Why Wolves and Other Apex Predators Are Critically Important

By Frank Schiavone Most ecosystems have devolved into what conservation biologists call “alternate states”. Few, if any, pristine ecosystems remain worldwide. Virtually all have been degraded and simplified. Human transformation of the natural world has been lasting and is by any measure accelerating. Impacts emanate equally from physical forcing (e.g. habitat destruction) and biotic forcing (e.g. the...

The Anti-green Jobs Hoax

“The biggest environmental challenge is, of course, that posed by climate change. Scarce environmental resources are treated as if they are free. All prices are distorted as a result, in some cases badly so. …. we have seen how distorted housing prices distorted the economy … The distortion in environmental prices is of equal magnitude; it has led to the using up of key resources in an unsustainable way;...

Are Slow Growth Advocates Really the Cause of a Soft Real Estate Market?

“Is the housing market vulnerable? Yes, it is. But is a bubble likely to happen? No, it is not. The underlying strength of our economy is too great.” “Historically speaking, the doldrums surrounding the housing market are not as serious as they appear.” “A persistent obstacle to affordability is posed by environmental restrictions that make it impossible for builders to produce enough homes to satisfy...

Tend the Garden

Do you not see that God has subjected to your use all things in the heavens and on earth, and has made His bounties flow to you in exceeding measure, both seen and unseen? Qur’an 31.20 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that...

Our Disregard for the Natural World Is Not Compatible with a Just Society

When Baby Jessica was trapped in that deep, dank hole in Midland, Texas the entire nation was riveted. For fifty-eight hours the nation held its breath and when she was finally lifted to safety, held gingerly in the arms of her rescuer, the entire nation was moved to tears. What compels a nation to rally around a child who has fallen down a well, yet draws a collective yawn when entire regions of our nation are...