by Jonathan Doherty | Jul 7, 2020 | Lightning Update
The Center for American Progress recently released “The Race for Nature,” the third report in a continuing series on strategies for achieving a “30 x 30” conservation goal. We continue to explore implications for conservation from both the...
by Jonathan Doherty | Jun 30, 2020 | Lightning Update
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...
by Jonathan Doherty | Jun 23, 2020 | Lightning Update
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...
by Jonathan Doherty | Jun 22, 2020 | Monday Magic
Snowy Egret, along the South River, Maryland, June 2020. (Photos: Clandestine Wren Photography) Snowy Egrets, which grace shorelines and marshes around the Chesapeake Bay, truly seem to define elegance. Thus the reason they were hunted to near extinction in the United...
by Jonathan Doherty | Jun 15, 2020 | Monday Magic
Weed (noun): a plant that is not valued where it is growing and is usually of vigorous growth.Merriam Webster Dictionary Long, long ago. It was different here. Forests reigned supreme. Only in sunny clearings would this plant have been found. To the west, in the...
by Jonathan Doherty | Jun 9, 2020 | Lightning Update
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...
by Jonathan Doherty | Jun 8, 2020 | Monday Magic
Chesapeake conservationists — many of us know that when we gather in meetings or within our organizations there is a predominant demographic. We often talk about how a particular gathering is not reflective of the face of our region. So what an inspirational bit...
by Jonathan Doherty | Jun 2, 2020 | Lightning Update
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...
by Jonathan Doherty | Jun 2, 2020 | Monday Magic
“Nothing can surpass in beauty the form, or the glossy, vivid green of the leaves of the tulip-tree. … but their glory was altogether eclipsed by the gorgeous splendor of the profuse blossoms. Conceive, closely congregated, a million of the largest and most...
by Jonathan Doherty | May 27, 2020 | Uncategorized
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...
