Habitat Protection

California Desert

Desert Species, Endangered by Climate Change and Renewable Energy, Create Controversy

The wind strewn and sunny parts of California are home to many species threatened both by climate change and renewable energy facilities like wind and solar power facilities. What is an environmentalist to do?

August 23, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

California State Water project

Trump Administration's New CA Water Plan Chooses Farmers Over Fish

A plan to divert water to farmers in California, released at the end of October, would allow for the annihilation of winter-run Chinook Salmon.

November 7, 2019 - East Bay Express

California Central Valley

Trump Administration Finds a Way to Divert California Water to Farmers

A new federal program will clear the way for more water to be delivered to the state of California's agriculture industry, overruling environmental safeguards that protected fish.

October 27, 2019 - NPR

Biology

Saving Habitat: Just as Much for Humans as for Everything Else

Edward O. Wilson, famed for pressing for the conservation of half of the planet's land and oceans, recently turned 90 years old.

June 25, 2019 - National Geographic

Sockeye Salmon

Alaskans to Choose Between Salmon Habitat Protections and Resource Extraction

A contentious initiative on the Alaska ballot next month pits protecting salmon habitat protections against the interests of the oil and gas industry and mining companies.

October 10, 2018 - NPR

Palm Springs

Federal Plan for Renewable Energy Development in the California Desert on Trump's Cutting Board

The issue of wind and solar energy development has always been a hot button in the California desert, and the Trump Administration just pressed it.

February 3, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Frisbee Golf

Why the Controversy Over a Planned Disc Golf Course in New Jersey Is a Big Deal

America's freedoms allow Americans the right to complain, vociferously, about things like a planned disc golf course.

June 16, 2017 - The Record

Mountain river

Court Decision Makes it Final: Washington State Owes $2 Billion for Culvert Repairs

When it refused to reconsider a 2016 ruling that mandated the state of Washington to broken culverts around the state, the 9th U.S. Circuit of Appeals put to rest a legal controversy ongoing since 2001.

May 23, 2017 - The Seattle Times

Capitol Reflecting Pool

Ramps to Help Ducks in and out of the Capitol Reflecting Pool Make a Big Splash

There was a tiny bit of cuteness to emerge from the news in Washington, D.C. this week. Partisan bickering soon followed.

May 18, 2017 - Greater Greater Washington

Border

Trump's Border Wall Would Bring 'Ecological Disaster'

Vox offers a feature length article, with lots of visual references, that tells the story of the ecological risks inherent with any plan to build a wall along the border between the United States and Mexico.

April 11, 2017 - Vox

San Francisco Residential Neighborhoods

San Francisco's 'Green Connections Plan' Prioritizes Wildlife

An article and video by Chicago PBS station WTTW explore San Francisco's uniquely ambitious approach to sharing the city with wildlife.

March 29, 2017 - WTTW

Habitat Protection in Mind With Big Land Purchase Near Louisville

By purchasing 954 acres of forested land, the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest has added to its swath of the map in the neighborhood of Louisville and Fort Knox.

March 29, 2017 - Courier-Journal

Culvert

Court Ruling Mandates Culvert Improvements in Washington

In the state of Washington, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals delivered what some are calling the "most important ruling on treaty fishing rights since 1974."

September 20, 2016 - Crosscut

Georgia State Report Predicts Major Impacts to Natural Habitat

Climate change and sprawl are identified as the culprits in the eradication of critical natural habitat by the year 2050.

June 29, 2015 - SaportaReport

Colorado Development Spells Demise for Local Prairie Dogs

Castle Rock, located between Denver and Colorado Springs, has approved a massive shopping and residential development. The project will be built on top of a prairie dog colony.

March 5, 2015 - The Denver Channel

It's a Hydropower World

Around the world, countries are building new dams for hydroelectric power at a frenzied pace. Vox examines the benefits and drawbacks of hydroelectric power.

October 29, 2014 - Vox

Does Conservation Development Actually Work?

Emily Wortman-Wunder looks at the effectiveness of conservation development - a popular tool used by planners across the rural West for the purposes of preserving open space.

August 7, 2012 - High Country News

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.

November 29, 2010 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Solar Farm Has Ideal Location But Environmental Impacts

A renewable energy company wants to build a major solar power farm on former ranchland in rural California. But environmental concerns over habitat and scenic beauty could stall the process.

August 18, 2010 - NPR

The New Oregon Wilderness

Oregon has just received a wilderness designation on more than 200,000 acres of land. Environmentalists are welcoming the move, which they hope will protect sensitive lands from development and misuse.

April 8, 2009 - The Oregonian

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

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.