• Given your charge as the Executive Director of the Newton Environmental Science Program, do you feel that nowadays people are more aware of the impact of their daily activities to the Environment compared to, let's say, 20 years ago?
Yes, at least in some parts of the population. There is more awareness of human impact on the environment for several reasons: first, there has been more scientific research reported on greenhouse gases and temperature increases, and the consequences of that – sea level rise, more severe weather patterns, drought, etc.
Second, the huge growth in the internet and social media in the past 20 years has brought more information to people everywhere. However, one problem is that some of the information is not accurate, or intentionally wrong.
Third, political activity is more connected to support or opposition of environmental policies, so people hear about those issues from political advertising and campaigns. This includes international politics.
• Do you consider Massachusetts to be an eco-friendly state?
Yes, I do because of the mostly liberal political attitudes of many people, and organizations. That leads to support for many eco-friendly organizations and activities, such as recycling, conservation, divestment from fossil fuels, solar and wind energy, etc.
But not everyone in the state has the same attitudes. There are people who more aligned with business interests that oppose regulation, advocate for conventional energy (new gas pipelines, new electrical power lines through rural areas).
Most of Massachusetts’ political reps
• Can you describe some of the labor that has been done here in New England in order to restore eroded soil caused by farming and irresponsible human development? (here you can talk about how New England has seen an increase in the declaration of conservation areas, that it all used to be farmland, and what led to this proactivity)
There are many organizations, including non-profit groups, that have advocated for better use of the land, and related watersheds. Some examples: Newton Conservators (http://newtonconservators.org ), Land For Good (http://landforgood.org ) Land Trust Alliance (http://www.landtrustalliance.org ), Massachusetts Sierra Club, Mass Land Trust Coalition, Environmental League of MA, Charles River Watershed Association, Trustees of Reservations, the Trust for Public Land, and MassAudubon.
Much of the work has to do with advocating for public policy at the federal, state and local level.
• What campaigns are now in place for the preservation of native ecosystems here in New England?
There are already federal, state, and local laws in place to protect wetland areas, which are often involved with proposed development of new housing or industrial sites, or even residential construction. For example, the Newton Conservation Commission regularly has to review requests for construction permits that would affect protected wetlands (Wells Avenue Office Park area, Hammond Pond).
Some of the work has to do with the ecosystems in the coastal waters, which is complicated because it is often in conflict with the fishing industry – restricting total catch sizes to prevent over-fishing and depletion of the fish population means limiting the income of fishermen to the point that they cannot survive financially.
Other work is about preventing certain developments, or commercial infrastructure like new electrical powerlines that would cut through forests and conservation areas.
• Are there any introduced species in Massachusetts that have positively affected the native population?
I have not studied this, but apparently there is at least one story like that:
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2013/04/hated-invasive-species-helps-restore-ecosystem
… one of most loathed invasive species in the world—the European green crab (Carcinus maenas)—has had a surprisingly positive effect on an ecosystem. On Cape Cod, Massachusetts, researchers have found that the crab is reversing a decades-long trend of damage that another species has inflicted on salt marshes.
• What do you consider to be the biggest threat to the biodiversity of New England?
There are three main threats to biodiversity: rapid development of commercial and residential buildings; invasive species; and climate change.
The development has included continued expansion of towns for homes and apartments that cut down trees and grasslands, build roads, and construct utility structures such as telephone poles and street lights. Similarly, commercial construction has converted a lot of formerly open land to asphalt and buildings.
The invasive species have destroyed trees (Asian Longhorn Beetle and Emerald Ash Borer), clogged waterways (water chestnuts in the Charles River), and crowded out native species (Japanese Knotweed, Garlic Mustard) in ways that affect al the species in the related foodweb.
Climate change has already affected the livable areas for certain species, especially marine life, and affected the food webs for various species.
Yes, at least in some parts of the population. There is more awareness of human impact on the environment for several reasons: first, there has been more scientific research reported on greenhouse gases and temperature increases, and the consequences of that – sea level rise, more severe weather patterns, drought, etc.
Second, the huge growth in the internet and social media in the past 20 years has brought more information to people everywhere. However, one problem is that some of the information is not accurate, or intentionally wrong.
Third, political activity is more connected to support or opposition of environmental policies, so people hear about those issues from political advertising and campaigns. This includes international politics.
• Do you consider Massachusetts to be an eco-friendly state?
Yes, I do because of the mostly liberal political attitudes of many people, and organizations. That leads to support for many eco-friendly organizations and activities, such as recycling, conservation, divestment from fossil fuels, solar and wind energy, etc.
But not everyone in the state has the same attitudes. There are people who more aligned with business interests that oppose regulation, advocate for conventional energy (new gas pipelines, new electrical power lines through rural areas).
Most of Massachusetts’ political reps
• Can you describe some of the labor that has been done here in New England in order to restore eroded soil caused by farming and irresponsible human development? (here you can talk about how New England has seen an increase in the declaration of conservation areas, that it all used to be farmland, and what led to this proactivity)
There are many organizations, including non-profit groups, that have advocated for better use of the land, and related watersheds. Some examples: Newton Conservators (http://newtonconservators.org ), Land For Good (http://landforgood.org ) Land Trust Alliance (http://www.landtrustalliance.org ), Massachusetts Sierra Club, Mass Land Trust Coalition, Environmental League of MA, Charles River Watershed Association, Trustees of Reservations, the Trust for Public Land, and MassAudubon.
Much of the work has to do with advocating for public policy at the federal, state and local level.
• What campaigns are now in place for the preservation of native ecosystems here in New England?
There are already federal, state, and local laws in place to protect wetland areas, which are often involved with proposed development of new housing or industrial sites, or even residential construction. For example, the Newton Conservation Commission regularly has to review requests for construction permits that would affect protected wetlands (Wells Avenue Office Park area, Hammond Pond).
Some of the work has to do with the ecosystems in the coastal waters, which is complicated because it is often in conflict with the fishing industry – restricting total catch sizes to prevent over-fishing and depletion of the fish population means limiting the income of fishermen to the point that they cannot survive financially.
Other work is about preventing certain developments, or commercial infrastructure like new electrical powerlines that would cut through forests and conservation areas.
• Are there any introduced species in Massachusetts that have positively affected the native population?
I have not studied this, but apparently there is at least one story like that:
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2013/04/hated-invasive-species-helps-restore-ecosystem
… one of most loathed invasive species in the world—the European green crab (Carcinus maenas)—has had a surprisingly positive effect on an ecosystem. On Cape Cod, Massachusetts, researchers have found that the crab is reversing a decades-long trend of damage that another species has inflicted on salt marshes.
• What do you consider to be the biggest threat to the biodiversity of New England?
There are three main threats to biodiversity: rapid development of commercial and residential buildings; invasive species; and climate change.
The development has included continued expansion of towns for homes and apartments that cut down trees and grasslands, build roads, and construct utility structures such as telephone poles and street lights. Similarly, commercial construction has converted a lot of formerly open land to asphalt and buildings.
The invasive species have destroyed trees (Asian Longhorn Beetle and Emerald Ash Borer), clogged waterways (water chestnuts in the Charles River), and crowded out native species (Japanese Knotweed, Garlic Mustard) in ways that affect al the species in the related foodweb.
Climate change has already affected the livable areas for certain species, especially marine life, and affected the food webs for various species.