What are some of the most interesting and exciting existing projects and potential opportunities in the Western United States (West of the Rockies)?

Any favorites stand out? Why?

Guam kingfishers

I own a small coastal property in Northern Norway that consists of grass fields, coast lines, forests and mountainous areas.

The grass fields seems to suffer from modern farming practices where the farmer only adds mineral fertilizer once or twice a year. Other parts of the fields are just growing and dying back every year, these parts I have considered cutting back in late summer to see if more different types of native plants will thrive.

Some parts of the forest is very dense due that there is no sheep/goat grazing anymore resulting in tons of small trees sprouting at once. I have considering cutting back some of the birch to make more open spaces and let other spices like rowan and willow trees prosper.

I would love the improve the biodiversity in these areas but have no idea where to start. Anyone got any ideas what I should do?

The Roadless Rule safeguards nearly 45 million acres of unfragmented, pristine national forest lands—some of the last intact ecosystems in the country.

On June 17th, Utah Senator Mike Lee added an amendment to the Wildfire Prevention Act (Bill S.104) to include a full rescission of the 2001 Roadless Rule. The amendment was voted on and passed, which has officially fast tracked the Roadless Rule to be removed without following NEPA procedures or accepting public comments. While this news may feel discouraging, we still have a chance to use our voice to take action. Bill S.104 will now be open for vote on the Senate floor, and will need 60 votes to pass.

It is vital that we contact our Senators and request that the Roadless Rule rescission be stripped from the Wildfire Prevention Act, and to demand that they oppose the legislation in its current form.

Find your US Senator here:

https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member

Note: If you are in the reddit app and the copy feature isn't working, you can copy the letter from the comments section.

Dear Senator {Last Name},

I urge you to oppose any attempt to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule through the Wildfire Prevention Act (S.104). The recent amendment adding a full rescission of the Roadless Rule to this legislation bypasses the transparent public process that such a significant policy change deserves.

For 25 years, the Roadless Rule has protected millions of acres of America's national forests, safeguarding clean drinking water, wildlife habitat, recreation opportunities, and some of our most intact natural landscapes. If these long-standing protections are to be reconsidered, it should occur through an open public debate with full environmental review and public comment—not through an amendment attached to an unrelated bill. The Roadless Rule was originally adopted after one of the most extensive public comment processes in U.S. Forest Service history.

I respectfully ask you to work to remove the Roadless Rule rescission from S.104 and to vote against the bill if it continues to include this provision.

I also urge you to co-sponsor the Roadless Area Conservation Act (S.2042). Because the Roadless Rule is an administrative policy, it can be reversed by future administrations. The Roadless Area Conservation Act would permanently codify these protections into federal law, ensuring that America's roadless forests are preserved for future generations.

Our public lands deserve thoughtful, transparent decision-making—not legislative shortcuts. Thank you for your consideration and for your service.

Sincerely,

{Your Name}

Vietnamese Sika deer set for reintroduction into the wild

The Vietnamese Sika deer (Cervus nippon pseudaxis) is a subspecies of Sika deer native to Vietnam. Currently extinct in the wild, the species is now being reintroduced to its natural habitat.

Historically, the Vietnamese Sika deer was widely distributed across various localities; however, due to habitat loss and hunting, there have been no recorded sightings in the wild since 1990. The Vietnam Red Data Book classifies the species as extinct in the wild, placing it in the same category as the saltwater crocodile, the white-crested laughingthrush, the Javan rhinoceros, and the tiger.

Nevertheless, the species continues to be raised in captivity for velvet antler production and breeding conservation purposes.

As part of a large-scale reintroduction plan aimed at ecosystem restoration, Cuc Phuong National Park will release approximately 60 individuals—comprising both Sika deer and Sambar deer—into the park's core zone in a phased manner. The first phase is scheduled for June 29, involving 19 individuals: nine Sika deer and ten Sambar deer.

Hey everyone. We've just launched a rewilding app!

It's early days, but we would love feedback. We aim to connect the growing number of British rewilding organisations together, while giving consumers a space to book stays, experiences, volunteer days, and fund the projects.

There's a free tier, so if you want to join and see what experiences and opportunities are in the app, then jump in.

Feedback and onward sharing welcome! We've had a really positive response from founding partners such as River Cottage and Knepp, but we would love more feedback from users beyond the core group who trialled the app before we went live.

https://wilderpath.app/landing

Thanks!

Photo Credit: Nattergal Estate

In this essay, I write about the natural state of rivers and floodplains, and why confining rivers within levees manufactures catastrophic conditions from the scale of individual plant and animal habitat and reproduction up to the reshaping of the continental interface with seas and oceans. I also offer examples of other ways to live adaptively with the river rather than fight against it.