Lightning Updates

Earlier this month, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced the release of ConserveVirginia 2.0, an interactive map system for viewing Virginia land conservation priorities. (Image: Virginia DCR)Conservationists have always relied on maps. And that is never more...

It's not too late to listen in to "We Need to Talk," a conversation the National Park Service hosted last week on the intersection of race, history, and the outdoors. View the 90 minute conversation on YouTube.On Juneteenth, the National Park Service Chesapeake Bay...

Two weeks ago, in "Questions to Ask Ourselves," Lightning Update explored how the land conservation community should -- must -- act to respond to the gross inequities experienced by Black Americans and other communities of color. The conversation is continuing in...

How have inflection points influenced one land conservation organization over time? What does that suggest for where we all stand now? (All photos: ESLC) In recent weeks, many have been mulling the idea of “inflection points” and whether and how we might be in the...

Christian Cooper's experience while birding in Central Park has been described as one of the dominoes in the past week of tragedy and protests in the United States. (Photos: Brittainy Newman/The New York Times)As conservationists in America, we have to acknowledge...

What's happening with park use? It appears to be up in a lot of places, including Richmond, Virginia (above). Community Mobility Reports from Google allow us to take a look. (Image: Google) Increasing park use has received a lot of attention over the past few months....

The land of and around cities has changed before. How will it change in the future? Images: Left - A recreation of Manhattan Island c. 1609 (Markley Boyer/The Mannahatta Project, via Wildlife Conservation Society, via New York Times); Right - 21st century Manhattan...

The use and nature of public open space is already changing. Where will it go? How will it evolve? What do we need to do to make it more available and equitable? (Photo: CCP/Doherty) The global pandemic has almost instantly impacted public open space. Both for good...

Let's start with this. It's remarkable and it feels good. It's a 5 minute reminder of how much is often unseen. And for conservationists like us, it's a sign of the wildlife corridors all around, even at this micro scale.(Filmed in Pennsylvania over the course of a...

What's happening now is big. Bigger than most of us have ever experienced. It will cause dramatic change. The question is: how do we respond, and how do we advance conservation that benefits all?(Illustration: UK News-Observer/Chris Ridell)This is the time for...