Category Archives: Environmental Policy & Planning

Environmental Consequences of Fishing Practices

Environmental Consequences of Fishing Practices
For centuries, humans have relied on the ocean for subsistence by harvesting its abundance of fish.  In recent decades, new technologies have allowed humans to remove fish from the ocean on a massive scale to supply Earth’s burgeoning population. Unfortunately, there are many negative environmental consequences to these practices and overfishing has been identified as…
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Introduction to Environmental Finance

Introduction to Environmental Finance
What is Environmental Finance? Environmental finance is a field that on the surface is unfamiliar to most practitioners.  However, most are familiar with some of the tools or products of environmental finance such as emissions trading and land trusts for conservation.   This field essentially takes a financial look and methodology to address environmental issues.  The…
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How Roads Affect Wildlife: Environmental Impacts & Solutions

How Roads Affect Wildlife: Environmental Impacts & Solutions
An estimated 1 million vertebrates may be killed daily on U.S. roads based on extrapolated studies, though this figure varies by methodology—making road mortality a leading cause of wildlife population declines. Beyond direct deaths, roads fragment habitats, disrupt genetic diversity, and introduce chemical, noise, and light pollution into ecosystems. Effective solutions include wildlife crossings, seasonal…
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The Concrete Jungle: Study of Urban Landscapes as Environmental Science

The Concrete Jungle: Study of Urban Landscapes as Environmental Science
Urban environmental science examines cities as complete ecosystems, studying how buildings, infrastructure, people, wildlife, and natural processes interact in concentrated spaces. This interdisciplinary field combines urban planning, ecology, geography, and sociology to address challenges like air quality, sustainable development, and climate resilience. Career opportunities include urban planning, environmental consulting, GIS analysis, and conservation, with most…
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Birds as Environmental Indicators

Birds as Environmental Indicators
Humans have invented a variety of instruments to monitor the health of ecosystems.  For example, to examine water quality in a wetland, an environmental scientist may use a sensor to measure dissolved oxygen in the water or perform chemical assays in the lab to examine heavy metals in the soil. However, in some cases we…
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Air Quality & Environmental Health: Indoor and Outdoor Impacts

Air Quality & Environmental Health: Indoor and Outdoor Impacts
Air quality affects health both indoors and outdoors. Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors, where air quality is largely unregulated despite risks from mold, radon, asbestos, and other pollutants. Outdoor air is regulated through the Clean Air Act, which monitors six criteria pollutants affecting over 75 million Americans in nonattainment areas. Both indoor…
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With Palynology We Can See the Tiniest Details

With Palynology We Can See the Tiniest Details
Palynology – the study of micro organic material such as spores, pollen, dinoflagellates and microfossils (1) - is a method employed by a range of disciplines all concerned with the environment. It is not an undergraduate degree subject due to its limited scope, and though there are some Master’s programmes in most countries, those wishing…
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Birds & Ecosystem Services

Birds & Ecosystem Services
The Value of Birds Birds are present throughout almost every habitat across the globe.  No matter where you go, there is always evidence of birds even if you don’t see the animals themselves.  Things like holes pecked in tree bark by woodpeckers or the remnants of a nest are indicative of the presence of birds. …
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Wind Power 101

Wind Power 101
Modern wind power is a recent development based on a very old technology. The wind has propelled sail boats for at least 5000 years, and turned windmills for perhaps 1500 years. Even the concept of generating electricity with wind power dates back to the first successful attempt in the late 1800s. But aside from the…
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Cartography Careers: Map-Making Meets Technology

Cartography Careers: Map-Making Meets Technology
Cartography combines geography, GIS technology, and data visualization to create maps and spatial analysis tools. Most cartographers hold a bachelor's degree in geography, surveying, or GIS, with many pursuing master's specializations. The field offers median salaries of $71,890 annually (May 2023, BLS) with strong opportunities in environmental science, urban planning, and geospatial technology sectors. Employment…
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