Category: Conservation and Climate
It’s 5:30am. The sun hasn’t risen over Mount Washington, but AMC Hermit Lakes Winter Caretaker Eli Hanschka is already out in the cold, looking at snow. Each morning on the job begins this way for Hanschka, and for many of his fellow caretakers. From his cabin, Hanschka walks a short distance to his “snow plot,” […]
This November 8, your vote matters. We hope you’ll take the time to exercise your right to have your voice heard. And before you cast your vote, we encourage you to research your candidates’ positions on the environmental issues that matter to you. It’s not a presidential election year, and historically that has meant that […]
On June 10th, 2022, AMC staff met virtually with a group of middle and high school students from the cities of Lawrence and Lowell, Mass. While AMC staff often talk with young people, this time was a little different: The students were presenting their own work. For the past year, students at three local schools, […]
On August 16, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law. This landmark legislation includes $369 billion in climate and energy investments, and it puts the U.S. on the path to become a global leader in reducing climate change. The Inflation Reduction Act includes funding and tax incentives for a number of important climate, […]
During my time as a Scientists in Parks intern working with the National Park Service and AMC, my focus was along the New England National Scenic Trail. Part of my role was to help launch a community science project that utilizes iNaturalist, a plant and animal ID app, to track fruiting and flowering times of […]
One of the best kept secrets of our Maine Woods destinations is the incredible stargazing opportunities that exist due to its exceptional dark skies. This region is one of the darkest places remaining on the East Coast and was recently designated as the first International Dark Sky Park in New England. In addition to the […]
Net Zero. You might be hearing a lot of discussion about it but aren’t exactly sure what it means or how you can contribute to achieving it. Essentially, Net Zero refers to a state in which the greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere are balanced by the removal out of the atmosphere—an internationally recognized goal […]
North America’s bird population has declined by nearly 30 percent since 1970. Worldwide, 40 percent of insect species are declining and a third are endangered. Every 30 seconds, a football field’s worth of America’s natural areas are lost to development. That’s why last year, the United States joined world leaders to commit to a significant […]
Getting into the outdoors promotes sustainable behavior The Appalachian Mountain Club’s mission is to foster the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the outdoors. But when it comes to conservation and recreation, we often get asked what one has to do with the other. Some ask why we support key conservation initiatives. Others still question why […]
The ambitious goal to protect 30 percent of the Earth’s lands and waters by 2030 comes with numerous benefits, most notably the resiliency against climate change. As a participant in this 30 by 30 initiative, the United States aims to safeguard its lands, waters, and wildlife habitats to promote biodiversity and provide more recreation […]
As part of a global plan to stop the extinction of species and habitats, help solve the climate crisis, and filter out pollution, President Biden joined other world leaders in June 2021, to launch the ‘America the Beautiful’ initiative that seeks to preserve 30 percent of the United States’ lands and waters by 2030, known […]
From Pennsylvania to the Canadian border, AMC develops, manages, and protects more than 1,800 miles of long-distance and regional trails, including trails easily accessible to urban and suburban populations. With your support, we work with countless land managers across ten states, support thousands of trails volunteers, and tackle everything from basic maintenance needs to […]
This story was originally published in the Winter/Spring 2022 issue of Appalachia Journal. Topsoil lies thin on the ancient slopes of The Western Catskills. As the locals say, it’s two rocks to every dirt. Given that and a downpour during a sudden thaw, or a dry spell, flash floods on the Neversink River can happen at […]
For decades, AMC scientists have studied the patterns and effects of air pollution and climate change in Northeast alpine environments—which negatively affect not only natural ecosystems, but humans’ ability to enjoy them through recreation. That work continues, most recently with several current and former AMC scientists and researchers leading or contributing to a symposium […]
Winter has arrived in New Hampshire’s Pinkham Notch. How might a changing climate change the nature of winter in this special place? As AMC researchers have recently shown, climate change is already altering winter, resulting in a shorter, less snowy cold season here in the Northeast, on average. Tracking changes in the snowy months with on-the-ground weather observations are essential to understanding precisely how climate change is affecting winters in the region—especially in […]
The Northeast Alpine Flower Watch tracks the effects of climate change by gathering flowering time data, using the iNaturalist app and platform, with the help of hikers in alpine areas. AMC has partnered with the Adirondack Mountain Club, Green Mountain Club, and Baxter State Park to achieve this goal in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. This study is an […]
The Appalachian Trail (AT) covers approximately 2,190 miles along the East Coast, bringing hikers as high as 6,600 feet in elevation. This landscape provides an excellent area for understanding how plant phenology—the timing of their life-cycle events like flowering and fruiting—is related to climate and how changes across the AT’s climate gradients could impact ecosystem resilience and biodiversity. […]
Each year, Acadia National Park welcomes more than 2 million visitors to the scenic coast of Maine. At the same time, local parks in cities like Boston, New York, and Philadelphia welcome thousands of residents each day for outdoor rest and recreation. In recent years, humans have also come to appreciate how forests, parkland, […]
John Donahue spent his entire career working for the National Park Service, protecting and promoting America’s public lands. Now, in retirement, the 68-year old spends his time advocating for the addition of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area as a national park, citing the area’s unique characteristics, extensive history, and abundant outdoor recreation […]
“There’s a witness tree,” says Dave Publicover, AMC’s assistant research director, as a tree with a red-painted stripe around its middle comes into view. We’ve been scrambling down a pretty steep descent over rough terrain in the northern portion of AMC’s Katahdin Iron Works property (KIW) in Maine’s 100-Mile Wilderness, and I’m relieved we […]