ECONEWS

Environmental protection is at a crucial stage and it is up to all of us to safeguard it. The language we use is fundamental to achieving change, and if key terms are taken away then our ability to recognize and deal with the serious dangers to the air, water, and wildlife is reduced. The way we use words can shape how we see things and even lead to significant changes.

US Forest Service land boundary sign in the Six Rivers National Forest, California. Photo by Will Suiter The Fix Our Forests Act, although it has not yet been enacted into law, aims to address wildfires and make forest management more efficient. However, because it avoids critical environmental laws that safeguard ecosystems and limit scientific input and public involvement, the Act may have serious repercussions for the environment and endangered species.

Worker in protective workwear spraying herbicide on ambrosia. Photo source Adobe Stock California has become the first major agricultural state in the United States to prohibit paraquat, a toxic and controversial herbicide, after years of campaigning by environmental groups, farm workers, and local communities. The ban will withdraw millions of pounds of paraquat from use each year, mostly on almonds, grapes, and cotton in the San Joaquin Valley (Perkins, 2026).

Lilies inspire resilience, romance and poetry; a plant often synonymous with the joyful beauty of life. But such beauty has come at a surprising cost. The farming of lily bulbs on a commercial scale, particularly in the Smith River Plain area of Del Norte County, California—where most of the nation’s Easter lilies come from—has caused serious water pollution (Easter Lilies and Pesticides, n.d.).

Worker in protective workwear spraying herbicide on ambrosia. Photo source Adobe Stock California has become the first major agricultural state in the United States to prohibit paraquat, a toxic and controversial herbicide, after years of campaigning by environmental groups, farm workers, and local communities. The ban will withdraw millions of pounds of paraquat from use each year, mostly on almonds, grapes, and cotton in the San Joaquin Valley (Perkins, 2026).

1 2 Monthly CNPS meeting Monthly CNPS meeting - At the NEC - 415 I St. Arcata, CA CNPS Meeting on the first Wednesday of the month See more details Friends of the Arcata Marsh Lecture Series Friends of the Arcata Marsh Lecture Series - Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center, 569 S G St, Arcata, CA 95521, USA See more details • • 3 4 5 Audubon Society Arcata Marsh Bird Walk Audubon Society Arcata Marsh Bird Walk - Arcata Marsh parking lot, south end of I St (klopp lake) Arcata See more details...

The Trump regime has cut Forest Service funding by about 40 percent while simultaneously demanding  states and private commercial interest (i.e. Timber companies) to take on more forest management work. A House Subcommittee held hearings back in June to examine whether partnership-based management can even still work under these constraints. More importantly, the United States is experiencing a dangerous shortage of firefighters at the US Forest Service (USFS).

On June 23 2025, Secretary of Agriculture Rollins announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule. On Aug 29, 2025, the (USDA) published a notice of intent, kicking off a 21 -day comment period which ended September 19. Our side, with those against it,  generated more than 620,000 public comments during that 21 day period.

Production of Oriented Strand Boards (OSB). A popular construction material made from waste chips and logs too small for lumber use.

When we think about the environmental impacts of driving, we often focus on emissions and greenhouse gases. However, vehicles also contribute to pollution through a less visible route,  tire wear. As vehicles accelerate, brake, and turn, friction between tires and road surfaces causes small amounts of rubber to wear away.