pesticides
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British Columbia’s war on aspen is fueling wildfires
For decades, B.C.’s forestry industry has used glyphosate herbicides to kill aspen and other deciduous trees, prioritizing conifers for profit—a practice critics say intensifies wildfire risks and depletes ecosystems.
In short:
- Glyphosate spraying in B.C. forests targets aspen and other plants to prioritize conifer plantations, but this practice undermines biodiversity and wildlife habitats.
- Aspen, with its moisture-retaining properties, serves as a natural firebreak, reducing wildfire intensity, while conifers contribute to drier, more flammable landscapes.
- Critics, including ecologists, argue glyphosate spraying exacerbates fire risks, disrupts forest ecosystems, and harms species that rely on aspen for food and shelter.
Key quote:
“We’ve got to stop cutting down aspen, we’ve got to stop spraying aspen. Nature can heal itself, but we’ve got to get out of the way.”
— James Steidle, founder of Stop the Spray B.C.
Why this matters:
With wildfires becoming more severe due to climate change, preserving aspen forests could mitigate fire risks and promote healthier ecosystems. The B.C. NDP government pledged to phase out herbicide use in forestry, but critics say progress has been sluggish. Meanwhile, communities bear the brunt of bigger, hotter wildfires while biodiversity takes a backseat to profit. Read more: Glyphosate, explained.
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Credit: Carol Foil/Flickr
Rice farming as justice: Black farmers reclaim a birthright while healing the land
Jubilee Justice is helping Black farmers in the South grow rice regeneratively, restoring ancestral ties to the land while tackling climate change.
In short:
- Jubilee Justice, founded by Konda Mason, trains Black farmers to grow rice using the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), a climate-friendly technique that reduces methane emissions and water use.
- The Black Farmers Cohort supports growers across six states with seeds, equipment, and technical assistance to overcome the challenges of adopting SRI.
- The project addresses racial and economic inequities, reclaiming a legacy rooted in African agricultural expertise and rebuilding Black land ownership.
Key quote:
“What we’re doing is reclaiming rice and rice farming as our foodways, as our invention, as our birthright.”
— Konda Mason, founder of Jubilee Justice
Why this matters:
This project intertwines racial justice and climate resilience, showing how regenerative farming can lower emissions while empowering historically marginalized farmers. Growing rice regeneratively reconnects Black communities to ancestral agricultural roots and restores economic opportunity to land that often harbors painful stories. Read more: Rising CO2 will leave crops—and millions of humans—less healthy.
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Credit: David Clode/Unsplash
US takes steps to protect the monarch butterfly from extinction
U.S. officials are proposing to classify the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act due to severe population decline.
In short:
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing protections for the monarch, citing climate change, habitat loss and pesticide use as key threats.
- If finalized, the designation would require large landowners to limit activities harmful to the butterfly’s habitat.
- The monarch’s population has dropped by up to 95% since the 1980s, especially in its Mexican overwintering grounds.
Key quote:
“We’re hoping that this is a call to everybody to say this species is in decline, and now is our opportunity to help reverse that decline.”
— Kristen Lundh, Fish and Wildlife biologist
Why this matters:
Monarch butterflies are critical pollinators, and their decline signals broader environmental distress. Protecting them can help preserve ecosystems that support agriculture and biodiversity. Public and private efforts are needed to reverse the trend.
Related: Ultra-runners retrace monarch butterflies’ endangered migration route
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Credit: I Am birdsaspoetry.com /Flickr
Greenland’s peregrine falcons are a story of resilience in a changing Arctic
A population of peregrine falcons in Greenland has inspired decades of conservation efforts, showcasing their adaptability and the global need for environmental action.
In short:
- Greenland's peregrine falcons recovered from near-extinction thanks to pesticide bans, reintroduction efforts and long-term studies revealing their resilience and adaptability.
- These falcons serve as environmental sentinels, helping scientists track the impact of contaminants like PFAS and mercury, as well as Arctic warming.
- While the species has rebounded, threats like climate change, avian diseases and extreme weather continue to challenge their survival.
Key quote:
“We’re not just studying [the peregrine] because it is a fantastic species, and ecologically a top predator, but because it helps us protect the environment for our kids.”
— Knud Falk, Greenlandic peregrine researcher
Why this matters:
Perched high on cliffs in the Far North, these birds play an unexpected role as environmental sentinels. Though their populations are stable for now, peregrine falcons remind us that resilience has its limits. From avian diseases to shrinking habitats, their survival is a living barometer of humanity’s stewardship—or lack thereof—over the planet we share. Read more: Long-banned toxics are still accumulating in Great Lakes birds—as new chemical threats emerge.
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Credit: Gage Skidmore/Flickr
Kennedy’s health shake-up agenda could redefine U.S. regulations
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an outspoken critic of corporate influence in health and environmental policy, as Secretary of Health and Human Services. What could it mean for public health?
Daniel Payne, Chelsea Cirruzzo, Marcia Brown, Brittany Gibson and Annie Snider report for Politico.
In short:
- Kennedy aims to overhaul U.S. health regulations, targeting corporate influence over food, chemical and vaccine safety.
- He plans to push for bans on pesticides, genetically modified organisms and certain food additives, challenging the current regulatory stance.
- Known for vaccine skepticism, Kennedy calls for reassessing vaccine safety approvals, a position that has raised alarm among health experts.
Key quote:
“When we talk about making America healthy, we really have to talk about corporate capture and the way that large corporations have captured our governmental agencies.”
— Jeff Hutt, spokesperson for the Make America Healthy Again PAC
Why this matters:
Kennedy’s proposed regulatory shifts could reshape public health protections, influencing the safety of food, drugs and vaccines. While he claims it’s about transparency, his position has alarmed health experts who argue it could dismantle trust in health institutions, undermine hard-won public health victories and leave the U.S. in regulatory limbo. Read more: Peter Dykstra: WTF RFK Jr.?
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Turning lawns into microfarms helps Los Angeles families conserve water and grow fresh food
As Los Angeles faces water scarcity, some residents are swapping grass lawns for front yard farms, creating lush mini-oases that provide fresh produce to local families.
In short:
- In Los Angeles, Crop Swap LA founder Jamiah Hargins has transformed front lawns into microfarms, producing vegetables for nearby families and using significantly less water than traditional lawns.
- Hargins’ nonprofit uses advanced irrigation systems, solar power, and rainwater catchment, allowing three microfarms to feed 80 families weekly with sustainable, organic produce.
- Despite funding challenges, Crop Swap LA’s local impact is growing, with a 300-person waitlist for garden transformations and plans to expand further.
Key quote:
“We’re housing nature and we’re feeding families.”
— Jamiah Hargins, founder of Crop Swap LA
Why this matters:
Transforming lawns into microfarms promotes food security, supports sustainable agriculture, and addresses water conservation. As Californians look for ways to adapt to drought and climate change, these tiny urban farms might offer one of the simplest, most hands-on solutions—reshaping how we use our front yards and, in the process, rethinking our role in the food system. Read more: Ashley Gripper on growing food to fight systemic oppression.
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Credit: NataliAlba/BigStock photo ID: 392048702
Pesticide regulations ignore critical threats to insect health and ecosystems
In a study revealing regulatory gaps, researchers found that pesticides impact insect behavior and survival at non-lethal doses, especially in warmer temperatures, calling into question the effectiveness of current pesticide safety protocols.
In short:
- Research shows that pesticide regulations, even the EU’s rigorous system, overlook "sublethal" effects that impair insect behavior and immunity without immediate fatality.
- Many non-insecticidal chemicals, including herbicides and fungicides, harm insects long after exposure, and these impacts intensify with higher temperatures, underscoring risks in a warming climate.
- Despite available protocols to assess these broader effects, resistance from the pesticide industry has stalled implementation, leaving ecosystems vulnerable to toxic landscapes.
Key quote:
“The effects of dosing whole landscapes with chemicals have been largely ignored by regulatory systems.”
— Ian Boyd, chief scientist, UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Why this matters:
Weak pesticide regulations create a landscape where ecosystems are slowly sickened by chemicals we assume are harmless. In the thickening heat of a warming climate, pesticides—especially non-insecticidal ones like herbicides and fungicides—end up hitting harder, diminishing insect immunity and pushing species toward collapse, even if they’re technically “safe” under standard regulations. Read more: Bayer’s new Roundup products more toxic than prior formulations, report asserts.
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