Hello…and welcome to...Issue #010!

Reading Time: <3 mins.

TL;DR: We published our podcast's second episode: Exploring the Climate Crisis and Adaptation on National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska and the Pacific.

“In order to get the kind of change we need as fast as we need it, we need larger communities, including states, and national coordination in planning and implementation.”

Welcome to our corner of the world!

We’re glad you’re here!

In the last issue of Designing Nature's Half: The Blog, we shared our first episode on Designing Nature's Half: The Landscape Conservation Podcast. In this issue, we share a discussion about our second episode: Exploring the Climate Crisis and Adaptation on National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska and the Pacific. You can find it anywhere you get your podcasts, or jump over to our podcast episodes page.

The Art and Science of Adapting During a Time of Rapid Change

As the world grapples with the ever-pressing issues of the climate crisis and biodiversity loss, podcasts are becoming vital platforms for sharing innovative strategies in landscape conservation. In our second episode, Tom Miewald and I gleaned insights from Robin West, a seasoned veteran in this field.

A Life Dedicated to Conservation

West is no stranger to the challenges and triumphs of dedicating one’s life to conserving nature. With over three decades under his belt at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), he has worn many hats—from fisheries biologist to Regional Refuge Chief for the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS)—each providing him with unique perspectives on how best to conserve our planet’s biodiversity. His book “30 of 40 in the 49th” offers personal stories from his time as a wildlife biologist in Alaska.

The Alaskan Frontier: A Microcosm of Global Challenges

Alaska serves as an eye-opening case study when discussing climate impacts. Here, sea ice loss disrupts entire ecosystems; wildfires rage more fiercely; permafrost thaws at alarming rates—all of which affects subsistence resources crucial for Indigenous communities. Kenai National Wildlife Refuge stands as an example of where these changes are occuring—with its iconic moose populations and vast wilderness facing threats such as spruce bark beetle epidemics and shifting fire patterns.

Pacific Puzzles: Managing Diverse Ecosystems

West’s experience extends beyond Alaska into administering National Wildlife Refuges across the Pacific Region. These areas face challenges, including rising sea levels, complex fire management issues, and conserving remote seascapes—all demanding adaptive land management strategies capable of conserving bird and marine life populations, such as sea turtles and endangered Hawaiian monk seals.

Strategies for Survival

How do we combat these formidable threats? According to West, it starts with cooperation and collaboration paired with science and long-term landscape planning—essential tools for crafting effective climate adaptation strategies. Public outreach plays a similarly critical role by fostering support, which translates into policy—ultimately promoting engaged citizenship toward common goals.

Collaboration Is Key

One standout message was clear: cooperation and collaboration lie at the heart of successful landscape conservation efforts. Conservation at landscape levels doesn’t always mean ownership—it means partnerships spanning multiple jurisdictions, such as Federal, state, and tribal lands, to ensure all parties are on the same page and moving in an agreed-upon strategic direction.

Practical Takeaways:

For those looking to engage actively or deepen their understanding:

• Read Up: Explore books like Robin West’s memoir for firsthand accounts of fieldwork experiences or my DIY, popular science book Designing Nature's Half: A Practical Guide to Conserve 50% by 2050, out later this year!

• Support Organizations, Blogs, and Podcasts: Check out the Network for Landscape Conservation and tune into blogs and shows like Designing Nature’s Half that educates on pressing environmental topics like landscape conservation and design.

• Get Involved Locally: Support your local wildlife refuges—they’re part of a more extensive protected area network that is essential if landscape conservation is to be successful.

Through shared wisdom, such as Robin West’s contributions to Designing Nature’s Half, we can better appreciate the complexities involved in landscape-scale conservation and hope-filled pathways leading toward a sustainable and resilient future.

Thanks for a great discussion, Robin!

An Invitation

If you think you have something to offer to the conversation and would like to be a guest on our pod, drop me a note at: info@lcdinstitute.org and put "Guest" in the subject line.

Sharing is Caring

Please consider sharing this newsletter with your social contacts so we can build a community of folks who want to turn down the boil, save our planet, and its inhabitants.

Join the Designing Nature’s Half Community

Sign up below to hear about what we have up our sleeves to save the planet and learn how you can get involved.

Thanks for your interest and support!

We’ll keep you posted on how our projects are coming along via future issues of Designing Nature's Half: The Blog.

Until next time,