Conservation

Sculpture of seated Jane Goodall holding hands with chimp on green lawn.

Jane Goodall Inspires with Message of Hope, Resilience, and Environmental Action

Speaking in Pasadena, Jane Goodall offered a hopeful and inspirational message, urging global compassion, environmental responsibility, and the power of individual action to shape a better future.

April 1, 2025 - Pasadena Star-News

Close-up of small brown mushrooms growing in soil and moist green moss.

Harnessing the Power of Fungi for Environmental Cleanup

Mycoremediation — the use of fungi to break down or absorb environmental pollutants — offers a promising, cost-effective, and eco-friendly alternative to conventional methods for restoring contaminated sites.

April 1, 2025 - ecohustler

Red rock landscape in Bears Ears National Monument, Utah.

New Executive Order Renews Attack on Public Lands

An order issued late last week pushes for increased mineral extraction on federally owned public lands.

March 26, 2025 - Rocky Mountain Community Radio

Snow geese at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, California

California Lawmakers Move to Protect Waterways

Anticipating that the Trump EPA will reinstate a 2017 policy that excluded seasonal wetlands and waterways from environmental protections.

March 18, 2025 - CALmatters

View of Central Park lake with people sitting on lakeside rocks and NYC high-rises in background.

Public Parks as Climate Resilience Tools

Designed with green infrastructure, parks can mitigate flooding, reduce urban heat, and enhance climate resilience, offering cost-effective solutions to environmental challenges while benefiting communities.

March 16, 2025 - Grist

Yellow bird with black head sitting on power line.

City Nature Challenge: Explore, Document, and Protect Urban Biodiversity

The City Nature Challenge is a global community science event where participants use the iNaturalist app to document urban biodiversity, contributing valuable data to support conservation and scientific research.

March 10, 2025 - City Nature Challenge

Lush Five Rivers Metropark in Dayton, Ohio with flowers and green trees on a sunny day.

A Plan to Expand Tree Canopy Across Dayton

Dayton is developing an urban forest master plan, using a $2 million grant to expand its tree canopy, address decades of tree loss, and enhance environmental equity across the city.

March 4, 2025 - Dayton Daily News

Close-up of worker installing white electric heat pump outdoors.

Decarbonizing Homes: The Case for Electrifying Residential Heating

A new MIT study finds that transitioning residential heating from natural gas to electric heat pumps can significantly reduce carbon emissions and operational costs.

March 4, 2025 - MIT News

Charred trees on hillside in Altadena, California after Eaton Fire.

Preserving Altadena’s Trees: A Community Effort to Save a Fire-Damaged Landscape

In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena Green is working to preserve fire-damaged but recoverable trees, advocating for better assessment processes, educating homeowners, and protecting the community’s urban canopy from unnecessary removal.

March 3, 2025 - LAist

Elk stands looking over its shoulder in a meadow with snow-capped mountains in background in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

Poll Shows Residents of Western States Prefer Conservation Over Oil and Gas

The majority of the poll’s respondents identified as politically conservative or independent, with 40 percent supporting MAGA platform.

March 3, 2025 - High Country News

Large flock of purple martin birds at dusk flying above a light pole.

Purple Martins Call Nashville Home. Some Wish They Wouldn't

Each year, the city plays host to hundreds of thousands of birds on their way to and from South America.

March 2, 2025 - Maggie Gigandet

A cowboy rests his hand on a green gate on a sunny day in Colorado. The United States flag is behind him and he is wearing a straw cowboy hat and glasses. A dirt road is next to him.

Poll Shows Residents of Western States Prefer Conservation Over Oil and Gas

The majority of the poll’s respondents identified as politically conservative or independent, with 40 percent supporting the MAGA platform.

February 28, 2025 - High Country News

Military humvee driving through gate at Fort Indiantown Gap Natl Guard training center in Pennsylvania surrounded by winter trees and dead leaves.

Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species

The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.

February 24, 2025 - Esri Blog

Close-up of park ranger in green jacket and khaki hat looking out at Bryce Canyon National Park red rock formations.

National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions

Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.

February 18, 2025 - National Parks Traveler

Looking up at a grove of mature hemlock trees on a sunny day.

Fighting Forest Pests With AI: A Hemlock Success Story

Fairfax County utilized GeoAI and ArcGIS technology to efficiently map and protect its hemlock trees from the invasive woolly adelgid, ensuring targeted pest management and preservation of its evergreen canopy.

January 21, 2025 - ARCNEWS

Front of White House with stormy sky above.

How the Trump Presidency Could Impact Urban Planning

An analysis of potential changes in federal housing, transportation, and climate policies.

January 19, 2025 - Planetizen

Dirt road on BLM land in Utah near Zion National Park with red cliff formations in background.

Supreme Court Declines to Hear Utah’s Case Against the BLM

The state wants more local control of public lands not designated as national parks or monuments.

January 14, 2025 - The Salt Lake Tribune

Large trees on either side of wide suburban street.

How AI Is Revolutionizing Urban Forestry and Climate Resilience

Tree-D Fusion, an AI-driven tool developed by MIT and Purdue researchers, generates 3D models of urban trees to help city planners visualize future green spaces, address climate challenges, and enhance urban livability and sustainability.

January 13, 2025 - Wood Central

Chuckwalla lizard sitting on volcanic rock.

Biden Approves Two New National Monuments in California

The Chuckwalla and Sáttítla National Monuments will protect natural resources and sites of cultural significance for California native tribes.

January 7, 2025 - Associated Press

Large mature oak trees with sun filtering through.

Oak Survival in the Great Lakes: Adapting to a Changing World

Climate change is endangering oaks in the Great Lakes region by increasing their vulnerability to pests, diseases, and extreme weather, threatening their vital ecological role.

January 1, 2025 - Planet Detroit

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

Director, Strategy and Research

Greater Baltimore Committee

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

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The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.