As interns for WELLKIND, we go on a plethora of field trips over the course of our work. One of these field trips was to visit the endemic Tule Elk of Point Reyes. These Tule Elk, although majestic, are in a bloody fight for their lives to secure precious water on their small reserve hemmed in on the coast.

The elk are trapped primarily due to the National Park Service prioritizing the profits of cows over elk. The agency would much rather give land to cattle than preserve the endangered elk. We learned that the land that is given to cattle is rich in resources such as water. A mixture of California’s severe drought this year and a restriction of water availability for the elk has placed enormous pressure on their herds, resulting in the death of over 150 individuals.

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Though I’m just beginning my journey as an intern for WELLKIND Forestry, my breadth of knowledge encompassing climate change has grown beyond melting ice, pollution, and habitat destruction. A multitude of issues find themselves woven into the intricate tapestry that is climate change. One new gem of knowledge that I found especially interesting is the fact that mainstream media is failing the environment in its coverage of climate change.

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The Dustbowl of the 1930s was one of the most devastating ecological disasters in American history. Poor agricultural practices, high temperatures, and extended drought caused tremendous land erosion. One hundred million acres were affected, and it blew away 480 tons of topsoil per acre. Millions of tons of topsoil were lost to the Eastern United States and Atlantic Ocean.

The loss of nutrient-rich topsoil was devastating, as it is essential for both nutrient cycling and carbon storage. New research finds that the heat waves that powered the Dust Bowl are now 2.5 times more likely to happen again in our modern climate due to another type of manmade crisis: climate change (DeLonge, 2020).

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In this internship, I have learned a lot about how innovative strategies in habitat management are necessary in a climate-changed world. To keep pace with today’s threats to forests, habitat management work must focus on increasing biodiversity and restoring and maintaining the soil moisture and health necessary for plants and ecosystems to thrive.

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Climate change is rapidly becoming one of the foremost issues of the 21st century. Already, it has caused floods and fires of intensities not seen in thousands of years. This isn’t my opinion—it’s a fact, and one supported by the scientific community as a whole. In fact, out of all the peer-reviewed papers on climate change and global warming, not one argues against it.

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If the Colorado River were to drop by 10 percent, there would be a water fight in the Southwest U.S. This water fight could lead to millions of people losing drinking water. Without drinking water, people will be uprooted from their homes to find new ones with drinking water, or drinking water will be rerouted from other places, leading to decreases in drinking water over there. A decrease in the amount of water in the Colorado River can also limit the output of electricity from the Hoover Dam. The Hoover Dam supplies the electricity of people from California, Nevada, and Arizona. It’s one of the largest energy sources and produces “about 4.3 billion kilowatt-hours of hydroelectric power each year…enough to serve 1.3 million people” (USBR).

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Companies do not want to lose investors, including those from the fossil fuel industry. So media outlets give both sides—climate deniers and climate believers—equal say. What this means is that climate change, a claim supported by 100 percent of scientists, is now on par with the baseless ideas of climate deniers. The media creates a false balance portraying each side of the issue as equal, when science, reason, and all plausible evidence beg to differ.

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To build a social movement large enough to drastically lower CO2 emissions in the next decade, we need to share the realities of climate change with those still skeptical that global warming is even a problem. This blog lays out some rock-solid proofs that climate change is real and we are doing it. Please share it with friends and family!

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We are excited to announce an upcoming panel on green careers. On Monday, August 9, from noon to 1:30 PM, a team of leaders in environmental science, industry and activism will give advice on how to succeed in new and exciting eco-friendly industries like soil science and regenerative agriculture.

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This year, WELLKIND launched an innovative Forestry Program that promotes forest health, resilience, and biodiversity. As part of these initiatives, we are providing education and training in habitat management to high school students ages 16-18.

The internship program offers academic and vocational training in forestry policy, practices and science, as well as environmental communications. In this way, we prepare high school students to be the next generation of green professionals and environmental stewards.

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