Conservation
Rahul Mehrotra Talks Indian Urban Planning
Rahul Mehrotra talks to The Hindu about sustainable cities, community participation, and infrastructure. The article also has a review of his most recent book "Architecture in India Since 1990."
The Hindu
Following Up on Dire Predictions About Water in the West
25 years after the publication of Cadillac Desert, scientists have scrutinized the predictions of the hallmark history of water in the Western U.S. and find that its dire warnings are not far off.
Miller-McCune
Dwindling Small Towns Fight Back
Census data shows that Lacrosse, WA (pop. 315) and other small, rural towns are getting smaller. Some blame the Conservation Reserve Program. But Lacrosse and many others aren't going quietly - they're fighting to hang on.
The Spokesman-Review
When California Mountain Lions Become City Dwellers
As urban sprawl continues to encroach on what was once expansive habitat for mountain lions, the large predators have been involved in more encounters with humans in urban settings.
The San Francisco Chronicle
A Developer in the Park
Sitting in a controversial niche in the development market, Thomas Chapman develops plans for parcels within national parks, only to take buyouts from environmental groups or the government. He's got a bold new proposal on the way.
The Wall Street Journal
El Paso's Smart Water Management
Despite a growing population and limited amounts of rainfall, the city of El Paso, Texas, has been able to effectively manage its water supplies -- and reduce use.
Grist
Time for an International Conservation Market?
A recent proposal by Britain's Conservative Party to create a system of conservation credits to protect biodiversity should be expanded to a global scale, according to this piece from The Guardian.
The Guardian
Conservation Efforts Straining Water Infrastructure
Water conservation efforts that limited when Los Angeles County residents could water their lawns may have caused a spate of water main bursts last summer and fall.
Los Angeles Times
Adventure Tourism as Preservation
California City is a city in the desert that never came to be. But much of its skeleton remains. A recent tour explored the ghost of this unbuilt city.
Good
San Diego General Plan Action Plan
Action plan is the comprehensive implementation program for the 2008 San Diego General Plan. The action plan includes community plan updates, climate change initiatives, water supply and conservation efforts, land development code amendments, public facilities financing strategy, economic development strategic plan, parks master plan, and historic preservation incentives.
»
Best Practices for Water Management
This piece from Urban Re:Vision Magazine looks at a variety of water reuse and stormwater capture projects in cities across the U.S.
Urban Re:Vision
Recession A Boon for Land Preservationists
Preservation groups and land trusts are beneficiaries of the economic recession, as prices on land have dropped low enough for many to buy up land for conservation purposes.
The New York Times
Conservation Legislation to Expire
Conservation legislation, which could end this year, has proven to make it easier for moderate income landowners to resist the temptations of development.
San Francisco Chronicle
'Getting Religion' in Water Conservation
Since dealing with drought in the 80s and 90s, San Luis Obispo offers some inspiration for water conservation in California as the state struggles to get individuals to cut down on their use.
Los Angeles Times
Learning Water Conservation on the Golf Course
As water resources dwindle, golf course managers are becoming go-to experts on conservation.
The New York Times
Guerilla Greywater Goes Public Policy
Once guerrilla, now becoming policy, greywater reuse is picking up in cities across the country.
Governing
Un-Developing Abandoned Housing Developments
A stalled and abandoned development along the Florida coast is being scouted by the Trust for Public Land as a possible site for "un-development" -- a return to its natural state as open space.
Los Angeles Times
Huge Wilderness Conservation Bill Passes House
A bill heading for an expected signature on the President's desk will effectively protect 2 million acres of wilderness in the U.S. Conservationists are applauding the move, while others worry the bill will hold back alternative energy plans.
The Christian Science Monitor
The Planetizen News Brief - 1/29/09
4:40 minutes (4.28 MB)
Obama reverses a controversial Bush decision, the market crash spurs land conservation, and an economic stimulus gets transit moving in China -- all on this week's Planetizen News Brief, airing weekly on "Smart City".
Getting Off Oil Without the 'C' Word
Amory Lovins, co-founder and chairman of Rocky Mountain Institute, believes that governments and the private sector need to identify and remove barriers to energy efficiency, rather than simply promoting "conservation."
AlterNet





















