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The article highlights that more than 6,500 tons, a grove of quak ing aspens growing on 106 acres in Utah is, by weight, Earth's largest known land organism.

The article features stories of how wildlife federal agents catch wildlife smugglers. It reports on the story of how U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent Ed Newcomer track the most notorious butterfly smuggler Yoshi Kojima. It also reports that illegal trade of plants and animals increased and the new technology has contributed to the easy buying and selling. It presents the scope of wildlife trafficking which includes the selling of cycads, used as decorative seed plants, the world's largest burrowing clam, the geoduck of Puget Sound and the colorful mollusk, abalone, in the black market. It also states that according to the research team of the U.S. congress, global illegal trade of plants and animals brings about 5 to 20 billion dollars each year.

The article discusses the geoduck clam native to the North American Pacific Northwest regions of Washington state and British Columbia, Canada. A number of topics are addressed including the methods needed to retrieve the mollusk, the dangers surrounding geoduck harvesting and the fact that the clams have become delicacies in a number of international cuisines.

This article discusses the development of the barred owl as a threat to the habitat of the northern spotted owl. The spotted owl is an endangered species native to the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. The danger posed to the northern spotted owl by logging in their habitat is considered as an example of the enforcement of the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The success of the barred owl, which some conservationists present as an introduced species that has begun to compete with the spotted owl, is framed as a result of human changes to the landscape. The possibility that barred owls will be hunted to control their proliferation in spotted owl habitats is considered.

Discusses a class-action product-liability suit against W.R. Grace & Co. Details of the lawyer prosecuting the case, Jan Schlichtmann, who failed to prosecute the company for polluting drinking water in 1986; How the suit alleges that the company's Zonolite Attic Insulation contains hazardous levels of asbestos; Health hazards of asbestos.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of working as an environment beat reporter for "The Seattle Times."

The article offers information on the U.S. ocean conservation efforts. Topics discussed include snorkeling by former U.S. President Barack Obama, arrival of Obama at Midway's Sand Island to show off Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and invitation to National Geographic photographer Brian Skerry. Also mentioned are signing the Antiquities Act in 1906 by statesman Teddy Roosevelt, and protection of Grand Canyon in Arizona and Devils Tower in Wyoming.

The article focuses on research by astrobiologist David Smith and colleagues on tracking pollution that travels across the jet stream from Asia and in Northwest air. Researchers were able to extract enough DNA to trace more than 2,100 different microbial species, which travelled on two separate dust plumes to the Northwest from Asia.

An obituary for Native American leader, Billy Frank Jr. is presented.

The article reports on the debate concerning the Highway 520 bridge in which the Muckleshoot Tribe has entered into. It states that the tribe opposes the construction of a tunnel in the highway that would connect to the University of Washington. It mentions that opposition of the tribe is based from cultural and environmental concerns. It notes that the tribe keeps treaty fishing rights to protect salmon run and that it holds a reasonable leverage in handling Lake Washington's large projects.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in previous issues including "Taking Stock of History" in the September 23, 1995 issue, "No Accounting for Tastes" in the September 23, 1995 issue and an article about democracy in Hong Kong.