Clara County resident uses 153 gallons of water a day?

Sustainable Christmas trees sprouting up

December 21, 2011 •  by

In the past, a consumer had mainly two choices: real or artificial. Another voice has joined the debate over the “best” Christmas tree. “Sustainable” trees have hit holiday stands to become a viable option for green consumers. But what does the label “sustainable” mean and are these trees worth the premium price?

Christmas Bird Count is serious citizen science

December 14, 2011 •  by

Some say it’s a “military style” operation, and surely the level of expertise in the field can be intimidating. But the Christmas Bird Count is also great fun for normally solitary birders and a chance to grow the next generation of naturalists.

Big solar on ice in Alameda County

December 12, 2011 •  by

After one solar company proposed covering 2,000 acres of open space in eastern Alameda County, county planning officials are preparing a new solar policy that will take into account environmental concerns like the loss of wildlife habitat. The debate is the latest in a series of clashes nationwide between green power and conservation.