Two councilmembers in the City of Los Angeles recently put forward a resolution that would request that California law be amended so that the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, a local joint powers agencies that owns land in and adjacent to the City of LA, be required to “clear brush” on their lands to 700 … Continue reading Los Angeles does not need 700 feet of defensible space
Reprinted from The Western Tanager 89(4):1-3. A fact that has stuck with me from the research for the Los Angeles County Breeding Bird Atlas in the 1990s is that there was not a single neighborhood in the county that did not have at least ten breeding bird species. Residents can enjoy birds wherever they live. … Continue reading An Urban Forest for the Birds
Conservation Conversation Reprinted from The Western Tanager, 89(3): 9–11 (January/February 2023). Farewell, P-22 P-22’s reign as the biggest cat in Griffith Park has come to an end. The news was front page, not just in Los Angeles but farther afield, to those who found inspiration in a mountain lion living in the midst of the … Continue reading Wildness in Our City
Last session, the California Legislature passed, and the Governor signed, SB9, which allows by-right splits of any single-family residential parcel and then construction of a duplex on both parcels (at least four dwelling units where there was one before, and potentially accessory dwelling units, ADUs, in addition). Cities across the State are left with implementing … Continue reading On Mountain Lions, Woodside, and the Definition of “Habitat”
Chicago has been replacing its high-pressure sodium lamps with 3000K LEDs. They are finding many objections to the level of glare and brightness, but the Chicago Tribune editorial board came out with a ringing endorsement of full-spectrum white light, and celebrating the loss of yellow and orange hue of high-pressure sodium. This is my response. … Continue reading Chicago, the Night Should Not Look Like the Day
At today’s meeting of the California Energy Commission, an update to the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards was passed that would require solar panels on the roof of all new residential construction. In the abstract, I am a strong supporter of distributed solar generation, especially as a means to reduce impacts to wildlands from extensive … Continue reading Unintended outcome? Required solar panels on new houses limits future urban forest
Linda Sue Beck. It is at her desk that Ammon Bundy, leader of the group of armed anti-government religious fanatics occupying Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, has set up shop. As a federal biologist, like my father was for decades, she works to steward the resources that are held in common trust for all Americans. My stomach … Continue reading I Stand with Linda Sue Beck: The Attack on Science at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Travis Longcore 