In reading a recent article from the Center for International Forestry Research, I was reminded that there are an increasing number of tools to help local communities, governments, conservationists, and the public at large monitor changes in canopy cover and biomass, the ability of resource managers and carbon markets to play an important role in helping conserve tropical forests is moving in an exciting direction.  See for example here for mapping by the Carnegie Airborne Observatory, and here for work by the University of Maryland, and here for work by the Woods Hole Research Center.  These tools are incredibly powerful at helping see the extent of existing deforestation, as well as planning for mechanisms to curb it, track improvements (and set backs), and strive for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation as well as improving carbon storage by protecting the forest.

Happy Earth Day!  I’m excited to see that National Geographic is celebrating Earth Day 2016 with a magazine dedicated to Yellowstone National Park, one of the shared treasures between my home state of Montana and our neighbor to the south, Wyoming.  Yellowstone is a remarkable place, where I’ve been blessed to spend many days exploring gurgling mudpots and steam-spewing geysers, heavy-breathing bison herds on crisp winter mornings, grizzly and wolf spottings, and innumerable glimpses of elk, coyote, bear, deer, foxes, goats, eagles, and of course, wide-eyed tourists.  While I wait to bring my own children to know Yellowstone, this Earth Day edition of National Geographic will have to tide me over 🙂  It certainly doesn’t hurt that National Geographic brought together Montana-writer extraordinaire David Quammen with phenomenal photographer Michael Nichols (both celebrated as well for their excellent work in Gabon) to tease out the nuances and wonders of Yellowstone.