Patrick Freeze, Ph.D.

Case Study: Radio-tracking Giant Hornets MONITORING & MANAGEMENT OF INVASIVE SPECIES Washington State is facing a significant threat from invasive species, including the Giant Hornet. These formidable insects pose a danger to native ecosystems and agricultural industries, prompting urgent conservation measures to mitigate their impact. Conservation Challenges The presence of Giant Hornets in Washington State presents numerous challenges, including the potential for predation on native pollinators and honeybee populations, as well as the risk of disrupting delicate ecological balances. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach to monitoring and managing invasive species. Traditional methods of tracking insects often involve labour-intensive fieldwork and limited detection ranges. However, the use of Wildlife Drones’ drone-based telemetry system offers a more efficient and effective solution. Drones can cover large areas in a single flight, providing researchers with comprehensive data on Giant Hornet populations and their distribution. Read more here: https://hubs.ly/Q02BdBC70

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Policy news! California recently signed a landmark piece of legislation aimed at addressing the state’s ongoing wildfire crisis into law. 👏🐑 #SB675 is particularly significant for graziers—those who manage livestock grazing—as it directly incentivizes their participation in land management practices aimed at reducing wildfire risks. Controlled grazing allows livestock to clear excess vegetation in targeted areas, lowering the chance of fires spreading uncontrollably. The financial assistance offered by the grant program will help cover costs for landowners and ranchers, encouraging widespread adoption of this preventive measure. The bill is part of California’s broader wildfire resilience strategy and aligns with the goals of the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force. SB 675 is sponsored by the California Climate and Agriculture Network and was developed in close collaboration with the Community Environmental Council, Fibershed, and local fire professionals, prescribed grazing practitioners, and rangeland ecologists across the state. ↪️ Learn more about the bill and the next steps for implementation here: https://buff.ly/3BZZXQj

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🌲 Unlocking Carbon Sequestration in the Pacific Northwest Check out this article on how the Pacific Northwest leads the way in carbon sequestration. Discover the innovative practices and strategies used to capture and store carbon in this unique region. Learn how local efforts are making a big impact on climate action and sustainability. Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/4fdESRT #CarbonSequestration #ClimateAction #PacificNorthwest #Sustainability

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🌲 Unlocking Carbon Sequestration in the Pacific Northwest Check out this article on how the Pacific Northwest leads the way in carbon sequestration. Discover the innovative practices and strategies used to capture and store carbon in this unique region. Learn how local efforts are making a big impact on climate action and sustainability. Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/4fdESRT #CarbonSequestration #ClimateAction #PacificNorthwest #Sustainability

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Winter is tough for Idaho’s wildlife, but small actions can make a big difference. According to Idaho Fish and Game, here’s how you can help: 🌱 Provide Natural Food Sources: Maintain native plants like sagebrush and bitterbrush for forage, but avoid supplemental feeding, which can disrupt natural behaviors. 🚶‍♂️ Minimize Disturbances: Keep human and pet activity away from wintering areas to reduce stress on animals. 🌲 Protect Migration Corridors: Ensure fences and barriers don’t block traditional migration paths. Learn more about supporting wildlife this winter >> https://lnkd.in/gwYbCrBC #IdahoWildlife #WinterConservation #LandStewardship #DFDevelopment #HabitatPreservation

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Researchers at Washington State University Tri-Cities have received a $200,000 grant from the Washington State Conservation Commission to revolutionize #manuremanagement for #dairyfarmers. By improving #anaerobicdigestion, this project aims to boost #biogas production, reduce #greenhousegas emissions, and enhance #cow health. This innovative approach could not only make #manure management more economical but also help in the global fight against #climatechange. Kudos to Professor Birgitte Ahring and her team for driving #sustainablesolutions in #agriculture! #sustainability #renewableenergy #AD #climateaction #wastetoenergy #ghg #emissionscapture #methanecapture

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Join PPAN for our May webinar, Do Mosquito Control Programs Make You Safer?, with expert speaker Rella Abernathy from the City of Boulder. Register here! https://lnkd.in/gtN5eWt9 As scientists raise the alarm about the precipitous decline of insects, the opposite trend is occurring with mosquitoes as populations are increasing despite aggressive control measures. During the past few years in Colorado, West Nile virus infection in mosquitoes has been rising, resulting in increasing deaths from West Nile virus that are reaching levels that we haven’t seen since the 2003 epidemic. The City of Boulder hasn’t had the high levels of West Nile virus infection in mosquitoes that surrounding areas are experiencing. Why is there a difference? This webinar will describe the City of Boulder’s approach for managing mosquitoes by managing ecosystems and share the scientific rationale for why this approach is important, not only to reduce disease risk to people, but to have a positive impact on wetland insects, birds, amphibians, and overall ecosystem health. #mosquitoes #mosquitocontrol #bouldercolorado #EcosystemHealth #webinar #beethechange

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Understanding the impact of Prop 4 is key to contributing to the debates around protecting California's water resources and wildlife. 🦅💧 It’s crucial to stay informed. Dive into this FAQ from Audubon and empower yourself with knowledge. 📚🌍 #CAwater https://loom.ly/E-9VMBc

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There’s still time to register for the CLF California Carbon Report webinar! 📆 June 27 at 2 PM ET 📚 Check out the report here: https://lnkd.in/gq9NC8Wg The CLF recently published the California Carbon Report which explored the magnitude and timing of embodied and operational carbon emissions for 30 real building projects in California. This study included estimating the whole life carbon impacts of buildings over time, exploring variability across different projects, and identifying top contributors to carbon emissions. Please join the authors of the report for a webinar on June 27th at 2PM ET, where they will share more details about the methodology used, additional findings, and how this research can support the design and policy communities towards decarbonizing real-world buildings. 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/grhuFKun Let us know if you have any questions in the comments 👇

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AG ALERT: Water operations long-term plan could limit supply By Christine Souza , Ag Alert State and federal agencies face a challenge to balance the beneficial uses of water needed by farmers with needs of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ecosystem, as water officials plan for climate change impacts. In seeking to coordinate long-term operation of the federal Central Valley Project and State Water Project, the U.S. #BureauofReclamation #CentralValleyProject #Environmentaldocuments #Waterprojectoperations

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Weeds are plants growing in places where they pose a risk to other species & resources. This can result in: 🔥Wildfire 🏚️Decreased property value 🌽Loss of food supply 🦌Destroying biodiversity ☔Increased flooding ..and more Join us at #WSWS to learn how you can help! https://wsweedscience.org #weedscience #invasiveplants #weedmanagement

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Webpage brings together California’s wildfire and landscape resilience monitoring and assessment programs. … ICYMI, last month the Wildfire Task Force published this centralized resource that provides detailed information on California's various monitoring and assessment programs to understand the complementary relationship between these efforts. These programs are intended to adaptively manage landscapes by leveraging data to inform future investments in landscape health and wildfire resilience. … Discover the state and federal-led efforts to track management, monitor trends, and assess ecological conditions across historically fire-adapted terrestrial ecosystems within California. >> https://lnkd.in/gppvYbv6 … Office of the Governor - California USDA Forest Service California Natural Resources Agency California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) … #WildfireTaskForce #TaskForceProgress #Wildfire #Forestry

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New Felidae #research! We used 5 years of #cameratrap & community science data to measure wildlife responses to dog regulations in #bayarea open spaces (i.e. dogs allowed vs open spaces where dogs are prohibited). #Pumas & #bobcats avoided areas with more dogs while mule deer & pumas were more nocturnal in dog-friendly spaces. Our research suggests that dog presence alters wildlife activity, which could contribute to human-wildlife conflict. What's the solution? a better public understanding of why rules related to dog presence in parks exist, along with policy enforcement, as well as ongoing research so that we and our pet dogs can coexist with wildlife in protected areas. Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/gHu7pqK9

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Six conservation groups filed a petition with the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) on March 5, 2024 to request the implementation of legal protections for five populations of the western burrowing owl as a threatened or endangered species under the California Endangered Species Act. If the burrowing owl is granted such protections, it will have far-reaching impacts on development projects in south and central-western California; the San Francisco Bay Area; and the Central, Coachella, and Imperial Valleys. 🔗Read more about this story and our other notable updates mentioned below in this week's Sustainable Development & Land Use Update: https://hubs.li/Q02DM4-y0 ✔️ Affordable housing construction underway in San Francisco ✔️ California lawmakers exempt their new office building from state environmental law ✔️ San Diego built more housing last year than it did in the past 17 years #SustainableDevelopment #Housing #LandUse #California

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DWFI is using drones and satellite images to provide highly accurate data for the DAWN Project. This provides climate forecasts and other helpful information (such as soil and plant water use) to help farmers and water managers in the Corn Belt improve water use and crop yields. Read more from our annual report: go.unl.edu/annualreport

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