News from our member organizations

Rachel Haxtema, Guest Blogger Many of us heard the news in the past few weeks that the concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is now over 400 ppm, an unprecedented level that will mean rising temperatures and other climate disruption. Before we started burning fossil fuels in the 18th century, our atmosphere had a concentration of about 275 ppm. The concentration climbed steeply, hitting 350 ppm just before the year 2000. Scientists have suggested that 350 ppm is the most carbon dioxide that our atmosphere could handle before causing serious climate change. As Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org said, We’ve known for a long time that we’d pass the 400ppm mark; the trouble is, we’re passing it without any real national or international effort to slow down the production of CO2. So it’s an entirely grim landmark... Before we can get back to 350 we actually have to stop increasing carbon concentrations. That’s a political task; it’s why we’re trying to build a movement strong enough to stand up to the fossil fuel industry.” I was able to hear Bill McKibben speak recently in Seattle at Queen Anne United Methodist Church – he's been a hero of mine over the last several years as he has fought tirelessly against climate change. Each time I hear him speak about the 350.org movement and story, I'm reminded of the global impact of climate change. The most heart-wrenching image he showed was of children in a flooded street in Haiti holding signs that read, “Your actions affect me.” Children in low-lying nations around the world are going to be affected most by the burning of fossil fuels, driving of cars, and excessive waste in wealthy nations – they will bear the brunt of rising temperatures, flooding, pollution of water sources and reduced food security. We know that Haiti is already a struggling nation and climate will only deepen the poverty and cause additional sickness and suffering. This is truly devastating. We must see ourselves part of the interconnected web of all life and see how our actions are affecting others. Unfortunately, it is just too easy to ignore the climate warnings and the news of increasing concentrations of CO2.  Photograph by Jonathan Kingston, National Geographic http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2013/05/130510-earth-co2-milestone-400-ppm/ Another speaker in the Food, Faith and Climate series at Queen Anne UMC, Dr. John Wallace, an atmospheric scientist and person of faith, spoke about the science of climate change. He reminded us about how many scientists agree about human caused climate change and described how ice core samples have been used to confirm the concentrations in the atmosphere for the past several thousand years. He also talked about the extreme difficulty of the moral dilemmas we face: limits to individual freedom, national autonomy, obligations to the poor and future generations. The biggest climate changes are far off and current impacts are subtle but the stakes are so high. Dr. Wallace believes that because these changes seem distant and don't seem to impact us, it will be important to look at all aspects of earth care; food and water issues may be more tangible and inspire more participation. Barbara Kingsolver's recent book, Flight Behavior, a novel about a community affected by a mysterious event, realistically imagines how climate might affect us. Kingsolver is a great writer who tells a present day parable that links the science of climate change with real people - from farmers in Appalachia to tour guides in Mexico and everyone in between. Kingsolver is an amazing writer and imaginatively captures the potential for our communities to see real changes and disruptions and understand the ways that their community is part of a global phenomenon. The only good news is that the movement is growing and more and more people are recognizing the connections between our burning of fossil fuels and intensified storms, ocean acidification and decreasing crop yields. From Earth Ministry fighting coal exports in Washington to ranchers and indigenous activists fighting tar sands and the Keystone XL, people are taking action in one of the wealthiest and most polluting nations. And there is so much more work to do: political, social, educational, building movements, writing and creating art that broadens our understanding and inspires action. We need everyone’s gifts, stories, skills and work! I'm personally excited that scientists, writers and so many others are finding new ways to share about climate and its effects. What authors, scientists, climate news or stories have you heard recently that helped you further understand the reality of 400 ppm?  -- Rachel Haxtema has recently returned home to the beautiful green Pacific Northwest from Oakland, California where she worked for The Sierra Club and California Interfaith Power & Light and studied at the Graduate Theological Union and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Earth Ministry is a 501(c)3 non-profit engaging people of faith in environmental stewardship. We work in partnership with individuals and congregations to respond to this great moral challenge through education, modeling sustainable lifestyle choices, and organizing for social change through environmental advocacy. While rooted in Washington State, our resources are utilized across the U.S. and internationally.

For over a decade, scientists have argued that mycorrhizal fungi should be included in models of global carbon cycling, but they have struggled with exactly how to incorporate below-ground microbial processes into vegetation and carbon models. Scientists have historically referred to the processes occurring within the soil as a “black box.”

NW Energy Coalition executive director Sara Patton and former Coalition chair Ken Miller of Idaho's Snake River Alliance discussed the upcoming NW Clean & Affordable Energy Conference on the "Building a Greener Idaho" program on Radio Boise, KRBX 89.9 FM. The show is produced by the US Green Building Council Idaho Chapter, and USGBC-Idaho executive director Charlie Woodruff anchored the program. Listen online...

Right now the University of Washington (UW) has a unique opportunity to compete for federal funding to significantly improve the 1.7 miles of the Burke-Gilman Trail running through the UW campus.

Right now the UW needs your support.

This portion of the trail is the closest thing that bicyclists get to gridlock: pedestrians crossing the trail at all hours at marked and un-marked locations, damage from tree roots on the trail surface, low-visibility because of dense tree cover, overcrowding of all modes and resulting conflicts.

Once University Link Light Rail and the SR-520 bridge replacement (with a new, dedicated bike/ped path) come online, congestion will get worse. Studies from the UW indicate that by 2030, this section of the Burke-Gilman Trail will see a 92 percent increase in the number of pedestrian trips during peak hours, and a 238 percent increase in the number of bicycle trips.

The University has already started working on a small portion of the trail, and is currently assembling funding to fully rebuild the entire 1.7 miles and with this grant, the project timeline can be compressed, saving money and ensuring that the trail is ready in time for the opening of the University of Washington Sound Transit station.

The future trail will see new improvements for crossings and mobility – photo courtesy of UW Transportation Services

While the UW has a great start on funding for improving the Burke-Gilman Trail, they’re trying to secure the last-dollar-in by applying for a TIGER grant, a highly competitive federal grant in which only about 4 percent of applicants win. Projects from the Puget Sound region have won in all four rounds of TIGER grants thus far; however, none of these projects were exclusively bike/ped projects.

What’s most exciting? The proposed project will serve as a model for pedestrian and bike trails nationwide, including new standards for mode separation, safety improvements, interchange design and long-term durability. Very few TIGER grants have been solely focused on biking and walking – this sets precedent.

In order for the UW to be competitive against a national pool of road projects, the University needs our help. Please take just a few moments to register your support. Every online endorsement and letter of support counts!  The grant application is due on June 3, so getting letters in as soon as possible is critical.

Further information and details on the Burke-Gilman Trail improvements through the UW’s campus can also be found at: http://uw.edu/burke-gilman.

Image courtesy of UW Transportation Services

The post Voice your support for a better Burke-Gilman Trail appeared first on Bicycle Alliance of Washington.

To celebrate the International Day of Biological Diversity, here's an inspiring story from an unexpected place.

(Beyond Pesticides, May 22, 2013) Norwegian seafood production company, Marine Harvest, has committed to certify its salmon farms by 2020 to the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) Salmon Standard, with the condition that they begin tightening restrictions of pesticide use and move from caged systems in coastal waters to closed containment systems. As the world’s largest producer of [...]

I love trails. They are my path to personal salvation.

After work, I often decompress from events of the day with a bike ride on a waterfront trail or a walk through the old growth forest in Schmitz Park. The trail activity lets me enjoy the outdoors and allows me to arrive home mentally refreshed.

Trails take me to special outdoor places. I have followed trails to the edge of Mount Rainier’s glaciers, skied and snowshoed into quiet canyons in eastern Washington, hiked into the Pasayten Wilderness to straddle the US-Canadian border, and pedaled and pushed my bike to ghost towns, abandoned mines and hot springs in the Cascades.

I have had some memorable and cherished experiences on trails. My sweetie and I shared our first kiss on a trail in Mount Rainier. I have enjoyed sunsets and twilight while biking on the Alki Trail. And I will always remember listening to the roar of the wind in the canyon below me as I camped peacefully on the rim trail of Zion Canyon in Utah.

National Trails Day is a celebration of America’s magnificent and vast trail system. This event occurs annually on the first Saturday in June, which happens to be June 1 this year.

I hope you will join me and thousands of other Americans as we pay tribute to our wonderful trails. Organized hikes, bike rides, work parties and celebrations are planned on trails in Washington and around the nation.

Participating in a work party is a great way to give back to trails. If you like to mountain bike, you can help Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance build a new trail at Tiger Mountain on National Trails Day. The Klickitat Trail Conservancy will host a work party to pick up trash, install signage, prune and weed along their trail.

Tacoma residents can celebrate National Trails Day by spending some time sprucing up the trails at Point Defiance. Come early with your bike and you can pedal Five Mile Drive car-free in the morning!

Celebrate with a trail ride at one of our state parks! Washington State Parks is offering free access (no Discover Pass needed) to its facilities on National Trails Day. This includes the John Wayne Trail and Columbia Plateau Trail.

You can find a list of registered National Trails Day events here. Check our Resources page for a list of local bike clubs and trail groups. You can contact them to see if they have any trail events planned. Or gather a few of your friends and celebrate your favorite trail with a hike or bike ride.

See you on the trail!

The post Celebrate Trails on National Trails Day appeared first on Bicycle Alliance of Washington.

We asked Joan Burton, guidebook author of Best Hikes with Kids: Western Washington and the Cascades!, what she recommends for getting kids out on trail this time of year. She suggested three great spring hikes along rivers featuring lots of family-friendly activities, from wildlife-spotting to stone-skipping.

Old Sauk River

Location: North Cascades - Mountain Loop Highway            Distance: 6 miles roundtripElevation Gain: 150 ft

A lowland level walk along the Sauk River is easy enough for kids, yet exciting and beautiful for all ages in springtime. The old forest trail winds along the river bank with views of rushing white water just melted from snow banks and quiet backwater ponds.

The new trail has a gravel surface and is wheelchair accessible. It is possible to make any of several loop trips along this popular Wild & Scenic River. Old trees, Salmonberries, Thimbleberries, and ancient cedar stumps shade the trail, recently rebuilt by WTA crews.

Springtime flowers that children will enjoy include trillim, queen’s cup, violets, twinflowers, bleeding heart and ground dogwood. Have your kids watch for pollywogs and tadpoles in the ponds along the Sauk, but hold their hands alongside white water views.

>> Hike Old Sauk River Trail

Duckabush River

Location: Olympics -- East Distance: 10.6 miles Elevation: Gain: 2300 ft

Another beautiful river walk, this one in the Olympics, is along the mostly level Duckabush River. Children will enjoy finding rusting relics of logging days, throwing stones, dipping feet, and playing by the river’s edge.

At 2 1/2 miles, climb to a ledge called the Little Hump where you may find such spring flowers as fawn lilies, chocolate lilies, Indian paintbrush and more. Some Eastern Olympic plants and animals, such as the Olympic marmot, were isolated by the last glacial age, and are unique and endemic here.

Continue up another mile to Big Hump, where you and the kids can savor views up valley toward the beautiful Eastern Olympics and down valley toward the Cascades.

>> Hike or backpack Duckabush River Trail

Greenwater Lakes

Location: Chinook Pass - Enumclaw or Hwy 410 area Distance: 14 miles roundtrip Elevation Gain: 1600 ft

Here is a lowland trail through magnificent old growth forest. Walk past melting snow waterfalls along the Greenwater River up to two small woodland lakes, which may still be snow-covered.

Knobby cliffs on either side of the trail are lined with moss, trillims, ferns, and yellow violets. The cliffs are reminders of volcanic activity here millions of years ago.

The first Greenwater Lake has a river running through it, keeping its water fresh and the ducks busy. At 2 miles come to Upper Greenwater Lake, featuring a beaver lodge and possible campsites.

>> Hike or backpack the Greenwater and Echo Lakes

It's only a few days until the long Memorial Day weekend, and you either:

• a) already have camping reservations for your family.
• b) don't have camping reservations. You need reservations to go camping? That's crazy!
• c) don't plan on camping. You just want to get outside a day or two with your family.

Jump below to choose your own adventure, one that gets your whole family outside for a great start to summer.

a) You already have camping or cabin reservations

Good for you for planning ahead. Now, you just need to check the weather, pull together your car camping and hiking essentials and find a few snow-free hikes nearby.

• Check the weather. Rain, sun, and even a little snow may be in the mix.
• Make your car camping checklist.
• Find a hike: follow in the footsteps of parents filing trip reports and use our hiking guide to find seasonal hikes near where you're staying.

b) You don't have camping reservations

Reservations aren't your style, or maybe this weekend just snuck up on you. No worries. You've still got options, but you've got to be a little flexible.

• Option 1 - Last-minute camping: You can try to sneak your family out of town early and secure a camping spot at a first-come, first-served campground. If you try for one of the National Forest campgrounds that don't accept reservations, then your plan B can be dispersed camping. But first you need to check conditions and check in with a ranger.
• Option 2 - Overnight: This is the chance you've been waiting for to take your family on a short, lowland or coastal backpacking trip! Yes, the weather might be a little damp. But you're Pacific Northwesterners, and you're going prepared with rain gear and extra warm, dry clothes for everyone.
• Option 3 - Day Hike: You just want to do a little hiking. Skip to c)

c) Take your family day hiking

Who needs to camp this early in the season? You'd rather take the three-day weekend to take a rambling picnic close to home or seek out the far-away hikes on your list with enough time to catch a movie and weed the garden.

• Catch some sun. Visit Lenore Caves or one of the other great desert trails, where temperatures are more likely to reach into the 70's.
• Take a river walk and look for wildflowers and wildlife.
• Explore more ideas for family-friendly hiking destinations from the coast.
• Safety Tip: find snow-free hikes and get tips on which trails to avoid until the snow is gone.

Whether you are a climate scientist or not, it’s interesting that global temperatures rose so quickly from 1970 to 2000, yet haven’t changed for the past 15 years. If all these nasty greenhouse gases are on the rise, why isn’t temperature also increasing?

Famous figures lend their voices for the protection of nature and human well-being.

Proposed plan to limit pesticide pollution not strong enough to protect salmon

Fishing groups acted Monday to strengthen regulation in California of two widely used pesticides known to harm salmon. More than one million pounds of the two pesticides are used annually to kill insects on a variety of crops in California and much of it washes off fields or drifts from the air into salmon-bearing streams.

read more

by Tami Asars

Bird: Watch for red-breasted sapsuckers at the top of conifers

Captain Obvious had some fun naming this bird. Not surprisingly, this colorful bird with a breast of brilliant red feathers is known for sucking sap from the wells it drills in living trees.

In spring, the females lay 4 to 7 snow-white eggs that eventually produce naked and helpless little chicks. Both parents play a role in feeding and protecting the young and in 26 to 28 days, the fledglings are ready to leave the nest.

Interestingly, hummingbirds have developed a symbiotic relationship with sapsuckers and rely on their holes for feeding sources.

This spring, when you hear a pecking sound high in the conifers, look closely. Often you’ll see a hummingbird hovering nearby, waiting for its turn at the feeding tree.

 

Beast: Keep your ears perked for the warning call of the pika

Pikas are known for the screeches they make in their mountain homes.

“Eeeeepp!” This is the warning call of a small mammal called a pika, and is commonly heard near talus slopes. This rock-dwelling rodent, closely related to the hare, is 6 to 8 inches long with a round body and little ears. Pikas are active day and night, and do not hibernate.

In summer, pikas work on building a “haystack,” a pile of grasses, heather and wildflowers on which they feed through the cold winter months. Drying their haystack is key to keeping it preserved, so if you look closely, you may see a pile drying in the sun.

If wet weather comes along, they move it to a drier location.When they aren’t working on gathering food, they are often guarding their tunnels, keeping a close eye out for predators.

 

Bloom: Bitterroot add a touch of color to hikes amongst Washington’s sagebrush

Bitterroot, sometimes used for medicinal purposes, grows in dry desert landscapes.

The fragile, colorful and unexpected blooms of the bitterroot plant shout “spring is here” from hilltops in arid desert climates.

The root, bitter unless cooked (hence the name), was usually eaten with berries or meats for meals by Native Americans who depended on this plant for an extremely nutritious food source. It was claimed to sustain an active person for a whole day. Medicinal uses included infusions of the root to help relieve heart pain, to counteract the effect of poison ivy rash and even as a treatment for cold sores.

Today, the plants are used for landscaping in rock gardens or seen growing wild in Washington’s dry scabland and sagebrush areas.

_______________________________________________________________________

This article originally appeared in the May+Jun 2013 issue of Washington Trails magazine. Join WTA to get your one-year subscription.

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(Beyond Pesticides, May 21, 2013) The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently concluded that 2012 was the deadliest year for West Nile Virus (WNv) in the United States. “A total of 5,674 cases of West Nile virus disease in people, including 286 deaths, were reported to CDC from 48 states (excluding Alaska and Hawaii),” said [...]

"Washington Trails Association has a huge impact on health and happiness in our state -- one hike at a time." -- Cristie A., Everett

Thanks, Cristie. And thanks to each and every hiker -- 446 in all -- who joined her in making a gift to trails during The Seattle Foundation's GiveBIG event on May 15. Your amazing outpouring of support truly will help stretch our impact this year.

Your gifts will help clear, repair or build 35+ trails in the next 30 days

More about that in a moment. But first we can't help celebrating the fact that WTA ranked #7 by number of donations out of 1,300 participating nonprofits. You gave an astounding $55,805 to trails -- putting WTA at #27 by amount received.

The 24-hour online event raised a staggering $11.1 million to help make our region a better place to live, work and play. An additional $1 million matching pool will "stretch" these dollars even further and we're eagerly awaiting word from The Seattle Foundation about how much your gifts will be matched by GiveBIG sponsors.

Your GiveBIG contributions will help WTA go where we're needed most, right now.

In the next 30 days, WTA will be working to clear, repair or build more than 35 different trails across the state -- places like Lake Serene near Stevens Pass, Marmot Pass in the Olympics, and the Wonderland Trail at Rainier. Your generosity has increased our ability to say "yes" when a land manager asks for our help to repair winter storm damage.

Your generosity keeps WTA a strong voice for hikers

You'll keep us advocating for State Parks during the special legislative session in Olympia, advocating for King County trail funding, working to keep access to trailheads open. And, as always, your gifts will keep the great ideas for hiking coming your way on our website.

More thanks to GiveBIG sponsors

Memorial Day is always a scramble for day hikers, backpackers, and car campers. The criteria of a crowd-free location, trails without snow and decent road conditions easily stymies even the most experienced hikers. Below are a few tips for staying safe and ideas of where to hike, backpack and camp.

Weather and spring safety tips Check the weather

• This weekend forecasts call for relatively cool and showery weather, mixed with sunbreaks throughout much of the state. That means great flower, forest and dramatic cloudscape photos -- and experiencing the true meaning of “rain” forests on the coast. It also means you'll want to make sure to pack your rain gear and take measures to keep your campsite comfortable in cool, drizzly weather.
• If you're seeking warmth and the sun, you may want to head to east of the Cascades into desert and coulee country, where showers are less likely and temperatures are likely to reach into the 70's.
• Check the National Weather Service website to ensure you're prepared for whatever conditions you might encounter.

Check conditions and consult a ranger

• Snow is still the name of the game in the high country, and hikers can easily encounter slick and dangerous conditions on snowy slopes and from overhanging cornices. All of that snow has to go somewhere when it melts too. Rivers and creeks are running at their peak levels right now.
• Read WTA's Spring Hiking Tips to refresh what you need to bring in your pack and how to stay safe under these conditions.
• Always check with a ranger before heading out. Give them a call, or, even better, plan to stop by a station on your way out of town.

Hiking and backpacking Columbia Gorge

Wildflowers still adorn the southern slopes of the Columbia River Gorge on the Washington side, making for spectacular day hiking:

• The popular Dog Mountain is covered in wildflowers right now.
• Day hikers will enjoy the meadows and views of the relatively unknown Weldon Wagon Road in the White Salmon Valley.
• Or give Catherine Creek and Coyote Wall a go.
• Want some elevation gain? Hamilton Mountain in Beacon Rock State Park has wildflowers, waterfalls and a workout.

South Cascades: Mount Rainier and Mount St Helens

• Most of Mount Rainier National Park is under snow, but not the Carbon River area. A wilderness walk-in campground is open (after a 5-mile hike) at Ipsut Creek, which provides ample opportunities to explore this lovely area. For a day hike, try the trail up to Ranger Creek Falls and Green Lake.
• One volcano down the chain, the South Coldwater Lake trail at Mount St. Helens is often one of the first places in the Monument to melt out. (You'll need to check snow levels, at 3,500 feet at last account, and get a backcountry permit to overnight here.)

Pacific Coast

If hearing the crash of ocean waves is more your style, head to the rugged Washington Coast.

• There are great backpack trips to Toleak Point and Shi Shi Beach. Be sure to get a wilderness permit from Olympic National Park for either of those.
• Day hikers will enjoy beach-walking at Browns Point near Kalaloch and Third Beach near La Push.

North Cascades

Kids cross a bridge on the East Bank Baker Lake dayhike in May. Photo by beefeater.

Highway 20 is open for the season, providing access to the wonders of the North Cascades.

• Driveway Butte near Washington Pass can be an excellent early season hike (be the first to write a trip report this season). There's likely still snow at the top, but it is worth the effort.
• Another early favorite of backpackers is Thunder Creek, a long and gentle trail through old growth forest where a few eager folks have already started backpacking.
• Or how about East Bank Baker Lake with awesome views of Mount Baker and Shuksan (though you may need to endure a few motorboats on the lake).

Central Cascades

Savvy Memorial Day hikers seek the sunnier southern and eastern slopes of the Central Cascades. The wildflowers are really showing their stuff here. As long as you stay below the snowline, there are lovely day hikes and overnights to be found:

• There are many options in the Icicle Creek area near Leavenworth, including two ways to ascend Icicle Ridge: the gentle Icicle Ridge trail or the Fourth of July Creek butt-kicker. A recent trip reporter had this to say about Fourth of July Creek, despite running into a lot of rain: "Best wildflowers I've seen, so many species, all at their peaks. Swaths of balsamroot and lupine, and the lupine was so fragrant. Different species at each elevation: orange paintbrush, penstemon, Lewisia, Jacob's ladder, mahonia, phlox, desert parsley, columbine, avalanche lily, and more."
• Alternatively, off of Blewett Pass, try a hike or backpack up Ingalls Creek. It features a raging creek, abundant wildflowers and plentiful backcountry campsites starting a few miles in.

Central Washington

Wildflowers are still going strong in the desert steppe country.

• Check out one of the ten great desert hikes.
• Follow in the footsteps of trip reporters as they seek out wildflowers and sunshine, recently spotted at Breezley Hills, Black Canyon, Steamboat Rock, and farther north, the Whistler Canyon Trail.

Strategies for last-minute camping on Memorial Day weekend

Camping can be tricky this time of year, though most campgrounds are opening in advance of the Memorial Day weekend. You can still try to reserve a spot, but if you go into the weekend without a reservation, then a first-come, first-served campground and dispersed camping areas are for you.

Here are some tips for finding a great spot:

• If you have the flexibility, the best course of action is to arrive a little earlier than Friday night for campgrounds that do not accept reservations, like most of the campgrounds in Olympic National Forest .
• Go farther afield and check out areas with lighter usage, like the Colville and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, which only have first-come, first-serve campgrounds on them.
• Try dispersed camping on National Forest land, a great way to find a little solitude and practice your Leave No Trace ethics. Dispersed camping means there are no toilets, no picnic tables, no trash cans, no treated water, and no fire grates. Typically, dispersed camping is not allowed in the vicinity of developed recreation areas such as campgrounds, boat ramps, picnic areas or trailheads. (For the best information on dispersed camping opportunities, contact the ranger district offices.)
• Try your first backpack. Try packing a little lighter and consider converting your camping plans into a short backpack with an overnight.

When you carpool to your Memorial Day destination, your car may look like this, but you'll save on gas. Photo by Joe Curiel.

On May 13, the Washington State legislature started its thirty-day special session, an addition to the 105 day “regular” session that ended last month. Unable to pass a budget during the regular session, the legislators are back at it after taking a couple of weeks to meet with constituents in their home districts. Let’s take a look at some of the key budget issues that Climate Solutions is following:

Seven years ago, Washington voters made the smart choice to invest in the state by supporting renewable energy. Washington voters passed Initiative 937, which created a clean energy standard. The law requires the state’s large electric utilities to incrementally increase their electricity from new renewable resources to 15 percent by 2020. This choice has paid off. But, there are those in the Legislature who would dismiss this success by weakening the voter-backed initiative in a way that removes smart incentives for companies to invest in renewable energy... Read the full opinion online at The Spokesman-Review

We’ve got to get busy on biocarbon, the second climate solution, globally restoring nature’s capacity to absorb CO2 from the air and store it in living soils, plants and trees.