2024 ARCHIVES
ALTACAL AUDUBON
Jared Geiser
Eco 760 September 3, 2024
Jared Geiser
Eco 760 September 3, 2024
Our guest today was Jared Geiser, Executive Director of Altacal Audubon. He spoke some about birds, but his main focus was on a riparian restoration project. The topics:
1) Riparian restoration - local project near confluence of big Chico creek and Sacramento River moves forward What is it? What are the benefits of it? Where has it been done? What additional opportunities do we have in the Sacramento valley for this type of habitat restoration?
2) climate change and birds - National Audubon’s Survival by Degrees Report - 389 species on the brink
3) birds as environmental indicators - how citizen science is monitoring ecosystem health and environmental changes
4) what is birdability, and why is expanding access to nature so important?
5) endangered bird species and the pyramid of life
Listen to this most informative program. Click below
1) Riparian restoration - local project near confluence of big Chico creek and Sacramento River moves forward What is it? What are the benefits of it? Where has it been done? What additional opportunities do we have in the Sacramento valley for this type of habitat restoration?
2) climate change and birds - National Audubon’s Survival by Degrees Report - 389 species on the brink
3) birds as environmental indicators - how citizen science is monitoring ecosystem health and environmental changes
4) what is birdability, and why is expanding access to nature so important?
5) endangered bird species and the pyramid of life
Listen to this most informative program. Click below
CHICO CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES
Mike Johnson, Katie Hawley, Monica McDaniel
Eco 759 August 27, 2024
Mike Johnson, Katie Hawley, Monica McDaniel
Eco 759 August 27, 2024
We interviewed Chico City Council candidates on this program. We asked Mike, Katie, and Monica about their platforms, priorities, and concerns for the City. They gave detailed and articulate responses. Enjoy and appreciate this excellent program; click below.
GLYPHOSATE, APPLE PEELS, AND ROBOTS
with Carey Gillam
Eco 758 August 20, 2024
with Carey Gillam
Eco 758 August 20, 2024
Our guest today was Carey Gillam, a writer on a range of environmental topics and Managing Editor of The New Lede. (To quote their web page,) The New Lede is “a news initiative specializing in coverage of environmental issues that are critical to the health and well-being of people everywhere.” They focus on “environmental topics that too often are ignored or underreported by mainstream media sources.”
We’ve had Carey on the show before, specifically to talk about the pesticide Roundup. We caught up with what’s happening with Roundup and its parent company, Bayer, but we’ll also asked her about other topics covered in her recent articles, from apple peels to agricultural robots.
You can subscribe to The New Lede and learn more at: thenewlede.org
Listen to this excellent interview; click below.
We’ve had Carey on the show before, specifically to talk about the pesticide Roundup. We caught up with what’s happening with Roundup and its parent company, Bayer, but we’ll also asked her about other topics covered in her recent articles, from apple peels to agricultural robots.
You can subscribe to The New Lede and learn more at: thenewlede.org
Listen to this excellent interview; click below.
PROJECT 30 X 30
with Meghan Hertel
Eco 755 July 16, 2024
with Meghan Hertel
Eco 755 July 16, 2024
Our guest this was Meghan Hertel, Deputy Secretary of Biodiversity and Habitat for the California Natural Resources Agency. Previously, Meghan was North American Director for Land Life, and has also held multiple positions at Audubon California from 2010 to 2022, including Director of Land and Water Conservation. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Environmental Science and Policy from Clark University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Florida.
The 30x30 project is a California initiative to preserve 30% each of the states land and coastal waters by 2030. This is a most ambitious project and Megan filled us in on key details, including:
1. When did Governor Newsom launch the 30x30 initiative?
2. What was the context for the creation of this Initiative?
3. What does the Initiative call for?
4. Why is it so important to conserve coastal waters and open land?
5. How will this contribute to our fight against climate change?
6. How are state agencies involved in fulfilling the goals of this Initiative?
7. What's the role of your agency--Natural Resources--in working on this Initiative?
She gave us excellent, detailed answers to these questions. We highly recommend the interview. Click on the link below. You can also check out the 30x30 website at https://www.californianature.ca.gov/pages/30x30. California's project is also part of a national network: Learn more at wikipedia.org/wiki/30_by_30
The 30x30 project is a California initiative to preserve 30% each of the states land and coastal waters by 2030. This is a most ambitious project and Megan filled us in on key details, including:
1. When did Governor Newsom launch the 30x30 initiative?
2. What was the context for the creation of this Initiative?
3. What does the Initiative call for?
4. Why is it so important to conserve coastal waters and open land?
5. How will this contribute to our fight against climate change?
6. How are state agencies involved in fulfilling the goals of this Initiative?
7. What's the role of your agency--Natural Resources--in working on this Initiative?
She gave us excellent, detailed answers to these questions. We highly recommend the interview. Click on the link below. You can also check out the 30x30 website at https://www.californianature.ca.gov/pages/30x30. California's project is also part of a national network: Learn more at wikipedia.org/wiki/30_by_30
Our guest was Pamm Larry, executive director of the Butte County Local Food Network. The nonprofit recently sent out its newsletter, beginning with a "Debbie Downer' look at what's going on in our conventional food system. We asked Pamm to talk about these food issues, because we rarely get a broad view of all that we are currently facing--and could face in the future with what we'll eat. And then we got to the good news, which was the Food Network's wonderful collection of local projects.
The Bad News:
Listen to the program: Click on the link below.
The Bad News:
- Food prices
- Water rights and water availability
- Changing weather patterns
- War
- Supply chains
- Community Gardens
- Food stands
- The roving food truck
- Volunteer engagement
Listen to the program: Click on the link below.
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PERSONAL REFLECTIONS ON BIDWELL PARK
with Paul Belz
Eco 750
with Paul Belz
Eco 750
Paul Belz is the author of Bidwell Park: Personal Reflections and Casual Conversations About Chico's Crown Jewel, published by the Association for Northern California Historical Research. The book is based on extensive research into the park as well as interviews with prominent people who helped to shape the park. He spoke to us about the history back to the Maidu people and on to Annie Bidwell's donation of the park land. Other topics included visions for the park, fights over highway 99, the disc golf course, the Playground Commission and much more. We suggest that you get yourself a copy; it's available at the Bookstore in Chico.
Listen to this excellent and informative interview. Click below.
Listen to this excellent and informative interview. Click below.
CHICO PEACE ALLIANCE
with Laurel Yorks, Kathy Faith, and Stephen Tchudi
with Laurel Yorks, Kathy Faith, and Stephen Tchudi
This program was an edition of The Real Issue, with guest host Steve Tchudi and members of the Chico Peace Alliance steering committee. They discussed the history of the Chico peace movement since 1962, the formation and dissolution of the Chico Peace and Justice Center, and the formation of the Chico Peace Alliance. They reviewed the achievements of the Alliance since its formation, and then did a reprise of an activity from the Alliance's May meeting with a focus on understanding the variations of meaning for a number of terms appearing in the media, e.g., Zionism, Freedom of Speech, Freedom Fighter/Terrorist. Listen to the show. Click below.
BIOCHAR
with Ken Scherer and Preston Englant
Eco 745 June 4, 2024
with Ken Scherer and Preston Englant
Eco 745 June 4, 2024
In this broadcast, we talked about BioChar, which is being touted in a variety of agricultural and environmental sectors. Our guests were Ken Scherer and Preston Englant of the Biochar Coalition, who are promoting biochar as a way to improve soil fertility, crop yields, and climate resilience. They told us about their local biochar production and use. We were impressed by both their knowledge and their infectious enthusiasm. Along the way we learned about the process for making it from wood leftovers, how it sequesters carbon, and how most anyone who wants to can engage in its production. Learn more at biocharcoalition.org. Listen to the show: click below.
THE XERCES SOCIETY: PROTECTING INVERTBRATES
with Michelle Graydon
Eco 744 May 28, 2024
with Michelle Graydon
Eco 744 May 28, 2024
At the recent Endangered Species Faire, we met Michelle Graydon representing an organization called the Xerces Society. It focuses on protecting invertebrate creatures, with particular emphasis on insects. She's a CSU Chico graduate in Biological Sciences with a Botany emphasis as well as a Butte County Master Gardner and a Xerces Society Outreach Ambassador. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is an international nonprofit organization that protects the natural world through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats. As a science-based organization, it both conducts its own research and reliesupon the most up-to-date information to guide its conservation work. Its key program areas are: pollinator conservation, endangered species conservation, and reducing pesticide use and impacts. We spoke about the varied work of the Society and heard about her passion: working to conserve all invertebrate life through habitat restoration, conservation and reduced pesticide use. She has a particular interest in Bumblebees.
Learn more about the Xerces Society: xerces.org.
Listen to the show. Click below.
Learn more about the Xerces Society: xerces.org.
Listen to the show. Click below.
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MAKING CLIMATE TECH WORK
with Alon Tal
Eco 743 May 21, 2024
with Alon Tal
Eco 743 May 21, 2024
Today our guest was Alon Tal, author of a new book from Island Press. It’s titled Making Climate Tech Work: Policies that Drive Innovation. We heard about some new technologies to combat climate change, but also how changing governmental policies can support them. The central thesis of the book (at the risk of oversimplification) is that current policies are slowing technological development, and that if we continue with those policies, we’ll never be able to solve or cease global warming. He shared with us some examples of policies that have not worked well and those that were more successful. We also discussed the current political climate and whether change is possible within our divided nation. He described himself as an optimist and we found his optimism persuasive. The book is both readable and highly informative; we recommend it to our listeners.
Listen to the show: click below.
Listen to the show: click below.
FEATHER RIVER ACTION
with Josh Hart
Eco 742 May 14, 2024
with Josh Hart
Eco 742 May 14, 2024
Our guest on the program was Josh Hart, representing a group named Feather River Action. It is defending the Plumas National Forest against a Forest Service project that could let loose industrial logging on more than 175,000 acres and hazardous herbicides on more than 200,000. He explained that although this is being touted as protecting communities from wildfires, it is basically intended to let catalyze industrial logging in prime forest country, with devastating effects on the forests and failing in its stated mission of wildfire defense. We found him to be a highly articulate and knowledgeable spokesperson, and his comments have implications well beyond the immediate target area of the proposed project.
Learn more at featherriveraction.org/
Listen to the program: Click below.
Learn more at featherriveraction.org/
Listen to the program: Click below.
BUTTE FIRESAFE COUNCIL
with Taylor Nilsson
with Taylor Nilsson
On this program, we be interviewed Taylor Nilsson, Executive Director of the Butte County Fire Safe Council. We’ll learned all about the work of the Council in Butte County and also about the upcoming third annual Paradise Grazing Festival. Taylor reviewed the purpose of the Council, its connection to other Fire Safe Councils in Butte County and some of the programs it conducts, such as Chipping Program, Grazing Program, education programs, and numerous events and workshops held about the County.
Learn more at buttefiresafe.net
Listen to the program, click below.
THE CAMPFIRE RESTORATION PROJECT
with Stacy Wear
Eco 739 30 April 2024
with Stacy Wear
Eco 739 30 April 2024
Our guest was Stacey Wear who has been working with the Camp Fire Restoration Project since its inception immediately following 2018's Camp Fire, After serving as a volunteer and as Board Chair, she is currently serving as CFRP's Executive Director. Stacey, along with her partner, Gerard Ungerman - is the co-founder of the Respectful Revolution Project and has worked to create most of CFRP's video content. She is also a certified Forest Therapy Guide with ANFT (the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy), and holds a Permaculture Design Certificate. We discussed the mission and history of the project (It was formed right after the 2018 Camp Fire that devastated Paradise and destroyed parts of Magalia ,Concow, Yankee Hill, and Butte Canyon. CFRP has since provided collaborative work, educational events, and ongoing activities in soil health, trees and seeds, water, composting, wildtending and composting workshops.
Listen to the program; click below.
Listen to the program; click below.
URBAN WATER USE
with Barbara Vlamis
Eco 736 26 March 2024
with Barbara Vlamis
Eco 736 26 March 2024
Our guest in the studio was Barbara Vlamis, Executive Director of AquAlliance, an organization which has as its goals: “defending northern California waters and challenging threats to the hydrologic health of the northern Sacramento River watershed.” Barbara recently alerted us to new regulations being developed by the State Water Control Board aimed at conserving 400,000 acre feet per year over coming decades through restrictions on urban water use. Their program is called “Making Conservation a California Way of Life.” The proposed regulations are quite complex, and asked her to help us understand them and how they might affect Chico in years to come.
Questions:
–What are the overarching aims of State Water Board in this project?
–How would it work?
–What is the time frame for implementation?
–Who is responsible for implementation? How are individual water users affected?
–Who in Chico would be responsible? How has Chico performed in water reduction in recent years?
--Are the new regs actually enforceable?
–-You wrote to some AquAlliance supporters that on the surface the aims “seem reasonable.” What do you see as the positive aspects of the program?
–You also wrote that you have areas of “grave concern.” What are some of your concerns? (parcel size, food, shade) Would Chico’s previous reductions prior to the new regs be taken into account?
Moving on to other AquAlliance concerns:
–We know that Southern California has what is frequently called “an unquenchable thirst” for California waters. What are some of those threats to “our” water? Tell us about:
... proposed water transfers (explain conjunctive use)
... the Tunnel project
... the Sites reservoir
–How can people learn more about AquAlliance and its work?
–How can listeners support the work of AquA? www.aqualliance.net
Questions:
–What are the overarching aims of State Water Board in this project?
–How would it work?
–What is the time frame for implementation?
–Who is responsible for implementation? How are individual water users affected?
–Who in Chico would be responsible? How has Chico performed in water reduction in recent years?
--Are the new regs actually enforceable?
–-You wrote to some AquAlliance supporters that on the surface the aims “seem reasonable.” What do you see as the positive aspects of the program?
–You also wrote that you have areas of “grave concern.” What are some of your concerns? (parcel size, food, shade) Would Chico’s previous reductions prior to the new regs be taken into account?
Moving on to other AquAlliance concerns:
–We know that Southern California has what is frequently called “an unquenchable thirst” for California waters. What are some of those threats to “our” water? Tell us about:
... proposed water transfers (explain conjunctive use)
... the Tunnel project
... the Sites reservoir
–How can people learn more about AquAlliance and its work?
–How can listeners support the work of AquA? www.aqualliance.net
Listen to the program. Click below.
A ROAD RUNNING SOUTHWARD
with Dan Chapman
Eco 735 13 2024
with Dan Chapman
Eco 735 13 2024
Tonight we were pleased to be talking with Dan Chapman, author of a fascinating book titled A Road Running Southward. It tells of his observations revisiting sites that John Muir visited in a thousand-mile walk from Louisville, Kentucky, to Cedar Key, Florida, shortly after the civil war. Dan lives in Decatur, Georgia and has been a journalist covering topics around the world, writing for, among others, the Congressional Quarterly, the Charlotte Observer, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. He’s the son of a newspaper man and an English teacher, which, as former English teachers, we especially appreciate. This was an especially engaging interview, starting with Dan's overnight stay in a mosquito infested cemetery and ending with a discussion of how we can prevent further degradation of the American southeast. Listen to this dandy interview!
BUTTE ENVIRONMENTAL FOOD NETWORK
with Pam Larry
Eco 731 19 February 2024
with Pam Larry
Eco 731 19 February 2024
We've had Pam Larry on the show several times, and her interviews are lively, entertaining, and mostly informative. She is the "chief instigator" of the Butte County Local Food Network, which, during the few years it has been in existence, had made remarkable strides to promote food independence for our region. She spoke to us about their many projects, including the food truck, food boxes, community gardens, and more. Listen to the interview: Click below.
RECYCLING FOR ART
with Luann Manss, David "Dragonboy" Sutherland, and Cameron Kelly
Eco 730 12 February 2024
with Luann Manss, David "Dragonboy" Sutherland, and Cameron Kelly
Eco 730 12 February 2024
The trash you threw away last week might be a part of the Chico Creative Reuse Mobile art gallery, a local project made with entirely recycled materials. We spoke with members Luann Manss, David "Dragonboy" Sutherland, and Cameron Kelly. Chico Creative Reuse is an organization run by seven artists who use recycled items in their art and who redistribute recycled supplies to the community.“ Chico Creative Reuse redirects materials away from the landfill and back into the community for making art, supporting artists and inspiring environmental stewardship,” according to the mission statement on its website. The project is funded in part by Upstate California Creative Corps and the California Arts Council. The latter gave the organization a grant of $80,000 for the mobile project. Learn more about them at https://www.chicocreativereuse.org/
Listen to this excellent interview: Click Below.
Listen to this excellent interview: Click Below.
BUTTE COUNTY COMPOSTING COALITION
WITH JANEL LUKE
ECO 729 6 FEBRUARY 2024
WITH JANEL LUKE
ECO 729 6 FEBRUARY 2024
On this program we talked talking composting in the wake of Senate Bill 1383 with Janel Luke of the Butte Composting Coalition. We’ll learn about some of the challenges created by new requirements for composting. Janel and her associates have already collected over 50,000 pounds of compost at multiple sites around town and are working to create more sites. She filled us in on efforts statewide to comply with 1383 and explained the ins and outs of productive composting (as opposed to throwing just about everything in the compost bin!).Listen to this excellent and informative interview; click below. (Due to copyright restrictions, we can't include some of the really cute kids' songs we played. Google "kid composting songs" for some pleasurable and informative listening.)
THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Eco 728 30 January 2024
5th and 6th graders at chico Country day school
In this program we interviewed over forty -- count 'em -- 5th grade students from Chico Country Day School. Under the direction of teachers Denai Rubio and Michaela Weston, they studied the Universal Declaration, adopted by the UN in 1948. They described projects they created about the 30 articles of the declaration and explained which of those articles they thought most important and most in need of being enacted and reconfirmed in our time. An impressive gathering of young people that gave new life to our closing theme song, "You Are the New Day."
Listen to the recording. Click below.
Listen to the recording. Click below.
Valley's Edge Referendum
Eco 725 January 2, 2024
Eco 725 January 2, 2024
David Welch and Susan Tchudi were guests on this first program in 2024. They discussed the coming referendum on Valley's Edge proposed development. The best place to learn more is smartgrowthchico.com
Listen to this excellent interview: Click below.
Listen to this excellent interview: Click below.