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The article discusses the establishment of boundaries for Earth's resources in order to protect both the planet and its people. The Earth Commission, along with other scientific networks, has set safe and just limits for various domains such as climate, biosphere, water cycle, aerosols, and nutrient cycles. These limits aim to prevent significant harm to people worldwide and take into account justice principles. The article also emphasizes the need to address the underlying causes of environmental degradation and poverty, and highlights the importance of preserving ecosystems and managing land for the benefit of nature and humans. The article concludes by stating that the world has already exceeded seven of the eight safe and just boundaries, and calls for transformative actions to care for the Earth and its inhabitants. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the presence of Yellow-fruited Sedge in the City of Ottawa. The sedge family, known for its diverse species, poses identification challenges for naturalists. Yellow-fruited Sedge is often confused with Fox Sedge, but it has been reported in Ottawa several times. The distribution of Yellow-fruited Sedge in Ottawa was previously unknown, making its presence in the region intriguing. The article provides information on how to distinguish Yellow-fruited Sedge from Fox Sedge based on phenology and fruit characteristics. The rarity of Yellow-fruited Sedge in the described habitats suggests the possibility of undiscovered populations in other areas of the city. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the author's personal journey on a 1,900-kilometer paddleboarding circuit from Ottawa back to Ottawa via Montreal, New York City, and Toronto. The author's aim is to explore the concept of "blue space" and how spending time in, on, or around water can enhance mental and physical health and foster a sense of stewardship towards the natural world. The author encounters various challenges and highlights the positive impacts of blue space, such as increased physical activity and pro-environmental behavior. Throughout the journey, the author meets with individuals and communities who are passionate about protecting and accessing blue spaces. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the role of hemiparasites in prairie ecosystems and reconstructions. Hemiparasites are plants that derive nutrients from other organisms without causing harm. The article focuses on three specific hemiparasitic plants found in the tall-grass prairie region of Manitoba: Canada lousewort, bastard toadflax, and scarlet paintbrush. These plants have unique attributes and interactions with their host plants, and their presence can impact the structure and diversity of prairie habitats. The article suggests that hemiparasites like bastard toadflax could potentially be used in prairie restorations to help control invasive species and reduce the use of herbicides. [Extracted from the article]

This paper explores the multifaceted advantages of HPD & HPA technology as a sustainable and ecofriendly decolorization technology for the sugar refinery industry. The study delves into the interplay between HPD & HPA application, minimized steam consumption, heightened sugar yield, (CAPEX and OPEX). Through systematic parameter optimization, including dosage, contact time, and temperature, the study aims to strike an optimal balance that not only enhances color removal but also contributes to reduced energy consumption, aligning with sustainable and environmentally conscious practices, aiming to enhance the purification processes while minimizing the ecological footprint. The primary way to reduce carbon footprint in refineries is by reducing the energy consumption per ton of RSO. The economic feasibility of adopting HPD and HPA technology is scrutinized, and its potential to lower both CAPEX and OPEX in sugar refineries is evaluated. This paper discusses the cost-effectiveness of implementing this eco-friendly solution on a large scale, emphasizing its ease of integration into existing processes and its contribution to increased sugar yield. The findings of this research provide a holistic understanding of how HPD and HPA can serve as transformative agents in sugar refinery operations. Beyond its proven efficacy in decolorization without compromising ecological integrity, the technology's capacity to concurrently reduce steam consumption, elevate sugar yield, and lower overall costs positions it as a promising processing aid for the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article looks at the complex challenges of restoring ecosystems under the waves with boom in restoration initiatives on land. Topics include restore biodiversity and sequester carbon, such restoration projects can also help improve coastal resilience; and efforts have historically focused on terrestrial systems and the number of tree-planting projects where things like nutrient pollution or climate change are destroying our marine ecosystems.

Researchers from Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering in Guangdong, China have found that combining zinc nanoparticles (Zn NPs) with biochar can enhance crop productivity and human nutrition, leading to superior crop performance. This combination improves soil health, optimizes nutrient uptake, and increases resilience to environmental stressors. The integration of Zn NPs with biochar also improves soil properties, such as water retention and microbial activity, making soils more fertile and productive. However, potential ecological risks and toxicity associated with nanoparticle accumulation require careful consideration. Comprehensive risk assessments and management strategies are necessary to ensure that agricultural benefits do not compromise environmental or human health. Future research should focus on sustainable practices for deploying Zn NPs in agriculture to balance food security and ecological integrity. [Extracted from the article]

Agroecology, a science, practice, and movement focused on sustainability in the global food system, is gaining momentum in the United States. Unlike organic farming and regenerative agriculture, agroecology aims to achieve both ecological and social sustainability without sacrificing one for the other. The U.S. food system is currently dominated by industrial agriculture, which relies on monoculture production, agrochemicals, and advanced technology. The United Nations has promoted agroecology as a means to transform the industrial food system. Efforts are being made to increase recognition and support for agroecology in the U.S., including the convening of a U.S. Agroecology Summit in 2023. The goal of agroecology is to ensure equitable representation and coordination between farmers, activists, and academics, and to preserve food sovereignty and cultural relevance in local communities. [Extracted from the article]

Using a range of data and previous studies to establish the "natural range" of each species (that is, the area it inhabited before human influence - set at 1500 AD), they then identified the total area in which each of the species is the only missing large mammal. 'An ecoregion-based approach to restoring the world's intact large mammal assemblages', published in Ecography, claims that just 20 species have the potential to restore complete mammalian assemblages over an additional 54 per cent of the terrestrial realm. By focusing on places where these data overlap with large, continuous habitat blocks (ideal for restoration projects), they were able to identify the top 20 large mammal species whose reintroduction could best restore intact mammal assemblages. [Extracted from the article]

The article invites donations to the California Native Grasslands Association (CNGA) and cites other avenues for charitable giving in California to help in safeguarding native grasslands and ensure ecological integrity and sustainability in the state.

The article discusses about the Global Environmental Institute (GEI), Beijing, China-based non-governmental organization (NGO) working for biodiversity conservation alongside policymakers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and local communities. Topics discussed include role of GEI to provide training to the locals to help them develop eco-friendly operations, prevention wildlife poaching and monitor the water quality of the rivers.

The article offers information on supporting the California Native Grasslands Association (CNGA) through donations, bequests, and legacy funds. Topics include the importance of donor generosity for CNGA's conservation work, ways to designate CNGA as a beneficiary in estate planning, and the tax advantages of charitable giving in California. It emphasizes how contributions can help conserve California's grasslands and leave a lasting legacy of environmental stewardship.

The Keta Legacy Foundation, also known as the Mountaineers Foundation, offers annual funding through its Community Grants program to support nonprofit organizations focused on conservation in the Salish Sea region. The grants, which range up to $5,000 each, are available to 501(c)(3) organizations, libraries, schools, and certain agencies. The funding is intended for short-term projects related to conservation education, such as direct educational programs, lectures, awareness materials, and instructional materials. The deadline for applications is March 6th. Contact information for the foundation can be found on their website. [Extracted from the article]

The Laura Jane Musser Fund is accepting applications for its Rural Arts Initiative and Environmental Initiative. The Rural Arts Initiative provides support to nonprofit arts organizations in rural communities, while the Environmental Initiative assists public and nonprofit entities in enhancing the ecological integrity of publicly owned open spaces. The grants range from $8,000 to $35,000 for implementation. The programs are available in Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, Wyoming, and specific areas of New York and Texas. [Extracted from the article]

The COP15 UN biodiversity summit will be an opportunity to protect more land and oceans, finds Adam Vaughan [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Its success has led to invites to speak at the World Economic Forum and "high-yield finance" conferences of major banks. So, in a doughnut economy, the idea is that people can collaborate and work, whether they are paid a wage through the market, or work together to create free goods and services, or care for others, or are employed directly by the state. Then there's the rise of employee-owned enterprises, the return of co-ops, the rise of new business models: new, regulatory legal forms such as Community Interest Companies in the UK. It would make companies completely reorientate, kickstart far more effective use of resources and probably lead to the employment of more people to do labour-intensive work instead of wasting energy and materials. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses Gorgon, a project by petroleum company Chevron which is drilling for natural gas on Barrow Island, located off the coast of Western Australia. The island has a delicate ecosystem with many species unique to it including the burrowing bettong, spectacled hare-wallaby, and perentie lizard. The multi-part project includes offshore drilling in natural gas fields, subsea pipelines to carry the gas to the island, and the largest carbon sequestration project in the world. Gorgon employs quarantine practice to avoid introducing non-native species, and the success of the project could allow work to begin in areas like the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. Politicians including Robin Chapple are concerned about the project's effect on the ecosystem of the island.

No one would run a business without accounting for its capital outlays. Yet in 1999, when this article was originally published, most companies overlooked one major capital component--the value of the earth's ecosystem services. It was a staggering omission: Calculations at that time placed the value of those services--water storage, atmosphere regulation, climate control, and others--at $33 trillion per year. Not accounting for that cost has led to waste on a grand scale, the authors maintain. This article shows how a few farsighted companies, like DuPont and Xerox, were able to find powerful business opportunities in conserving resources on a similarly grand scale. Their early embrace of natural capitalism is even more important to emulate today. Natural capitalism comprises four major shifts in business practices. The first involves dramatically increasing the productivity of natural resources--by as much as 100-fold. In the second stage, companies adopt closed-loop production systems that yield no waste or toxicity. The third stage requires a fundamental change of business model--from selling products to delivering services. For example, instead of selling lightbulbs, a manufacturer sells lighting services, with both the seller and the customer benefiting from the development of extremely efficient, durable bulbs. The last stage involves reinvesting in natural capital to restore, sustain, and expand the planet's ecosystem. Because natural capitalism is both necessary and profitable, it will subsume traditional industrialism, the authors argue, just as industrialism subsumed agrarianism. And the companies that are furthest down the road will have the competitive edge. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article reports on a study by Key Biodiversity Areas Secretariat's Andrew Plumptre and his team in Great Britain which found that only 2 to 3 percent of Earth's land habitats can be considered as having the same fauna and flora from 500 years ago and most have lost their ecological integrity.

How fully the nation seizes that chance will depend largely on the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which oversees more sagebrush habitat than any other entity. MAP: CHEATGRASS CRISIS Invasive grasses are taking over sagebrush habitat and fueling devastating wildfires. ADDED TOGETHER, THE SWATHS of sagebrush habitat that the West has lost since 2001 would cover half of Utah. [Extracted from the article]

B Areas: b Grants are meant to support modest, short-term projects related to conservation education that are consistent with the foundation's vision and mission. B Scope: b The Keta Legacy Foundation - also known as the Mountaineers Foundation - is dedicated to efforts to preserve the natural beauty and ecological integrity of the Pacific Northwest. [Extracted from the article]

The article informs In 2022, the 'ōhi‘a lehua tree was named the official Hawaii State Endemic Tree due to its resilience and importance in Hawaiian culture and ecosystem. Despite being the most populous native tree in Hawaii, the 'ōhi‘a lehua is currently threatened by rapid 'ōhi‘a death caused by a fungal pathogen, which has the potential to wipe out entire forests, and preventative measures such as avoiding transporting 'ōhi‘a materials are encouraged.

An editorial is presented expressing concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and related systems like ChatGPT on the workforce, while emphasizing the need to protect wildlife from human activities, particularly wildlife crime.It discusses the alarming issue of rhino poaching in South Africa and highlights internal corruption among some staff members of Kruger National Park, which has contributed to the poaching problem.

The article offers information on the recent release of the State of the Ocean 2023 report by DEC, outlining actions to advance the New York Ocean Action Plan.

This document has been developed in recognition of the increasingly diverse demands for water from irrigation systems and the need to introduce more holistic land uses into conventional irrigation management. Despite historical precedents the potential for the integration of fish production (capture fisheries and aquaculture) and irrigation systems has yet to be fully realized. Capturing these underutilized opportunities for the integration of fisheries and aquaculture could significantly increase local economies, food security, household incomes and livelihood diversity within irrigated agriculture systems. To re-examine the potential of fisheries in irrigation systems, the concept of the extended command area (ECA) is used, expanding the conventional definition of an agriculture irrigation command area. This expanded definition recognizes that all elements of an irrigation system, from upstream dam storage to downstream drainage areas, offer opportunities for increasing fish production. Many of these opportunities may be realized at no additional cost to the main irrigated crop. This document provides an introduction to the ways fisheries and aquaculture already co-exist with irrigation and explores the threats and opportunities that arise from this. A key concept for sustaining and enhancing inland capture fisheries is "connectivity"- a fundamental basis for ensuring adequate environmental conditions to allow fish to flourish within an aquatic ecosystem such as a river, lake, or wetland. Improving connectivity within an ECA can restore elements of ecological services that may have been compromised or degraded through irrigation, water management or through other rural infrastructure development such as road construction. Practical application of the integration of fisheries and irrigation systems is explored through the use of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) in the context of irrigation systems. The proposed process links the development of an EAF management plan for fisheries to irrigation system operation and is given the acronym EAFm-i. A key part of this linkage is an assessment of water resources in the system and the management of water for delivery to fisheries. Additional tools to support the EAFm-i process are also described. This document is intended to encourage fisheries and irrigation specialists to communicate and cooperate to improve the integration of fisheries into irrigation planning and to support piloting of an EAFm-i process. Although the experience and approach are drawn largely from irrigation systems and inland capture fisheries in Southeast Asia, the application of the ECA concept and approach will be relevant to any irrigation or water management system where there is potential for the closer integration and harmonization of fisheries and irrigation systems and where water users are interested in realizing this potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the boreal forest near the Arctic Circle and how it is dwindling from encroachment of various industries. Benefits from the boreal forest, including climatic; Types of industries that have accelerated in the boreal region; Implications of satellite maps from an international organization called Global Forest Watch; Concern about the boreal ecosystem; Controversy over a plan to protect at least half of the forest in interconnected parks; Comment of Cathy Wilkinson, director of the Canadian Boreal Initiative; Association of the Boreal Leadership Council with the logging industry; Criticism of environmental activists that the framework is too vague; View of Monte Hummel, president of the World Wildlife Fund-Canada, that some provincial governments do not have a good track record of protecting their forests.

Use a planter spade, make sure both sapling and soil are wet, gently press the seedling into the hole, and only spray weedkiller where needed. From the outside, planting trees seems simple. Here are five tips: 1 Use a spade: Using a two-person tree planting auger made no difference to survival versus a simple planter spade. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses The Canadian federal government will allocate 50 million U.S Dollars to six managers in the life-sciences sector, aiming to increase capital availability for the country's innovation ecosystem. The selected firms, including AllosteRx Advanced Therapies, Amplitude Ventures, CTI Life Sciences Fund, Sectoral Asset Management, Genesys Capital, and Pender Ventures, will raise matching private-sector capital and invest at least 70 percent of their funds in Canadian companies.

The Rural Arts Initiative provides grants of up to $12,000 per year to arts organizations in rural communities to develop, implement, or sustain artistic opportunities for adults and children in the areas of literary, visual, music, and performing arts. Laura Jane Musser Fund The Laura Jane Musser Fund will accept applications through the Rural Arts Initiative and Environmental Initiative beginning in February 2023. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the various entrepreneurship and innovation events taking place in the US to learn about entrepreneurship ecosystem, how they work and how they can be developed and startup's interest to attend it. It also discusses the Springfield Innovation Fest, their aim to showcase the startup and innovation economies, and the company Valley Ventures Mentors' (VVM) participation in it. It also gives information about the Startup Week event.